Intelligentsia is one of my favorite coffee shops so I try to come here whenever I'm in Chicago. The shops are good vibes only and the friendly staff show it. They are helpful when you have questions and know the coffee very well. The only thing is they don't have an almond milk option - it seems like almond milk has become such a staple part of cafe especially with more fad diets and lactose intolerance. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Oat milk latte (ask for smaller cups if you want - this is an 8 oz latte) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I stopped by here because I was looking for "the best" coffee in Chicago, and figured Intelligentsia's many Yelp reviews helped distinguish it from other coffee places. There's not many outlets and there's honestly not much seating, but that's just because it's so busy! It's cozy and warm and I love all the people there: it's diverse, there's people doing work, for business meetings, on dates, and who seem to be making art. The bathrooms are clean, service friendly, wifi free, and the coffee is good. I enjoyed my latte and it's very reasonably-priced. read more

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Nice welcoming friendly vibe here. It is located in one of the entrances to the Monadnock Building on Jackson. Cheerful service, warm greetings, great coffee and hot chocolates. I enjoyed spending some time getting a break in between meetings. The only reason this did not receive five starts is that there seems to be a logistics challenge during the order taking. It took more than 20 minutes to get our coffees and this was at 3 pm in the afternoon, so I am not sure why. Other than that, I really like the place and plan to return. read more

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Always hits the spot and the coffee is exactly what I need to get me through my day at work. FYI: this particular location is often crowded in the morning and at lunchtime during the work week. read more

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

First time trying out this chain and I was left pleasantly surprised I came here on a Thursday afternoon and it was rather packed. Although, after a little bit we found seats, so just hang in there.. people are making small pit stops at this location all the time I got the hot chocolate, it was really unique & diff from most of the other hot chocolates I've had all around the city. It had an almost tangy bitter but pretty aromatic cocoa bean smell and aftertaste to it which I really liked. Also came in a cute cup instead of the paper to-go's that most coffee shops try to cut corners with. I also tried my friends cold brew black coffee and it was the smoothest coffee I've had. I never drink black coffee but this was soooo good & not at all bitter. Service was great and I had one of their server come up and ask us if we needed any water which was super nice of him. Ohh and I saw people get tea in these cute glass teapots, will def check that out next time! read more

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

This coffee is bold and smooth and a great place to stop for a quick pick me up! It's in a great location in downtown Chicago near cloud gate and has nice staff. read more

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

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Perfect cup of hot chocolate on a Chilly Chicago day! They are artists with their beautiful designs on each cup of perfection. Great seating for some personal down time or cafe tables to meet a friend. People who work in the building love it here! read more

Quaint little coffee shop in the bustling city of Chicago. I've been here twice. I visited Chicago about 5 years ago and I knew I had to come back when I was visiting again. Pretty popular shop, so there's usually a long line but it moves fast. I ordered the oat milk latte. I think the girl was taking orders was training so customer service was subpar. Drink was great and appropriately price. I'll be back again when I'm in town! read more

Was in Chicago for a conference and went to Intelligista in the mornings for a coffee and pastry (3 visits). I've been to other outlets mainly in Los Angeles and intelligista is one of my favorite specialty coffee chains. My rating is based on the following: Coffee: 4.5 stars Coffee beans: 3.5 stars Service and atmosphere: 5 stars Food: 4 stars I tried the chocolate croissant as well as the ham and cheese pastry. Of the two I would recommend the ham and cheese pastry. I am a black coffee drinker and had the pour over with what ever beans they were brewing on hand that day. During that time period it was mainly beans from the South American region. I prefer African beans with more acidity and fruit flavor to the smooth and nuttiness of a Columbian coffee. Coffee as in other locations was good and the staff is friendly and helpful with recommendations. Given I purchased beans both the Peru and Persephone blend. Can't really recommend these beans. They aren't bad per say but nothing special and was a bit disappointed when I started using these at home. read more

