Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea
| Intelligentsia logo | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
Key people | Doug Zell and Emily Mange |
| Products | Coffee, Tea |
| Website | intelligentsiacoffee.com |
Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, colloquially known as Intelligentsia, is a coffee roasting company with its headquarters at 1850 W. Fulton Street in Chicago, Illinois. Intelligentsia has several cafe retail locations throughout the Chicago area. The company was founded in 1995 by Doug Zell and Emily Mange (now husband and wife). They supply coffee to various Chicago-area cafes and restaurants, as well as other locations in the US and Canada.[1][2][3] They generally buy their beans directly from growers in Central America, South America, East Africa, and Ethiopia.[4] They use vintage German roasters to roast their beans daily.[4]
On August 17th 2007, Intelligentsia opened its first store outside of Chicago at Sunset Junction in Silver Lake, a district east of Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.[5] The location features two newfangled Clover single cup brewing machines.[5]
Starting on August 1, 2008, official Intelligenstsia stores will no longer serve venti-size 20-ounce coffee and espresso beverages. Zell believes that the proportions are altered at such large quantities and certain drinks become watered-down. He also claims that the 20-ounce drinks end up "masking and adulterating the pure, intense flavors we work hard to source, roast and produce. We don't want this to just be a caffeine delivery device." [6]
Honors
In 2006, Intelligentsia has been included on several local [7][8][9] and national[10][11][12] best-of lists. One of their baristas also has won national and international honors.[13][14]
It has been winning local best of list recognition since 2000. [15] [16] [17] [18] In 2005, the local [19] [20] [21] [22] recognition extended to national [23] recognition. In 2006, Intelligentsia has been included on several local [24] and national [25] [26] [27] "best" lists.
External links
Notes
- ^ "Hot" Chicago Restaurants get custom blends from Intelligentsia.
- ^ Intelligentsia in LA
- ^ Wicked Cafe in Vancouver, Canada serves Intelligentsia
- ^ a b Shernoff, Leon, "Intelligentsia, more Cedars, Come to Co-op", ever Green, March 2007, Vol. 60, #3.
- ^ a b Scattergood, Amy, "A Lucky Break For Drip Coffee", LA Times, March 14, 2007
- ^ Eng, Monica (2008-07-09). ""Small. Medium. Gone."". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
- ^ #2 in Chicago Citysearch Best Coffee category 2006
- ^ AOL Cityguide - Best of Chicago 2006
- ^ Chicago Magazine Best Coffee November 2006
- ^ 10 great places to get jazzed about great java, USA Today, March 3, 2006.
- ^ Foodandwine.com Best boutique roasters 2006
- ^ Coffeegeek.com Best Expresso Blend December 18, 2006
- ^ ABC U.S. Barista Championship story May 10, 2006
- ^ U.S. and World Barista Championship results.
- ^ Best Coffee Bar - Citysearch 2000
- ^ Best cup of coffee - Citysearch 2001
- ^ Best coffee - Citysearch 2002
- ^ Best coffee - Citysearch 2004
- ^ AOL Cityguide Winner, Best Coffeehouse 2005
- ^ Best coffee - Citysearch 2005
- ^ Chicago Magazine - Best Beans 2005
- ^ Newcity Magazine Best place to buy beans and Best place to buy tea leaves
- ^ Best coffeehouse - Playboy April 2005
- ^ "Best Coffeehouse" by New City Chicago for 2006
- ^ Zagats 2006 America's Best Beverage Bets (Best Cup of Regular Coffee, Best Espresso, Best Seasonal Coffee or Tea Beverage)
- ^ Fastcompany.c0m - 12 Best Coffees
- ^ Roast Magazine - Roaster of the Year for 2007
