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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: The LoopRandolph/Wabash (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
Lake (Red)
Washington (Blue, Red)
Mon-Thu. 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Fri. 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
"Lavazza is so much better here than in the UK and this location is the best. As I mentioned before, the orange mocha mio is my drink of…" read more »
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While the espresso and teas are a little expensive, a regular cup of coffee is $2 which is only a few cents above average. I generally drink espresso not coffee, so I only go here for a special treat. But it is always worth it, the espresso is quite good.
I also love watching the cool coffee makers brewing the coffee, so hi-tech.
They take coffee very seriously here, but the staff is still friendly and efficient.
I'm no coffee connoisseur, but I know a good latte when I taste/see it. Intelligentsia's latte was like love at first sight.
GOOD STUFF!
Today, my cappuccino came out speedy with a smile and heart on the top made out of foam.
I'm a sucker for hearts in my foam Intelligentsia.
+1 star.
LOVE the coffee. It's my new fav. So long Starbucks, hellloooo Intelligentsia.
I come for the…
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All of my friends rave about intelligensia and how
wonderful it is.
So on a fine summer day, i decided to give it a
shot on the way to the lake.
I ordered a double espresso over ice.
And what did it come in?
A small dixie cup.
When i asked for a bigger cup with more ice I received
this snooty reply:
"Well, if you want to add extra milk we'd rather you pay
for it."
HEY DOUCHEROO-
I actually just prefer my doubles with extra ice. is that
a crime? o, and a splash o cream. sorry.
The coffee is decent, but I can do without the snotface.
I don't know much about coffee, but I know what I like...I like my coffee with a bit of sweetness (sugar=good, chocolate=better), cream/milk, not too strong but not too weak.
Intelligentsia has a very simple drink menu: coffee, tea, cappuccino, espesso, mocha...Not all those fancy dessert drinks you find at Starbucks.
My first time I ordered a Latte. Very satisfying, I could tell I was tasting quality. Wasn't watered down at all, rich...And they made a cute design on top, which I've never experienced before. Fun!
The second time, I ordered a Mocha...Now there's the sweetness I wanted. Delicious! Again, cute design on top. Fancy!
The service was friendly, not overly quick but I guess you have to wait a teensy bit longer for quality. It's expensive for the small sizes, that's the only reason I'm deducting one star. It is truly good coffee though.
This is the newest and shiniest of the Intelligentsia coffee bars in Chicago (although it has been open since 2006). Great location right off of Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park.
To me the highlight of any visit to Intelligentsia is the espresso! It is always done right. Try a machiato for a slight change (no, it doesn't involved large amounts of poorly steamed milk and caramel syrup :) ). If you don't like espresso or want a change of pace try one of Intelligentsia's regular coffees from the Clover Brewer. It's similar to press coffee, but subtly different.
Came to this location last Thursday and I had not been here in about two years. I met my friend for some coffee and conversation. I walked in about 5:45pm and the place was packed. I was lucky enough to grab the last table in the back corner. I tried a macchiato and wasn't too impressed. The drink wasn't hot at all. After that I tried one of their green teas. The tea came out in a glass pot with a glass on a wooden board. The wooden board almost made it perfect for me. The tea was good and warmed me up on a cold rainy day. I'll stop by again for a drink but I wouldn't expect to get a seat as it seems that they are always crowded.
Intelligentsia is hands-down the best cup of coffee in the city of Chicago. Since adopting a 9-to-5 lifestyle I have become shamelessly addicted to my morning cup of joe, and this is where I go to get my fix.
The coffee is very high quality (roasted locally) and there is an extremely wide selection to choose from. I try to get a different variety of beans each time I go, and it's easy to do with their broad seasonal menus and helpful (if not occasionally uppity) baristas. Every blend I have had is very full bodied and tasty. They also give you a free cup of coffee with the purchase of a bag of beans, which is a nice bonus.
The goodness doesn't end with the whole-bean offerings as they also serve up variety of delicious beverages in-house. I have personally tried the espresso, latte, and mocha with complete satisfaction every time; in fact, I would say with confidence that Intelligentsia makes the best Mocha I have ever tasted. I have yet to pair my drink with a pastry, but since I know that the baked goods are provided by Southport Grocery, they have to be top-notch.
This place is firing on all cylinders.
