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Intelligentsia Coffee, Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee - Black Cat Espresso 12 Ounce Bag with Flavor Notes of Stone Fruit, Dark Sugars and Dark Chocolate
Brand | Intelligentsia |
Item Form | Whole Bean |
Flavor | Black Cat Classic Espresso, WB |
Caffeine Content Description | Caffeinated |
Roast Level | medium_roast |
About this item
- Contains one (1) 12 Ounce Bag of Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso Whole Bean Coffee. Packaging may vary for a limited time.
- Black Cat Classic Espresso: This syrupy sweet espresso blend has been the staple of our lineup since the very beginning. Supreme balance and a wonderful sweetness make our Black Cat Espresso truly a classic
- Direct Trade: Our commitment to direct trade allows us to cut out unnecessary importers and exporters, and enables us to truly partner with our growers to bring you the sweetest coffees in the world
- How to Brew: For espresso, we recommend a fine grind and your finished espresso should weigh 2.5 times as much as your coffee dose, which provides an excellent total extraction and maximizes flavor
- Seasonality: The components of our blends change throughout the year to incorporate new arrivals. We ensure freshness and optimize quality while the profiles remain consistent
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From the manufacturer
Black Cat Espresso | El Diablo | House | Organic El Gallo | House | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.0 out of 5 stars
2,282
|
4.2 out of 5 stars
1,458
|
4.3 out of 5 stars
952
|
4.2 out of 5 stars
1,458
|
4.3 out of 5 stars
159
|
Roast | Medium | Dark | Light | Light | Light |
Flavor Notes | Flavor Notes of Stone Fruit, Dark Sugars and Dark Chocolate | Flavor Notes of Blackstrap Molasses, Cola and Cacao | Flavor Notes of Milk Chocolate, Citrus, and Apple | Flavor Notes of Milk Chocolate, Honey and Cola | Flavor Notes of Milk Chocolate, Mandarin, and Apple |
Ground, Whole Bean, K-Cups | Whole Bean | Whole Bean | Ground, Whole Bean | Ground, Whole Bean | K-Cups |
Bag Sizes Available | 12oz | 12oz | 12oz | 11oz | |
Available in K-Cup Pods | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Organic | ✓ |
Product Description
Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic is our flagship espresso blend and has been a staple in our line since the day we opened back in 1995. Designed to be a manifestation of Intelligentsia’s style and substance, it's hallmarks are sweetness, cleanliness, and complexity. It's an 100% Arabica Coffee with notes of dark chocolate, ripe cherry and brown sugar. A perfect complement to that scone or a nice glazed donut. Our commitment to quality and our Direct Trade mission mean our blend origins change throughout the year to incorporate the freshest offerings. Since 1995, Intelligentsia has been placing a deep emphasis on sourcing the most exquisite coffee available on Earth, paying a fair price for that coffee, roasting it with purpose and precision, and connecting with the community, both in their hometown of Chicago and around the globe to help shape the coffee industry and deliver the most extraordinary coffees.
Product details
- Product Dimensions : 3.2 x 4.4 x 5.8 inches; 12 ounces
- Item model number : 510199
- UPC : 800222120124
- Manufacturer : Intelligentsia Coffee
- ASIN : B0055ZRUOO
- Country of Origin : USA
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,341 in Grocery & Gourmet Food (See Top 100 in Grocery & Gourmet Food)
- #62 in Roasted Coffee Beans
- Customer Reviews:
Compare with similar items
This Item Intelligentsia Coffee, Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee - Black Cat Espresso 12 Ounce Bag with Flavor Notes of Stone Fruit, Dark Sugars and Dark Chocolate | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $14.99$14.99 | $71.94$71.94 | $15.41$15.41 | $26.12$26.12 | $23.90$23.90 | -18% $9.83$9.83 Typical: $11.99 |
Price Per Unit | $1.25 / Ounce | $1.36 / Ounce | $0.86 / Ounce | $1.63 / Ounce | $0.68 / Ounce | $0.82 / Ounce |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Flavor | 2.7 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
Freshness | 2.7 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 3.5 |
Value for money | 2.6 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 3.7 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Ship & Save | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
flavor | Black Cat Classic Espresso, WB | Classico Medium Roast | French Roast | 454 Horse Power | Coffee | Dark Chocolate |
form | Whole Bean | Whole Bean | Whole Bean | Whole Bean | Whole Bean | Whole Bean |
caffeine content | Caffeinated | 200 | Caffeinated | caffeinated | Caffeine | caffeinated |
coffee roast level | medium roast | medium roast | dark roast | dark roast | medium roast | medium roast |
unit count | 12 | 52.8 | 18 | 16 | 35.2 | 12 |
weight | 12 ounces | 3.27 pounds | 18 ounces | 454 grams | 2.2 pounds | 12 ounces |
specialty | Organic, GMO Free | Preservatives Free | GMO Free, Kosher Certified, No Artificial Ingredients, Dairy Free, Gluten Free | Organic | Kosher Certified | Organic, Kosher Certified |
container type | Bag | Can | Bag | Bag | Packet | Bag |
Videos
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Important information
100% Arabica Coffee
Measure 2 tablespoons (10g) of ground coffee for each 6oz water (one cup on your coffee brewer). Brew, and enjoy!
Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the smoothness of the coffee, mentioning it's smooth with no bitterness. They say it has a thick, mouthy texture. However, some customers complain about the freshness of this coffee, saying it'd be acceptable if it was stale. Customers also have different opinions on quality, value, color, taste, and roast.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the smoothness of the coffee. They mention that it is so smooth, it makes very smooth espresso, and it has a thick, mouthy texture.
"...Great flavor; rich and smooth!!" Read more
"...It has a thick, mouthy texture. The beans smell strongly of smoky chocolate/truffle, almost cloyingly so. The taste is thick and sweet...." Read more
"...produces a perfect espresso... great crema, thick legs... smooth with no bitterness and a slight nut/chocolate finish...." Read more
"great tasting mid-range coffee that made very smooth espresso...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the taste of the coffee. Some mention that it has a good rich taste, while others say that it does not taste good and is very acidic.
"...Decided to try and pull a few shots anyway. Coffee came out extremely sour, by far the worst I've ever experienced...." Read more
"...Great flavor; rich and smooth!!" Read more
"Doesn’t taste as good as the one from the shop. But as close as you can get from home. Good buy." Read more
"...The taste is thick and sweet. I would recommend brewing for longer if possible to try and bring out more flavor.You get a 16 oz. (1 lb.)..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the coffee. Some mention that it makes good crema, while others say that the quality has been way off.
"...This is the best espresso bean coffee I have found...." Read more
"...all coming out super sour and acidic I can assure you these beans are not worth buying...." Read more
"...It’s not oily and ideal for coffee makers. It’s not super dark but dark enough and produces great coffee." Read more
"...Finally, this is not a terribly cremariffic espresso, which means to get a good amount of crema out of it, and thus really have a good canvas for..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the color of the coffee. Some mention that it has nice chocolate tones, while others say that the coffee beans are light colored and very dry, which made them question the freshness. Some customers also say that they received stale, blond, or orange coffee.
"...Great flavor; rich and smooth!!" Read more
"Beans were very dry and an extremely light color, some were a tan khaki color. Decided to try and pull a few shots anyway...." Read more
"...and chocolate, but it also has a spicy, savory nature to it, and very fruity notes that come out well in singles...." Read more
"...This bag of beans were very light in color and very dry. No oil at all left on them. They brewed ok, but not great due to the dryness...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the value of the product. Some say it's worth the price and worth it occasionally, while others say it is too expensive and not worth it.
"...RichExcellent for doubles and triplesCons:A bit expensiveMerely adequate for singlesOverall:..." Read more
"...Better than anything I have tried and a good price point." Read more
"...These are light and dry! Not acceptable for the price" Read more
"Really good coffee, decent price. But I’ve ordered 5 bags and each time one arrives, it’s around 2.5 months old. Will likely try another brand." Read more
Customers are mixed about the roast of the coffee. Some mention that it's a great medium roasted bean, makes great capuccinos, and is one of the most amazing roasters and blends around, while others say that it is bland, bitter, and under roasted for espresso beans.
"...This is NOT espresso roast. It’s a light/medium roast and half the time the roast date is a month or more old...." Read more
"...This bean produces a perfect espresso... great crema, thick legs... smooth with no bitterness and a slight nut/chocolate finish...." Read more
"Placed the coffee in a quart jar but noticed it was so slightly roasted I went ahead and made a cup immediately…...." Read more
"...been all over the place and the latest bag I received was bizarrely under roasted...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the freshness of the coffee. They mention that the beans were not stale, but certainly were not fresh either. Some say that the coffee was delivered expired.
