--- product_id: 717954315 title: "Black Cat Classic Espresso, Whole Bean Coffee, 12-Ounce" brand: "intelligentsia" price: "213.88 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 6 category: "Intelligentsia" url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/717954315-black-cat-classic-espresso-whole-bean-coffee-12-ounce store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # 12 oz whole bean bag Direct Trade, organic & GMO-free Medium roast, balanced sweetness Black Cat Classic Espresso, Whole Bean Coffee, 12-Ounce **Brand:** intelligentsia **Price:** 213.88 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > ☕ Elevate your espresso game with the iconic Black Cat blend — where sweetness meets sophistication. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Black Cat Classic Espresso, Whole Bean Coffee, 12-Ounce by intelligentsia - **How much does it cost?** 213.88 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/717954315-black-cat-classic-espresso-whole-bean-coffee-12-ounce) ## Best For - intelligentsia enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted intelligentsia brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Ethically Elevated:** Direct Trade sourcing ensures premium quality while supporting coffee growers worldwide. - • **Savor the Sweetness:** Syrupy sweet espresso with cherry, cola & orange notes for a complex flavor journey. - • **Barista-Approved Brew:** Optimized grind & extraction recommendations for a flawless espresso experience every time. - • **Freshness You Can Trust:** Seasonal blend updates keep your espresso consistently fresh and vibrant all year round. - • **Perfectly Balanced Roast:** Medium roast level delivers a clean, smooth cup with just the right acidity punch. ## Overview Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso is a 12-ounce bag of whole bean coffee featuring a medium roast with a syrupy sweet profile highlighted by cherry, cola, and orange notes. Sourced through Direct Trade, this certified organic and GMO-free blend supports ethical farming while delivering a balanced, clean, and complex espresso experience. Its seasonal blend adjustments ensure freshness and consistent quality, making it a favorite among specialty coffee enthusiasts and professional baristas alike. ## Description Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso 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. Notes of cherry, cola, and orange provide a syrupy sweet flavor profile that is perfect for specialty coffee lovers looking to explore the sweeter side of espresso Review: Old product - Old production Review: Love it. Sharing thoughts and my recipe below. - It's a bit surprising to see the negative reviews about age and flavor. To be fair, I only had one bag so far, which I bought that a local "Wholepaycheck Market", so perhaps I was just lucky. Age of beans, presentation: The roasting date was about 4 months prior, but the beans smelled extremely good. Almost like they are "cheating", whatever that would mean. Also, there was nothing stale in the taste of the cups. Expiration date was set well in the future. I think that the packaging is just adequate for the beans to last beyond the often expected 2-weeks. Whoever wants that should not buy coffee on desertcart, but only go to local roasters, or perhaps order from let's say Touchy Coffee for $28/12oz. The coffee: Roast level is medium-light, just like the packaging promises. As mentioned above, the beans are very delightfully fragrant. I tried some pour-overs which where ok. I am also not very good at those. But in my Espresso machine for milk based flat whites, the coffee turned out amazing. Sort of like a medium roast that has a bit of that acidity punch of light roasts. But not disturbing at all. It really composed to an incredibly well balanced cup. My recipe: BIT Renato 21g filter basket. 17.2g coffee + puck screen. About 1:1.6 ratio (let's say 27-28g), and slow flowing! For some reason I got my favorite results when the flow time was 30 seconds or longer, measured from the moment that the machine button was pressed. You could say that I am preparing it like a darker roast. Looking forward to experimenting with larger rations when I open the next bag. ## Features - Contains one (1) 12 Ounce Bag of Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso Whole Bean Coffee - 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 ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B0055ZRUOO | | Best Sellers Rank | #43,755 in Grocery ( See Top 100 in Grocery ) #371 in Roasted Whole Coffee Beans | | Brand | Intelligentsia | | Brand Name | Intelligentsia | | Caffeine Content Description | Caffeinated | | Certificate Type | USDA | | Coffee Blend Name | Black Cat Classic | | Coffee Roast Level | Medium Roast | | Coffee Type | Coffee Bean | | Container Type | Bag | | Country as Labeled | United States | | Customer Reviews | 4.0 out of 5 stars 2,428 Reviews | | Diet Type | Paleo | | Each Unit Count | 1 | | Flavor | Black Cat Classic | | Flavour | Black Cat Classic | | Global Trade Identification Number | 00800222120124 | | Item Dimensions | 8.1 x 11.2 x 14.7 centimeters | | Item Form | Whole Bean | | Item Package Weight | 0.36 Kilograms | | Item Type Name | roasted-coffee-beans | | Item Volume | 354.88 Milliliters | | Item Weight | 12 Ounces | | Item form | Whole Bean | | Manufacturer | Intelligentsia | | Model Number | 510199 | | Number of Items | 1 | | Number of Pieces | 12 | | Package Size Name | 12-Ounce | | Package information | Bag | | Part Number | 12262 | | Product Shelf Life | 270 Days | | Roasting level | Medium Roast | | Size | 340 g (Pack of 1) | | Special Ingredients | Cocoa, Turbinado Sugar | | Specialty | Certified Organic, GMO Free | | Sweetness Description | Very Sweet | | UPC | 800222120124 | | Unit Count | 12.0 Ounce | | Variety | Colombian, Ethiopian, Kenyan | ## Product Details - **Brand:** Intelligentsia - **Caffeine Content Description:** Caffeinated - **Flavour:** Black Cat Classic - **Item form:** Whole Bean - **Roasting level:** Medium Roast ## Images ![Black Cat Classic Espresso, Whole Bean Coffee, 12-Ounce - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81rT8et1NAL.jpg) ## Questions & Answers **Q: how fresh is this coffee?** A: Not fresh. I received a bag on January 21 that was roasted on Nov. 24 and expires on February 22 - so 2 months old, which I would never buy in the store. It tastes stale and the shots are very quick and blond. I love this coffee when its fresh, but this will go in the garbage. What a waste. **Q: How many ounces? I can't believe you didn't put the weight in the product description.** A: Its a 10 oz bag, or at least that's what I received when I purchased it. It's really fantastic coffee as long as you treat it right (french press, drip, or espresso machine) Highly recommend! **Q: My bag says "Roasted 3/11" - I hope that doesn't mean March 2011?? Any idea how they date their bags?** A: I have been brewing Intelligentsia Black Cat for years and it never has a roasted date or sell by date on the bag that I can remember. But I guarantee you that it was fresh you are probably doing something wrong. Six years old really?!!! **Q: How fresh have your beans been on average?** A: The one time I ordered it from amazon it was months old. The roast date is printed on the bag. I now only order directly from intelligentsia because they roast the coffee beans to order. Costs more but tastes better. If you guaranteed the roast date, I would consider buying thru you again. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐ Old product *by M***D on 16 June 2026* Old production ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love it. Sharing thoughts and my recipe below. *by B***. on 10 June 2026* It's a bit surprising to see the negative reviews about age and flavor. To be fair, I only had one bag so far, which I bought that a local "Wholepaycheck Market", so perhaps I was just lucky. Age of beans, presentation: The roasting date was about 4 months prior, but the beans smelled extremely good. Almost like they are "cheating", whatever that would mean. Also, there was nothing stale in the taste of the cups. Expiration date was set well in the future. I think that the packaging is just adequate for the beans to last beyond the often expected 2-weeks. Whoever wants that should not buy coffee on Amazon, but only go to local roasters, or perhaps order from let's say Touchy Coffee for $28/12oz. The coffee: Roast level is medium-light, just like the packaging promises. As mentioned above, the beans are very delightfully fragrant. I tried some pour-overs which where ok. I am also not very good at those. But in my Espresso machine for milk based flat whites, the coffee turned out amazing. Sort of like a medium roast that has a bit of that acidity punch of light roasts. But not disturbing at all. It really composed to an incredibly well balanced cup. My recipe: BIT Renato 21g filter basket. 17.2g coffee + puck screen. About 1:1.6 ratio (let's say 27-28g), and slow flowing! For some reason I got my favorite results when the flow time was 30 seconds or longer, measured from the moment that the machine button was pressed. You could say that I am preparing it like a darker roast. Looking forward to experimenting with larger rations when I open the next bag. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved this coffee, *by B***7 on 2 May 2024* Actually a really nice coffee, perfect taste ## Frequently Bought Together - Intelligentsia Coffee, Light Roast Whole Bean Coffee - Black Cat Classic Espresso 12 Ounce Bag - Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Hair Bender - Whole Bean Coffee - 12 Ounce Bag, Flavor Notes of Citrus and Dark Chocolate - Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Medium Roast Organic Whole Bean Coffee - Holler Mountain 12 Ounce Bag with Flavor Notes of Citrus Zest, Caramel and Hazelnut --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/717954315-black-cat-classic-espresso-whole-bean-coffee-12-ounce](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/717954315-black-cat-classic-espresso-whole-bean-coffee-12-ounce) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-08-11*