Intelligentsia's coffee/espresso is excellent, and it makes Starbucks and other places inferior by far. I come from CA where Peet's was my go-to for good coffee, but since Peet's is rather scarce (only Evanston and Lincoln Park), Intelligentsia has happily been my new sweet spot. I normally order their skim lattes for $4 in their house mug, and it is worth every penny as a nice treat. The baristas take extra care in making the steamed milk presentable and elegant, which is not something 90% of other coffeehouses do.
My only gripe is that their wi-fi is free for one hour with their code you request at the register. So, if you want to work/study, you need to plan around the one hour limit. I'm surprised that it's not two hours like other places (e.g., Argo Tea) because the Millennium Park location is surprisingly quiet on the weekends and extra quiet on the weekdays.
Best coffee ever. With Dunkin Donuts being second best.
I came here based on the recommendation from someone who had never even been there. That's quite a reputation that Intelligentsia has to live up to. I would say it comes close. Of course the most important criteria should be the java. And while I am not a huge coffee drinker, I really enjoyed the mocha here. It's fun to watch the coffee bubble up like a brownie. The service was great, too.
I can't give it 5 stars though because it feels like they are trying too hard to emulate Starbucks. They generally have the same pittances available for food and the whole interior is too bland. Perhaps I would have changed my mind if the chocolate covered bacon hadn't been $7.50 and thus dissuaded me from what I'm sure must be delicious.
My guess is that a much larger chain is in the works and they are ramping up for scalability. Otherwise I would expect a specialty shop like this to feel more like a cafe where you can relax rather than a coffee store that just happens to brew some on site with only a few tables for passers by. The world certainly needs more coffee competition than Cosi, and for that I wish Intelligentsia the best of luck.
This was a must stop for me while visiting Chicago for a few days. I was lucky that it happen to be along the way for me to the train stop so I popped in to start my day off right with a cup of frothy cappuccino from Intelligentsia (what a mouth full!)
I'd heard much buzz about this place and I'd say it lives up to it. The Millennium Park location is bright and soothing. It's a singles place, a family place, a place to sit or grab one on the go.
I had a great experience with the baristas. They kind of messed up our order slightly but to make up for it, they gave us a card for a free drink on the house. I feel foolish now because I was searching through my pockets and realized I had forgotten all about it and never got to use it. Too bad I'm in NY now, if anyone wants it they can message me and I could send it to them. Haha. Why waste a perfectly good cup of coffee?
The only gripe I had was that my cap wasn't hot enough, but that seems to be a recurring problem for me at these coffee houses. Other than that I enjoyed my experience at Intelligentsia and would highly recommend a stopover any time of the day.
I love Intelligentsia coffee but was less than impressed with the Cafe Mochas we ordered. They were only ok. I like Starbucks' cafe mochas better because they're chocolate-ier. I really like my cafes to have superb pastry offerings and their vanilla cupcake was... meh. They did have a chocolate chip scone that I spotted after I had paid for the cupcake, which looked amazing!!
Next time, I will grab that scone and have just a plain ole cup of joe since I do love Intelligentsia coffee!!
Definitely not a place to camp out for a few hours, but a welcome relief from the myriad of Starbucks downtown. The seating seems to encourage getting coffee to go, which makes sense since it is in the loop. I know I know it's expensive, and you pay for what you get, and I would never be one to complain about a $3.65 8oz. latte until as of late, when I am unemployed. I should have saved that $3.65 for a falafel when I got home. Shoot. My god, I have become a penny pincher.
Good coffee, convenient location, pleasant baristas, on the high end as far as prices go, but as a local roaster, I don't mind - much.
The last time i went, my cappuccino was burnt. But other than that, this place is awesome and has the friendliest people.
Mega bummer that they don't have more seating. It's wayyyyy crowded at times and makes for awkward conversation since everyone is so close together that they can hear your conversation.
I don't get it.
I've had Intelligentsia coffee served elsewhere and was unimpressed, so assumed it must be the way it was prepared. Everyone kept telling me to go here and try it first hand.
I am sad. I had such high hopes for a lovely strong hot coffee. I got the wrong size of a lukewarm latte that tasted.. like an average coffee with greasy milk. And I waited ten minutes for it.
To be fair, the cake looked very nice, the machines were fun to watch, and I should have asked for an extra shot of espresso but forgot and that might be why I didn't like it. I can appreciate it is a step above Starbucks. But I'm not convinced by the hype?
