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 2015, Peet's Coffee & Tea (itself part of JAB Holding Company) acquired a majority stake in the company.[2]
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 The sidewalk cafe outside the coffee shop. | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
Number of locations | 13 |
Key people | Doug Zell and Emily Mange, founders James McLaughlin, CEO[1] |
| Products | Coffee, Tea |
| Owner | JAB Holding Company |
| Parent | JDE Peet's (2015–present) |
| Website | intelligentsiacoffee |
History and locations
editAside from its headquarters at 1850 W. Fulton Street, Intelligentsia 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.[3][4][5] They generally buy their beans directly from growers in Central America, South America, East Africa, and Ethiopia.[6] They currently[when?] operate four gas-powered Ideal Rapid Gothot Roasters at the Chicago Roasting Works. Two 90-kilo roasters and a 23-kilo reside 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.[6]
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.[7] Intelligentsia has opened two additional stores in the Los Angeles area, in Venice and Pasadena.[8] In 2013, Intelligentsia opened its first store in New York City inside The High Line Hotel.[9] 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.[10] They also have 2 stores in Boston and one in Austin, Texas.[11] 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."[12]
In 2009 Intelligentsia acquired Ecco Caffè of Santa Rosa, California, and has retained the brand.[13]
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.[2] Intelligentsia was expected to continue operating independently, with founders Zell and Mange retaining a role in the company.[14] The announcement came weeks after Intelligentsia had made known that it was seeking a private equity buy-out over $100 million.[14]
In May 2022 employees working in Intelligentsia's Chicago locations and Roasting Works warehouse filed a petition for union representation.[15] In August 2022, employees voted to unionize, and ratified their first collective bargaining agreement in December 2022.[16][17] They are represented by IBEW 1220, the same branch of IBEW that represents Colectivo Coffee Roasters.[18]
Honors
editIn 2006, Intelligentsia was included on several local[19][20][21] and national[22][23][24] best-of lists. One of their baristas also won national and international honors.[25][26]
It has been winning local best of list recognition from 2000 to 2005.[27][28][29][30] In 2005, the local[31][32][33][34] recognition extended to national[35] recognition. In 2006, Intelligentsia was included on several local[36] and national[37][38][39] "best" lists.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ https://twitter.com/james_mclaugh [bare URL]
- ^ a b "Peet's rides coffee's 'third wave' with stake in Intelligentsia". Reuters. October 30, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Hot" Chicago Restaurants get custom blends from Intelligentsia. Archived December 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Intelligentsia in LA Archived October 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Wicked Cafe in Vancouver, Canada serves Intelligentsia
- ^ a b Shernoff, Leon, "Intelligentsia, more Cedars, Come to Co-op", ever Green, March 2007, Vol. 60, #3.
- ^ Scattergood, Amy, "A Lucky Break For Drip Coffee", LA Times, March 14, 2007
- ^ "Locations". Intelligentsia Coffee. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ Hancock, Alexander (May 8, 2013). "Intelligentsia's Very First NYC Outpost Is So Open". NY Eater.
- ^ Morabito, Greg (June 9, 2014). "Intelligenstia Opens in Herald Square Urban Outfitters". NY Eater.
- ^ Chaudhury, Nadia (December 10, 2018). "Chicago Craft Coffee Roaster Intelligentsia Is Opening First Texas Cafe". Austin Eater.
- ^ Eng, Monica (July 9, 2008). "Small. Medium. Gone". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
- ^ Dicum, Gregory (April 8, 2010). "Small Bay Area Coffee Roasters Spread Out". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Galarza, Daniela (October 30, 2015). "Peet's Coffee & Tea Buys Intelligentsia Coffee". Eater. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Union sees grounds for organizing at Intelligentsia Coffee". Chicago Sun-Times. May 27, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ Soglin, Talia (August 8, 2022). "Intelligentsia Coffee workers vote to unionize at five Chicago locations". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Roeder, David (December 16, 2022). "In a local first, workers at Intelligentsia Coffee ratify union contract". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Cadwalader, Zac (May 31, 2022). "Chicago-Based Workers At Intelligentsia Have Filed To Unionize". Sprudge. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ #2 in Chicago Citysearch Best Coffee category 2006
- ^ AOL Cityguide - Best of Chicago 2006[permanent dead link]
- ^ Chicago Magazine Best Coffee November 2006 Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 10 great places to get jazzed about great java, USA Today, March 3, 2006.
- ^ "Foodandwine.com Best boutique roasters 2006". Archived from the original on September 25, 2006. Retrieved August 16, 2006.
- ^ Coffeegeek.com Best Expresso Blend December 18, 2006 Archived January 5, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "ABC U.S. Barista Championship story May 10, 2006". Archived from the original on August 24, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
- ^ U.S. and World Barista Championship results. Archived December 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Best Coffee Bar - Citysearch 2000 Archived December 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Best cup of coffee - Citysearch 2001 Archived December 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Best coffee - Citysearch 2002 Archived December 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Best coffee - Citysearch 2004 Archived December 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ AOL Cityguide Winner, Best Coffeehouse 2005 Archived October 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Best coffee - Citysearch 2005 Archived December 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Chicago Magazine - Best Beans 2005 Archived December 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Newcity Magazine Best place to buy beans and Best place to buy tea leaves Archived October 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Best coffeehouse - Playboy April 2005 Archived December 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Best Coffeehouse" by New City Chicago for 2006 Archived October 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Zagats 2006 America's Best Beverage Bets (Best Cup of Regular Coffee, Best Espresso, Best Seasonal Coffee or Tea Beverage) Archived December 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Fastcompany.c0m - 12 Best Coffees Archived January 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Roast Magazine - Roaster of the Year for 2007 Archived July 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine