Intelligentsia Coffee
Chicago, Illinois
4.61(14)
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 27 cataloged roasts with 14 total reviews with a score of 4.61.
| Name | Roast Level | Bean Source |
|---|---|---|
|
5.00(1) |
- | Guatemala |
|
5.00(1) |
Dark | International Blend |
| Light | Ethiopia | |
|
5.00(1) |
- | International Blend |
|
4.33(3) |
Light Medium | Burundi |
|
4.50(1) |
Light | Peru |
|
4.50(1) |
Light Medium | Colombia |
|
4.50(1) |
- | Ethiopia |
|
4.50(1) |
- | Peru |
|
4.50(1) |
Light | Costa Rica |
|
4.50(1) |
- | International Blend |
|
4.00(1) |
Medium | Rwanda |
|
0(0) |
- | Guatemala |
|
0(0) |
- | - |
| - | Bolivia | |
|
0(0) |
- | Colombia |
| - | International Blend | |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
| - | International Blend | |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
| - | International Blend | |
| - | International Blend | |
| - | International Blend | |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
|
0(0) |
- | International Blend |
Top Reviews(14)
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Ted Chan, Managing Editor808 roasts rated, avg score of 4.25
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
Traits: bergamot pineapple jasmine earl grey -
Ted Chan, Managing Editor
808 roasts rated, avg score of 4.25
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
Traits: cherry cola champagne -
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 -
Coffee Yinzer51 roasts rated, avg score of 4.53
5.00 - Average
A friend gave me this to try from Intelligentsia Coffee. It is excellent. Good medium body, dried fruit taste but exceptionally naturally sweet. Really enjoyed it. -
Ted Chan, Managing Editor
808 roasts rated, avg score of 4.25
4.50 - Average
5.00 - Acidity
Smooth, balanced acidity. Definitely get dark unsweetened chocolate in the best way possible. Makes a wonderful cappuccino.Cupping Method:94-celsius extraction, 1oz pull, La Spaziale A53 Lucca.
Traits: dark chocolate -
Ted Chan, Managing Editor
808 roasts rated, avg score of 4.25
4.50 - Average
My notes are that had Batamba August of 2022 at the Millenium Park Intelligentsia and rated it 4.5 stars. I was running between meetings and didn't take more detailed notes.Cupping Method:Pourover at Intelligentsia Millenium Park
-
Ted Chan, Managing Editor
808 roasts rated, avg score of 4.25
4.50 - Average
Juicy with very bright acidity and a clean finish. Caramel, blood orange, and red grape were notes me.Cupping Method:Pourover Chemex
Traits: caramel blood orange red grape
-
Victoria S-C234 roasts rated, avg score of 4.28
4.50 - Average
4.50 - Aroma
5.00 - Finish
4.50 - Acidity
5.00 - Balance
The first time I tried it I thought it wasn’t 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). I’m so glad I retried it!Cupping Method:Pourover black at home
-
Ted Chan, Managing Editor
808 roasts rated, avg score of 4.25
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
-
Ted Chan, Managing Editor
808 roasts rated, avg score of 4.25
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.
Traits: blueberry tangerine umami
