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Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
3123 N Broadway(between Barry Ave & Briar Pl)
Chicago, IL 60657
Neighbourhood: Lakeview
(773) 348-8058
- Nearest Transit:
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Belmont (Brown Line, Purple Line, Red Line)
Wellington (Brown Line, Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6:30 am - 9 pm
Fri 6:30 am - 10 pm
Sat 7 am - 10 pm
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Javier O. said: "A great place to sit back and enjoy some great coffee, along with some yummy edibles. The retro feeling and decor adds alot to the experience, as well. I've always enjoyed coming in, but it can get very busy, but that's not uncommon…" read more »
358 reviews for Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea
Review Highlights
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"I got an iced latte and delicious vanilla cupcake." In 72 reviews -
"Best baristas, best flavor, best beans." In 50 reviews -
"Every cup is made fresh to order." In 9 reviews
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358 reviews in English
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Review from Vincent K.
San Francisco, CA
5/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
If I lived in Chicago, I'd probably come here a lot. It's got all the tells of a finer established Blue Bottle or Four Barrel from SF.
They've got a very light and smooth yet distinguished flavor espresso. I had the macchiato and realized I had to slow my sips since it was tasting so good. And the place is awesome with the cushioned seats in the back and just an all over inviting feel. Great place to study, meet up, have a conversation, and with a friendly staff who look like they know what they're doing, I dig this place. -
Review from Joy W.
Chicago, IL
4/13/2012
My ideal of a coffee shop is a nice comfortable place you can go to peacefully sip a cup of great coffee, maybe eat some food, read a good book, or have a nice intimate conversation. This coffee shop fails on nearly all of these fronts. The coffee is very inconsistent: some days it's great, other days it's weirdly acidic. The food is absurd. Just forget about it. I ordered a yogurt today and paid THREE DOLLARS for it. And it wasn't even very good. Reading is basically pointless or impossible since the music is loud and obtrusive. The chairs are uncomfortable and the sparse design of the room seems to amplify noise. This place really does seem more about fashion. It's like a fast food coffee shop--totally frenzied! There are plenty of other places that sell organic and fair trade coffee (without inflating their prices to make you feel good). I would suggest walking down Broadway a little further to Loose Leaf Lounge if your ideals and desires regarding what a coffee shop should be are at all related to mine.
On the upside, the baristas who work there are really nice and helpful and seem super cool. Also, for me, it's the closest place to get decent coffee. So, that's a plus. I guess. -
Review from Matt W.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2012
I hadn't been to this place for a while because it can be difficult to find a seat if you want to study and if you're not biking, good luck parking. Also I've felt that their lattes can be somewhat inconsistent. So anyway, I thought I'd try a little early and pedal on over this past weekend. Surprisingly enough there were plenty of spots to plop down a laptop, but really that's not the real reason anyone comes here.
I had a pour over that came with a bag of beans. I go to coffee shops all the time, and that was an amazing cup of coffee. Sometimes the filter can pull out the subtle complexities in a cup of joe. Not so with this pour. The brew had a medium body and notes of dark cherries blended with the earthiness and bitter roast. As the coffee scene evolved, intelligentsia has too. -
Review from Monica G.
Manhattan, NY
5/22/2012
I am sitting in Intelligentsia right now. I have the organic tea (tastes like peonies. luxurious.) It's been brewed for me, not served with some ridiculous bag sitting in it. It was served at drinking temperature, too. This is important because it won't scorch the delicate tea.
I can't really review the booze or the coffee, but it's nice and peaceful to sit here and work in the morning. -
Review from Jenn S.
Chicago, IL
5/22/2012
I'm so confused why people pay $3.75 for a large coffee. Shouldn't it be free because the baristas are assholes and the cashier is a rude bitch?
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Review from Caroline M.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2012
Their coffee rocks the house.
I don't know about you, but I feel extra fancy when my latte is handed to me with a design in the foam. How do they do that?! Love it.
What I don't love is paying $4.25 for a small. I don't even wanna know how much a large is...*sigh* The things I do for love, aka coffee. -
Review from Khadijah L.
