Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend vs Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend

The verdict

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

Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend

people who want apple + raw sugar from a direct trade roaster

Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend

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

CriterionWeightIntelligentsia Organic Decaf House BlendIntelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend
Freshness & Roast Date Transparency20%10.010.0
Sourcing Transparency & Ethics16%6.86.8
Value Per Kilo14%8.79.0
Packaging & Freshness Retention10%8.08.0

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 BlendIntelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend
Best forpeople who want apple + raw sugar from a direct trade roasterpeople who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster
What sets it apartOrganic and decaffeinated together on a single Mexican originOrganic Nicaraguan beans taken to French roast, the darkest Intelligentsia sell here
Decaf in the range✓✕
Decaffeinated✓—
Price per kg46.08 USD44.75 USD
Roast LevelMediumMedium-dark
Roast ProfileComfortingTraditional
Tasting NotesChocolate, lime, caramelized sugarMolasses, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate

Pros and cons

From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.

Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend
  • +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.
Full Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend review →
Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend
  • +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.
Full Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend review →

Every specification, side by side

Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House BlendIntelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend
Price
Price$18.50$18.50
Who it suits
Best forpeople who want apple + raw sugar from a direct trade roasterpeople who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster
What sets it apartOrganic and decaffeinated together on a single Mexican originOrganic Nicaraguan beans taken to French roast, the darkest Intelligentsia sell here
Specifications
Bag Sizes340 g (12 oz)340 g (12 oz)
Brew MethodsAutomatic DripAutomatic Drip
CertificationsOrganicOrganic
Decaf in the range✓✕
Direct Trade✓✓
Farm or Cooperative Named✕✕
FlavouredNot flavouredNot flavoured
Decaffeinated✓—
OriginMexicoMexico
Price per kg46.08 USD44.75 USD
Roast Date Printed✓✓
Roast LevelMediumMedium-dark
Roast ProfileComfortingTraditional
Roaster CountryUnited StatesUnited States
Roaster Country CodeUSUS
Roaster NamedIntelligentsia CoffeeIntelligentsia Coffee
SeasonalYear roundYear round
Ships toUS, worldwideUS, worldwide
Ships to NoteShips 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 structureBlendBlend
Subscription Available✓✓
Tasting NotesChocolate, lime, caramelized sugarMolasses, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate
Whole Bean or GroundWhole bean, GroundWhole 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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