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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: The LoopJackson (Blue, Red)
Library (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Pink)
Adams/Wabash (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
Mon-Fri. 6:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
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Mighty fine coffee. I was hooked on this stuff during my whole week-long trip to the windy city, enough to make me order a few pounds after returned to Omaha. This location near the loop was bustling like crazy when I stopped in on a Tuesday afternoon, but for good reason - great coffee, a decent selection of pastries and salads, and my indie rock crush (Jenny Lewis) playing on the overhead speakers.
A little bit of random knowledge - Intelligentsia is the first coffee company to pair a specialty blend with a CD release for Oh No's album Ethiopium. I'd recommend the album as much as I'd recommend the coffee that comes with it!
Convenient: Right on my way to work!
Inconvenient: Busy as a chesty coed on Fat Tuesday!
Convenient: Friendly staff!
Inconvenient: Bank-like hours!
Warts and all, I like this location just fine. When I picture a coffee shop in swinging Chicago circa Daley the First, this is what I envision. The Monadnock building is very neat--and, allegedly, sinking--and the Intelligentsia space fits in perfectly. Most importantly, if they've ever made a bad cappuccino I haven't had it.
Great location for the quick business meeting or to grab a coffee and go!
Fast service! As always fantastic coffee and convenient location!
Goddammit, Intelligensia! Why do you haunt me with your delicious teas and potent coffees?
Honestly, the teas at Intelligensia make me swoon. I love that you get a giant pot of tea, and you an just keep refilling it with hot water. It's absolutely delicious and a great warm up for a cold day.
If you're looking for a bit of history and beautiful architecture with your morning cup of joe than this Intelligentsia locale is the place for you! Located in the architecturally significant Monadnock building (at one point the tallest building in the land!) this location has a different pace than its northern brethren. Yes people are rushing to and from their offices in the Loop but somehow everyone seems cheerier perhaps propelled by the heightened caffeine in the semi smaller confines?
Great pastries (try the pumpkin bread while its in season!) and beautiful latte art (I got a pretty heart) make this my go to spot for coffee in the Loop.
Busy, wonderful, friendly, AWESOME. The espresso excellent. It's strong, smooth, and just plain ridiculously great. This is by far my favorite place in Chicago. I always walk out feeling slightly more intelligent.
Intelligentsia has the best coffee in Chicago and I had probably the best latte I've had in years. Even though the downtown location was busy (being a weekday and all), I thought the staff had a well-oiled machine and people received their drinks pretty quickly.
I was only there to grab my latte and go, and it didn't seem like the type of coffee shop where people sit on their laptops and hang out for hours, so if you're into that kind of thing, I'm not sure this place is for you. But for everyone else that just wants good coffee-- it rocks.
If I didn't receive a free drink card from the Center for Decision Research, I might've never made the choice to come here- I allow free things to do the decision making for me!
*Simple menu with quality coffee:
I can understand the menu options available and can enjoy a beverage without being overwhelmed and frustrated- No menu-freeze!
*Gorgeous interior:
The shop itself is so damn classy, I wish I had dressed properly for the visit. Ideally I would wear pin curls and pumps.
*Brownies that deserve gold medals:
I'm in the South Loop all the time for classes and my brownie cravings prove disappointing at other coffee joints. Intelligentsia's brownies are a moist, flavorful pick-me-up to pair with my fresh cup of joe!
Best coffee we found in Chicago. The single origin espresso is out of this world. Skip the starbucks and find an intelligensia. Only downside is the baking, so source a good French bakery nearby.
Not fair at all --Chicago's pretty cool!
Okay, us New Yorker's a semi lucky to have your Intelligentsia beans (9th Street Espresso uses them).... But why can't we have the whole package???
Too cute for many words:
Bright, happy flowers on the marble tables
Charming display of baked goods
The right amount of body in the espresso -BEST EVER!!
Knowledgeable Barista (without the hipster I"m too cool for you NY attitude) who btw recommended the perfect tea -silver needle which replenished my aching body. Delta airlines had a mechanical problem "freakin' toilet" wasn't working which made us late for our connection. Not fun.
