Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea

{{Infobox company|

| name = Intelligentsia Coffee

| logo = Intelligentsia logo.png

| image = 20070707 Intelligentsia.JPG

| image_caption = The sidewalk cafe outside the coffee shop.

| type = Subsidiary

| owner = JAB Holding Company

| parent = JDE Peet's
(2015–present)

| slogan =

| foundation = {{start date and age|1995}}

| location = Chicago, Illinois

| num_locations = 13

| key_people = Doug Zell and Emily Mange, founders
James McLaughlin, CEOhttps://twitter.com/james_mclaugh {{bare URL inline|date=April 2023}}

| num_employees =

| industry = Restaurants

| products = Coffee, Tea

| revenue =

| homepage = {{URL|intelligentsiacoffee.com}}

}}

Intelligentsia Coffee is an American coffee roasting company and retailer based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1995 by Doug Zell and Emily Mange, Intelligentsia is considered a major representative of third-wave coffee in the United States. In 2015, Peet's Coffee & Tea (itself part of JAB Holding Company) acquired a majority stake in the company.{{Cite news|title = Peet's rides coffee's 'third wave' with stake in Intelligentsia|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-intelligentsiacoffee-m-a-peets-idUSKCN0SO24220151030|newspaper = Reuters|date = October 30, 2015|access-date = October 31, 2015}}

History and locations

Intelligentsia is headquartered at 1850 W. Fulton Street, Chicago, IL and has several cafe retail locations throughout the Chicago area. They supply coffee to various Chicago-area cafes and restaurants, as well as other locations in the US and Canada.[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-22-2004 "Hot" Chicago Restaurants get custom blends from Intelligentsia.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208130418/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-22-2004 |date=December 8, 2006 }}[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/07-20-2006 Intelligentsia in LA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061028164746/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/07-20-2006 |date=October 28, 2006 }}[http://www.vancouvercoffee.ca/archives/2005/04/wicked_cafe_rev.html Wicked Cafe in Vancouver, Canada serves Intelligentsia] They generally buy their beans directly from growers in Central America, South America, East Africa, and Ethiopia.Shernoff, Leon, "Intelligentsia, more Cedars, Come to Co-op", ever Green, March 2007, Vol. 60, #3. Coffee roasting is done with gas-powered Ideal Rapid Gothot Roasters. Two 90-kilo roasters and a 23-kilo are used in Chicago and a 40 kilo in Los Angeles. The machines date from the 1950s and were handcrafted from cast-iron and steel in Stuttgart, Germany.

On August 17, 2007, Intelligentsia opened its first store outside of Chicago at Sunset Junction in Silver Lake, a district east of Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.Scattergood, Amy, "A Lucky Break For Drip Coffee", LA Times, March 14, 2007 Intelligentsia has opened two additional stores in the Los Angeles area, in Venice and Pasadena.{{cite web|url=http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/locations |title=Locations |publisher=Intelligentsia Coffee |access-date=2017-11-18}} In 2013, Intelligentsia opened its first store in New York City inside The High Line Hotel.{{cite news | url=http://ny.eater.com/archives/2013/05/intelligentsia_new_york_now_open.php | title=Intelligentsia's Very First NYC Outpost Is So Open | author=Hancock, Alexander | publisher=NY Eater | date=May 8, 2013}} The second New York City location opened in June 2014, inside the Urban Outfitters store in Herald Square. This is the first location to offer a full food menu.{{cite news | url=http://ny.eater.com/archives/2014/06/intelligentsia_opens_in_herald_square_urban_outfitters.php | title=Intelligenstia Opens in Herald Square Urban Outfitters | author=Morabito, Greg | publisher=NY Eater | date =June 9, 2014}} They also have 2 stores in Boston and one in Austin, Texas.{{cite news | url=https://austin.eater.com/2018/12/10/18135040/intelligentsia-coffee-texas-austin-cafe-downtown-nueces | title=Chicago Craft Coffee Roaster Intelligentsia Is Opening First Texas Cafe | author=Chaudhury, Nadia | publisher=Austin Eater | date =Dec 10, 2018}}

A 2008 decision to stop serving 20-ounce coffee and espresso beverages in stores was met with controversy. Zell stated that the proportions are altered at such large quantities and certain drinks become watered-down, arguing that 20-ounce drinks end up "masking and adulterating the pure, intense flavors we work hard to source, roast and produce. We don't want this to just be a caffeine delivery device."{{cite news | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-wed-intelligentsia-coffee-jul09,0,2911561.story | title=Small. Medium. Gone. | author=Eng, Monica | publisher=Chicago Tribune | date=July 9, 2008 | access-date=July 9, 2008}}

In 2009 Intelligentsia acquired Ecco Caffè of Santa Rosa, California, and has retained the brand.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/dining/09sfdine.html | work=The New York Times | title=Small Bay Area Coffee Roasters Spread Out | first=Gregory | last=Dicum | date=April 8, 2010}}

In October 2015, it was announced that Peet's Coffee & Tea would buy a majority stake in Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea by the end of the year, as part of an expansion of Peet's into third wave coffee that also involved the acquisition of Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Intelligentsia was expected to continue operating independently, with founders Zell and Mange retaining a role in the company.{{cite web|title = Peet's Coffee & Tea Buys Intelligentsia Coffee|url = http://www.eater.com/2015/10/30/9643642/blockbuster-peets-coffee-tea-buys-intelligentsia-coffee|website = Eater|access-date = October 31, 2015|last = Galarza|date = October 30, 2015|first = Daniela}} The announcement came weeks after Intelligentsia had made known that it was seeking a private equity buy-out over $100 million.