Chicago, IL
3/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great barista, so so so loud, awful smelling bathrooms.
So, coffee is a diuretic and makes you want to pee but you don't want to use the bathrooms here. Intelligentsia paradox.Listed in: Coffee shops
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Review from Greg M.
Near North Side, Chicago, IL
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great cup of coffee! Staff was really knowledgable (or sounded like it at least since I know nothing about coffee!). When I asked what coffee of the day they had the barista went into great detail about what I was about to drink which was much appreciated! And they served it in a cute platter too!
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Review from Jon H.
Houston, TX
5/9/2012
If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. It's significantly better than any cup of coffee I have ever had and it's a noticeable difference beginning with the very first sip you take. Every time I visit Chicago, I make time for Intelligentsia...it's that good.
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Review from Grace S.
Updated - 4/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
I ordered a pound of beans and they forgot to send me a shipping confirm so they sent me my bag free of charge overnight! amazing. I love brewing the house blend at home--1/4 cup of beans per half cup of coffee with a couple of TBs of 2% milk. heavenly!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/18/2012
lovelovelovelovelove. free cup along w purchase of a 12 oz. bag of beans. i love this coffee so… Read more »
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Review from John G.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/8/2012
Still generally like this place but all the negatives are still there (bad internal layout, lack of seating, poor selection of pastries). However, I have been noticing another negative - it's COLD inside!
I guess this is not as much of a problem if it's cold outside too because you can put on your coat and you usually have a heavier shirt or sweater, but still...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/21/2012
A coffee shop in Chicago that ALMOST gets it!
You'd think that SOMEONE in a city as big, rich, and… Read more »
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Review from Stan T.
Chicago, IL
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Intelligentsia is synonymous with the local coffee scene here in Chicago; this is for a good reason. Inty takes their coffee seriously, and you can tell that by the fact that there are no drip machines in the shop: they make all of their coffees via pour-over, which is why the cups cost more. The atmosphere in the [original] Broadway location is very energetic, and it could actually be hard to find a seat sometimes - be warned!
Anyone interested in tasting what Chicago has to offer with local coffee (although I'm biased, I'll go ahead and say that we have one of the best coffee scenes in the States).
That said, I'd also say that it is well worth trying other local roasters around. As much as I love their coffee, I'd say that there are tastier coffee roasters in town - just do a little bit of yelping to learn about other shops in the area and pay them a visit. That's my humble opinion. -
Review from First L.
Chicago, IL
3/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you are decaf person (and you know who you are) try the decaf espresso beans from Intelligensia Coffee. Best decaf beans!
Bonus: Free cup of coffee with each bag purchased! -
Review from Chelsea B.
Saint Louis, MO
2/13/2012
I am not even close to cool enough for Intelligentsia.
That being said, I did enjoy myself while I was there. I am a tea person all the way, but my Chicago friend bought me a cappuccino and I will say it was one of the best I've ever had. That's saying something for a certified coffee hater.
My lack of coffee knowledge means I can't comment on their methods of dripping/grinding/roasting/what have you, but based on the serious looks on their faces and the intense mechanisms they had going I can tell you they're not joking around. Aside from the coffee, the space is bright and clean and modern and the clientele and staff are the best looking Chicagoans I have ever seen on multiple trips to the city. So there's that.
All in all I just don't take anything... coffee, my outfit, the book I brought so you can't miss the cover... seriously enough for Intelligentsia to be my kind of place. But if you're searching for beautiful people and serious coffee I'd say this place epitomizes both.Listed in: Chicago for Tourists
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Review from Kevin H.
1/13/2012 3 Check-ins Here
On my last visit, I had a cup of coffee that was "kill the barista" good. Yes, that good. If you are a Robert Rodriguez fan and enjoy pork pibil you will understand this quip. If not schmmoogle him and pibil, get a deadly recipe and add his movie to your queue.