BFF bought an espresso cup & saucer so the same Barista gave a free one on the house!!! How great was that?
You can sit, enjoy, relax and read the paper be prepared to smile :))))
One thing --Bummed out because of the downtown location... Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Loved the coffee it was soooo nice and smooth. I'm a cream and sugar kinda girl and I even contemplated drinking it black. Yes it's that good. It's going to be hard drinking home-brewed or Starbucks coffee after drinking this spectacular stuff. I didn't give it 5 stars b/c it wasn't as hot as I'd like. I'll have to go back a few more times and see what happens. I might end up changing my review to five stars.
So first off, its Intelligentsia so the coffee is damn good. However, coffee alone does not a good coffee shop make.
The dining area here is in need of a makeover. Between the lack of outlets and the table/chair height difference, trying to work on a computer here is not the most pleasing experience. Moreover, there is a serious lack of comfortable seating.
Sorry Intelligentsia, I love your coffee but not your shop.
I'm way more of a tea guy than a coffee guy, but Intelligentsia gives me a reason to drink the black stuff every once in a while. Hands down the best coffee I've ever had, but it's very strong, and I usually need to go after a big lunch to avoid wrecking my stomach. (But like I said, I'm an amateur.) Drip is reliable, and when I'm feeling saucy I'll go for some Bolivia from the clover machine, which always seems to hit the spot.
Bonus: since there isn't one on every corner, you might find yourself taking a nice walk outside and enjoying the weather (well, this is a bonus until December rolls around).
The main focus of this intelligentsia location is coffee to go. There is some seating, but most of their business is folks who work in the area or are passing by grabbing a cup to take with them. That doesn't mean that the quality suffers. The baristi (is that right?) are well trained and they produce the same exceptional espresso that you can find at the other Intelligentsia locations.
I love the coffee and the expertise that goes into every shot of espresso pulled, but the attitude of the staff here makes me sad - so so pretentious. Everything else about this location is perfect, but I hesitate to return.
The Black Cat Classic espresso is one of my favorite things in this world. It is the best. It makes me happy.
Intelligentsia in the Monadnock building is a true gem. The crowd is a mix of traders, students, business folk and the casual reader... The staff here is as friendly as in other Intell locations, and there's actually a good amount of seating (more so, it seems, than the Millennium location).
They've got free wifi, they're within two blocks of almost every L line (Red & Blue at Jackson; Brown, Purple, Orange & Pink at Library) and, of course, they have the best coffee in Chicago.
This location is casual, not overly crowded (at least half of the tables are open during the lunch hour) and pleasant.
Only negative: real limits on electrical outlets (I count only ONE, by the corner table). Granted, the Monadnock is an old building and they've kept that feeling in the design of the place - but it's not super-laptop-friendly. Come with your laptop fully charged. :)
I don't like frilly stuff, I just like a nice cup of joe with two cream and two sugar. I'll leave the super mocha chocolate candy in a glass reviews to someone else.
This was one of the best coffees I have ever had. The only way I can describe it is: rich. I am very impressed with the flavor and body of this coffee.
I also had a peanut butter cookie. It was buttery and soft. I loved it.
Minus a star for the atmosphere. I'm not sure why they stuff 10 employees in that tiny area. It makes me nervous. Also, no outlets for internetting was annoying. The chairs are uncomfortable.
I won't go here again to sit and drink a coffee but I will pop in and grab a coffee to go!
I came here based on the recommendations of my fellow Yelpers. Indeed, the coffee was quite good. I didn't get a fancy latte or cappuccino, but rather just a simple cup of Joe - cause that's just how I roll.
I was expecting to give this place five starts, much like many of the other Yelp reviews here. However, as soon as I opened the door to this place off of Jackson Street I... WAS STRUCK BY HOW LOUD THIS PLACE IS!
