Was school shopping in the summer heat and needed a quick refresher. Had a very friendly gentleman helped me at the counter. Suggested one of the new summer drinks. I ordered the Yuzu Emerald Spritz. Was also nice enough to give directions and the code to the restroom. The AC and the perfectly balance drink were a perfect combination for some relief from the heat. Will be coming back for that drink again. read more

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Service is always amazing, location is great. Their chocolate croissant is my favorite especially when warmed up. Their seasonal menu is always my favorite, can't wait for the fall when they have their apple lattes. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - miso brown sugar latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I hate to leave a bad review because the coffee here is usually great, but I want to draw attention to ownership about an ongoing problem. Multiple times when going here, I have seen full dr*g deals and dr*g use going in this store with no acknowledgement from the staff. It happened in their full view. Just this morning I saw it happen for the 2nd time. A dealer was camped out for over an hour, texting and calling buyers. I encourage owners to review security camera footage from 8/23/26 around 9-10:30 am. 2 buyers came and bought product, and one was using IN THE STORE. I do not want to name the dr*g in case it causes the review to be taken down, but it was extremely concerning and unhygienic. I won't be returning until I am reassured they have a better procedure to handle this. In general, staff feels very out to lunch and unwelcoming when ordering or asking questions. It is unfortunate they are encouraging this to occur in beautiful downtown Pasadena where they have been welcomed as part of the community. read more

It's definitely gourmet aka high class type of coffee and feel inside is that way too which means you do pay the extra price for it Coffee is good though! Was pretty busy when I went but did get my coffee in good time despite the crowd Nice friendly barista read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I've had intelligentsia beans at my sister in laws house but never had the chance to visit the storefront until today. It was packed with people working, chatting and dining. A hipster type vibe with premium coffee. I paid roughly $7 for my iced latte which is standard for this day and age. My latte was made to perfection. I enjoyed every sip and truly wish I had bought some coffee beans to take home. I'll be back! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Iced almond milk latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Ordered a cappuccino and I'm not sure why but the espresso or the milk had in odd taste to it so the whole thing taste a little old. The cashier was friendly, but the barista had no personality. I can understand why that coffee shop was empty and early early morning when I want to buy a blue bottle, it was crowded. A very welcoming feeling in the morning would not recommend this spot based off ambience and my drink read more

I love Old Pasadena area because they have so much cool restaurants and cafes. I was meeting up with my friends in the area and decided to check out Intelligentsia Coffee for a catch up session. We decided on Intelligentsia because they look like they have big seating area with lots of space and tables. The coffee shop was definitely huge with lots of people either working/studying or just hanging out. I love the tall, brick walls with cool paintings. The lighting is nice and bright, which fit well with the modern aesthetic. I tried the Crimson Limeade, which was super refreshing. It looked so pretty with the ombré crimson color. My friends tried their Matcha Latte and their Avana Latte, which they said both were really good! Overall, Intelligentsia Coffee is a good place to catch up with friends and to get your work done! read more

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Oh, Intelligentsia... what happened? It's admittedly been a while (years) since I've come here, so I was shocked by everything that changed. The cozy atmosphere has been replaced by white walls and glaring lights. The WiFi is unacceptably slow as if they don't want people to actually do work here after over paying for the tiniest lattes in the world. The chairs already also uncomfortable. The drinks are good (chai latte with almond milk), but I can't see myself becoming a regular here again due to the harsh vibes, expensive parking, and small drink sizes. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Chai Latte with Almond Milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I'm back with a better experience! Spent a few hours on a Sunday studying and was surprised by how delicious their matcha was, how reliable their wifi was, and how nice staff were. Plenty of seating available read more

The place is pretty spacious. Pretty nice place to do some work. The service is kind of non existent. The lady taking our order was helpful in helping us choose our drinks but they didn't even call out when our drinks were ready, they just had our drinks sitting there and we only found out it was our drinks when we walked up to the pick ip counter. When I thanked the barista for my drink and wished him a nice day, he did not even bother to look or acknowledge me LOL But I digress. The drinks themselves were not bad. I give it at 3/5. The tea seemed to be watered down. Maybe from sitting on the counter. Overall, there was nothing really that would bring me back to try something else out. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

It was fine. Not my style of coffee but for medium roast it is good and serious. Great location.