Okay so maybe I am exaggerating, but not much. The coffee is always spot on. Great joint to sample and then buy your bunch of beans, and by bunch I mean enough to last you a week. Staff is always happy to chat about the glorious bean choices and they have always been happy to dig for my coveted stash. Buy any more than that and you are...well...dead to me.
Come in the spring and summer, grab a toddy and hang outside and watch the parade. In winter there is still a parade, but it is bundled up and not as worthy.
Which brings me to the online ordering. Easy, painless and worth every penny to enjoy killer coffees. Just don't kill the Fedex person in your glee when he drops it on your doorstep. -
Review from Michael H.
Austin, TX
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
On a recent visit to Chicago, I may have found my new favorite coffee shop. Below are some highlights of this store:
- The best latte I've ever had
- Friendly and knowledgable staff
- Modern and comfortable interior
- Pour-over coffee
- Located in a great neighborhood
- Great people watching
- They sell coffee by the pound and many coffee accessories
This place sets the standard for quality coffee. -
Review from Robin M.
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Jesus once told me that he wants me to have good coffee as much as possible. Seriously. Okay, I made that up.
I love Intelligentsia coffee; the vanilla latter is amazing. Some of their treats are so good. That cheese danish thing was crazy good. Oh, and once I had a pot of tea and it was lovely.
What I am less enamoured with is the "vibe" in their Broadway shop. Can't put my finger on it yet. Perhaps it is the snarky glares you get when you try to chat in there. Sorry, but it doesn't say Intelligentcia Library on the door. Then, when a friend and I were sitting in there talking, one of the employees reached over us and grabbed our dishes. It was sort of stunning. When we bristled, he looked quite annoyed. Well, we weren't done yet. Perhaps had he noticed the COFFEE still in the cups, and our on-going conversation, he might have put all that together. Left a bad taste.
So it is delicious coffee, to be sure. And I as much as anybody want a low-key vibe when I coffee. But I really won't take the trek down there, and don't stop in unless I happen to be in the neighborhood. Now though I just get my stuff to go and enjoy it on my way home. Not because it's not fantastic, but because it feels rather hinky in there. -
Review from Blake M.
Chicago, IL
12/18/2011 25 Check-ins Here
It's time to give Intelligentsia some love. First, the obvious - at this point everyone knows they take pride in crafting all of their drinks by hand. Be it a cup of a specific coffee bean imported from a specific exotic locale by a specific airline and importer (I prefer Ethiopian dark roast imported by UPS and United Airlines) or their espresso drinks, which are always delivered thoughtfully with an espresso art leaf on top (the least creative espresso art, but I digress), their coffee is top notch.
This, however, leads us to the paradox of the food world. Good food (and, in this case, beverages) leads to hoards of people coming in and jamming up the place. I want to have my neighborhood secret coffee place! You just can't have a place serving top notch coffee in a caffeine-addicted densely populated section of Lakeview and not have it be packed. Such is life. At this point I realize it is mostly hopeless to get a seat amongst the huge group of people that seem to have been doing work on their laptops since the last time I came in and get my coffee to go.
The ambiance is very hipster. Noticeably so, to the point where every barista in a casual hip vest, every patron with a large beard, edgy fedora, and vintage (or fake vintage?) plaid shirt do nothing but enunciate my clean-shaven yuppy appearance. When I am waiting behind a gaggle of Lakeview's most thoughtfully dressed people, I find the wait maddening, like the narrator from 'The Tell-tale Heart.' All these people, gathering, sipping coffee, working on their laptops... the wait is enough to make me screan, "I drink Starbucks in the loop every day during the week!"
Well, I'm glad I got that off my chest. Move along people, nothing to see here.Listed in: My new hood
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Review from Sam K.
Minneapolis, MN
1/7/2012
I ain't gonna read the review of others before writing this. This is short and simple. High-end beans, roasting technique is superb, I've tried it all and yes--its that good.
BUT....why does it always seem pretentious/snooty in this shop? I Haven't been to the Cali location yet. -
Review from Maureen S.
Chicago, IL
1/20/2012
Some of the best coffee you can get in the Midwest. Seriously fresh, delicious stuff. Unlike some other shops in the city who charge just as much buck for less bang, Intelligentsia is worth every ding dang penny.
