Intelligentsia makes great coffee, but coffee is nothing without talented baristas to get every possible note and nuance from the bean.
Their baristas are fantastic and I had one of the best pour overs I’ve ever had at this location.
Definitely a good place for any coffee enthusiast to get a great cup. Their espresso is also excellent.
Ordered a cappuccino, tasted nice but I thought the size of the coffee cup would be a little bigger. It was just a small cup for $5. Portion size could have been bigger - that’d have made it nicer.
Expensive ($5.31) coffee, but five stars because it was tasty, aromatic, and fresh. Coming in here the Friday before Christmas at 10:30 am, I expected this place, like many in the Loop, to be empty. But almost every table was full. It's right across from the courthouse, so if you want to see lawyers in suits, drinking coffee, this is the spot. Friendly staff. The drip coffee was served quickly after ordering despite the overall busy shop. Dollop Coffee is nearby and you can get the same, or at least a similar, cup of coffee for around $4.50. Both are good.
You will not do better than Intelligentsia for the best coffee in Chicago, and the absolute best of the best is Monadnock. Its high standards are befitting the historic building, which set records in its day for finding innovative solutions to the challenge of the pre-steel-constructed high rise.
The baristas at Mondanock are incredibly knowledgeable and professional, and the vibe is exquisite, the best of what Chicago has to offer in cafe culture. And if you're a hot chocolate fan (I am 😍), this is the best in the city, maybe in the country. The base is a homemade ganache omg that will blow your mind. Love the product, love the staff, an excellent team with excellent leadership. Check them out! Deeelish
Great espresso, good service, nice atmosphere. Stale croissants though, bad, better get something else.
Marty “Party” In Real Life
+5
A great place to grab a cup of java. My go to is the Avena Latte but sometimes sidetrack to a Mocha. Friendly staff and even though it stays busy, I never wait to long. Definitely recommend stopping by and grabbing a drink and a snack.
Very fun independent cafe in this see of starbucks and DDs!
Had a great espresso with free sparkling water.
Its a nice coffee shop came here for cappuccino the barista was super friendly liked the atmosphere. The coffee was a little bitter apart from that everything was great.
The espresso is quite good and they give you a small glass of sparkling water with it which is a very nice touch. I also have had some of their pastries which are very good, I would recommend the Espresso creme muffin, the old fashioned donuts are also very good. The mochas they make are more sweet and milky than I prefer but if that's your thing than you'll definitely enjoy them. Intelligentsia is a great coffee shop worth going to and its in the Monadnock building which is a plus if you enjoy historic buildings.
Great coffee shop in the loop. Intelligentsia has some of the best coffee in Chicago. I like that there is always a wide variety of options, either blends or single origin. This shop is unique with the more classic style compared to other Chicago locations. Always impressed with the staff as well, super helpful and willing to answer detailed coffee questions, if you have any.
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