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

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There's a couple of spots in Southern California for me to pick up coffee from Intelligentsia, but I haven't made the trips out to them yet. Since we were already in Chicago, BF suggested grabbing some coffee on our last day as we roam around downtown. It was drizzling outside, so we were thankful that there was ample indoor seating. We ordered the black cat classic cappuccino ($3.75) and chose a cozy seat where we had a view of the counter and the street outside. Love that they use real ceramic cups and not the plastic disposable coffee cups. A much better experience and makes for a better taste! read more

Intelligentsia was pretty good and I would go back. I just got a simple Cafe Mocha and it was very well crafted. I also ordered the Mushroom Spinach Croissant and actually that was VERY good. It does get busy around 1100AM so beware of a line building. But overall the staff was friendly and I enjoyed my visit. read more

I tried a lot of coffee while in Chicago and this place will do. It's definitely not my favorite but it wasn't a bad place. People were pretty nice but the coffee was mediocre and the space was nothing special either. If you just want a coffee and not an experience with it then this is the place to go. Grab a coffee and head on with your day! (: the latte art was pretty nice I will add! read more

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

Love this place but the online ordering is so hit or miss with weather it will work or not. So many times I've tried to order ahead on my way to work and the long create account process and the fact that it takes just as long to load my order on the website as it does to make the bev is kind of ridiculous. Just saving me money I guess because I'm not spending it here. read more

The location is right oustide of millenium so it was very close to all the tourist area which made it a perfect coffee shop to stop by. The interior and vibes were really nice and warm, the coffee was also really good! However, I had a pretty bad experience with the baristas. All I asked was whether the coffee that was ready was mine and two of the baristas went on to give me bad attitude and embarass me in front of everyone. Saying to me, "Well, is your name Tai? (Which it isn't, my name is Titan, which is why I asked) Did you order a vanilla latte? (I ordered an avena latte, which it was, but they called it a vanilla, another reason why I asked)" So I looked over to the other barista for support and he just sarcastically says that its mine and to just take it, then they both proceeded to ignore me and talked about when their shifts were ending. Extremely rude service for no reason when you actually talk to them, honestly ruined my whole mood. read more

I did not get to spend a lot of time in Intelligentsia but I would love to offer my brief opinion because I was very impressed. I want to first mention the great customer service. At first I felt a little rude, we thought that they closed at 9pm but they actually closed at 6pm and we walked in about 10 minutes to close. Despite this, the staff was very nice and they even asked if we would like to stay in with our drinks. The beverages we had were both chai tea lattes. They were fairly priced. I think about the same as a Starbucks latte would be. My chai latte was delicious!! It was the perfect for my walk to the train station. Their menu was expansive and they had holiday drinks as well. I liked how they had their menu on the counter so it was easy to see and read. The interior of the shop was so cute. They had plenty of seating. I really liked how the interior was bright and the noise level was low. I would love to hang out in here with friends or even do some work. Overall, I would love to come back to Intelligentsia coffee! read more

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solid coffee shop but not exceedingly special. Cute storefront with some seating (not a ton). There was no one in line and our orders were ready fast. We got the seasonal latte and it's an oatmilk latte with hints of paprika and ginger/orange syrup. Didn't taste the ginger/orange but loved the little spice from the paprika. read more

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

The least welcoming coffee shop in Chicago. At least say "hi" or "what can I get for you?" My job as a customer is to not have a job. Your job as a barista is to serve me what I'm paying for; it's to ask me how you can help. What do y'all think you're being paid for... pretentiousness? read more

Love this place! I come here all the time in between meetings, the barista Darcy is so nice and always makes great mochas.

Some of the best coffee you can have in general. Same good quality of coffee and pastries you get at every intelligentsia. It is a franchise. The line here is often a mess and confusing as it coils through the actual seating area. Once you order the process is well-organized and straightforward. They say it's modeled after an "Italian style cafe" but I think they're making lemonade out of lemons. To me, the interior is like being in a cafeteria inside a mall or maybe an ice cream shop (or gelato, i guess). It's uncomfortable to read or do work. People are always walking around you, standing in line around you, etc. You can't really have your own space. Great place for a quick espresso or coffee...to go. read more