Go here, get a bunch of caffeine in you, and get all your work done. Have a nice day. -
Review from Sam R.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
intelligentsia, I consider myself a coffee conesieur. When it comes to a finely made coffee from Mexico I dont have to put sugar in or a mocha I will guiltily sip with relish before my morning shift- I come to you. It had become tradition, you and I, really: I woke up at 5 and left my house by 5:45. Then you and I rung in the day at 6:00 sharp with a hearty laugh and a latte's embrace. After that, at 6:50, I'd reluctantly leave for work vowing to return.
Now, our schedules don't coincide. And its not me, it's you. I didnt realize how much your changed hours to a 6:30 open time would affect me until my customers started griping about it, and I, too, was turned away by a locked door this very morning. I imagined the barista -staring at me from inside- cackling maniacly at my painful realization. Of course he wasn't actually cackling, and in fact all he did was glance at me as I threw a Red Eye at the unpermitting door, but I digress.
Intelligentsia... You've hurt me. Please make it up to me.
Love,
Your old "drinking buddy"
(You remember me, don't cha??) -
Review from Wayne W.
Marshall, MI
4/6/2012
This is the best coffee consistently that I drink. I no longer live in Chicago, but stop by each time I do. They are known for their quality; the estate coffees and their espresso beans are what they are known for. Their espresso project is quite well known. Brewed by hand through a Japanese glass based system, I could spend days drinking their coffee here. The few times I have visited, I met coffee geeks like myself. Visit this place!
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Review from gerard n.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 12/27/2011
Coffee is very good. Process, time to receive a cup of coffee is abysmal. Went in, no one in front of me; took them over 10 minutes to make the coffee for the people who came in after me. Then I get attitude about someone must have taken mine..... They had made no order of the type and size I had ordered (large Colombian in paper.
Another 5 minutes to get around to starting my coffee.
It was good, but not worth the wait.
Moral, if you actually have something else in life to do except sit in a hipster coffee shop, this is not the place.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/29/2011
Great coffee, staff personable, nice sidewalk area ... BUT it takes soooo long to get your coffee -… Read more »
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Review from Angus B.
Austin, TX
12/1/2011
I love coffee. I like Intelligentsia. What I don't like: being schooled by an eye-rolling teenage barista who doesn't understand the way the world works.
I stopped by this location twice last weekend and got a cup of pour-over coffee (they don't serve regular drip). I added what was supposed to be half-and-half to my cup both days, but it was clearly not regular half-and-half. Judging by the consistency, I would say it was not even whole milk, but probably more like 2-3%. I commented to my boyfriend on the second occurrence that this location never has actual half-and-half in their pitcher. The barista was standing behind me and overheard, and she informed me that I was simply doing it wrong. I needed to shake it up, because they use non-homogenized half-and-half, and it requires shaking.
For me to buy her "all you have to do is shake it" lesson, I would have to believe that cream sinks rather than rises. Her discourse did include one bit of relevant info: they use non-homogenized half-and-half. What this means is that their condiment pitchers likely sit in the refrigerator in the back for hours, during which the cream separates from the milk and rises to the top. The first one or two people who pour from this pitcher get a big dollop of heavy, buttery cream (because, let's face it, people don't usually shake the cream pitcher before using it). Everybody else gets what's left over: lowfat milk. And shaking a canister of lowfat milk will not make it any creamier.
Perhaps the use of non-homogenized milk is great for their lattes, but it is impractical when used in a large condiment pitcher. To ensure that every customer gets actual half-and-half, they would need to dole it out in individual portions, or keep it in an agitator to ensure that it doesn't separate. Or they could switch to serving heavy cream.
It boils down to: If you go to this location and you want real half-and-half, make sure you ask them to pull out a fresh container from the back.
"Just shake it" my ass. -
Review from Kenny O.
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Bias: I still feel that Intelligentsia is one of my favorite roasters and coffee purveyors in the US. They can do no real wrong in my eyes. The only roaster I feel that does a better job at placing nothing but pure quality in their beans and their drinks is Caffe Calabria in San Diego, CA.
