Intelligentsia Coffee Subscription Review

What is Intelligentsia Coffee Subscription?

A Chicago roaster's own subscription, built around four rotating selections and two promises it puts in capitals: always roasted to order, always free shipping.

The four ways in are Intelligentsia's Choice, a rotating single origin picked by their coffee team; Intelligentsia Classics, which rotates monthly; Seasonal Select, which rotates by season; and the Black Cat Project, an espresso blend built for sweetness and cleanliness. Any favourite blend or espresso can also be put on repeat.

Intelligentsia describes building coffees with growers from the ground up rather than buying them at market, which is the sourcing claim behind the range. As with every roaster's own plan, the variety here is theirs rather than the market's.

What you get, and what it costs

From $18 for a 12 oz bag on Intelligentsia Classics, about $53 a kilo, with prices on each subscription's own page rather than on the subscriptions page.

The subscriptions page explains the four types and the perks and links through to each one, where the price is: Intelligentsia Classics $18 for 12 oz, the Black Cat Project $21 for 12 oz, Intelligentsia's Choice $23 for 10 oz and Seasonal Select $24 for 12 oz, with 5 lb sizes of each. Classics works out at about $52.94 a kilo, below Blue Bottle at about $64.71.

On top of that, new subscribers get 20% off the first four orders with code 20OFFFOUR, which is a longer runway than most and makes trying the service cheap.

How fresh is the coffee?

Always roasted to order, stated as one of three headline promises. This is the strongest freshness claim in the batch after Origin's next-day despatch.

Intelligentsia puts "ALWAYS ROASTED TO ORDER" in the same line as its free shipping promise, which makes it a commitment rather than marketing colour. Nothing is roasted to fill a shelf and wait for a buyer.

What is not given is a number: no days between roast and despatch, and no statement about a roast date on the bag. Origin publishes next-day despatch and remains the only subscription reviewed here that puts a figure on it. Roasting to order without a despatch figure is still a materially better position than Peet's or Blue Bottle, neither of which claims the sequence at all.

Can you cancel it?

Yes. Intelligentsia states there is no obligation and the subscription can be changed at any time.

The commitment language is unambiguous: no obligation, change at any time. No minimum number of deliveries is stated and no notice period is required, which puts Intelligentsia level with the rest of this category on the criterion carrying the most weight.

The controls are named in Intelligentsia's subscription FAQ. A skip order button in My Subscriptions skips the next delivery, and the change date feature moves it to any future date, which Intelligentsia describes as the way to pause for longer.

There is no money-back guarantee stated.

Intelligentsia vs Blue Bottle

Two respected roasters running their own plans, both with free shipping. Intelligentsia roasts to order and costs less per kilo.

The two are close in intent and differ in what each will commit to. Blue Bottle starts at $22 for 12 oz and says nothing about when the coffee is roasted. Intelligentsia starts at $18 for 12 oz and promises roasting to order. Both include shipping and both let you leave at will.

On range they are similar, around twenty subscriptions at Blue Bottle against four rotating types plus any blend at Intelligentsia. On sourcing Intelligentsia says more, describing coffees designed with growers rather than bought at market.

Per kilo that is about $53 against about $65. Between two roasters of this standing, the deciding factor is usually which coffee you prefer, and both are easy enough to leave that trying one costs little.

Is Intelligentsia worth it?

Yes. It roasts to order, ships free, prices below Blue Bottle per kilo and names every control a subscriber needs.

Free shipping and roasted-to-order are the two things worth paying for in this category, and Intelligentsia commits to both without conditions. The 20% off the first four orders is a genuinely long trial. The sourcing story is more substantial than most.

The one thing to know is where the price lives: on each subscription's own page, not on the page that explains them. Pick the type first, and the price is one click away.

Who should subscribe (and who should not)

Subscribe for the roasting promise and the price. Look elsewhere if you want other roasters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is an Intelligentsia subscription?

From $18 for a 12 oz bag of Intelligentsia Classics, $21 for the Black Cat Project, $23 for 10 oz of Intelligentsia's Choice and $24 for Seasonal Select. New subscribers get 20% off their first four orders with code 20OFFFOUR.

Is shipping free with an Intelligentsia subscription?

Yes. Free shipping on subscriptions is stated as one of three standing promises, with no spend threshold attached.

Is Intelligentsia coffee roasted to order?

Yes. "Always roasted to order" is stated on the subscriptions page as a standing promise, which is a stronger commitment than most roasters here make.

Can I cancel an Intelligentsia subscription at any time?

Yes. There is no obligation, and from My Subscriptions you can skip an order, move the next one to any future date to pause for longer, or change the subscription, with no minimum number of deliveries.

What is the Black Cat Project?

An espresso subscription. Each order sends an espresso blend built by Intelligentsia's coffee team, on the premise that only the best coffees make the best espresso.

What is the difference between the four subscription types?

Intelligentsia's Choice is a rotating single origin picked by their team, Intelligentsia Classics rotates monthly, Seasonal Select rotates by season, and the Black Cat Project is espresso. Any individual blend can also be put on repeat.