The employees here was super nice ad helpful. I personally love it when they help you out with the menu. The place was clean, and had good AC. Overall a very comfortable spot to come in and enjoy a very well made coffee. read more

Coffee is moderately priced and the customer service gets a D from me. The gothic cashier was miserable and unfriendly. Maybe she's upset that Kamala is losing? read more

Intelligentsia just is intelligentsia! A cool trendy bo-hipster (bohemian hispter) all inclusive cafe with plenty of seating and beverage options. I've been here in the past, but first time back in a while and forgot they're a little on the pricey side. The quality of service and concoctions is beyond there however... their cold brew is probably one of my favorite pick me ups. Nice place to chill, work and grab a very deccent cup of Joe... nice teas and misc nibbles. There's some seating in front on the patio but it never seems as congested or full up as other cafes of a similar nature. They shared entrance with piehole as well as downstairs banos... codes are a must but don't think they change to often if at all. Some cool rare finds here as well that set them apart other than the amazing industrial glam decor... like the Lime Light, a coffee citrusy tonic with simple syrup on ice... yum! read more

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My favorite place to get a cup of joe. The Avena latte is one of the best coffees I've ever had the pleasure of drinking. The flavor of their black cat latte is unreal! You have these beautiful notes of chocolate along with the coffee and it almost tastes like chocolate milk but better. There's also hints of cinnamon and vanilla (I usually opt out of the cayenne on top, I think it tastes better without it). I just keep coming back for this drink every time. Other coffees feel like they just disappoint me now, if it's not the avena latte then I don't want it. Parking might be a hassle, after all, this is on Colorado. But I can promise you that this coffee is worth the trip. The interior of the store is nice as well. Clean and minimalist decor, nothing feels out of place, much like their coffee. Nice baristas and fast service too. Check this place out! read more

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

Mmm their house vanilla syrup!!! The barista shared that their vanilla is made in-house with a splash of bourbon. Such a nice touch to an oat latte! If you don't want something sweet, you can't go wrong with their draft oat latte. Also a perfect place to get some work done! Plenty of seating available. Would definitely come back when I'm in the area again! read more

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

This is a popular coffee shop in Pasadena. Bright lights, plenty of tables. Fairly good coffee and tea. The wifi is not reliable but if you have a book or other reading material, you can make yourself comfortable here read more

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

Black Cat Latte is great even without a sweetener! Spring Ruby Oolong Tea is rich and deep and clear. Hot Chocolate made from chocolate from the Philippines was dark. Cherry Hand Pie had a great crust and very good filling. Mr. Holmes Chocolate Croissant was awesome!!!! read more

Did ya know, one of the scene-iest places to hang in Old Town was this here jumpin' java joint? Shut. Upp. No really. What radness was this? Some kind of intelligentsia-- the craft coffee craze. A few higher-end grocery stores carry the Intelligentsia brand, originated in Chicago. My friend went for the Otono pour-over. I got the Angeleno, a tall glass of iced cappuccino using the Black Cat blend, de-caffeinated of course. Both very tasty. I like that there are two de-caff options: Librarian blend for regular brewed and Black Cat for espresso drinks. Baristas and staff were helpful; no "I am too intelligent and hipsta" attitude. Our orders were ready in a timely manner. The cafe itself is spacious, almost cavernous. Nice interior design. Time was, this place would be packed to the gills on weekends, and the din necessitated a bit of shoutiness when trying to have any manner of conversation. The only way to weather it all was by sitting at the back counter of the coffee bar. At one point, Intelligentsia also served beer at a happy hour daily. All in all, it could get costly for coffee here, but you were also paying for ambiance. read more

No complaints other than their mobile orders are a bit slow. I love the new layout of their store, very spacious and stylish. Try their Avena latte!! Parking almost always available during weekday off hours on the street off Raymond, or local parking garage. Baristas are super friendly too. read more

Nice little coffee shop to do work. I got a regular latte though it was good. Cashier was nice and explained and answered our questions when needed read more