Intelligentsia is named after the infamous group of intellectuals in Eastern Europe and Russia--one of the rituals they practiced was drinking coffee at each meeting. They valued quality above all costs, and such grew the mantra at Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea.
The baristas are top notch. They know how to pull shots of espresso extremely well, and they know how to work different beans and roasts into various drinks. I always try a cafe's espresso to see the crema and taste (acidity) to figure out if the baristas know what they're doing, and I haven't been disappointed at an Intelligentsia (yet).
They don't have the most jaw-dropping latte artists, but if you're into that sort of thing, go elsewhere (might I recommend Wicker Park?).
The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is because the space inside is always limited, sometimes (more like usually) they seem understaffed when you need to make a request at the bar/cashier, and the general crowd is so-so (hipsters aren't really my crowd, especially in a loud environment when they're literally yelling their pretentiousness across the table).
Anyway, great coffee will always attract me here, and this place is still better than the Millenium Park location.Listed in: Evanston / Chicago
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Review from Kacie M.
1/3/2012
Intelligentsia is the best coffee in the USA. They make the best and most authentic latte in the USA.
Is there anything I can add to a review like that? I CRAVE it. I miss it.
Chicago, don't take for granted the gem you have in Intelligentsia. -
Review from Greg S.
Kansas City, MO
12/2/2011
I was really looking forward to my visit to the flagship Intelly location when I was visiting from out of town over the summer. At the time, I was working at a coffee shop in Kansas City that uses the brand and had come to love the taste of it. And not to toot my own horn, but I could pull one hell of an espresso shot using their Black Cat blend. So I figured, hey I'm going to THE original location, so the baristas there have got to mop the floor with my abilities at making a decent latte. How wrong I would be once I entered the cold, joyless, world waiting for me on the inside.
I won't speak to the interior feel of the location as much as I would in my typical review, mostly because it was so drab and unremarkable. I won't even speak at great length to the barista being wholly unresponsive and everything one might expect from a cartoonish stereotype of the profession. What I will speak to is the poor, downright unacceptable quality of their coffee. Never in my life have I been so tempted to jump over a counter and make something myself. The shot was underextracted and the end result was an iced latte that contained mucusy chunks of soy at the bottom. After taking one drink I wanted to throw it in a dumpster.
Damn shame, that. -
Review from EC S.
Somerville, MA
1/20/2012
When I lived in Boston, a couple of my local cafes served Intelligentsia... didn't like it then, and unfortunately, I'm still not a big fan now. The espresso drinks are great, but I don't know what's up with the regular coffee. I keep getting it, thinking I've misremembered how much I dislike it, and i keep getting burned. I'm sure this is mostly personal preference, but I've talked to several people that feel the same way, so I'm not completely alone.
I want to like Intelligentsia more than I actually do. The inside has a cool, contemporary look, but it's not comfortable or relaxing in any sense. The layout of the store is kind of strange, too, when you think about it. There's that huge area of wasted space near the second L-shaped counter at the back. They could easily fit several more tables there. The place is always packed so more seating could only be a good thing.
The thing that annoys me most about Intelligentsia is the staff. I don't know what it is; they're friendly enough, but there'a definite barrier there. Is it a midwest thing? All I know is that I've been to Intelligentsia probably thirty times in the past couple of months and I get ZERO recognition. Seriously, you don't have to learn my name and inquire after my (nonexistent) kids, but it irritates me that they pretend not to recognize me. This is decidedly different from my old coffee haunts in Boston and Austin. Heck, I haven't lived in Austin for two years and my favorite baristas still recognize me.
All this said, I'm a big fan of the cappuccinos and gibraltars/cortados. -
Review from Allie M.
Chicago, IL
3/26/2012
I love a good espresso, I'm proud to have this place in my neighborhood. My only complaint is that sometimes my latte is inconsistent. Sometimes it rivals Stumptown while at other times I'm not thrilled. If I got a consistent latte this place would be 5 stars.
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Review from Courtney O.
Oak Forest, IL
10/29/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Mouthsex. Pure, unadulterated, triple "x" mouthsex.
(How have I not reviewed Intelligentsia before just now? Lord knows this wasn't my first stop by a landslide. But I digress...)
Now, where was I...oh yes, mouthsex. Yep, that just about sums it up.
Listen, I'm ridiculous with my Starbucks addiction. (No, really...at one suburban 'bucks spot I have a ridiculously embarrassing amount of check ins. It's a sickness.) I am a soy latte fiend in every sense of the word. Almost insatiable. Contemplating an IV line, even (good thing the hubby's a firefighter/paramedic, no? ;). Yes, I'm really *that* bad.
While I *usually* sip my Starbucks contentedly, as there is a location on virtually every corner, I don't think about Intelligentsia. But then I'm in the area of IC&T, I stop by, I then slurp down a Black Cat soy latte, and I start feeling like Starbucks is a shitty ex you keep around for convenience sake and nothing more. Like, you don't want hurt the guy's feelings by asking him politely to GTFO.
Hold up, I'm getting derailed. Back to biznazz...
The service is spectacular and the espresso is like pure velvet sliding seductively down your throat. If there was such a thing as coffee porn, Intelligentsia would be a best seller.
I'm not being dramatic, you guys. It really is THAT good. It is the smoothest, richest, most amazing latte you will ever drink, and it will make you lament the fact that you might have to stop by Starbucks again purely out of the sake of convenience. If you've been on the fence about breaking your loyalty to Starbucks, Caribou, DD, or what-have-you, break the mold and try it out. You can thank me later. ;) -
Review from Sarah W.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 2/8/2012
The internet issues have been totally resolved. However, the seating in here is IMPOSSIBLE on weekends, and most days after 3pm. I never go here to study anymore because even though their coffee/chai/cocoa is amazing, the experience of waiting to pounce on a table is incredibly stressful.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/5/2010
This place makes amazing Chai lattes. The only reason for the 3 stars is their internet boots you… Read more »
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Review from Sean B.
12/5/2011
Hot chocolate: good. Muffins: good. Atmosphere: ok
Logistics and seating: awful.
I don't drink coffee so I can't speak to that.
For "intelligent"sia they have an awfully un"intelligent" layout...
There is enough room in this place for 50 outlets and 120 seats, yet they have about 25% this many. I had to move a chair and a wooden seat and a table to sit down after hovering for some time this Sunday. The napkins were at the front window occupying useful seating area (instead of the counter) aggravating an already tight seating situation.
They need a process-flow person to help them maximize wall space, seating arrangements, and direction of line in the store (back to front? weird).
Then I'll be able to enjoy my drink there instead of feeling like I have to fight for a spot or are being eavesdropped upon by hoverers. -
Review from Jon A.
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Think about who you order your coffee from; meaning, the person taking your order. Now think about where you're ordering your coffee. Are you ordering it at Starbucks where the collars of their laundered-far-too-many times uniforms are curling up like the shirts the munchkins wore in the Wizard of Oz? And they're jittery from the coffee because they don't drink their coffee responsibly and somehow found a way to weave a mention of their pet chihuahua named Palmer into the conversation? Are they wearing green aprons and have hollow responses when you inquire?
Now think about who you're ordering from at Intelligentsia. Think about their stoicism. Their propriety. Their patience. Their plaid or flannel. Their perfect hair. Their eye contact. Their exquisite shoulders. Their attention to detail when you ask about a drink.
Why am I taking us through this barista mission? From recent reviews of this place it seems everyone is feisty over the fact that the folks that work here are "pretentious" or "jerks that don't want me here." No, they want you there, you complete the cycle of coffee. Those traits are being confused with what I listed above -- these folks are calm. They face a storm of orders every day and the work is hard -- every single cup is of exact science, and patience is what pervades in this space. If you're looking for a quick fill 'er up cup of Joe that was good for a guy in a fox hole in Normandy in '44... then this is the wrong place. In fact, you should address that you're running the wrong squirrel up the wrong tree of life.