In May 2022 employees working in Intelligentsia's Chicago locations and Roasting Works warehouse filed a petition for union representation.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Union sees grounds for organizing at Intelligentsia Coffee |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/2022/5/27/23144966/intelligentsia-coffee-ibew-union-organize-workers |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}} In August 2022, employees voted to unionize, and ratified their first collective bargaining agreement in December 2022.{{Cite web |last=Soglin |first=Talia |title=Intelligentsia Coffee workers vote to unionize at five Chicago locations |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2022/08/08/intelligentsia-coffee-workers-vote-to-unionize-at-five-chicago-locations/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Chicago Tribune |date=August 8, 2022 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Roeder |first=David |title=In a local first, workers at Intelligentsia Coffee ratify union contract |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/2022/12/16/23513471/in-a-local-first-workers-at-intelligentsia-coffee-ratify-union-contract |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Chicago Sun-Times|date=December 16, 2022 |language=en-US}} They are represented by IBEW 1220, the same branch of IBEW that represents Colectivo Coffee Roasters.{{Cite web |last=Cadwalader |first=Zac |title=Chicago-Based Workers At Intelligentsia Have Filed To Unionize |url=https://sprudge.com/chicago-based-workers-at-intelligentsia-have-filed-to-unionize-187663.html |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=Sprudge |date=May 31, 2022 |language=en-US}}

Honors

In 2006, Intelligentsia was included on several local[http://chicago.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/coffee #2 in Chicago Citysearch Best Coffee category 2006][http://search.cityguide.aol.com/chicago/bestcoffeehouses/?page=cb2006 AOL Cityguide - Best of Chicago 2006]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/presspdfs/chicago_mag_11_06.pdf Chicago Magazine Best Coffee November 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927184834/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/presspdfs/chicago_mag_11_06.pdf |date=September 27, 2007 }} and national[https://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2006-03-02-coffeeshops_x.htm 10 great places to get jazzed about great java], USA Today, March 3, 2006.{{Cite web |url=http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/taste-test-coffee-1 |title=Foodandwine.com Best boutique roasters 2006 |access-date=August 16, 2006 |archive-date=September 25, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925033054/http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/taste-test-coffee-1 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/markprince/12-18-2006 Coffeegeek.com Best Expresso Blend December 18, 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105000003/http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/markprince/12-18-2006 |date=January 5, 2007 }} best-of lists. One of their baristas also won national and international honors.{{Cite web |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=restaurants&id=4159131 |title=ABC U.S. Barista Championship story May 10, 2006 |access-date=December 19, 2006 |archive-date=August 24, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824054444/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=restaurants&id=4159131 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.chicagoist.com/archives/2006/05/23/our_baristas_are_better_than_your_baristas.php U.S. and World Barista Championship results.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207001627/http://www.chicagoist.com/archives/2006/05/23/our_baristas_are_better_than_your_baristas.php |date=December 7, 2006 }}

It has been winning local best of list recognition from 2000 to 2005.[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-31-2000 Best Coffee Bar - Citysearch 2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208130431/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-31-2000 |date=December 8, 2006 }}[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-31-2001 Best cup of coffee - Citysearch 2001] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208130443/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-31-2001 |date=December 8, 2006 }}[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-31-2002 Best coffee - Citysearch 2002] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208130503/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-31-2002 |date=December 8, 2006 }}[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/06-20-2004 Best coffee - Citysearch 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208125846/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/06-20-2004 |date=December 8, 2006 }}

In 2005, the local[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/01-31-2005 AOL Cityguide Winner, Best Coffeehouse 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061028172925/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/01-31-2005 |date=October 28, 2006 }}[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/07-01-2005 Best coffee - Citysearch 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208125859/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/07-01-2005 |date=December 8, 2006 }}[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/08-08-2005 Chicago Magazine - Best Beans 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208125955/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/08-08-2005 |date=December 8, 2006 }}[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/09-29-2005 Newcity Magazine Best place to buy beans and Best place to buy tea leaves] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061028173006/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/09-29-2005 |date=October 28, 2006 }}

recognition extended to national[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/03-29-2005 Best coffeehouse - Playboy April 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208125439/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/03-29-2005 |date=December 8, 2006 }}

recognition. In 2006, Intelligentsia was included on several local[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/10-02-2006 "Best Coffeehouse" by New City Chicago for 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061028171042/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/10-02-2006 |date=October 28, 2006 }}

and national[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/08-06-2006 Zagats 2006 America's Best Beverage Bets (Best Cup of Regular Coffee, Best Espresso, Best Seasonal Coffee or Tea Beverage)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061203064458/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/08-06-2006 |date=December 3, 2006 }}[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-01-2006 Fastcompany.c0m - 12 Best Coffees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109075413/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/12-01-2006 |date=January 9, 2007 }}[http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/10-31-2006 Roast Magazine - Roaster of the Year for 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701061507/http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/about/press/10-31-2006 |date=July 1, 2007 }} "best" lists.