INTELLIGENTSIA! I've finally made it! I first heard about Intelligentsia while watching the documentary "Barista". I immediately knew that this was one of *the* places to go if you want legit coffee from legit baristas (I'm sorry Starbucks, I promise I'll return to basic once I get back home!). The Black Cat cappuccino was absolutely divine! Perfect ratio of espresso, milk, and foam and beautiful presentation. I also tried just the Black Cat espresso and it was smoooooth! This location is a short walk from Millennium Park and the baristas were very professional and friendly. Seating is limited and the place can get pretty packed during peak hours, but don't let that deter you from trying Chicago's best coffee! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Black Cat Cappuccino - $3.50 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered an Interesting drink. Not sure how the regular brew would taste like. Nice little place and very convenient. read more

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

This Intelligentsia location is by the entrance of Manadnock building on the corner of Jackson and Dearborn. For those who work at the downtown Loop area, this shouldn't be too difficult to find. However, if you're new or visiting Chicago, "Dearborn" is a north-south running road, roughly speaking in between "State" and "Michigan," the commercial, touristy street names that most of us are familiar with. I happened to be in the area this afternoon and wanted to grab a cup of latte to-go before hopping on the Blue Line Train for work. This place seemed to have enough baristas on duty since people working in the office buildings should be tempting enough to load up some coffee in their useable cups or thermals. I should bring mine as well to reduce the amount of paper cups we humans use daily. Obviously the prices on the menu already had tax included. It doesn't necessarily make it easy for me since the "numbers" is really Rosa J.'s middle name. Surely some of us like to see some integers and view any zero to nine on the right side of decimal as enemies! I'm not sure if this is a good sit-down coffeeshop, for the business primarily caters to the downtown working professionals. Leaving the place with a quality cup of coffee to-go then heading to your final destination is always a choice! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Another latte at intelligentsia - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After hearing about this place from many people in the past couple years (including people who aren't from Chicago), I was excited to finally make a trip down just to get a drink. OK, I came here to meet friends from out of town, and seeing them is more awesome than coffee or tea, but meeting here was the icing on the cake. A group of five of us came on a Saturday. I was surprised at how small this place was and how it was filled with 'hard' furniture (tiny marble tables and chairs) and not cozy chairs. I guess I was expecting it to be more artsy and less upscale. Yet, it was a nice change from Starbucks. I wouldn't see myself spending hours here with a book or a laptop, but it's a good stop in the city to meet with someone! Slightly hungry, we were bummed to find out their delicious list of salads and sandwiches were not available. Yet, they had baked goods and sweets. I ordered a peppermint macaroon (nearly $3!). The macaroon was soooo yummy! It was perfectly moist and peppermint-y; I don't know how people can eat just one or two or shell out money to get more than that! My friends ordered coffee, husband had a hot chocolate, and I had a soy Chai tea latte. I was disappointed my Chai tea didn't have the cool, heart-shaped swirls as all the other drinks. In fact, there was a lot of foam on top, more than I would have liked. Regardless, it was pretty good. My husband said he had the best hot chocolate he's ever had in his life. My friends loved their coffee. All the people behind the counter were friendly and took their time to make the perfect drinks. That was perfectly fine with me. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - With friends. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Their icon reminds me of a flight attendant's badge. Their drip coffee is as smooth as you can get! Ordered up their Kenya coffee and it was surely swell. Their Oolong tea was aye okay. Didn't care for it. It's a pleasant coffee and tea shop, but more for their coffee! read more

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

This is definitely a very cute and a must visit coffee shop in Chicago! They have seasonal drinks, which is a plus!! I got the matcha mint spritz and it was refreshing! I also had the opportunity to try chili corn muffin!! Sooo good. It had a nice layer of cheese melted at the top and the corn bread was baked to perfection. My friends also tried other pastries, which they thoroughly enjoyed- so I think this is a definite must if you stop in! read more

Every time when I am in Chicago, I always try to have at least a cup of Intelligentsia Coffee. Love this location! Right next to Millennium Park, you can always grab a coffee to go and enjoy some open space in the Park on a sunny day. But of course, I rather stay in and enjoy my cappuccino and watch the barista pulling espresso shots, creating lovely latte art or doing a pour over. Love their outfits too! Though the line seems to be long at times, but the wait is not that long! And their coffee is definitely worth the wait! read more