Having said that... the infinite adventure of coffee awaits. It's open to all. You just have to be patient and they'll craft a cup of new, profound, ever-changing complexities.
With open space, communal tables, counter tops & a patio, a direct & complete menu, wi fi & music, you're welcomed to the table of the kings of craft coffee at this shop to enjoy in the space between point A & point B. In fact you might find yourself making point A & B this shop itself.
Keep calm & coffee on.Listed in: Where everyone knows your…, Kawfee, Chicagoan, Bring It!, Al Fresco al-yes-co!
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Review from Ramya P.
11/16/2011
GREAT coffee!!
I live in an area infested with cool cafes. But this is the coffee I don't mind walking about a mile to get to, when my head hurts due to caffeine withdrawal. And no, its not just about the intelligentsia coffee that's brewed, its about the way these guys make lattes/cappuccinos too. A good barista is the difference between a good cup of coffee and a great one.Listed in: Cheapskates!
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Review from Dave P.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2011
$3.50 for a medium cup of over-roasted coffee at Intelligentsia... yumm. However, I cannot complain too much; the snide look by the hipster dude serving me was quite refreshing at 7:30 in the morning (I guess a cup of regular joe is just TOO mainstream).
"Some room for milk?," he asks. "Just a little," I reply. I'm assuming Intelligentsia's definition of 'room for a little' is at least an inch short of full. I could have submerged a heifer's entire teat (maybe two) without brimming the top.
The final nail on the coffin was the fact that they had no lids for anything larger than a small coffee. Oy vey! At least my fingers stayed warm on the walk home as some hot coffee sloshed over the sides. -
Review from Daniel C.
Hoboken, NJ
4/3/2012
Everything about this place is great. From the menu with different preparation methods for different varieties of coffee to the delicately crafted pour over cups of brew you can tell this place has its act together. The baristas are very helpful with finding a coffee that would appeal to my tastes. The space is large inside and ranges from people talking, reading the paper, and studying. You might only want to bring a macbook in here tho.
Listed in: Top Coffee
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Review from Alex H.
Des Moines, IA
11/26/2011
The pastry was clearly above average- but I view that more as a side note.
The espresso however, was fantastic. I was surprised by the accurate descriptions of the blends (with flavor one could actually detect). And it was served with Sparkling water, which is always a bonus. -
Review from Kat F.
7/26/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Being in San Francisco means living in a bubble of all things local - no one deigns to stock or sell anything that's not made in California's own backyard when it comes to food and drink, and that means zero access to my beloved Intelligentsia from Chicago.
Black Cat Espresso is always a must-try and any in-house drink you order will be expertly made, but it's the seasonal beans to go that I love purchasing here. These single origin beans don't come cheap ($20+ for 1 lb.) but they are both unique and wonderful. I purchased the "Flecha Roja" from Costa Rica that's described as an incredible jam "reminiscent of a windmill cookie" (WTF?) and have been thoroughly enjoying it as part of my home brew routine.
I seriously just want to mainline this shit all day long. -
Review from Rhoda G.
10/27/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I love living around the corner from this place. If I need a quick pick me up or a break from work, I come over here for nice cup of coffee or double shot of espresso.
I spent some hours working, studying, reading, and surfing the web here. It get can crazy busy here at times and you may end up fighting for an electric outlet for your computer. -
Review from jack w.
Chicago, IL
2/24/2012
Very good coffee but 2 major complaints: as others have said, the napkins, cream and sugar take up great people watching space (there used to be 3 or 4 stools there) and last couple of times I have been there, they only serve ONE size of iced coffee? Come on .. I drink that in about 5 minutes. Why not bring back the large size? Even the State Farm meeting place a couple of doors down from Trader Joe's on Diversey sells Intelligensia iced coffee in a couple of sizes.
I guess a 3rd thing - others have said it, but they REALLY could make better use of the space for seating in there.. starting with demoting said cream and napkins to a corner. Is that really Rocket Science?
GEEZ
