Intelligensia Coffee & Tea

03/21/07

A MUST visit

by cboen at Citysearch

My friends and I found the place accidentally while we were walking around the neighborhood. The baristas were very knowledgeable. My favorite was an iced cappuccino with added homemade simple syrup. The place itself was very cozy and filled with locals. It felt like a home away from home. Grazie mille.

• Pros: coffee
• Cons: expensive sandwiches

07/30/06

Good coffee.

by nausea01 at Citysearch

My cousin and I visited with my young daughter. We both agreed the coffee was good. The atmosphere is what one would expect with a good coffee house. Plenty of filled seating - a testament to the shop's success - but the big tables with six or seven chairs were being used by individuals. When we sat down at the opposite end of one of the large tables the person on the other end seemed put out as though he needed the entire table.

The staff was young and friendly, although the service was a bit overwhelming when five of them clustered around the cash register, each taking their turn asking "have you been helped" and "what can I get for you" even though I was only one of two standing in line.

I would not call Intelligentsia "kid friendly" as there are no changing tables in the restrooms and the crowd that was gathered the day we went seemed like mostly younger and older singles and couples sans children. It was hard not to feel like we were imposing on the other patrons who were busy surfing the web, reading, or doing crossword puzzles.

The coffee, along with the vibrant neighborhood, was worth the trip and I would recommend it to anyone who loves coffee and visting unique and out of the way coffee shops.

Peace.

• Pros: Good coffee and atmosphere.
• Cons: Service and table set up.

07/26/06

Perfect cup of coffee!!!

by motcollins at Citysearch

perfect cup of coffee or coffee drink everytime!!!

every staff member takes special care and time to create a perfect beverage!!!

07/12/06

Best coffee definitely, best coffeeSHOP, debatable

by rw_from_ne at Citysearch

If you're voting for best COFFEE as is the actual COFFEE (bean/roast/brewed product) it's no question, especially when it comes to straight 'spro, traditional cappas and cups of varietals. Metropolis might be right behind on espresso, but Intelly still has the lead.

If you're voting for best COFFEEHOUSE, then you might give the nod to someplace else. The folks who go to Intelly seek it out to enjoy the best coffee available, not necessarily to engage in conversation with others. It's about the coffee tasting experience, not being seen or posing.

And if your taste is for large lattes, especially flavored lattes, then why bother voting on anything related to coffee. Stick to Starbucks or Caribou.

Also, Intelly has the most responsible policies toward coffee grower compensation in the industry, fairer than even Fair Trade. So you're not only drinking the best product around, you're helping to encourage a culture of sustainable great coffee in the countries where they buy their beans. Not a bad deal.

• Pros: service, quality of espresso roasts, traditional cappuccinos
• Cons: Best service only at their own retail locations, other shops serving Intelly not up to same standards.

06/18/05

Great hang out.

by handico at Citysearch

super experience, class organization, I like hanging out for several hours at a time