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 |
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]
Aside 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] If successful they would hold a union election with an end goal of being represented by IBEW 1220, the same branch of IBEW that represents Colectivo Coffee Roasters. [16]
In 2006, Intelligentsia was included on several local [17] [18] [19] and national [20] [21] [22] best-of lists. One of their baristas also won national and international honors. [23] [24]
It has been winning local best of list recognition from 2000 to 2005. [25] [26] [27] [28] In 2005, the local [29] [30] [31] [32] recognition extended to national [33] recognition. In 2006, Intelligentsia was included on several local [34] and national [35] [36] [37] "best" lists.