First of all how dare you! How dare you make such a delicious drink and even worse how dare you provide such an amazingly moist and airy gluten free muffin!!! Today is November 1st and I decided to treat myself for two reason. First, because why not. And second, because it's pay day and before I pay all my bills and debt why not enjoy one of life's greatest pleasures. I was going to go for my drink of choice oat milk latte, I'm not hardcore enough like other coffee drinks to be a plain black kinda girl. I need a little more. I was all set to get my usual when I saw the pistachio rose. I mean how could I not? Pistachios are arguably one the best nuts in the whole family. And who doesn't love the smell of roses? Let's not forget the perfect balance of the orange in the syrup and the spices and dried rose petal topping. It was like having a shot of relaxation. If you need the caffeine to people but also want to feel a bit zen go for this latte. It's a step above the rest. Now, the muffin. The gosh darn muffin. I went gluten free September 11th, I stopped the denial and realized my allergy was causing my other issues (psoriasis and possibly alopecia). So I have been mourning the loss of cakes and cookies and bread, god I miss bread. With work keeping me so busy I haven't had time to try baking my own sweets and whenever I have bought gluten free items elsewhere they always fall short (dry, crumbly, dense...) This muffin is none of those things. It's spongey and tall, it's moist and melts in your mouth, it's soft and springy to the touch. The crumble is light and oh so satisfying. I loved everything about this morning treat. I just hate that now I am addicted and will probably be stopping by far too often. My tastebuds thank you, my wallet hates you. Cheers to you! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Pistachio Rose Latte and Gluten Free Blueberry Muffin - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Stopped by Saturday morning for some coffee and breakfast. Immediately I loved the atmosphere and design of the place, it's almost modern-rustic and very open with plenty of seating. I was greeted by the cashier who was happy to help with recommendations. I went with a hot chai latte to drink and a ham and cheese croissant along with a matcha croissant. Total came to about $15. Even though they weren't busy, I wasn't in a rush but the coffee was made fast. I do wish they were able to heat up the savory croissant to make it a little bit better. The hot chai latte was made almost perfectly, quite frankly it's one of the best chai latte's I have had because so many places surprisingly mess it up. It was rich and smooth and pretty hot. As for the croissants, again I wish the savory croissant was heated up but it was still good. Plenty of ham and cheese to fill the croissant, and they use gruyere so it really packs a punch of flavor. The croissant itself was very crispy and crunchy. As for the matcha croissant, the croissant was not as crunchy but very fluffy with a thinner crispy crust. The matcha frosting was not too sweet but very strong in matcha (which I like) and it was dipped pretty much halfway on one side so you had plenty to go around without it being overpowering. A simple, down to Earth coffee shop for great offerings, can't beat that! read more

Mediocre coffee @ best and the service is deplorable. Such a bad vibe in coffee shop, including being met with rude and unprofessional staff. 1st time and last time patron of the coffee shop. read more

Gosh I am so disappointed with this drink. It tastes like a cup of milk with ice and even though I paid $6 plus tip I'm just going to throw it out. I didn't see them make my drink but I wish I did so I could have told them to not add so much damn milk. It's just awful. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Iced latte (more like a cup of milk with ice) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Probably the best chai latte I've had! Perfect amount of sweetness to it, will definitely come back since they ran out of the pistachio rose latte and I wanted to try that originally! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Iced chai oat latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Highly recommend ordering the cold brew or the pour overs. My sister had always raved about this place being one of her favorite coffee shop, and randomly came across here while walking around Pasadena. Ambiance is casual and a great place to study while drinking some coffee. Staff are very helpful and friendly and the coffee is very good not too acidic and have hints of fruity flavors. Definitely will come back or to the other location in LA. read more

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

I'm a regular at the Silverlake location, I mean almost daily and the Silverlake location delivers a quality product every time. Some baristas even deliver extraordinary delectable delights with their personalized panache. Personality is plentiful at the Silverlake location so this was meh. Pasadena's illumination bar is an epic fail completely overrated and zero personality. This locale is so clinical, except for the extra protein crawling on the floor. It was like the walking dead infiltrated the baristas. The barista cashier doesn't hear the request for oat milk or extra ganache, so I have to correct her. U can hear a pin drop over the muted Steely Dan whispering in the background, which might be the worst of it. I should have taken a picture of the bug making it's way from the floor towards the barista's lair. I had high hopes that my early morning would be infused with an iced mocha I'm accustomed to. The curly copperhead put so much ice that I had to ask for it to be poured out because the top didn't fit. JUST GOOD OLD COMMIN SENSE INSERT AN EYE-ROLL. I had the WORST overall experience from Intelligentsia's satellite cafe in Pasadena. Update: It was TOO ABYSMAL to support. I Returned the iced mocha for a refund. Apparently they use water down freeze dried something something. Overall the coffee was so watered down because the barista thought iced meant some mocha with my overflowing cup of ice, which spilled over as I tried to put the top on. I could not put a lid over the iceberg in my cup. Seriously, are u for real. If you are a coffee connoisseur run, but if u like water down coffee, barista zombies, and extra protein crawling on the floor look no further. I wanted my $8.00 back, so after writing this review I returned the coffee minus two sips because it definitely wasn't worth $7 plus tip. This isn't real coffee, no craft, no artisanal je nais se quois, but worst of all zero personality. On a side note: There was extra protein crawling on the floor in case u needed somethin somethin. Spoke with Evelyn the manager, I wasn't provided a receipt nor did i receive an email for my refund. Evelyn, please note the floor had extra protein crawling on the floor. read more

I tried the Avena latte which is a signature drink. As soon as I read the description of this latte, I was captivated by the ingredients: orange peel, ginger, cinnamon etc. It was very delicious. Coffee place has a nice atmosphere for studying or just hang out; good customer service read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Avena Latte with Cayenne - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I've been a fan of Intelligentsia for a while. I am a regular at their Silver-lake location and even used to buy their Black Cat espresso for home until I found the dark roast to be too acidic. In the past week, I had to be in the Pasadena area for work and tried this establishment 3 times on different occasions. The first two times were "ok". First time, I got an iced matcha that lacked in flavor and the second time, I got drip coffee that was not bad, but was not particularly flavorful either. Also, while I appreciated the second serving of drip coffee that was provided in a tiny pitcher, the color did not seem right. It was too much coffee for me anyways. So, I didn't touch it. Now the third time was the absolute worst. My partner got a nitro float and I got a hot cappuccino. The cappuccino was alright but seemed slightly watery. The nitro float though!!! The ice cream was a lump of crushed ice pieces. Absolutely inedible. Like the ice cream you have left in your freezer from last summer. I let the staff know and they tried to convince me that the ice cream consisting of ice pieces is due to its reaction to coffee! My lady, I've had enough ice cream, affogatos and other types of floats in my life to know that to be categorically untrue. Still, I proceeded to politely let her know the issue was the ice cream, which seemed it had been kept in the freezer for too long. I asked if we could have an iced mocha instead. She politely accepted. Sadly, the iced mocha was just as bad. Not sure if it was the ice or the chocolate or both but it was full of slushy pieces, in a very unpleasant way. It was as if they had stirred that icy ice cream into this mocha :))) Perhaps the freezer needs a service? I've never had a worse mocha in my life. Yet, decided not to complain a second time and left the drink unfinished. I noticed this place is very busy because of foot traffic on Colorado st. And I could be wrong, but I also observed an overuse of coffee on tap compared to freshly brewed espresso in the hour I was there. They might be wanting to increase speed and cut corners, but the coffee-making, the service, and the drinks truly felt like I was at a Dunkin Dounts. I will never come back here and I will try to erase its memory in order to perhaps be able to go back to the dreamy Silver-Lake location, because I love the ambience too much! read more

came here on a sunday to grab a few drinks and have a quick study sesh! they're dog friendly and their drinks were quite good. we ordered a matcha oat latte and a nitro cold brew! but, the cashier was a bit rude and seemed like she did not want to be there. and the wifi was very slow! but other than that it's a super cute place to be at and chill on a weekend day. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - matcha oat latte and nitro cold brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This is a nice place to get some studying or some work done or even people watch as they have long tables and a lot of outlets. This isn't a brunch place by any means so don't expect to have a meal here. They have some pastries which will get you through while getting work done. A very relaxing place. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - January 2019 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I always stop by here for my iced vanilla matcha ! It's so tasty and cold the customer service is now friendly which I love and makes me want to keep coming back , they also have very good pastries my favorite is the artichoke Danish and second best is the olive oil cake that goes specially well w the iced vanilla latte Usually very quiet and chill has its regulars that work/study so usually it's a full house but quick one your order. All the staff are amazing. Shot out to the baristas Eli, Francine , Chris ,Ana and the manager as well I forgot her name All so friendly. Keep on rocking!! read more