I'm becoming a regular coffee person and not many places can serve good enough coffee to impress me, but this one closed the deal. I always order a soy latte, so that's the only item I can review. It came in right temperature, creamy and very tasty.
It may be on the pricey side, although not more than what I usually pay in NY. The one missing star goes for the size, ridiculously small.
My friends and I went here on a recent trip to Chicago because the Barista of the Year for 2009 is from Intelligentsia (matter of fact, so are the first, third and fourth runners up) and we wanted to see what all the fuss was about (I should note, the runners up mentioned were all from Los Angeles locations. Only the winner is from Chicago)
Well, the brews are good, but the service wasn't anything special. I wouldn't say the baristas were snotty, as some other reviewers comment, but they certainly weren't any more helpful or passionate than baristas at my local shops.
We chose this specific location because, unlike others closest to downtown, it was open on Sunday.
Great coffee, average service.
I had high hopes for you Intelligentsia... but $4 for an 8 oz. "coffee" that was pretty weak and a bland is not my cup o' joe that it makes Starbucks look like gourmet coffee.
I'm pretty sure everyone else's coffee wasn't as great either. Had a sip of the Vanilla bean latte and that was bland as well! Don't even get me started on the large coffee here that was even more watered down!
The only good thing about this place is that they draw pretty leaves on top, but a lot of other places do that too and was not worth my $4.
Ooh wow, do I love this place.
I come here several times a month to study. I love the environment, good music is always on, the espresso drinks are perfect, and the people watching is great.
Every time I come I get a mocha and a chocolate chip cookie. The mocha is always perfection in a cup, a great blend of intense chocolate flavor and espresso. The chocolate chip cookies are baked to perfection, soft, large and big chunks of chocolate chip. There is also a perfect salty ting in the cookies that offsets the sweetness. Sooo delicious.
Avant-garde, alternative feel. Is this where the hipsters in Chicago congregate? I appreciated the ambiance, but the coffee was a too strong and too bitter for my tastebuds. The high-priced tiny portions also didn't win any points for me.
The macchiato was as good as it gets. I cant really speak for their food or the coffee drinks made for people who dont want to taste their coffee (i.e. mochas, etc.) - but the espresso is excellent. Like the top coffee places in Europe. Keep it up!
With all of the changes that have recently come into play with Intelligentsia (switching to Clover only, getting rid of "frequent purchase" cards, modifying the hot cocoa recipe, etc), there is one thing that I am really going to miss...
...the panini.
They changed suppliers and now they're only offering cold sandwiches. And yes, I get it. They're focusing their brand, because a cup of their coffee is just as special as, say, a glass of wine, and the prices have to reflect the quality, etc etc etc. Lunch offerings are now an afterthought, at best. But you know what? I'm upset. I loved being able to get a great lunch AND a great beverage in one stop.
I'm a long-time fan of Intelligentsia but all of this stuff adds up...I think it's going to take some getting used to. I miss the good ol' days!
3 stars, temporarily, as I force myself to adjust to the changes.
So everyone already knows that Intelligentsia has great espresso - I'm not even going to mention it… Read more »
I really like this place.
The coffee is great. Its a great place to study with chill music in the background.
Its close to millennium park so there are always different characters to watch if you're bored. Its almost always packed.
Its pretty big, but I wish it was bigger with more seating!
This might be the best coffee that I found in Chicago, but still not as good as Blue Bottle in San Francisco. The coffee lacked the flavor that Blue Bottle's has.
I thought that the shop was nice. I also thought Clover machines were unique. These machines basically automate and speed up the process of making individually brewed drip coffee.
The staff seemed non-chalant and overwhelmed by the few people who were in line. They also didn't seem to know the product very well. At Blue Bottle, the baristas can tell you exactly what type of coffee to get depending on your taste and how you make your coffee.
Final verdict....I'd still come here for coffee over Starbucks, Caribou, and any other coffee shop I came across near Mag Mile.
Intelligentsia is not for everyone. Those who prefer to grab the cheapest cup of coffee and run will not be happy here. Thankfully, if you care about the taste of your coffee and want to stay and linger for a while, Intelligentsia is top-notch.
On weekends, this location is calmer than its Lakeview sibling, even with the tourists filtering in and out through the endlessly revolving door. The store is instantly inviting, with bright lighting, lime green walls, and ample seating (even outdoor seating when it's nice out).
