Intelligentsia Coffee Broadway Coffeebar

Category:	Espresso Bar
Address:	3123 North Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657, USA
Phone:	+1 773-348-8058
Site:	intelligentsiacoffee.com
Rating:	4.5
Working:	6:30AM–8PM 6:30AM–8PM 6:30AM–8PM 6:30AM–8PM 6:30AM–8PM 7AM–8PM 7AM–8PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 10

Buco Bucolini

Far cry from what it used to be Been going here since they opened in 95. All my friends knew where to find me, at Inteli, it was my second living room. Everything was perfect, the space, the coffee, the people, the prices. Then slowly, things started to change. Corporate governance started to take over. People that were there from the beginning, that rose with the company from barista positions to managers started to leave, and not on good terms. I remember when they decided to remove 20oz drinks from the menu and this created a big local uproar, people attacking and labeling Intelligentsia as snobby, overpriced and all sorts of bad stuff. Well at the time all of the attacks were baseless BS. But then something strange happened. As if the top management took all these crazy, negative attributes and turned them into a business model. It all went downhill, the prices went ridiculously high, the coffee to me just wasnt as good anymore, they started with 12oz bags of beans BS (I wonder if they were the industry originals to do this, drives me nuts, just like a 4 pack craft beer) which initially were adjusted for price down from 1lb prices but then the price started creeping up and now you pay the equivalent of mid $20s and up for a pound of coffee. I love the idea of rewarding the farmer but these markups are insane. And the quality of beans actually went down. It used to be that you open a bag of beans from inteli and the uniformity of roast and shape of beans was perfect. Not so much today, not bad but far from justifying those prices. Another thing that kept pushing me away was that they kept adjusting the menu in small ways, just when I find something that works me, be it the way to make coffee or the size or the price they would take it away. And all, all of that would be a wash, if the cup of coffee still tasted good. But to me it doesnt. I still come for espresso and espresso drinks once in a while, thats still good. But in most other ways Inteli lost its soul. Im happy its doing well, its good to have them around to inspire other startups in specialty coffee. That was my lament about Intelligentsia.

Joe Piehl

The Intelligentsia staff is both friendly and polite – especially on busy days – and the environment is perfects for a few hours of reading or working on a laptop (free wi-fi). The lighting is softer in the back, so if you have problems reading or working in low light, the front windows offer great natural lighting. Additionally, if you’re looking to snag a spot for a few hours, tables turn over pretty quickly but there’s a definite mid-afternoon lull around 3-4pm on the weekends. The coffee is somewhat expensive ($3.25+ for a cup of brewed coffee) but for people enjoying their coffee in the shop, it comes out or about 2 full cups of coffee. The coffee quality is great and they normally offer varying levels of intensity and flavor profiles. The food is primarily snacks – cookies, cakes, etc. – and I can’t speak to the taste or freshness, but it always looks good.

Noga Sachs

I love the vibe and feel of this coffee shop. I dont much care for a lot of their coffees, but i still love this place. They do pour over coffees for very fancy coffee. They are much more than eager to tell you all about their fancy coffees. Their pastry selection is very small and some of them i dont care for, but i like the gateau basc quite a bit. Coffees are stupid expensive, but the vibe here is amazing. Theres also a really nice community feel because of the big table community seating arrangement, so whether youre enjoying a Saturday morning or doing freelance work, you just feel like youre part of something bigger here. They also have an amazing patio.

jDub You

Chicagos coffee of choice is Intelligentsia. These guys are serious about coffee and it shows. Every cup is made to order and can take a while but its worth it. There are all kinds of awesome coffee preparation methods available for your cup. You can order it up anyway you want or simply order "a cup of coffee". Guess what. No attitude regardless of your coffee knowledge. I prefer a darker roast but can appreciate a good cup made with care. Intelligentsia brews a "brighter" cup that tastes nothing like the typical Sbux pike. You can purchase coffee accessories and beans here if you wish to make it yourself at home.

Jim Withington

They have done a fairly recent revamp of the interior at this location, and in the process it changed from sorta cozy to completely not cozy. I guess thats okay--it is what they are going for--but its not what I typically look for in a coffee shop. Im also a big Americano fan--except at Intelligentsia, where the Americanos are always far too harsh for my stomach. Stick with choosing one of the daily brewed coffee choices. If you know what flavors you like and pay attention to that, youll have a good experience.

Miquel Angel

the decor for this place is good, they recently remodeled it and i am not a big fan of it, feels like I am in a classroom. I love to go there and do my work when I do not have any meetings. it can be a bit noisy because they have music in the background. the coffee is also a bit pricey but worth the price, they always put a heart on my mochas and most of the staff knows my name cause I am a regular. the staff is super friendly as well. love sitting by the window and people watching.

A Private User

I have never liked their coffee. I actually hate their espresso but it is mostly the pretentious attitude. I am not sure if people think they are cool for going there (it is a cute cafe other than the coffee and staff) or what but I live a block away and I never go there. I love coffee but I just cant make myself drink it because of the convenience of the location and because of the attitude of the staff, which is a shame, cute coffee shops are hard to come by.

Margaret Joyce

I wanted to love Intelligentsia because I heard it was the best coffee in Chicago, but I was turned off by two things. FIrst of all, there was a little tude from the barista. I dont know if I asked too many questions (possible) or it just wasnt her day, but she wasnt the friendliest employee Ive come across. The second is that the espresso has a definite distinctive flavor that I really didnt enjoy. Overall, Im sticking with Starbucks.

A Private User

I dont come for pastries. I dont come for tea. I come for plain black delicious coffee and no place makes it better than intelligentsia. It is fresh brewed per order and the slight wait is well worth what you end up getting. Best coffee in town bar none. Price is on the high side but no worse than what youd pay at Starbucks. The difference is this coffee makes Starbucks taste like Folgers. Highly recommend, you wont be disappointed.

Curt Beiersdorf

Exceptional Chicago coffee place. I initially thought their coffee was a bit overrated (theyre pretty hyped up around these parts) but after going to their actual Broadway location a few times (rather than having it at places that just brew their coffee) I understood what all the fuss was about. One of the best cappuccinos Ive ever had. The staff is comprised of the coffee snob type but what are you gonna do. Had to be expected.