I stopped by Intelligentsia Coffee and really enjoyed it. I ordered a matcha latte with almond milk and my husband got a cappuccino with oat milk. Both were excellent. I appreciated that the matcha can be customized. You can choose sweetened or unsweetened and even adjust the matcha strength. Since I am sensitive to caffeine I chose light matcha and it was perfect. Smooth flavor and not overly sweet. The cafe is also a really nice place to sit for a bit. There are big tables and lots of natural light which makes it feel relaxed and comfortable. The staff were nice and the drinks came out quickly. Great spot for a quality matcha or coffee in the area. I would definitely come back. read more

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I was already skeptic about coffee shops in the Loop, especially big chains like this but my friends & I were in desperate need of caffeine and this was the closest spot...we should have just pushed through without the caffeine. First off, the staff were nice so this review does not have to do with them. It has everything to do with the atrocious, offensive liquid that they dare call coffee. When you walk in, the space is small, humid, and dirty. The tables were all sticky with drink residue and crumbs everywhere. It's the Loop so I'll give some grace but it was pretty unpleasant. We ordered the strawberry matcha and vanilla latte. The matcha came out murky green with an attempt of making it look nice with a chaotic splattering of strawberry puree/sauce (?). It tasted like it looked...trash. You might be wondering, "Well why would you order a matcha here?" And you would be correct. In my defense, you would think that if there is a drink on the menu, it would at least be somewhat good but now that I think about it, that might be too much to ask. Now to my #1 gripe, the latte. It was watery and nearly flavorless aside from the diabolical acidic taste that assaulted my tastebuds. For context, we HATE wasting food/drink; I could probably count on one hand how many times I've done that in my life. We threw away the lattes after a few forced sips; that should tell you how nasty it was. Bad coffee, bad drinks, it happens. But paying ~$8 for each drink really does rub salt in the wound. I will NEVER drink Intelligentsia coffee again. In the grand scheme of things, my review doesn't matter but if I can warn at least one other person about the atrocities this company commits to coffee/matcha, then maybe it will make up for the waste of money & time I spent here. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - strawberry matcha, iced latte, vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped into this coffee shop on a weekday right after landing in Chicago. I needed somewhere to sit, work, and kill time while waiting for my accommodations to be ready--and this place did the job. Hella busy, the staff was semi-helpful while I was trying to decide what to order--not rude, just not super engaging either. I ended up settling on a latte, which... whew. $8 for what felt like a few swallows. The cup was hella small, so that part definitely hurt a little. Menu isn't substantial. Despite how packed it was, I was able to take a meeting without too much trouble--shoutout to my noise-canceling headphones, because they were doing the heavy lifting. The space itself is on the smaller side, so if you're planning to camp out for a while, just know it can feel tight. The bathroom could've used a little attention. Nothing major, and maybe expected with a lot of people. Overall, it's a decent stop if you need coffee and a place to sit for a bit, especially in a pinch. Just be prepared for crowds, limited space, and pricey drinks that disappear way too fast. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Got a cappuccino here and it was a bottle on the bitter side so took some getting used to but it grew on me towards the end. Ironically my friend said her drink was too sweet. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Intelligentsia has such a vibrant, community atmosphere. The baristas are kind and very helpful when it comes to make a decision about their menu. We got the miso maple latte and the strawberry cold foam matcha. Both drinks were good I just wish the flavors were a little stronger. I wish there was more miso maple and I wish there was more of a stronger matcha presence. There is only street parking which is difficult since it is located in a busy area. It is a nice place to get some work done if you can find a spot and they do have wifi and outlets at wall/ bar tables. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped by this coffee shop since it was nearby our hotel and glad we did. The inside had nice coffee shop vibes but what made it for us was the sesame latte. It had a nice strong sesame flavor and the cold foam was addicting. If you're in the area and like black sesame def stop by! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place had good coffee and they also do a lot of seasonal drinks, so it's good to revisit and try new drinks. The service was nice and quick. The ambiance was spacious too, you could work from here. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Smoked Salt Maple Latte (left) Avena Latte (right) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Trivia: The original location of Intelligentsia is in Chicago, but isn't this location. Where is the original? Knew the coffee, but never been to one of their locations. Came on a Tuesday morning which is "two dollar off bags of coffee" day. Win! Solid cold brew coffee. Service was okay. I asked some questions about pour overs and received one word answers. Outside searing area was a cool spot to hear and see city life. Some flower planters provided a nice ambiance. Definitely worth the jaunt from River Walk for a great cup of coffee. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Cold coffee. Sounds of the city. A light breeze. Yay! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was a nice coffee spot in downtown Chicago. It was close to the Bean, when we went in, it was quite busy. Service was quite fast, nice staff. Coffee tasted great. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Hot Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Every time I have been in here the place is filthy! I buy there beans to go. They must be overwhelmed or understaffed. I understand busy so hire someone in charge of the front while the baristas do there thing in back of the counter. I still buy your beans! read more