What a bummer. I was hoping to look past other negative reviews and enjoy a fun little coffee splurge but the cashier was painfully apathetic and killed the vibe immediately. Followed then, by coffee that just didn't taste good - that I literally had to throw it in the trash. Total drag - do not recommend. read more

After eating at Umami Burger next door, I went into Intelligentsia Coffee for a pick-me-up cortado. The cafe is hipster and cozy, definitely a great place to study or hangout. Baristas at the counter were all chatty and friendly. I ordered the cortado with 2% milk and was pleasantly surprised by the cute latte art executed by the barista. Unfortunately, Intelligentsia Coffee's flavor profile is tart with fruity acidity, which is what I dislike. Since it was a cortado, the milk was able to provide some neutralizing flavor to the espresso. Overall, I like the ambiance of the cafe, but would probably pass on the espresso beverages next time. read more

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

Cute spot but don't see the hype for what it is. Everything is super overpriced and small. I guess a good spot to talk and hang out for a short time. read more

I wanted to get some school work done before going into work so found this place nearby and decided to check it out. I got their Iced Matcha Oat Latte with Vanilla flavoring and it's super yummy! Well balanced and kept me energized for the day. Great place to study, super spacious and have tons of seating. Modern touch and very clean as well. Probably one of my absolute favorite spots to study at in Pasadena. Restrooms are located downstairs; ask the staff for code to access! read more

Coffee is decent but the service and mood of this place always feels oddly hostile. Even when they're not busy, the staff is pretty rude. Jameson Brown, Jones Coffee and Boy and The Bear are far more welcoming Pasadena coffee shops. Go to them instead. read more

Nice big coffee shop to study, meet up, or drink your coffee. The baristas are really nice and hipster. I looked out of curiosity at the food case and discovered they have vegan pastries, Shugah Mama cookies, and overnight oats. Win for the vegans out there! read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Vegan oatmeal and vegan cookies. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Stopped here on Saturday to grab a coffee with a friend. Very clean look inside. It has a contemporary look inside. My latte was ok(too much milk), my friends drink was good (Nitro cold brew). I was happy with the fact that they gave me a ceramic cup when I asked for one. It's pretty spacious inside, not much seating outside. My preference on coffee shops are ones with a relaxing outdoor seating, ideally covered and the more greenery the better for me. Although this one didn't have much of what I'm looking for ,those who enjoy an indoor environment might like it. read more

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First time ever in this coffee chain, although I knew about it for years. Such a lovely cute, clean cafe Got 3 Gifting Coffees from the BEST COFFEE PRODUCER-- Honduras. If you ain't had Honduran Coffee yet, you Missing out. It is the BEST Cafe Mocha-- was okay. Not as good as McDonald's. Shout out to my City, Tegucigualpa & MDM Honduras & Honduras community read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Coffee for gifting from the Best Coffee Makers in the world. i luv Honduras - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I had been wanting to try this spot for a while and finally was able to! They have one of the best vanilla lattes I have ever had... and I've had a LOT of coffee. They have their own house made vanilla and I know I had to try it. It's a little busy here and more of a fast paced working coffee shop so it was a bit hectic for me looking to sit down a bit and chat. However, the ambiance here is definitely for those looking for a nice area to work with great coffee. read more

Intelligentsia Coffee - Vanilla iced latte with oat milk. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place is very nice and big. The lighting and simple decor fits just right. The matcha we had was not good; so sad because we love trying new matcha but this one was not sweet at all and had no flavor. The sweetness part is definitely our fault for not asking. The other teas are not bad! But for the coffee and matcha, I would not recommend. I didn't get much feel of the service since we just ordered, got our drinks, and left. read more

Drinks were great but the customer service gets a FAIL! These Gen Z baristas have no social skills whatsoever concerning the bare minimum customer service and etiquette in letting us know when our drinks are ready! The manager is no better as it happened right in front of him. Oh, that's right, he's Gen Z too! read more

The indoor space is spacious and charming and I could see this being a hot spot for getting some work done. I was in town for a conference and tried out their mobile ordering app which was extremely efficient and even let me order half-caff (which seems to be more rare in the LA area. Y'all seem to like your coffee with a side of jitters). ANYHOO. My latte was lovely. The staff seemed, I don't know, sleepy and underwhelmed by my existence but I didn't take it too personally, so don't fret. I could see this being a hot spot for Pasadena locals. read more

When entering the place your greeted by a very spacious coffee shop depending on the amount of people. I went on a Saturday morning so not that many people inside and the service was quick and friendly. Only downside to the service was that they don't really yell out your order so you kind of need stand around to pick up your drink. Latte art and Taste was superb. Croissant was 3/5. read more

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

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These guys CANNOT brew a proper espresso to save their lives. A lot of "coffee bars" with boujee facades and trimmings have been popping up of late, charging premium $$ for what they serve. Most are served by people who have neither the skill nor the drive to produce a half decent cup of espresso. It's a kind of an epidemic. This place appears to fit well at the bottom of that class. There is so much bad coffee out there, that I think these days, to know the difference, you either have to be a bit of an aficionado or have had to have grown up in Europe (where most people are largely not interested in mixed drinks and therefore know and appreciate the actual taste of coffee itself). In my case, I happened to fall in both of these categories. So, u know, kind of a snob! The espresso shot I was served the first time was flat, the color of Hawaiian mud in a deluge, without ANY cremma, and about 2x-3x the volume it should have been, not to mention tasting worse than 2 day old gas station coffee. Obviously over-OVERextracted! When I went back and pointed that out to the Gen Z barista, she appeared unapologetic of course, slightly miffed, confidently informing me that their standard is a 50 sec extraction!!!! What?! Then she asked me if I wanted a 40 sec extraction instead!! What?!? I pointed out that it needs to be even shorter than that. After which I was served essentially the same looking shot, same crap taste, with a slightly lower volume!!! At that point I gave up. That's what u pay $5 for in this place! If you actually care about coffee, this is not the place. Not by a "long shot" ;) U r better off getting a Red Bull. read more

One of the best coffees I have tasted in LA. Such a cool location for some good quality coffee. Super comfortable and very friendly staff. The best part is that you can work/study there. read more

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

This is my new favorite spot to grab a coffee and get some work done. My favorite drink is the pistachio rose latte.... it's a must try! I've also had the green tea and it comes in an adorable glass tea set. The ambiance is great and the staff here is very friendly. Parking is limited but I parked in a nearby parking structure. read more

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

Coffee is good, girl at the counter with face piercings and mascara looked miserable and had 0 enthusiasm. No tip option came in clutch.

We walked by this location in the afternoon while roaming Pasadena. It's super clean and modern inside with plenty of space for working. The staff is friendly and the menu is straightforward. They have coffee gear and beans for sale next to the register and it's a pretty expansive selection of goods. They carry Fellow products and roast their signature Intelligentsia beans (not in house). We got a Daily Brew and an Organic Jasmine Peach White tea. I was surprised they didn't do pourovers as a specialty coffee store but the staff member recommended the Daily Brew as their closest alternate option. All of their teas are brewed fresh to order so they did tell us it was going to be a 5 minute wait and that they'd give us our coffee then so it's served hot. We watched them weigh out loose leaf tea, steep, and serve the tea from a small pot to a double cup. Daily Brew - 6/10. Honestly mostly watery and not very flavorful. This also is coming from someone who drinks pourovers daily so drip coffee and/or coffee that's just sitting in a carafe isn't my favorite. It did come out hot and stayed hot throughout the drinking process but the coffee notes did not come through much if at all. It was pretty much a basic cup of coffee. Organic Jasmine Peach White Tea - 9/10. The tea had a lot of depth and flavor. The peach wasn't too overpowering or tart surprisingly and the floral scent was very welcoming. That coupled with us watching them delicately brew it made for a great drinking experience. Overall, I think I need to try another coffee drink to judge their coffee selections but I am not a fan of their beans so I would say the brand name gives this place their popularity a lot more than coffee. The tea was great and the service was excellent. Would like to see them explore more specialty coffee as they are such a shop. read more