Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend vs Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend

Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend is narrowly ahead, 8.5 to Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend's 8.3. It leads on value per kilo.
Who each one suits
people who want apple + raw sugar from a direct trade roaster
people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster
Scores higher on value per kilo.
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 Organic Decaf House Blend | Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshness & Roast Date Transparency | 20% | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Sourcing Transparency & Ethics | 16% | 6.8 | 6.8 |
| Value Per Kilo | 14% | 8.7 | 9.0 |
| Packaging & Freshness Retention | 10% | 8.0 | 8.0 |
What each one costs
| Price | $18.50 | $18.50 |
| Cost per kg The figure that decides what the choice costs over a year, not on the day. | $46.08/kg | $44.75/kg |
Where they differ
Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.
| Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend | Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | people who want apple + raw sugar from a direct trade roaster | people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster |
| What sets it apart | Organic and decaffeinated together on a single Mexican origin | Organic Nicaraguan beans taken to French roast, the darkest Intelligentsia sell here |
| Decaf in the range | ✓ | ✕ |
| Decaffeinated | ✓ | — |
| Price per kg | 46.08 USD | 44.75 USD |
| Roast Level | Medium | Medium-dark |
| Roast Profile | Comforting | Traditional |
| Tasting Notes | Chocolate, lime, caramelized sugar | Molasses, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate |
Pros and cons
From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.
- +Water process rather than solvent decaffeination, which is the more expensive and better method.
- +Organic certification and Direct Trade on a decaf, which almost no roaster bothers with.
- +Only a dollar over the caffeinated House Blend, a smaller decaf premium than usual.
- +Named origin and published roast and flavour profile, same as the caffeinated range.
- −Decaffeination costs any coffee some of its aromatics, whatever the method.
- −The only decaf in the range, so there is no choice of roast or origin.
- −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg to keep fresh.
- +Organic certification and Direct Trade on a dark roast, which is rare on a specialty menu.
- +The roast intention stated plainly as extended roasting for a semi-sweet, heavy body.
- +Single named country of origin behind the darkest blend they sell.
- +Only a dollar over the entry blends despite two certifications.
- −A French roast narrows what any coffee can show, however carefully it is done.
- −Filed for drip, so it is not the bag for an espresso machine despite the depth.
- −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg to keep fresh.
Every specification, side by side
| Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend | Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $18.50 | $18.50 |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | people who want apple + raw sugar from a direct trade roaster | people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster |
| What sets it apart | Organic and decaffeinated together on a single Mexican origin | Organic Nicaraguan beans taken to French roast, the darkest Intelligentsia sell here |
| Specifications | ||
| Bag Sizes | 340 g (12 oz) | 340 g (12 oz) |
| Brew Methods | Automatic Drip | Automatic Drip |
| Certifications | Organic | Organic |
| Decaf in the range | ✓ | ✕ |
| Direct Trade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Farm or Cooperative Named | ✕ | ✕ |
| Flavoured | Not flavoured | Not flavoured |
| Decaffeinated | ✓ | — |
| Origin | Mexico | Mexico |
| Price per kg | 46.08 USD | 44.75 USD |
| Roast Date Printed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roast Level | Medium | Medium-dark |
| Roast Profile | Comforting | Traditional |
| Roaster Country | United States | United States |
| Roaster Country Code | US | US |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | Intelligentsia Coffee |
| Seasonal | Year round | Year round |
| Ships to | US, worldwide | US, worldwide |
| 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. | Ships internationally as well as within the US. The roaster does not publish a country list, and import duties fall to the buyer. |
| Origin structure | Blend | Blend |
| Subscription Available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tasting Notes | Chocolate, lime, caramelized sugar | Molasses, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate |
| Whole Bean or Ground | Whole bean, Ground | Whole bean, Ground |
Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend vs Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend: common questions
Which is better, Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend or Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend?
Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend scores 8.5 against 8.3, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion.
Is Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend or Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend cheaper?
Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend starts at $18.50, and Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend at $18.50. Per kg they work out at $46.08/kg and $44.75/kg.
Who is Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend for?
people who want apple + raw sugar from a direct trade roaster
Who is Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend for?
people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster
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