IF IT WEREN'T BAD DECORUM ON THE INTERNET, I THINK I WOULD CONTINUE TO WRITE MY REVIEW IN ALL CAPS, BECAUSE IT'S STILL, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOUD HERE!
But instead, I will betray my true drama queen self and resort back to lower case.
Seriously though, it's really loud in here. Of course some of the noise is the result of the coffee machines, which is expected and welcome. Some of the noise is attributed to the LOUD MUSIC (does that make me old, saying that? Damn.). And of course some of the noise is due to the fact that when I arrived here at 10:45 am on a Thursday, nearly every table was full with everyone talking. But now, at noon, everyone is gone and the music is still loud, as though it were a bar trying to spice the joint up.
When I first arrived, they were playing the best of Radiohead - it was AWESOME! And very much welcome. After those mp3s ended, however, they switched over to some neo-pagan ritualistic music. I'm joking of course, but that's what this crap sounds like. Kids these days...
Overall though, I like the vibe in this place. Very urban chic / Italianesque. I really like the marble floor and hope that they will figure out some other solution to reduce noise other than laying down carpet.
I thought the food selection was too limited. There were only a few sandwiches, which looked delightful, but not necessarily tasty. Not sure if that makes any sense to anyone but me, but oh well. I got a chocolate chip cookie, even though I'm on a diet, and felt like it wasn't worth the calories and the guilt. I hate to say it, but Corner Bakery has a chocolate chip cookie that IS worth the calories and the guilt.
But, nonetheless, I like the free WiFi. Also, very good tip from the other Yelp review: if you come here with your laptop, make sure it's fully charged. I only spy one outlet in the place.
I was so happy to discover this place on a recent business trip. This place seems pretty focused on the "craft" of coffee and I can get behind that. I look forward to visiting on my next trip out to Chicago
I'm from L.A., so I have been to the Silverlake Intelligentsia several times. However, upon entering the Chicago Intelligentsia, I realized finally what all the hubbub was about. I ordered a double cappuccino and received a small cup of expertly-made combination of espresso, milk and foam. Much better than anything I've ever had at Starbucks or the Corner Bakery or well, pretty much anywhere.
I still don't understand why their drip coffee is more expensive than their espresso-based beverages, but unlike the L.A. location, I'm not given looks of inferiority when I walk in and order, so props to the dudes behind the Chicago counter. Can you come and show Silverlake what it's all about?
This coffee rocks. I like to think everything in NYC is better than Chicago, but not the coffee .
I agree-THE BEST COFFEE IN CHICAGO, bar none! It's kind of a small store, so I wouldn't go there expecting to sit and chill forever. Located right next to Millineum park.
The iced coffee is great too.
Intelligentsia cold-brews their iced coffee, which is exactly what i want. It's nutty and non-acidic and just simply amazing. Plus this location in particular is in a gorgeous vintage building and it's just steps away from the downtown library (but go to the library first, so you don't have to throw out your coffee when you get there).
Yeah, I belong to the fanclub. No, I'm NOT a groupie.
Wait.
Anyway. Delicious. A bummer if one is on their way to work in the morning, as the line is the out the door. It will only get worse (dun dun dun. Clover).
However, it is worth it. All the staff is knowledgeable (and yes, is friendly), the product is amazing, and it is a local business. The cafe is small but has great character and usually room to chill. The marble topped tables, little flowers, and vintage styled painting/posters are pretty keen too.
AMAZING COFFEE. The espresso is like candy. I can't get enough of their soy cappuccinos -- the soy they use doesn't burn and tastes delicious and creamy. I even took my friend from Italy here over the summer to show her "Chicago's best coffee", and she admitted, "to be quite honest, it was a bit strong for me."
The standards by which they make their coffee drinks are the most rigid and exacting, and I greatly appreciate them for that.