The menu is vague, and all but two of their coffees are available by bag only (defeats the purpose of a café! ) The person who took the order was moody and condescending. He was hiding his RBF behind a face mask but the poor attitude could not be hidden. The coffees are all very light roasts with an absurd level of acidity. The espresso had bright grapefruit notes and a bitter undertone that made me pucker with every sip. It was not anywhere near an espresso roast . The brewed coffee tasted more like tea, while signs stated that they were out of tea. Everyone in the place had headphones and multiple screens sitting by themselves. It was a terrible robotic vibe. I did not see any of them with a coffee. I have to wonder if maybe this place has the fastest free internet in the city and perhaps that is the draw? In contrast, the chocolate orange brioche was tasty! However, it was not enough to make up for the bad coffee and terrible ambiance. I would not return nor recommend Intelligentsia. read more

A bit overpriced but not too bad. The location is convenient but the seatings weren't the comfiest. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Summer drink and black tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Intelligentsia is a legend for 3rd wave coffee. I hadn't been to this location before, but it was bustling for a 3pm coffee break. Even with about 10 people in line, it moved fast. I ordered a Cold Coffee (not Cold Brew) and a Black Cat Fizz. (Black Cat Espresso, tonic water, and orange bitters.) Both were great. They also have $2 off bagged coffee on Tuesdays! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Black Cat Fizz - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love Intelligentsia coffee! I'm glad I had the chance to take my boyfriend because they have some of the best coffee in the city, and I really like their location in Austin too. I got one of their seasonal drinks, and I was surprised to see how small the volume was. It was still really delicious. My boyfriend got their Americano, and he thought it was refreshing with a nice strong espresso taste. read more

You already know - it's Intelligentsia! Top-tier coffee every time. I grabbed an Americano and it was perfectly balanced, rich, and smooth. Quick service, great energy, and it's super close to Millennium Park. Easy win for any coffee lover read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - iced americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was visiting Chicago for a work trip and needed to get some morning coffee (hotel coffee aint it). One of my colleagues had already visited here and recommended it to the rest of our team. I decided to take the 10 min walk from our hotel lobby and see what Intelligentsia had to offer. First, it is well located in the heart of downtown Chicago (Millennial Park). I observed lots of local business folks stopping in and out of here so that was already my first sign that this was going to be good. Once I had a chance to look over the menu, I ordered a coffee and it was pretty good. Lots of flavor and while it didn't take too long to make, it was a bit longer than I thought it would be. I was okay with it because it was brewed to order which made it all worth it. Definitely booked marked this place for anytime I'm in Chicago. Can't wait to go back. read more