"...UPDATE 7/30/2012: Purchased again from Amazon and the beans were about 2 months old...." Read more
"...beans have peak flavor in the first 10 days, and it slowly degrades until 30 days where the beans can no longer be considered fresh...." Read more
"...It was super stale, had no flavor and it's smell and overall impression was slightly cat urine-like...." Read more
"...The beans weren’t stale, but certainly weren’t fresh either. Not much aroma or taste for my espresso; however acceptable...." Read more
Customers are not happy with the dryness of the beans. They mention that the beans are dry and taste like rot.
"Beans were very dry and an extremely light color, some were a tan khaki color. Decided to try and pull a few shots anyway...." Read more
"...Espresso beans should be dark brown and oily. These are light and dry! Not acceptable for the price" Read more
"...one ... It almost tastes like it has a simple syrup in it... The beans were dry.. the only other espresso I've had is the Starbucks which is a lot..." Read more
"...The beans are surprisingly small and moist, so it took me a while to calibrate the grind...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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Despite the instructions for my French Press to brew for only 4 minutes, I found that I had to brew for longer to bring out the rich sweet chocolatey taste. I let it stew for at least 8 minutes, but 15 minutes tastes good too. Brewing this bean for only 4 minutes results in a relatively diluted, tasteless coffee. I use a ceramic grinder to grind the beans immediately before brewing.
It has a thick, mouthy texture. The beans smell strongly of smoky chocolate/truffle, almost cloyingly so. The taste is thick and sweet. I would recommend brewing for longer if possible to try and bring out more flavor.
You get a 16 oz. (1 lb.) bag for the price, so it ended up being $20+ after shipping.
From the forum reviews and suggestions I found out that the beans are not the same as they were prior so their good reviews may likely have come from the older variations.
Very complex
Rich
Excellent for doubles and triples
Cons:
A bit expensive
Merely adequate for singles
Overall:
I very much like Black Cat Espresso. I consider it the bar against which other espressos are measured. I like it more than Kicking Horse, Lavazza, and Stumptown. Its flavor profile is very complex. It has its fair share of caramel and chocolate, but it also has a spicy, savory nature to it, and very fruity notes that come out well in singles.
This is not a large-scale, homogenized coffee. Different regions and roasts result in different flavors from each bag. Sometimes that spiciness becomes a sort of salty flavor, and the fruits can turn very flowery. It is an easy espresso to make. Even shots that aren't perfect come out tasting pretty good. It's also a forgiving blend in that the shots are not prone to channeling.
Singles are good, because any good coffee becomes light and toasty in a single, as opposed to the rich, crema-bombs of doubles and triples. Still, this espresso is very much intended for doubles or triples.
In drip coffee, it's alright. And by drip, I mean any immersion process, be it French press, Aeropress, drip, pour-over, etc. The flavors get blown out, with the spices overwhelming the chocolates and caramels and resulting in a coffee that's not terribly smooth. Of the immersion processes, Aeropress tasted the best, probably because it most closely approximates espresso.
Black Cat is a bit expensive, but not terribly so. Especially when one considers the increases in coffee as of late, -even Starbucks Tribute was $14 per pound- the price isn't crippling, but it is definitely above many other brands. You can save a little money by buying in five-pound bulks on Intellgentsia's website, but it's not a good idea to keep coffee beans around for that long when you can just as easily get it fresh.
All said, Black Cat is espresso that more often than not finds its way into my machine.
UPDATE:
Something that I forgot to mention in my initial review is that Black Cat is a very complex blend. That means that cheap stepped grinders WILL NOT grind the coffee correctly for espresso. Some higher-end stepped grinders will do the job, like the Rancilio Rocky, but you'll want a good, stepless grinder to fine-tune the grind. This is especially important if you have an espresso machine that's very picky about grind.
Finally, this is not a terribly cremariffic espresso, which means to get a good amount of crema out of it, and thus really have a good canvas for latte art, you're going to have to prepare triples.
UPDATE #2 ABOUT WEIGHT:
It is very important to realize that the various sellers selling this are NOT SELLING THE SAME PRODUCT. The beans are the same, and most of the sellers are selling freshly-roasted beans. They are selling different weights, though. Need Caffeine is selling one-pound bags (16oz), whereas Trade Concepts and Abernook are selling 12oz bags for the same price.
If different sellers than the above mentioned become available, e-mail the seller to ask the weight of the bag. It's the only way to ensure that you are getting a full pound. This is supposed to be the product page for the full-pound bag. That's why there is a separate product page for the 120z bag. I am very disappointed in Trade Concepts and Abernook.
Top reviews from other countries
Please do not sell expired items. It is unethical and it showed the seller values money or profit over the customer’s well-being. I am very disappointed!!!
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