Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea

Infobox_Company
company_name = Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea
company_
company_type = Private
company_slogan =
foundation = 1995
location = Chicago, Illinois
key_people = Doug Zell and Emily Mange
num_employees =
industry = Restaurants
products = Coffee, Tea
revenue =
homepage = [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/ intelligentsiacoffee.com]

Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, colloquially known as Intelligentsia, is a coffee roasting company with its headquarters at 1850 W. Fulton Street in Chicago, Illinois. Intelligentsia has several cafe retail locations throughout the Chicago area. The company was founded in 1995 by Doug Zell and Emily Mange (now husband and wife). They supply coffee to various Chicago-area cafes and restaurants, as well as other locations in the US and Canada. [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-22-2004 "Hot" Chicago Restaurants get custom blends from Intelligentsia.] ] [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/07-20-2006 Intelligentsia in LA] ] [http://www.vancouvercoffee.ca/archives/2005/04/wicked_cafe_rev.html Wicked Cafe in Vancouver, Canada serves Intelligentsia] ] They generally buy their beans directly from growers in Central America, South America, East Africa, and Ethiopia.Shernoff, Leon, "Intelligentsia, more Cedars, Come to Co-op", "ever Green", March 2007, Vol. 60, #3.] They use vintage German roasters to roast their beans daily. ]

On August 17th 2007, Intelligentsia opened its first store outside of Chicago at Sunset Junction in Silver Lake, a district east of Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.Scattergood, Amy, "A Lucky Break For Drip Coffee", "LA Times", March 14, 2007] The location features two newfangled Clover single cup brewing machines. ]

Starting on August 1, 2008, official Intelligenstsia stores will no longer serve venti-size 20-ounce coffee and espresso beverages. Zell believes that the proportions are altered at such large quantities and certain drinks become watered-down. He also claims that the 20-ounce drinks end up "masking and adulterating the pure, intense flavors we work hard to source, roast and produce. We don't want this to just be a caffeine delivery device." [cite web | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-wed-intelligentsia-coffee-jul09,0,2911561.story | title="Small. Medium. Gone." | author=Eng, Monica | publisher=Chicago Tribune | date=2008-07-09 | accessdate=2008-07-09]

Honors

In 2006, Intelligentsia has been included on several local [http://chicago.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/coffee #2 in Chicago Citysearch Best Coffee category 2006] ] [ [http://search.cityguide.aol.com/chicago/bestcoffeehouses/?page=cb2006 AOL Cityguide - Best of Chicago 2006] ] [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/presspdfs/chicago_mag_11_06.pdf Chicago Magazine Best Coffee November 2006] ] and national" [http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2006-03-02-coffeeshops_x.htm 10 great places to get jazzed about great java] ", USA Today, March 3, 2006.] [http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/taste-test-coffee-1 Foodandwine.com Best boutique roasters 2006] ] [ [http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/markprince/12-18-2006 Coffeegeek.com Best Expresso Blend December 18, 2006] ] best-of lists. One of their baristas also has won national and international honors. [ [http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=restaurants&id=4159131 ABC U.S. Barista Championship story May 10, 2006] ] [ [http://www.chicagoist.com/archives/2006/05/23/our_baristas_are_better_than_your_baristas.php U.S. and World Barista Championship results.] ]

It has been winning local best of list recognition since 2000. [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-31-2000 Best Coffee Bar - Citysearch 2000] ] [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-31-2001 Best cup of coffee - Citysearch 2001] ] [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-31-2002 Best coffee - Citysearch 2002] ] [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/06-20-2004 Best coffee - Citysearch 2004] ] In 2005, the local [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/01-31-2005 AOL Cityguide Winner, Best Coffeehouse 2005] ] [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/07-01-2005 Best coffee - Citysearch 2005] ] [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/08-08-2005 Chicago Magazine - Best Beans 2005] ] [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/09-29-2005 Newcity Magazine Best place to buy beans and Best place to buy tea leaves] ] recognition extended to national [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/03-29-2005 Best coffeehouse - Playboy April 2005] ] recognition. In 2006, Intelligentsia has been included on several local [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/10-02-2006 "Best Coffeehouse" by New City Chicago for 2006] ] and national [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/08-06-2006 Zagats 2006 America's Best Beverage Bets (Best Cup of Regular Coffee, Best Espresso, Best Seasonal Coffee or Tea Beverage)] ] [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-01-2006 Fastcompany.c0m - 12 Best Coffees] ] [ [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/10-31-2006 Roast Magazine - Roaster of the Year for 2007] ] "best" lists.

External links

* [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/ Official Site]

Notes