Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic vs Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee
Ahead
The verdict
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic is the better buy on our scoring, 8.2 to Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee's 7.2. It leads on process & cup quality and convenience & format.
Who each one suits
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic
people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster
Scores higher on process & cup quality, convenience & format, packaging & shelf life.
Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee
A travel and camping jar that is still organic and fairtrade
Scores higher on sourcing transparency.
How they score, criterion by criterion
Both are scored the same way against the rest of their category, from what their makers publish. The weight is how much each criterion moves the total. How the score works
| Criterion | Weight in category | Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process & Cup Quality | 30% | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| Convenience & Format | 20% | 7.5 | 5.5 |
| Sourcing Transparency | 18% | 2.7 | 7.3 |
| Packaging & Shelf Life | 16% | 10.0 | 5.0 |
What each one costs
| Price | $13.00 | Not publicly stated |
| Cost per cup The figure that decides what the choice costs over a year, not on the day. | $2.60/cup | Not published |
Where they differ
Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.
| Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $13.00 | — |
| Best for | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster | A travel and camping jar that is still organic and fairtrade |
| What sets it apart | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso | The smallest specialty-grade organic jar here, sold for the bag rather than the counter |
| Bean Type | — | Arabica |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | Organic, Fairtrade, Non-GMO |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | 4.5 | — |
| Decaf in the range | ✕ | — |
| Direct Trade | ✕ | — |
| Intended Use | — | The maker names home, office, travel and camping |
| Packaging Type | Sachet | Bag |
| Preparation | Just add water or milk, per the box | — |
| Price per Serving | 2.60 USD | — |
| Process Method Note | — | Printed on the pouch as FREEZE-DRIED. |
| Resealable | ✕ | — |
| Roast Level | — | Medium |
| Roast Level Note | — | Printed on the pouch as PREMIUM MEDIUM ROAST ARABICA BEANS. |
| Roaster Country | United States | — |
| Roaster Country Code | US | — |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | — |
| Servings per Pack | 5 | — |
| Ships to | US, worldwide | US |
| Ships to Note | Ships internationally as well as within the US. The roaster does not publish a country list, and import duties fall to the buyer. | Confirmed on Amazon US, which is where this link points. Availability in other Amazon stores has not been checked, and a regional store may substitute a different product. |
| Origin structure | Blend | — |
| Subscription Available | ✓ | — |
| Tasting Notes | Dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow | — |
| Tasting Notes Note | Intelligentsia's own words, printed on the box. | — |
Pros and cons
From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic
- +Freeze dried from Intelligentsia's Black Cat espresso blend, with published notes of dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow
- +Single-serve sachets with a subscription available
- −$2.60 a serving, dearer per cup than any other instant here
- −Five servings a pack
- −Not resealable, and Intelligentsia claims no certifications and no direct trade for it
Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee
- +Certified organic and fairtrade, published as sustainably sourced
- +Freeze dried, which Terrasoul gives as the reason for its freshness
- +Arabica medium roast in a 3.5oz jar
- −No servings per jar is published, so cost per cup cannot be worked out
- −A jar rather than sticks
- −No origin country and no price published
Every specification, side by side
| Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $13.00 | — |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster | A travel and camping jar that is still organic and fairtrade |
| What sets it apart | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso | The smallest specialty-grade organic jar here, sold for the bag rather than the counter |
| Specifications | ||
| Bean Type | — | Arabica |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | Organic, Fairtrade, Non-GMO |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | 4.5 | — |
| Decaf in the range | ✕ | — |
| Direct Trade | ✕ | — |
| Flavoured | Not flavoured | Not flavoured |
| Intended Use | — | The maker names home, office, travel and camping |
| Packaging Type | Sachet | Bag |
| Preparation | Just add water or milk, per the box | — |
| Price per Serving | 2.60 USD | — |
| Process Method | Freeze-dried | Freeze-dried |
| Process Method Note | — | Printed on the pouch as FREEZE-DRIED. |
| Resealable | ✕ | — |
| Roast Level | — | Medium |
| Roast Level Note | — | Printed on the pouch as PREMIUM MEDIUM ROAST ARABICA BEANS. |
| Roaster Country | United States | — |
| Roaster Country Code | US | — |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | — |
| Servings per Pack | 5 | — |
| Ships to | US, worldwide | US |
| Ships to Note | Ships internationally as well as within the US. The roaster does not publish a country list, and import duties fall to the buyer. | Confirmed on Amazon US, which is where this link points. Availability in other Amazon stores has not been checked, and a regional store may substitute a different product. |
| Origin structure | Blend | — |
| Subscription Available | ✓ | — |
| Tasting Notes | Dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow | — |
| Tasting Notes Note | Intelligentsia's own words, printed on the box. | — |
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic vs Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee: common questions
Which is better, Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic or Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee?
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic scores 8.2 against 7.2, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion. Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee is still ahead on sourcing transparency.
Is Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic or Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee cheaper?
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic starts at $13.00, and Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee at Not publicly stated. Per cup they work out at $2.60/cup and Not published.
Who is Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic for?
people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster
Who is Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee for?
A travel and camping jar that is still organic and fairtrade
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