As for the coffee, the Clover system really makes all the difference. The resulting cup of coffee is pricey, yes, but it is so worth it.
I have always wanted to be a snob. Like a righteous, justifiable snob. The go-to for a niche. If I can be a snob and still use creme and sugar, then coffee is the genre for me.
I love Intelligentsia. I get weak for fonts, and so they have a hold of me before I even walk in but I am sooooo over Starbucks, and 'Sia is an oasis. The first time I came here (I'm a recent transplant back to the City), the barista put a heart in my mocha foam (raunchy!!) and I felt all special and told her so.
I think she winked, but whatever. She totally does that for all the girls.
Sure, I like my baristas all tatted up, but I also like when they know their beans. Being near Millenium Park, one would find this essential, but a young lad named Hipster told me all about the difference between their African and Central American blends and then ground up a cup of joe for me on the spot.
I didn't like the coffee, but I loved the education and appreciate the help in nurturing my snobbery.
Downside: it's crowded in there and people linger a loooong time, which is a-ok, especially when I'm one of them. . . but this is probably a more grab 'n go kind of place for most. I happen to be studying for the GRE, so I'm looking for all sorts of second homes.
Great coffee and friendly staff! I ordered one decaf americano and one regular americano, and because they forgot to tell me which was which, they made me another set. Great space to read or chat.
I like the new bar, a lot actually, but maybe I'm confused. When I walked in and saw it for the first time, the new bar seemed to invite people to walk right up to it, as if discouraging a queue and even creating willy-nilly congregation of people around the bar. Then I heard a customer behind me respond to another confused customer to line-up at the register. So though it seemed obvious to me the design is to attract you to the nearest open spot rather than line up, I may apparently be delusional, or alternatively, the concept is lost on some.
Also, perhaps the day the credit cards couldn't be accepted, free coffee for regulars could have been offered. Something to seriously consider for another time.
Best coffee in town, by wayyy far (I'm not contradicting myself, Sarah's serves Intelligentsia's). While the initial arrogance of the staff can be a tad irritating, if you actually listen to their advice and ask for it, and come regularly, they turn out to be very pleasant and interesting people.
The banana choc chip bread is awesome, but I've been under-thrilled by the rest of the foods. The teas are very decent, though.
The best part is the excellent lighting, awesome tables and good chairs, plus internet access (2 hours/purchase) and power, which make it now officially my no. 1 prime place to study. Prime, because while they have the better tables and chairs over Sarah's, the latter still has the cleanest restroom (and the best pastries, plus excellent lunch items). Now if either one was willing to add smoothies to their list, I promise I'll give them the first place exclusivity.
Awwww....my poor bf!
He endured Starbucks for about 2 days and then simply couldn't do it any more. When we posed the question of a good local cafe that brewed tasty, STRONG cup o' joes, the concierge and front desk agent exclaimed at the same moment: "Intelligentsia!"
We trekked in the cold morning chill to this location next to Millennium Park and ordered the brew of the day. I made the mistake of pouring curdled soy milk in mine, but overall, the coffee was good.
BF finally got to drink a strong cup of coffee, and I was able to peek through the Chicago Public Library doors and swoon over the stacks housed inside the historic building.
Let me begin by saying that their sandwiches and pastries are just average. If you want quality baked goods or a fantastic lunch, there are probably dozens of better options near by. I wanted to say that to balance the written hj I want to perform on the baristas at the MP Intelligentsia.
Whatever training process the best coffee roaster in Chicago uses, they should patent it. It starts with good, well-roasted beans, but is finished by coffee experts taking pride in their craft.
Presentation, taste, temperature, everything about the coffee at this shop is sublime. Sometimes the service can be a little cranky, but far superior to the Monadnock crew. So much so that I get off the blueline at Washington and walk 6 blocks out of my way when I work near the Jackson stop.
My only complaints are the futuristic the furniture and atmosphere and the often objectionable music.
If you've got visitors from out of town and you want to show off Chicago's coffee chops, take them here!
Five Stars
I have to go 5 stars on this, even though it's pricey and sometimes I'm not sure if it's worth it. Here's why: the coffee is delicious. And to boot, the stores are a comfortable place in which to hang out (at least when they're open, which is not all that late...and when they're not crowded, which is a rarity in this Randolph location). And sometimes you just want a cup of coffee that is better than what you can get anywhere else.