Great drinks in a big and nice setting. They have plenty of tables and also lots of interesting art pieces hung up on the walls. The drinks are very tasty and good quality, and the staff are very friendly. The washrooms are all the way in the basement with a code to access and are very clean. read more

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Avena Latte: oat milk latte that includes flavor blend of cinnamon, vanilla, orange, and ginger. Topped with cayenne pepper. $7.25 for i think 12 oz?. Good, it works. Creamy and gently sweet. Would get again. Bright and airy ambiance. read more

Solid coffee shop with some decent coffee in walking distance of the pasadena convention center. The Lemon poppy seed loaf was somewhat too moist but had a good taste. read more

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Great coffee, what more can you ask for? Stopped in for a cappuccino, plenty of people were working in the cafe.

As I continue to find a study spot, I decided to pay Intelligentsia Coffee a visit. At around 9:30 am, it wasn't too busy yet. I was able to order my drink and get it in a few minutes. I did ask the staff for recommendations on something that wasn't sweet and decided to get the Black Cat Fizz. As described, it wasn't sweet. It definitely had a fizz and a hint of range. Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much due to a lingering aftertaste. There was a lot of seating available from the window to the wall seatings all the way to the back. There were outlets available. There is free WiFi without a password needed. However, the signal was pretty weak, so keep that in mind if you rely on it. For noise level, the music wan't too loud. However, as time passed, there was definitely more people coming through, so noise level rose. In case you need the bathroom, this store has a shared one with other stores. This is located in the bottom level, which can be reached by stairs or elevator. It does require a code, so ask the staff before heading down. For parking, since I went early, there were plenty of spots available in the nearby parking structure. It believe it was $1 for 90 minutes. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Black Cat Fizz - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

such a great coffee shop. pasadena is lucky to have them. they can only be found in LA and Chicago. i always prioritize a visit to intelligentsia when i'm visiting either of those places they have the best espresso drinks and very thoughtful and delicious pastry offerings. the best quality and service you could hope for read more

Been my fav coffee shop places to go for years! You live in Pasadena , im sure you have been here! If you are a tourist, then add it to your list! You drink good coffee and see interesting people there! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Intelligentsia Coffee is in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, within walking distance from the main Fair Oaks and Colorado intersection. I was walking around the area early in the morning, and the clean, sleek appearance that is in full view through the full-glass storefront drew me back to this place during my return route. As far as food, the options are minimal, but the Kouigan Amann was amazing. Flaky, buttery, softly sweet. It was perfect! I'm sure the other pastries are delicious too. Something I love about this place is that it offers pistachio milk which is pretty rare. I ordered a hot chai latte with pistachio milk and it tasted great! A tad too sweet although not overbearing (for me), the spiciness was what I found most delicious about the drink. The coffee shop is modern, spacious, and clean with plentiful seating. The baristas were quick and friendly. Nice place and great for an early morning coffee shop stop! read more

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Uhh latte was pretty bad man I didn't really understand what I was drinking. Customer service was great though!

The ambiance is really great if you're looking for a place to study or get work done. The service sucks. The baristas seem miserable and act like they don't want to be there. No "hello" sometimes they don't even ask what I would like to order. They just blankly stare at me until I greet them and begin ordering. I don't think I've ever been to a coffee where the workers act like I ruined their day by coming in for a cup of coffee. This is one of the very few coffee places in SoCal that not only serves and roasts single origin beans in-house but serves Kenyan. Kenyan is extremely hard to find anywhere. The sizes of their coffee is INCREDIBLY small. For like a 5-6 oz americano I pay about $8. Which is honestly nuts. I don't even know that I'm even getting 2 full shots of espresso. While I absolutely love Kenyan, for the amount of coffee (or lack thereof) mixed with the terrible service. I truly avoid coming to this place unless I'm really missing the taste of Kenyan. But honestly if I have the energy, I'll drive further up north of SoCal to Roots to grab it if anything. I would've done one star, but I give a second star for them having Kenyan. read more

