Roaster · United States
Intelligentsia Coffee
Chicago founder of US direct trade and a training ground for a generation of coffee professionals.
Intelligentsia Coffee was founded in Chicago in 1995 by Doug Zell and Emily Mange and became one of the most important institutions of American specialty coffee. It pioneered and trademarked the term 'Direct Trade,' sending buyers to origin to build long-term producer relationships, and its Black Cat espresso became a third-wave standard. Intelligentsia's training programs and cafés in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York produced an outsized number of champion baristas and future roastery founders, seeding the wider industry. Alongside Stumptown and Counter Culture, it formed the 'big three' that defined third-wave coffee in the 2000s.
In the Encyclopedia
Beans from Intelligentsia Coffee
26.2 Blend 10 oz
This blend honors the athletes participating in the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
ViewBlack Cat Project Demitasse 3oz
This demitasse is the result of three years of R&D in collaboration with Los Angeles design firm NotNeutral.
ViewCoffee Blossom Candle 9oz
A hand crafted candle capturing the sensory experience of coffee flowers in full bloom with notes of orange and jasmine blossoms.
Cold Coffee 12 Pack
Notes of dark chocolate and fruit deliver a sweet and balanced flavor in this incredibly convenient on-the-go can.
Cold Coffee Blend
This blend is curated to love the cold, featuring bright flavors and fruit notes that perform beautifully over ice.
ViewColombia · Cauca
Colombia Cauca Castillo Single Origin Espresso
Castillo is a resilient coffee variety introduced to Colombian farmers in 2005 to combat coffee leaf rust.
ViewOrigins they source from
Colombia
Huila
Colombia's most awarded department — sweet, complex washed coffees with caramel, red fruit, and bright acidity.
Kenya
Nyeri
The classic Kenyan profile — blackcurrant, tomato, and grapefruit acidity from SL28 on red volcanic soil.
Last updated: October 14, 2026