I buy the beans sometimes, although I think they are best used as a gift. People in many cities do not have access to such bomb coffee, so they will be pleasantly surprised at how you can smell the bag across the room. I like to keep some on hand at home too, as a treat, but for my everyday coffee I must vote for 8 o'clock coffee, which is ridiculously good considering its price.
Now why can't there be more Intelligentsia's in the city? I guess that's part of the appeal, though. If it got any more ubiquitous, it might lose some of that indie feel.
Most importantly, the coffee tastes great. I appreciate the real mugs, as well as the foam designs the baristas make. The Clover machines are pretty mesmerizing to watch as I wait for my drink. The biscotti here is good - it is less crunchy and more crumbly, which goes great with a latte. I'm also a huge fan of the chai here, which has just the right amount of sweetness to it without being sickeningly so.
Seating at this location is very limited, as is the food selection. Some of the baristas are a little snooty, but overall I've had pretty good experience with service. The coffee keeps me coming back, though not too often since it is rather expensive.
Um, I believe I asked for the small latte. (Mike Meyers, So I Married an Ax Murderer). Except in the movie its a large. Ha!
Lovelovelove their coffee but god damn, next time I want a 3 dollar+ thimble full of coffee it better come from a magical nymph that will at least give me a handy along with it.
You know what? I haven't been back in a while, and that doesn't bother me in the least. When I want coffee, and I think about Intelligentsia, I think nope--don't want to go there. I know that makes me ridiculously uncool, but it is the truth. So I realize that my 4 star rating was too generous.
Everything in my review below is still my opinion--just not worth as many stars.
There is a LOT about this place I like. For starters, they really, really care about coffee.… Read more »
I had some kind of African coffee of the day and it was so rich. I was unsure of whether or not I liked it at first, but I decided I just wasn't used to the bolder, thicker flavor. I ended up liking it, and it was fun watching the process of a cup being made (kind of looks like a brownie in the machine at some point).
Ok, I used to go to this place all the time. The coffee was good, the baristas were fantastic.
Then a cup of tea went up to $3ish dollars. The drip coffee did too.
I'm all for good coffee...but I must be honest...they priced me out.
I'll still go there occasionally for a bar drink. Those prices didn't go up that much...but sheesh! Can't afford the rest!
My wife and I travel to Chicago via the South Shore Railroad, and no trip is complete without spilling coffee down my shirt after a stop at Intelligensia. In fact, we usually make it our first and last stop -- make that two shirts with brown drips. At least the coffee tastes great. The tea selection is impressive for a coffee shop. Even in a busy location, their atmosphere is a mix of charming, spacious, and efficient. Extra bonus for a highly knowledgeable staff. Avoid the conglomerates and just go grab some of the best coffee you'll ever have.
"Dear Hipster Cashier Man with the Trendy Round Glasses:
You, my friend, are one lucky bastard. You work at a place where the product sells itself. That's a good thing, too, because if sales were due to your customer service, you would be out of business.
You are near Millennium Park, so it is safe to assume that you see your fair share of tourists. This would be grating on anyone's nerves. I understand how you would be a little tetchy. However, when my mother, obviously not a local but a sweet lady nonetheless, orders a caramel macchiato and you roll your eyes and say "We don't serve that sort of drink here" and proceed to smirk at her, it makes me think you are rude. When she asks for a tall latte and you get three empty cups, prissily arrange them on the register counter in front of us, and say "These are the sizes we have," it makes me think you are dumb because any idiot familiar with coffee can equate a "tall" with the smallest size you have. Furthermore, you are annoying the long line of customers behind us because your theatrics are making this transaction twice as long as it should normally be.
I think you are an even bigger dolt because I know you have a suburban Mom in Naperville or Elmhurst or wherever you lived before you came to Columbia or the Art Institute to study graphic design. And it would probably upset you if someone was so blatantly disrespectful to her. Get off your hip horse and get me my damn latte!
So thanks for helping make Metropolis my coffee of choice. You get 4 stars for working at a place that has delicious coffee, a commitment to fair trade practices, and succeeds as a small business where many others have failed. However, your attitude earns you a negative 2.
Sincerely,
Concerned Coffee Connoisseur"
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