I got the salted maple latte, per the barista's recommendation from the seasonal drinks. It has a nice balance of sweetness, maple flavor, and a tad bit of salty. A warm, perfect drink for the fall season, but a little too pricey for a nice latte. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - salted maple latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I expect a certain level of quality when I think of intelly - but this was beyond disappointing. For one the service was very lacking. But the photo really says it all- look at the foam on the cappuccino. Super sad looking and the taste was also really mediocre. No microfoam. I assume their barista was newer but I think their standards must be much lower than they used to be! Wouldn't be back sadly, I used to really enjoy it here. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Founded in Chicago in 1995 by Doug & Emily Zell with the intent of serving thoughtfully sourced, freshly roasted, & proudly poured coffee Intelligentsia has since expanded to Austin, Boston, L.A. & New York. I stopped by this location for a pick me up before my morning workout. George greeted me with a smile and a welcoming demeanor. After browsing the menu, the Dark Cherry Grenadine Latte sounded intriguing. Made from a small batch recipe using real pomegranate and dark cherries, it was a described as a touch of sweet and a little tart. I was sold. George asked if I wanted my beverage in a ceramic mug or to go. I asked for it to go. While I waited I surveyed my surroundings. The place is spacious. The exposed brick wall reminded me of NOLA and the industrial modern décor emits a hip contemporary vibe. I watched George as he made my drink and noticed he prepared it with care and proudly presented his finished creation. It was lovely. As I went to position my cup for a photo op I accidently spilled some on the counter. I went to get some napkins to clean it up and George said, "Don't worry. I'll take care of it." George is awesome and deserves a 10+ for customer service. Based on the description I wasn't sure what to expect. I took my first sip, and it was heavenly. Rich, bold, light on the sweetness, and perfectly creamy. The hint of cherry was a pleasant surprise. It made me wish that I had gotten the Dark Cherry Grenadine Mocha instead. The combo of chocolate and cherry would have been even yummier! The Latte is made with oat milk. Even though I prefer almond milk I'm learning that oat milk produces a creamier foam. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back and trying the Mocha version. When I return, I hope George is there. *Free Wi-Fi *Metered street parking or surrounding lots. read more

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Placed a pickup order in the app for what I thought was an iced latte (see photo) but instead ended up being a 16oz hot latte. Nowhere in the app is there an option to make your latte iced, so it seems like the photo for a 16oz cup is just what it looks like: a 16oz iced drink. The staff should be trained on how the app works, as well - when I asked how to order a drink iced in the app for future reference, the person I spoke to didn't know. Highly inconvenient. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Misleading ordering process - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I come here every time I'm in Southrrn California. They have the most delicious pastries, always something different each time I visit. The service is pleasant and helpful. The ambiance is chill and you can sit for as long as you like and watch the people go by on Colorado Blvd. I love it here. read more

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My experience was very pleasant- my friend and I wanted to study together and catch up as well. The first thing I noticed was that there were many other people studying as well, but the music was somewhat on the louder side. With nice noise cancelling headphones, though, it is a great place to get work done! The barista was very kind! The drinks were delicious, we had heard that the matcha was good quality so we tried the hot matcha latte and the matcha lemonade on their specialty menu. I noticed that they were sifting their matcha and whisking it, making sure to take time with the process which was lovely to see. I have tried extremely high quality matcha and while this was not the same, it was still very high quality and not too bitter or sweet. I got very nice grassy tones that didn't taste overpowering. Definitely ask for sweetener if you don't like a strong grassy flavor. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Ordering bar with an interesting setup! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Wow!! Intelligentsia completely changed O_O! I kind of miss the older look from before, but I think I'm in the minority for that preference. It's very bright inside and looks modern Drinks: -Avena Latte: sweet and good, I kind of wanted it to be a bit more coffee tasting as I'm used to with Intelligentsia but I realize I usually got cold brew or things like that. I don't think I'm a cayenne on top of the avena drink lover and will pass on that next time. -Espresso beans: it could be a me thing but the beans are a little harsh. I prefer darker coffee though but my partner was a little not taken by them. Ambiance: -Feels like an old pasadena coffee spot where you have people working solo, friends/couples meeting, a lot of ins and outs of people and a good mix. Overall: -It's a great spot, I don't think I'll get beans from there again for a bit. And if I do go back, I'd try a different drink! read more