One of the many amazing coffee shops in Chicago. Can't miss with this location, great classic options & speciality coffees. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Maple Black Salt Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I got the avena latte (winter time in Chicago calls for hot coffee hehe) and it was really good! The place was PACKED but I think they do the best they can to keep up with a weekend crowd. Def recommend if you're in the area :) read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great cafe near Millennium Park! Easy to drop by and there's a good amount of seating available. I always get the Avena latte (the cayenne is a nice surprise); I also enjoyed my friend's matcha. The coffee is on the expensive side for its size. The workers are nice and friendly, would like to try their pastry selection next time. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Avena Latte, Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Close to my home .a very nice high quality coffee shop in the loop. I wish the outdoor area was more pleasant as sometimes there's weird peeps that hang around outside and there is unpleasant smell at times. The coffee shop has decent seating but a large area is communal seating which can be a little uncomfortable if you want some personal space. read more

Quick, easy, and good coffee. I tried the avena latte with the cayenne kick and was pleasantly surprised - just the right amount of spice if you're into that. Definitely impressed and would grab it again! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Avena latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had to stop by Intelligentsia during my quick trip to Chicago! Loved the various espresso drink options. I really enjoyed my Avena Latte! The oat milk and espresso mixture was tasty and the spices definitely gave it a kick! The spiciness reminded me of a oaxacan chocolate except in latte form instead of chocolate. The Iced Angeleno featured a higher espresso ratio and was a little too strong for me but I did like how it wasn't too sweet. The canele was also good - crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside with a prominent vanilla sweetness. It was busy on a weekend morning but drinks still came out at a reasonable time. There was a good amount of space with some tables and a giant high top table, as well as some outdoor seating. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Overall, pretty good coffee. Avena Latte: creamy but also kind of spicy in a good way! (5/5) Iced Limelight: pretty good-- tastes like iced tea + shot of coffee (4/5) Cappuccino: too strong and herbal tasting (3/5) Americano: too watered down (3/5) Service was fast and good. Ambiance is casual and nice. Seating was pretty limited-- definitely better to get your coffee to go! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Specialty coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Are y'all kidding me?! I am one who believes a microwave can have a place in even a professional kitchen, but it must be used appropriately. Serving hilariously overpriced tacos that look like they were purchased at a seedy gas station, stored in a fridge for three days, microwaved, and then marked up 500% is not even remotely acceptable. Don't even bother at that point. This place being a couple blocks from the office, I've been meaning to try it for a while. Then, one cold and windy fall day I stopped in (while my parents were visiting, too!). We ordered some dry cappuccinos (more foam, less milk), and some of the tacos to get something into our stomachs after lunch fell through. The cappuccinos were respectable, and while not the absolute best I've had, they were still among the better ones. This, and the fact that they have a nice location with plenty of seating is about the only good things I am able to say. The service was slow. At Starbucks I can be more forgiving and understanding for they are dealing with an influx of mobile orders. However, this did not seem to be the case at Intelligentsia. With this, while I am not necessarily against stopping in for a cup if I am not in a hurry, their approach to food and the service a lot to be desired, leaving a negative impression that does not inspire a return trip. read more

The space was super inviting. There were lots of parties hanging out, and there were some people studying. I had a strawberry matcha that was yummy, the strawberry cold foam was great. read more

Absolutely my favorite local Chicago place to stop by for single source coffee when visiting Chicago. This location is busy but didn't take too long to get a pour over of Rwandan coffee which was delicious. Bakery items are limited but really enjoyed the blueberry muffin. There are quite a few of single source coffee options to explore too. A bonus is that they have a few outdoor seats too when the weather is good . Would recommend! read more

Good coffee good vibes! Drinks were freshly made and they're great. They also have some merch available for you to buy :) Staff were nice and service was immaculate read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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After running a race in the city, I was desperate for a warm, caffeinated drink. Intelligentsia delivered! I had a delicious, beautiful Chai Latte with an extra shot for good measure. My drink came out quickly, tasted great (I love when a Chai is *spicy* and not too sweet!) , and I loved the cozy vibes within the shop. Service was kind and answered my questions about some of the other drinks on the menu. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Looking for an afternoon caffeine pick-me-up while visiting Chicago, my husband and I found Intelligentsia Coffee. It was walking distance from our hotel so we made our way over. The staff were very kind and the space was bustling with people working and hanging out. The coffee itself was quite tasty and reasonably priced. I ordered a simple cold brew with some sweetener and oat milk while my husband was adventurous ordering an espresso beverage with tonic water. So if you're looking for a quick caffeine fix, come check this place out. read more

