Ethiopia Alaka Natural
Single Origin
NaturalLight
Cherrybook Index
62sparse
Evidence-of-quality score, not a cup score. Sparse signal: 2 of 7 signals on file. Methodology
Price position
$2.60/oz$26.00 for 283g
this lot $2.60$1.88$3.04
Typical band for this profile $1.88 to $3.04 (Ethiopia natural single-origin lots (other named varieties, retail bags); USD listings; light roast in stock). Where it sits
Catalog summary
A natural lot from Guji, Ethiopia, not yet indexed (2 of 7 signals on file) and priced inside the typical band for its listed profile.
Based on the listing and catalog evidence
Affiliate link; we may earn a small commission. Price and availability set by the roaster. Disclosure.
Roasts to order · ships in ~3d
Your bag is roasted after you order; expect a short delay before it ships, but it arrives as fresh as the roaster can make it.
“signature blends, roasted to order” source ↗
Cherrybook last checked this listing today.
Roaster’s notes
blackberry · plum · tangerine
- Fruit
- Citrus
Open the flavor wheel
Mapped from the roaster’s tasting notes to the SCA flavor wheel; Cherrybook’s interpretation of the stated notes, not the roaster’s own categorization.

- Origin
- Guji, ET
- Producer
- METAD
- Farm / Co-op
- Hambela Alaka Station
- Process
- Natural
- Altitude
- 1900–2200 m
- Varietals
- Heirloom
- Harvest
- 2025
- Weight
- 283g
- Bag price
- $26.00
- Price / oz
- $2.60/oz
- Brew
- filter, espresso
from the roaster’s storeread by Cherrybook from the listing“estimated” below = inferred, not stated
Price contextmodeled
A modeled range and current prices for comparable listings.
$2.60/oz
typically $1.88 to $3.04
Where it sits
36 Ethiopia natural single-origin lots (other named varieties, retail bags); USD listings; light roast in stock
typical band this lot
92nd percentile of 36 Ethiopia natural single-origin lots (other named varieties, retail bags); USD listings; light roast in stock right now.
What moves this price
cheaper×1.00pricier
- High altitude (2050 m)×1.08
- Roaster brand and sourcing×1.07
- Light roast×1.06
- Natural process×1.04
How this estimate works
A statistical model, refit weekly across the in-stock catalog, estimates what a coffee with these listed attributes typically sells for per ounce. Each multiplier compares one trait against the average lot in this market; the roaster line covers brand and sourcing together, which this model cannot separate. Bag size is shown separately, priced at the rate observed across sizes of the same coffee, because it says nothing about the coffee itself. The distribution counts every in-stock listing in the comparison group, with at least 15 listings from three roasters and no roaster supplying more than 60% of it. Decaf, blends, variety segments, processing families and bag formats stay separate. Origin, roast and selling currency can broaden as the group label indicates. Prices are converted to USD per ounce; shipping and differences in tax treatment are not adjusted. The model reads listed attributes only: the quality of the specific lot in the bag is not observable, so a price above the typical band is not evidence of overpricing.
Cherrybook Index (CBI)
Evidence-of-quality score, not a cup score. Methodology
62
Sparse signal
Confidence2 of 7 signals on file
Score is heavily shrunk toward 50; treat as a placeholder until more sources arrive.
How confidence affects the score
Coverage measures signal availability, not cup quality. This coffee has 23% of the signal universe on file. Missing sources are dropped, remaining weights are renormalized, and the result is shrunk toward a neutral 50 baseline by 43% so one thin signal cannot carry the score on its own.
The math on file: renormalized base 73.7 shrunk to 63.6 + bonuses = 62.
Missing: SCA grade, Coffee Review, YouTube reviews, On-shop ratings, Cherrybook ratings
- 80/ 22% weightRoaster transparencyProducer / farm / lot disclosure depth
- 72/ 78% weightReddit sentimentSentiment across specialty-coffee discussion
Bonuses applied
- +2Sprudge press coverageThis roaster has been featured by Sprudge
- +1Editorial coverage clusterThis roaster has 3+ recent editorial mentions across trade press
- +-5Stale-stock demotionThis lot has been listed in stock for an extended time; specialty coffee freshness degrades over weeks
Sensory profileestimated
- Acidity
- 4
- Body
- 3
- Sweetness
- 4
- Balance
- 4
- Clean
- 4
Comps & alternatives
Tasting flight
Compare this with three more lots selected from the catalog.
Brew a set side-by-side. The picks vary along axes that pair with this lot; origin, process, roast, or producer; so you learn the difference, not just drink four good cups.
Reference · About the varietal & origin
About Intelligentsia Coffee
Community reputation · Reddit
Well-regarded· sentiment 72/100
Two Reddit contributions give Intelligentsia Coffee a positive but qualified picture. One commenter praised the brews at a Chicago location. A home brewer found older Intelligentsia beans good but slightly ashy when steeped too long.
Chicago brewshome brewingroast character
Threads cited (2)
- r/pourover · 36↑ · The original Intelligentsia location is now mainly using Aeropress…
The bigger Intelligentsia location in the loop uses a pour steady to make up to ~4 V60 at once. These machines are crazy expensive, so I’m guessing they don’t want to proliferate them. They make great brews though. I do hope Intelli can make a better AP than me. I’m useless with that thing.
- r/Coffee · 20↑ · Sour vs stale, and different types of stale?
...o long ago vs. ground too long ago staleness have different stale flavors. My timeline of realization went like this: Early December- gifted a bag of roasted in October Intelligentsia beans, put them in the freezer knowing I would get a good grinder soon. Mid December- bought some specialty coffee locally about 5 da
Press · Sprudge
- The Collar Club, A Luxury Dog Spa Cafe In West Hollywood With Intelligentsia Coffee2025-06-10·sprudge
Pooches and pour-overs.
- Here’s The Greatest Coffee Tiramisu Recipe Ever (Featuring Intelligentsia Coffee + Snapchill)2024-05-31·sprudge
How to make a tiramisu with Intelligentsia Cold Coffee and Biscoff cookies.
On YouTube
7 videos · 23573k combined views
Intelligentsia Coffee has 3 videos on their channel; 4 videos come from outside reviewers (Team Coco, 12 for 12, Lets Get Lexi (Alexis Pence), and others).
From Intelligentsia Coffee
Coverage from others
- 23529k views
Conan Takes Jordan Schlansky Coffee Tasting | CONAN on TBS
Team Coco
- 26k views
12 for 12 - Episode 8: Intelligentsia Coffee
12 for 12
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Lets Get Lexi (Alexis Pence)
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