Intelligentsia Coffee
Chicago, Illinois
4.61(21)
Intelligentsia is a renowned Chicago-based roaster. Their Fulton Street Roasting Works is home to three Gothot roasters, a QC lab, training room, coffee storage, screen printing workshop and headquarters.
Show moreIntelligentsia Coffee is a coffee roaster from Chicago, IL United States. We have 32 cataloged roasts with 21 total reviews with a score of 4.61.
| Name | Roast Level | Bean Source |
|---|---|---|
|
4.75(2) |
Medium | International Blend |
| Light | Ethiopia | |
|
5.00(1) |
Light | Ethiopia |
|
5.00(1) |
Light | Guatemala |
|
5.00(1) |
Dark | International Blend |
| Light | Ethiopia | |
|
5.00(1) |
- | International Blend |
|
4.33(3) |
Light Medium | Burundi |
|
4.50(1) |
Light | Costa Rica |
|
4.50(1) |
- | - |
|
4.50(1) |
Light | Peru |
|
4.50(1) |
Light Medium | Colombia |
|
4.50(1) |
- | Ethiopia |
|
4.50(1) |
- | Peru |
|
4.50(1) |
- | International Blend |
|
4.00(1) |
Medium | Rwanda |
|
4.00(1) |
- | Guatemala |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
| - | International Blend | |
| - | International Blend | |
| - | International Blend | |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
|
0(0) |
- | - |
|
0(0) |
- | Colombia |
| - | International Blend | |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
| - | International Blend | |
| - | Bolivia | |
|
0(0) |
- | Guatemala |
Top Reviews(21)
-
Theodore (Ted) Chan, Managing Editor1207 roasts rated, avg score of 4.28
5.00 - Average
5.00 - Aroma
4.00 - Value
5.00 - Finish
5.00 - Flavor
5.00 - Acidity
5.00 - Balance
5.00 - Quality
The best coffee I had in 2022. I had this twice in the Intelligentsia store in Chicago. I doubt this is one you'll see in stock a lot but I hope it's available year to year. Might be worth setting a Google alert.
I think these are remarkable beans, carefully treated, then perfectly roasted by a great roaster. Mossto anaerobic means the coffee seed was submerged in its fruit pulped, and then the juice was expelled in a container for more than 3 days.
How to describe the result - there is a lot going on, and it's all amazing. The first thing you notice, on the nose and first sip is the floral notes, paired with a strong Earl Grey tea type scent. The acidity is crisp and just right through, a kind of pineapple lime, and then the finish is a combination of all of it, and lingers a long time.Cupping Method:2x pourover in Chicago Intelligentsia, summer 2022
-
Theodore (Ted) Chan, Managing Editor
1207 roasts rated, avg score of 4.28
5.00 - Average
4.50 - Finish
5.00 - Flavor
5.00 - Acidity
4.50 - Balance
Today I had a late-in-the-day cup Intelligentsia Coffee's Ethiopia Washed Buku Organic at Life Alive in Harvard Square, Cambridge, and it was awesome.
Honestly, Intelligentsia is at the scale where I usually see roasters fall on their face...but every time I have a cup, it's somewhere between excellent and inch-perfect.
This was pretty close to perfect.
This coffee roast had incredibly bright strawberry iced tea notes that immediately caught my attention. There was a lovely peachy quality to it, complemented by a vibrant acidity that made each sip refreshing and lively.
Before I even checked the photo of the bag, I had already jotted down hints of citrus and raspberry in my notes. These flavors came through beautifully, showcasing the complexity of the coffee. The smooth, honey-like mouthfeel added a delightful richness, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. The finish was long and fruity, leaving a pleasant lingering taste.Cupping Method:Life Alive's new pour-over option really elevates the coffee experience, and this particular brew was a perfect example of how a well-prepared coffee can shine. I don't know how the barista made it since I was dealing with my kids but it looked like a metal Clever setup.
-
Victoria S-C465 roasts rated, avg score of 4.31
5.00 - Average
Ted recently bought three good espresso and while they were all good this one I liked the best. -
Theodore (Ted) Chan, Managing Editor
1207 roasts rated, avg score of 4.28
5.00 - Average
4.50 - Aroma
5.00 - Finish
5.00 - Flavor
5.00 - Acidity
5.00 - Balance
A truly delicious Ethiopian with some twists on the usual character. You definitely get the florals here in the form of a bergamot/earl grey base. I got a little bit of peach, and then strawberry/raspberry with a touch of lactic character. No funk at all and a very clean finish.Cupping Method:At Intelligensia in Watertown. They said 18-1, 209 off the boil.
-
Theodore (Ted) Chan, Managing Editor
1207 roasts rated, avg score of 4.28
5.00 - Average
4.00 - Aroma
4.50 - Value
5.00 - Finish
5.00 - Flavor
5.00 - Acidity
5.00 - Balance
A spectacular gesha that's a little bit different from the usual. Less fruity and more floral. The platform is distinctly earl grey, with a very subtle herbal/pine hint (I'm OK with Intelligentsia's choice of juniper to describe it). There's also a touch of sweet tropical fruit, like a ripe pineapple.
It's incredibly smooth - not a hint of bitterness, and has a super clean finish. It's very easy to drink a whole cup of this without thinking about it.Cupping Method:At Intelligentsia in Watertown, MA
-
Haley Grant2 roasts rated, avg score of 5.00
5.00 - Average
4.00 - Aroma
5.00 - Value
4.00 - Finish
4.50 - Flavor
3.00 - Acidity
4.00 - Balance
Love this coffee! very savory taste -
Theodore (Ted) Chan, Managing Editor
1207 roasts rated, avg score of 4.28
5.00 - Average
5.00 - Aroma
5.00 - Value
4.50 - Flavor
4.50 - Acidity
5.00 - Balance
This is the best organic value coffee I've had. On those nose, I got cherry cola and champagne - that effervescence has really been there for me. This made brilliant pourover. Balanced, smooth, just the right amount of acidity. If I had a cafe where I had to serve one light roast all the time, this one might be it. Intelligentsia puts out remarkable quality at the scale they operate at.Cupping Method:Chemex pourover, 207 F
-
Victoria S-C
465 roasts rated, avg score of 4.31
4.50 - Average
4.50 - Aroma
5.00 - Finish
4.50 - Acidity
5.00 - Balance
The first time I tried it I thought it wasnt good, but then I had it on the next day and it was delicious. Not too bitter or dark (I tend to like light roasts). Im so glad I retried it!Cupping Method:Pourover black at home
-
Theodore (Ted) Chan, Managing Editor
1207 roasts rated, avg score of 4.28
4.50 - Average
No fireworks but so smooth and easy to drink with a nice acidity. Definitely get a raisin/grape and orange. Somewhere between caramel and a black tea platform. Like it a lot.Cupping Method:Pourover at Intelligentsia Watertown
-
Theodore (Ted) Chan, Managing Editor
1207 roasts rated, avg score of 4.28
4.50 - Average
4.50 - Aroma
4.00 - Flavor
4.50 - Acidity
5.00 - Balance
Super smooth Ethiopian with great fruit characteristics. I get a blood orange and perhaps blueberry. I think it has a touch of umami at the front of the palate which is the slightest negative and keeps me from giving it 5 stars. Plateform is somewhere in between a rich dark tea and milk chocolate.Cupping Method:At an Intelligentsia in Chicago. They used a pour steady into Hario v60s.