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As I awoke and had a meeting on East Washington this morning, I needed my caffeine burst. I walked into the coffee shop amidst a crowd of fellow morning zombies. The smell was enticing and instantly gave me a pleasant morning smile. Wanting the Honey Badger Espresso I was disappointed that it wasn't brewed today... I happily opted for the Rwanda Expresso and watched the calm and confident barista brew my vice. He put on quite a show doing duel carafes. I liked that the espresso came with a sparkling water. Now I am able to sit through a mind numbing meeting with a bold rich espresso breath. On another note, there was some pleasant eye candy sharing my table... read more

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

I was in need of a good cup of coffee. I knew Intelligentsia was the place I wanted to go. Quiet little place. Only a few people with their laptops out.. a few tables of friends catching up.. ya know like how grabbing coffee used to be. Countertop areas for the solo coffee Connoisseur.. light pastries to accompany your coffee or tea.. brightly lit. As for the explanation of the type of coffee used in my latte... it didn't happen.. only reason for the 4 star review. read more

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

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Intelligentsia is a great place if you are a coffee & tea purist, where the process of free flowing hot water into the beans to create your coffee & tea turns you on, or fancy machines that are worth an arm and a leg to create your latte or machiatto gets you up in the morning. For first timers, coming here may be a bit scary. You have coffee's that are not sold anywhere else with unique foreign names. There isn't just a regular "coffee of the day" as far as I could tell. With the hussle of the morning commute in this wonderful Chicago city, you don't want to be standing around holding up the line trying to figure out what you want. The service then gets a little wacky after you order. They don't take your name down, so realize what you order and stand around. But what if someone orders the same thing as you? Who's is it? Literally, I could of gotten my "latte" first, but then someone else took it thinking it was theres. What the? I then camped the bar where all the drinks were being served so I could get the next one for me! Other then that little blurp coming here, the drinks are great. Not much more then any other coffee joint you would find. It's very hip & worth a shot for your morning fix! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - $4 latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

TLDR: Was great for a quick coffee. _______ Waiting for breakfast a block away dropped in here for a coffee while I waited I'm basic, so I always go with a vanilla latte. I actually forgot to add vanilla to it and they were kind enough to add it later and didn't up charge me. Super cool of them. I think they make the vanilla in house - it was a super good and well done latte. Nice wooden shelves (bar) with wooden stools. Cool decor. They had really cool art . The posters were like a maze where you have a start and finish and also snapshots of famous sites around town. read more

Enter the piece of resistance when it comes to coffee! I felt like I had reached the Mecca of coffee lovers when I got to Intelligentsia! After my bf's and my pilgrimage to Intelligentsia we both order with much eagerness a cappuccino and Ethiopian double shot of espresso! My cappuccino was so rich and didn't need much sugar at all because it was so tasty with it! I try to taste the coffee without sugar first to see how good it is and to gauge how much sugar I have to put in it. My theory is the more sugar you put in it, the less tasty the coffee. This one didn't need much! After the first round of coffee, the barista we sat in front of was nice enough to answer all our questions about this mysterious way of brewing coffee. Then we decided to try some more!! I went on the recommendation for the Santorio I believe it's called and my bf had another double shot of espresso! Again, the Santorio didn't need much sugar and it was so aromatic and tasty! They serve it to you on a little single wooden platter/plate with a mug full of it and a side glass jug with the rest of the brew!! I could've od on it! We were very happily wired on Intelligentsia coffee! The shop doesn't have enough seating area for the amount of people coming in but once you grab a seat you can enjoy the best coffee in Chicago! read more

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

Arrived here on a Saturday at 11am before heading to see the bean. Let me tell you, there was a line already. There is always a wait it seems. I ordered the the angelino. It's a cold iced drink. It was a good coffee. I would've preferred a caramel frap from Starbucks though. I hear there's a version of this in Los Angeles too! Probably won't be back. I didn't experience anything that wowed me. Ps. You need a key from the person behind the register to use the restrooms! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Angelino. Cool cups - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Awesome vibe for a rainy Chicago morning! I tried a featured drink and it was awesome!!!! Stop by when in the city. read more

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