Intelligentsia Coffee

Reviews 8

MA

Matthew Sheehan

I wish I could give this place a better review. I never quite understand why a cafe fails to offer its clientele outlets to charge at and if everything else at Intelligentsia werent so packed with eye-candy and awesomeness, this place would be a 5 Star hands down. Perhaps this location is too busy to allow people to stay for long and charge their devices. I wouldnt be surprised. A gigantic arching doorway takes Intelligentsia go-ers at this Venice location down a long hallway that is more of an artistic immersion. Wooden boxes and wall sits provide a place for folks to take of their cool and sit outside in the shade among very tall art walls and a bustling crowd. Every time I am here it is full of people to the brim. Although you enter through what feels like the gates of a castle into a playful land of color and life, Intelligentsias interior resembles much more of a scientific lab like roastery and much less a gated castle. Still, it feels like you walking over a moat as you descend up the slope into the mad coffee brewers hideout. Inside there is a clear-paned structure that looks like it could either be a wing of an old wright brothers air plane or an old garage door and there are pipes, and poles, and amusing facades of metal, iron, and glass work that create a gleaming play on light which can both distract and inspire. Wooden beams, shelving unite, concert bars and metals seats/tables fill up the rest of every corner of this unique coffee spot. Last but not least, the drinks are great. They are tasteful, diverse, and sophisticated. With Intelligentsia it is all about the details.

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SU

Sukhraj Beasla

This coffee shop has been on my radar for a while now however there are no locations in OC. Its located in Abbot Kinney and can be hard to miss if youre not paying attention or absent-mindly distracted by your smart phone. At first glance, the interior was impressive. Before ordering I took in the industrial architecture, the creative use of glass and woodwork, and the various coffee machines. Theres a small menu and they are very strict about the quality of coffee served here. While I am a coffee aficionado I dont want anything super strong or bitter and the mocha seemed to fit my taste. While waiting for our drinks it was a treat to watch them being made. They dont hide behind the counter like most coffee shops and you watch your cuppa being made and poured to perfection. If it doesnt suit their needs, theyll toss it out and make another. We found that highly impressive and wish we could have caught it on film but were ill prepared. We got our lattes with maple pecan muffins and grabbed a seat on what I guess can be considered a 2nd floor. It was great to look out and watch the operation of the whole place and sip on some of the smoothest richest coffee ever; not too bitter, not too strong and not very chocolately either. I enjoyed every last drop and the muffin itself was deliciously moist and complementary to my coffee. Its a tiny place but Ill definitely have to visit again.

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MA

Margaret Coalson

Amazing (and I mean AMAZING) coffee served by tragically hip people who are far too cool to be friendly to customers. One bearded barista in particular is the grumpiest mofo Ive ever seen in a service environment... dripping with "I hate the fact that Im here and I hate you for ordering a $5 coffee" energy, but I didnt bother to get his name (I assumed it was "Grumpy"). I came in every day during a week-long trip to Santa Monica and, despite the "We are so much better than you because we know how to make coffee" vibe, Id keep coming back because the product is truly great. Dont ask for a vanilla latte because the snooty barista will just say, "We dont have flavored syrups." Apparently, they dont care that a lot of people drink vanilla lattes and theyre a bit too highfalutin to put some vanilla into their simple syrup. Still, some of the best, and most thoughtfully created, lattes ever. Just dont expect to have a good customer service experience.

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SO

Sophia Paik

Im a huge fan of Intelligentsias coffee products, but Im not so much a fan of their cafe. Service isnt very friendly, and the layout of the cafe crams people around the circumference of the bar. Baristas always seem aloof. The last couple of drinks I got here were diluted and flavorless. Almost like they gave me iced coffee that had been sitting around for a couple minutes. Which is disappointing because, like I mentioned, I really like their coffee beans and other take-home products. I think their seating is unique and cute - tiered amphitheater style seats with personal cushions you can grab from the corner of the room. Cute for hanging out with friends. Not ideal for studying. Outdoor seating is spacious, if its available. Overall, an A-OK cafe. Nice place to stop by and cool off after a sunny stroll down Abbot Kinney. But I prefer TOMS in terms of service and Blue Bottle in terms of, well, not getting diluted coffee.

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AL

Alyx Barranger

I thought I had already had the best coffee in the world, but Intelligentsia challenged that notion, and won. Okay, so I tried two different coffees here: 1) Mocha: Hands down the best mocha I have EVER had. It is made with TCHO chocolate and it is spectacular. For those of you complaining about price, there is no price for perfection. The conclusion: GET THE MOCHA! 2) Drip Coffee: We had black coffee as well and it was one of their special blends (Im terrible and dont remember which one - the barista recommended it). This was amazing. The temperature was perfect so the coffee was not even slightly bitter. The flavors were incredible. If you are a fan of black coffee, this will be an amazing option for you. All in all, this place is amazing. Worth every penny.

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ST

Steven Chu

Everytime I visit Los Angeles, nothing beats my visits to Intelligentsia coffee. Whats not to love about a premium coffee experience (and starbucks is not premium, obviously). The best mochas Ive had in the USA. Wifi at both the Venice and Silver Lake location tend to be pretty spotty.. something to improve. I do like that the different stores have their own distinguishing vibe. The Silver Lake location is more outdoor patio lounge-like, reminiscent of sitting in a mexican villa / adobo style. Where the Venice location involves lots of glass test tube and chrome pipe decor.. very steam punk! And it is always a pleasure to see the immaculately well dressed and pretty/handsome staff.. regardless of how hipstery it all is! ;)

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DA

David Corcoran

Gotta hand it to them for selling a $7 cup of coffee with a straight face. I was new to the area and Im probably a sucker but figured "When in Rome" swallowed my pride and bought a cup. I have to admit it was damn good, among the best cups of coffee Ive ever had. But not good enough to do it again. Plus the furniture with its sharp edges and paper thin cushions must have been designed by the Marquis de Sade himself. ----Review revision 12/12/2016: It was a great cup of coffee though. Heck I think nothing of spending $7 for a decent pint of beer, not to mention people spend $12 + on a martini. Maybe Ive lightened up a little after a couple more years in sunny California. Ahh its all good dude!

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Hanae K

SUPER Hipster ambience with good music and well-designed interior. Been wanting to try this place for a while. I ordered an affogato, small scoop of vanilla ice cream drenched in rich espresso. It was delicious and Im super jittery thanks to it. It reminded me of the one I tried at dripp in chino hills, only the presentation wasnt as awesome. My sister had one of their coffee with a woody after taste. That was different and tasty as well. If you want what she got then ask the barista for a coffee with a woody after taste ;D Its a cool place to take friends if they are exploring Venice and craving for some coffee. Im not sure if I want to wait in line again for more than 20minutes.

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