A very cute local café. They have a decently sized menu with good variety and super nice baristas. We spent maybe 2 hours until closing at this place and enjoyed a nice card game at our table. It was never super loud to the point where it was hard to carry a conversation. There's a decent flow of traffic through here all day but most people seem to get to go but there's still a decent number of people that eat in! There's not like a ton of seating room but since most people got to go it wasn't hard to find a table. At the end of the night the baristas offered us pastries on the house which was such a lovely end to our evening. I'm not mentioning this because you should try and scam this place or expect the same gesture except to say that this coffee shop gets its pastries freshly made from local bakeries nearby every day. So just a huge authenticity boost. read more

The service was good and fast!! I tired the apple honey latte. And it was just okay, again the service was good and the vibe of the coffee shop was great!! I would definitely try another drink when in area!! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Apple honey latte. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A bit on the expensive side for coffee but they care about their craft! The avena latte was creamy and smooth and had a kick from the cayenne. The cappuccino was also made well and was rich and strong. Coffee shop vibes--if you can nab a spot, can definitely do some work or studying inside the shop (or outdoor seating area), though there are some warning signs posted about watching your things due to their metro area location. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Avena latte & cappuccino in the background - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Drinks were good. Service was good but very dry. They have outdoor seating and little seating inside. No parking lot being downtown. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Limeade Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Starbucks reserve was tempting, but Intelligentsia certainly hit the spot. I ordered a decaf drip, which I seldom see in your average mom n pop coffee shop. I enjoyed my drink, but everyone in my group was going crazy over the cayenne latte. I had a sip, spicy and creamy is not for me but I can see the appeal. Not much searing available, would recommend for grab n go vs chilling. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Decaf drip - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I would say this place is more like 3.5/5. I have grabbed coffee from this cafe a couple of times considering it is at close vicinity to where I live! I recently grabbed an Ethiopian Alaka Washed coffee with almond milk. The coffee is supposed to have blood orange, peach and plum flavours but I felt the taste was a bit subdued. The overall price also seemed a bit high, 8 dollars seemed a bit high for 8 oz cup. read more

super quick service! yummy coffee and I had a chocolate croissant. I do wish more modern cafes played jazz, especially because I typically read in cafes, so certain genres of music are more distracting. But I suppose that's personal preference. Good spot otherwise! read more

Went to Chicago for a little weekend trip and found this coffee shop while we were walking around. It was such a cute place, fast and friendly service. The coffee was amazing, had the vanilla bean latte and a honey latte. The vanilla bean latte was sooo good!!! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Admittedly I'm not a big coffee drinker however this place came highly recommended by some locals. I tried the Avena Latte and it was so delicious. They add ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, and orange peel and to top it off a little pinch of cayenne. I had never tried cayenne on coffee but it works so well. This drink on a windy day in the city was simply perfection. Service was good. I will keep this on my to go list for when I visit Chicago again. read more

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My first and only visit to Intelligentsia was good! The employee was nice. We ordered right away and coffees were made quickly. We ordered a hot mocha and the iced Angeleno. The mocha is made with a house-made ganache. I enjoyed the chocolate flavor but it wasn't the best mocha I've ever had. The iced Angeleno was great. It had the right amount of sweetness without overpowering the coffee flavor. It was $7.35, which is overpriced in my opinion. Both coffees were expensive and although they tasted good, it's not a place I need to go to again. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Iced Angelina and hot mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Coffee was good but felt like a little burnt, had a little complication with the order, but we figured it out to its best outcome. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Double espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois