Intelligentsia Coffee Millennium Park Coffeebar

Reviews 8

A

A Private User

I was in the Millennium Park Coffee Bar for the first time this past Sunday. I was visiting Chicago from out of state and was very excited about going to Intelligentsia. Unfortunately, the following 2 events occurred: (1) After asking the cashier about a coffee-making process, he shared a smirk with the barista as if to say, who is this idiot asking questions? (2) After asking for the key to the bathroom, I was told "its over there", as an employee pointed in the direction of the end of the counter. Upon going to get the key, it wasnt there. I asked the employee again for the key, explaining that it was not where he had said it would be, and was given the same response "Its over there, go get it yourself". After standing patiently for a few minutes, no one helped me. I finally asked a third time, at which point the employee realized the key was locked in the bathroom. He retrieved the key, without apology. To be honest, I wish I had thrown my $4.44 latte at him. As a company that prides itself on customer service and coffee education, the employees of this location failed on all counts. I will NOT be returning to Intelligentsia, and will be sure to tell others to go to Starbucks instead. I love coffee, but I can do without the pretentious attitude that comes with it at Intelligentsia.

---

A

A Private User

Hear me out... They recently renovated this specific shop. new additions include the following: A new location of the register; its now far from the entrance and has the effect of forcing those waiting for their coffee to congregate near the door. As a result, this creates the illusion or misconception you are in line to order upon entering; but this is not the case. You must navigate through the crowd to find the actual order line. Not a deal breaker, but still annoying. More likely, the worst offense seems to be the disappearance (or shrinkage) of the menu. Where the **** is it? Oh there it is on the far end of the counter on the other side of the person already ordering. So just leave your place in line to go look at the menu -- this isnt confusing at all. BUT after finding the menu it became crystal clear to me why the menu has taken a new size...ITS 2.60 for a medium coffee..nope not a latte, thats right coffee. To be fair, I do really enjoy their coffee! And it is very likely I will continue to patronize Intelligentsia and this location specifically for years to come. Its deliciously fresh and locally roasted. Rarely do I step foot in a coffee chain but this is my exception, as it is a local chain. end ranting transmission.

---

SE

Seher Dholakia

On the lookout for a great coffee shop, everyone I talked to recommended Intelligentsia to me. And then, when all-knowing Yelp recommended it to me too, I knew I had to check this place out. I’m quite the coffee shop connoisseur, so I had high expectations for this Chicago establishment. I went late on a Thursday evening, and this place was moderately filled, but there was still seating available. But the coffee. Oh, that aromatic coffee. The first time I went, I ordered a café au lait – it was pretty good, a normal café au lait, nothing too special. McKayla would have been unimpressed. But I decided to give it a second try, and boy am I glad that I did. I ordered a cappuccino, and it was delicious!! So smooth, strong, and topped with beautiful latte art. I kept smelling it because the aroma was amazing, but I was scared I was going to smell the taste away like Chandler was to Joey’s meatball sub. All in all, a great place to grab a cup of coffee and a convenient Loop location.

---

CL

Claire Holohan

Dont get me wrong- Intelligentsias coffee is great. Usually the people there are pretty nice, too. But their consistency is very sub-par. Last week I went in and ordered a cappuccino, paid 3.50 for it and left a $1 tip. It was about the size of a regular coffee anywhere else. Today I went in and ordered the exact same thing, paid the same amount and left the exact same tip. My coffee is about the size of a double-shot. It looks like its about 6oz at the most. Im wondering why its so much smaller than last week? And the barista this morning was definitely not the nicest guy ever. I was going to ask him why the size difference but he was rather dismissive and didnt particularly want to be bothered by me. Ironic because they seem to treat their better-dressed, more "professional" customers with more respect. I guess next time I better wear my ball gown.

---

NA

Nazary Nebeluk

I am a big coffee drinker and a big coffee fan. Whenever I visit anywhere I seek out the cafes. This may be my favorite coffee shop - ever. The drinks are just so damn good - I had the Fight or Flight, which consisted of iced espresso and orange peel, and the Angeleno, which was espresso and vanilla syrup. Those descriptions dont do them justice but they were so good I made a point of going back for an Angeleno before my flight. They were both iced coffee drinks and what was really cool is that the baristas used cocktail shakers to make them - which of all the upscale coffee trends that might spread I hope is the next big one. On top of the coffee being delicious the space was clean and modern and the staff was super friendly. Im kind of glad there isnt one in New Orleans - or else Id be there all the time.

---

AL

Allen Liu

Good coffee and perfectly whemling menu. Intelligentsia is famous for its expert sourcing and roasting, and this storefront hold up the reputable name. The baristas here are very professional (at first glance even intimidating), yet friendly when you interact with them. The ambiance is on point. Its surprising how quiet this spacious shop is in the rumble of the Loop. After settling in youll pleasantly notice the clank of mugs and dishes and the growl of the burr grinders. With floor to ceiling windows, this storefront offers a wonderful place to work to those who enjoy natural light. You really do get what you pay for when you come to Intelligentsia, so if youre just getting into coffee or a V60 veteran, youll find yourself sipping on some of the best coffee in Chicago in an excellent, urban environment.

---

CH

Christopher Marx

Lets face it, this Intelligensia is a popular Chicago institution and this location is in the heart of tourist central. The setup is more appropriate for one of their other locations, with less foot traffic. If you are lucky enough to not have a line winding around the small space, and mange to get one of the few seats available, you will enjoy your experience. The drinks are great. They take time to make them right. But that requires time to prepare. And with a downtown crowd, that means you should be prepared to wait a while. If you just need a caffeine fix, there is a Starbucks a few doors away. If you want a great Chicago coffee, take the time to wait at Intelligensia.

---

KE

Kelsey Baber

I was in Chicago for my birthday the first weekend in November. My boyfriend and I stopped for a cup to warm up and recharge after a long morning of exploring. It was a Sunday, so the place was packed. Even so the baristas were friendly and helped create a warm, welcoming environment. As for the product, I got a Chai, a Chai steeped to perfection. The spices were so rich and present, every sip had phenomenal flavor. Now, I currently live in a city where the "local coffee shop" abounds and the Chai I got at Intelligentsia blew all the others out of the water. Needless to say youve gained a fan and every trip to Chicago will include atleast one stop here.

---

---