EDIT (02.01.09): I must note a few extra things that detract from the Intelligentsia experience. 1) Seating is so often NOT available. I've sadly had to turn away at the doors when I saw the whole place packed. Who knows what the "peak hours" are, it always seems to be busy. 2) The espresso drinks I get (usually, in my case, a cappuccino) go cold within a couple of minutes. As I understand, they don't steam the milk above 130 degrees in order not to burn the milk, but it's disappointing to drink a cold cappuccino. 3) Why not use ceramic cups unless you indicate that this is to go? I'd much rather use a ceramic cup for the environment (and coffee purists will say coffee tastes best from a heated ceramic cup), but in general they give me a disposable cup. Maybe it's to encourage people to take it away, to open up the seating?
This place still gets five stars, though, because it really is that good.
I'll make the journey up here at least once a week to escape into espresso bliss--usually charged up with some milk in latte form. Intelligentsia knows the craft of serving excellent espresso based drinks without the pretension of other crafty caffeine depots. By mid afternoon, it can be hard to find a seat with so many folks hunkered down but I'm always glad to see the ranks of conversation-makers outweigh the smattering of folks staring at their laptops.
I'd give an extra half star if possible--the staff has always been extremely graceful, personable and friendly when dealing with customers. Never any hint of attitude.
Delicious.
I love their coffee and tea. I also love the atmosphere. Provides a great alternative to Starbucks, Caribou or Dunkin Donuts. The coffee is just better. Also, a lot of places brew Intelligentsia so you don't actually have to go into the store itself to get the lovely coffee.
I like this location because there's a great crowd of people - office workers, hipsters, art students, etc. It's a good place to read the paper or have a cup of coffee with a friends. And it's in the beautiful Monadnock building, which is awesome. Check out the building once you pick up your coffee.
Oh la la! Good bye Starbucks! I always felt doomed down town, doomed to drink Starbuck's coffee. Living in wicker park I am spoiled by independent cafes and going down town was like a yucky corporate wasteland.
So today I was late for class, and it was worth it. I got my just the right size small vanilla latte and possibly the best almond croissant I have ever had.
It's a longer line and a smaller cup of coffee, but its worth it!
Being a proud and active member of the Morning Sookie League, I oftentimes find myself pressed for time when it comes to my morning routine. Other times, I simply suck at life and can't get the goddamn coffee maker to work.
The last thing my co-workers need to be subjected to is a a bleary-eyed, sleep-deprived, un-caffeinated Maya. Besides, I have to be alert when I'm counting beans!
As I head towards my office, there are plenty of places to stop for coffee. Dunkin Donuts? The coffee's always overloaded with sugar. Starbucks? They roast the shit out of their beans and it tastes horrible. 7-11? Bitch please...
Enter Intelligentsia. The baristas are always quick and friendly, even during the morning rush, and the coffee is the nectar of the Gods. For just under two bucks, I can get a piping hot cup of coffee and a caffeine boost that will last me all day.
It's just the thing I need (aside from morning sookie) to get my day started on the right foot.
Oh my lord. I died and went to heaven.
Intelligentsia is pure jet fuel, and that's how I love my coffee. The hip baristas working the counter, hands down, know what they are doing. Having been one myself at an independent coffee shop, I felt put to shame by their mad skills. The store itself was very Euro and chic.
Opting for my usual red eye the few days I was here, I ended up with a punch in the face with caffeine goodness. Delicious, with a bold and complex body. A little bit on the pricey side, but I don't mind paying for goddamn quality.
Intelligentsia, if you ever feel like opening a shop in Philadelphia, give me a call.
Warning: once you have intelligentsia, you will never again be able to enjoy other coffees. Ever. You will sip other coffees and wonder, "what is this crap?!". I get a large black pick of the day every morning going on over a year at this point, and without exaggeration, the coffee has never disappointed me. Staff is very friendly, place is comfortable and clean, this location just loses a star for 1. not having enough seating to accommodate the volume (from 8:45-10:30am you will have to stand because all seats will be taken), 2. occasional long waits on the coffee. Usually they are pretty quick, no more than 3 minutes from in line to out the door, but there are days. Like the day I waited 15min for my large black, and to add insult to injury, a guy who was in line after me answered to my clearly female name and took my coffee, causing me to wait another 5min to receive his. Not intelligentsia's fault (jerk-face-coffee-stealer-dude that is), but I do feel the occasional 15min wait is a bit excessive. My love is unconditional though, so the wait is a risk I am willing to deal with for that oh so delicious lg pick of the day.