Smooth coffee but on the lighter side. Cayenne pepper over powers the coffee, feels like it is two separate entities. Fan of the oat milk cause not too strong that it doesn't overpowers the latte. Overall reminds me of a horchata latte. Would drink again but wouldn't go out of my way to get it. read more

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Just typical Intelligentsia coffee - luv it! I gotta have my oat cap and their machines make the foam so fluffy and the roast is that nice medium body. Limited parking in front but you can also park across the street and not pay until 11am. Very small outdoor seating three tables only. Highly recommended if you need an awesome caffeine fix! Came back the next day for Aveno drink and it was amazing! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Aveno - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I love this place. The drinks are unmatched. Their specialty coffees are amazing. The avena latte is the best thing on the menu and I've had it a dozen times. Today I got the iced tea of the day which was a hibiscus drink. Delicious. Unfortunately my order came with a side of FU. The woman at the register was absolutely unable to muster the energy to be pleasant. I don't expect fireworks and confetti when I walk in but a bit of friendliness is a minimum. The service really creates the atmosphere for the purchase and I do t feel like coming back if I encounter the same person out front next time. read more

I'm so glad my brother recommended this spot between clients and a pilates class. I got a speciality coffee and a cinnamon croissant. This was a great pick me up before a workout and I definitely enjoyed working here. It's a great environment to work in and enjoy coffee. The service was awesome and they helped me pick my coffee. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Parking: There's a lot nearby that's $1 for 90 min! Drinks: Had the black cat blended latte - I'm still getting into coffee and tbh the milk was quite strong but the coffee flavor had a lot of texture to it. I wish it was a little sweeter (but that's just me) Seating is quite spacious and aesthetic but the WiFi was a little spotty for me. I think this area in general is very nice and the price was reasonable. Overall not the most convenient space for a study cafe but a solid choice for a solid cup of coffee! read more

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They charge you an extra fee to dine in. Just a PSA so people know. Cashier didn't even tell me, I had to ask why the price was more than normal.. kinda put me in an awkward position like do I still want to dine in, is this ambiance fee worth the money? Anyways, awesome place and awesome coffee. Just sucks I guess this is where the industry is headed :( read more

Perfectly blended, smooth latte. And my wife's vanilla latte was the essence of purity... Tasted like real vanilla latte rather than syrup. So good! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Spacious hang out area and mellow just down town old Pasadena - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I don't normally like to rate lower star reviews, but this place inconvenienced me quite a bit during the recent visit. This place is not a must visit coffee shop in Pasadena, CA. I tried their house brew off the 'Kenya,' brew. For some reason when I added a type of sugar they provided: they provided 2 types, and I took pics of them, made the coffee taste way off. I had to ask the barista for another batch: also the creamer I added made the original batch lukewarm right away. I needed to borrow restroom here so decided to try them out. What happened was while In the restroom, the lights Blacked Out and I had to use my flashlight off my iPhone. This was a very inconvenient coffee shop because I had to also leave my umbrella out front. Luckily I was already almost done in the restroom, and the lights turned back on. You had to take the elevator down the basement for restroom usage. You lost me. This was way too inconvenient an experience. read more

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It's ok coffee shop but pricy. Coffee was not really good The Ambiance is nice Service is ok read more

It's sad to see the place I enjoyed and fond of became mediocre place. It's been a while since I visited here last time, and it now serving really stale, tasteless coffee. The Ethiopian coffee (natural) was so watery and acidic without citric taste. It was bad experience. Besides the barista was not kind and doesn't seem to enjoy serving coffee. It was not like this before. It is just very sad to see this happening. read more

It used to be cool, now it looks like an Apple Store. :/ Go to the one in Silverlake, it's nicer and has a better vibe. Coffee is better there too. read more

Love coming here for a good cup of coffee! The ambiance is great and such a good spot to study. Lots of tables to sit at. Service is always great. Parking is difficult because it's Pasadena but still worth it. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Pistachio rose latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California