Intelligentsia expansion

Several years ago, when I first moved to KC, I began a post about Chicago products you might not expect to find here but you do. I never finished it.

But in that spirit, I thought this might be of interest:

http://blogs.pitch.com/fatcity/2010/02/ ... w_open.php

It's only a few blocks from my office, so I'll check it out soon.

I believe that the best early response would be "Hmmmmmm."


Keep us apprised.

I'm not a coffee drinker but I did see an article in Nov/09 GQ titled, "The Most Important Drink of Your Day - where to get the best coffee in America." http://www.gq.com/food-travel/restaurants-and-bars/200911/best-coffee-in-america

It listed Intelligentsia and made mention that Doug Zell opened his first Intelligentsia in 1995, then expanded to Los Angeles in 2007, "where his cafes are a little less austere and a little more Hollywood."

Perhaps, he's starting to expand the product to other markets as well...

Several years ago I remember being at a coffee shop in Vancouver, and I was surprised to see the Intelligentsia sign.

tyrus wrote:Perhaps, he's starting to expand the product to other markets as well...

Intelligentsia has had a "Training Lab" in SoHo for about a year. I think it's safe to assume they have their eyes on New York City, "long considered one of the least developed Specialty Coffee markets in the US."

It's in good restaurants there, already, IME. Famously tough place to get good coffee and now dominated by Starbucks (filled with people for whom a packed Starbucks is more comfortable that their apartment).

There are a number of other places nationwide that have been sourcing Intelligentsia beans for a while. When I was back in the Boston area for a one-year stint in 2006-07, the closest coffee shop to our place, Diesel Cafe in Davis Square in Somerville, used Intelligentsia for both its drip coffee and espresso.

Rene G wrote:Intelligentsia has had a "Training Lab" in SoHo for about a year. I think it's safe to assume they have their eyes on New York City, "long considered one of the least developed Specialty Coffee markets in the US."

On our last trip to Manhattan, besides trying the ramen at Ippudo, the only other thing we really wanted to do was hunt down the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream truck that had just started serving Intelligentsia coffee. Unfortunately, the truck we found didn't have the coffee but the trek did introduce us to some mighty fine fresh milk ice cream. Van Leeuwen offers flavors such as pistachio, hazelnut, ginger, red currant, strawberry, and giandujia (blended with Michel Cluizel chocolate and hazelnuts). All of their ice creams are made with super high-grade, all-natural ingredients.
We tried their hazelnut and chocolate and for people who don't have a sweet tooth, we happily lapped up each bite.

If you can track down the appropriate Intelligentsia-dispensing Van Leeuwen truck, they will serve an affogato using Intelligentsia espresso.

Here in Atlanta, we still have one shop, Joe's East Atlanta Coffee, serving Intelligentsia. Method Coffee Bar, over near Emory served it until they closed about a month ago.

Our local grocery chain, The Fresh Market sells three Intelligentsia roasts in whole bean form for home brewing.

The brand is pretty well represented here.

Manic in Toronto also uses their beans. I know they use Black Cat, but not sure if they use anything else from Intelli.

Excellent cup there. Highly suggest it if you are in Toronto and looking for some good coffee.

Longtime independent Chicago coffee roaster Intelligentsia Coffee sold a majority stake to Peet's Coffee, a larger company that's been snatching up independent roasters.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151030 ... ets-coffee