I think Intelligentsia is the best coffee in Chicago.
They use high quality ingredients, prepared fresh, and with an artistry so lacking these days as quality baristas all but disappear faced by the onslaught of the highly marketed, mediocre, 'fast food' style coffee shops.
This location is conveniently located near the Calder Flamingo sculpture. Even if you aren't going to take pictures, take a moment to sip your coffee in silent reflection of the massive art.
I had seen on the Food Network that Intelligentsia was considered to be the best coffee roaster in the country. Since coffee is one of my few, true vices, I had to see if this was true. Luckily, they have a store near our office in Chicago, so it was a quick walk. When you walk into a coffeehouse and actually see the roasting machine, you know it's a good start. The small place was also packed and it took about 10 minutes before I could place my order. For me, the truest expression of coffee brewing is via French press. All of the flavors come out using this technique. Apparently not many people ask for this preparation, because I was asked if I really wanted it that way. Anyway, I watched the whole process, and the barista really took her time to do it right: warming the pot and plunger with hot water, grinding the beans coarsely (which had been roasted just a few days prior), measuring the water temperature before pouring into the pot, setting a time for exactly 4 minutes.
The result? An absolutely stunning cup of coffee and not for rookies. Rich, deep, full-bodied. If you get your caffeine fix from Starbucks, you won't be able to appreciate this kind of brew. I made a point to buy a few bags of beans to take home with me.
Intelligentsia is, hands down, my very favorite coffee. Their lattes (both hot and iced) are unmatched by those produced by any other establishment. Today, my day was officially made when I noted their foam artistry in the cups of patrons seated at the tables near the line. One woman's had a cute little heart in it! Adorable. And the tables have cute little flower vases on them. I can't help it... I love the details!
The line can be long during business days, especially in the afternoon, but the baristas try their best to move people in and out in a respectful and efficient manner. The staff is generally friendly, though a few of the baristas seem a bit elitist. Then again, I would be, too, if entrusted with the responsibility of bestowing upon the city of Chicago such great coffee.
I love the latte here.
I went in expecting to pay an arm and leg for the clover coffee, but apparently drip is back as I only paid $1.55 for a small regular coffee, which is of course excellent. I actually like that the small coffee is indeed small (8oz I guess). I'd say the seating is about the same or only slightly more than the Randolph street location, but it's more square and marble thus a bit noisy as a previous reviewer mentioned but not bad. The temperature is perfect - many places I've found I need to bring a jacket due to overpowering AC in the summer. I was forewarned about the lack of plugs so I came in with a fully charged battery, but that is a limitation, and, a very minor issue, the tables are all round and thus not ideal for studying if you have a laptop and printed material.
These folks are arrogant and do not know how to add. I have been to several locations and they can't seem to understand that when I want a double, I don't want stronger coffee, I want DOUBLE the coffee.
The coffee is tasty but if you can't understand the simple concept of, "the customer is always right", then you won't get my buck's.
The best coffee in Chicago - bar none - if you're a fan of high quality coffee.
These guys -- unlike a big name brand from Seattle -- focus on quality over quantity, and it shows in every cup they serve.
No frills, no drinks requiring 20 words to order, no breakfast sandwiches, no record label -- just really, really good coffee.
Best coffee in the city. And the experts behind the counter are very helpful and knowledgeable, despite the store's being very busy in mornings.
My favorite is a vanilla latte, with a nice little leaf pattern in the foam. Or you can't go wrong with a simple cup of coffee. It's strong, but not acidic or watery. If you like the taste of coffee, you'll love this place. But if you don't want to get knocked on your ass by your cup of joe, there's a Dunkin Donuts across the street.
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