Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic vs Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles
AheadThe verdict
Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles is the better buy on our scoring, 9.5 to Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic's 8.2. It leads on convenience & format and sourcing transparency.
Who each one suits
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic
people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster
Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles
A pocketable freeze-dried single origin, for a desk drawer or a bag
Scores higher on convenience & format, 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 | Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process & Cup Quality | 30% | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Convenience & Format | 20% | 7.5 | 9.5 |
| Sourcing Transparency | 18% | 2.7 | 7.7 |
| Packaging & Shelf Life | 16% | 10.0 | 10.0 |
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 | Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $13.00 | — |
| Best for | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster | A pocketable freeze-dried single origin, for a desk drawer or a bag |
| What sets it apart | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso | Freeze-dried Colombian single origin in a sachet, which almost no instant manages at once |
| Bean Type | — | 100% Arabica |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | — |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | 4.5 | 2.8 |
| Decaf in the range | ✕ | — |
| Direct Trade | ✕ | — |
| Dissolves in Cold Water | — | ✓ |
| Origin | — | Colombia |
| Preparation | Just add water or milk, per the box | — |
| Price per Serving | 2.60 USD | — |
| Process Method Note | — | Printed on the box as FREEZE-DRIED. |
| Resealable | ✕ | — |
| Roast Level | — | Medium |
| Roast Level Note | — | Printed on the box and on each sachet as medium roast. |
| Roaster Country | United States | — |
| Roaster Country Code | US | — |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | — |
| Servings per Pack | 5 | 8 |
| 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 | citrus |
| 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
Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles
- +Single origin Colombia, named, which almost nothing else in this category does
- +Freeze dried, 100% Arabica medium roast, published for hot or iced
- +Pre-measured sachets, so nothing is guessed
- −8 servings a pack, the fewest here
- −No certifications are claimed
- −No price is published for it here
Every specification, side by side
| Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $13.00 | — |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster | A pocketable freeze-dried single origin, for a desk drawer or a bag |
| What sets it apart | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso | Freeze-dried Colombian single origin in a sachet, which almost no instant manages at once |
| Specifications | ||
| Bean Type | — | 100% Arabica |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | — |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | 4.5 | 2.8 |
| Decaf in the range | ✕ | — |
| Direct Trade | ✕ | — |
| Dissolves in Cold Water | — | ✓ |
| Flavoured | Not flavoured | Not flavoured |
| Origin | — | Colombia |
| Packaging Type | Sachet | Sachet |
| 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 box as FREEZE-DRIED. |
| Resealable | ✕ | — |
| Roast Level | — | Medium |
| Roast Level Note | — | Printed on the box and on each sachet as medium roast. |
| Roaster Country | United States | — |
| Roaster Country Code | US | — |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | — |
| Servings per Pack | 5 | 8 |
| 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 | citrus |
| Tasting Notes Note | Intelligentsia's own words, printed on the box. | — |
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic vs Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles: common questions
Which is better, Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic or Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles?
Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles scores 9.5 against 8.2, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion.
Is Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic or Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles cheaper?
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic starts at $13.00, and Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles 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 Waka Colombian Medium Roast Instant Coffee Singles for?
A pocketable freeze-dried single origin, for a desk drawer or a bag
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