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Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Intelligentsia Coffee
Subsidiary
Industry Restaurants
Founded 1995; 30 years ago (1995)
Headquarters Chicago, Illinois
Number of locations
 13
Key people
 Doug Zell and Emily Mange, founders
James McLaughlin, CEO
Products Coffee, Tea
Owner JAB Holding Company
Parent JDE Peet's
(2015–present)

Intelligentsia Coffee is a company from the United States that roasts and sells coffee. It started in Chicago, Illinois. Doug Zell and Emily Mange founded the company in 1995. Intelligentsia is known as a leader in the "third-wave coffee" movement. This movement focuses on high-quality coffee, where you can trace where the beans come from. In 2015, another company called Peet's Coffee & Tea bought most of Intelligentsia.

Intelligentsia Coffee: History and Locations

Intelligentsia Coffee has its main office in Chicago, Illinois. They also have several coffee shops around the Chicago area. The company provides coffee to many cafes and restaurants. These are located in Chicago and other places across the US and Canada.

Where Intelligentsia Gets Its Coffee Beans

Intelligentsia usually buys its coffee beans directly from farmers. These farmers are in places like Central America, South America, East Africa, and Ethiopia. Buying directly helps them get the best quality beans.

How Intelligentsia Roasts Coffee

Coffee roasting is done using special machines called Ideal Rapid Gothot Roasters. These machines use gas to heat the beans. They have two large roasters and one smaller one in Chicago. There is also a roaster in Los Angeles. These machines are very old, dating back to the 1950s. They were handmade in Stuttgart, Germany, from strong cast-iron and steel.

Intelligentsia Coffee Shops Across the US

Intelligentsia opened its first store outside Chicago in 2007. This shop was in Silver Lake, a district in Los Angeles, California. Since then, they have opened two more stores in the Los Angeles area. These are in Venice and Pasadena.

In 2013, Intelligentsia opened its first shop in New York City. This store was inside The High Line Hotel. A second New York City location opened in 2014. It was inside an Urban Outfitters store. This was the first Intelligentsia location to offer a full food menu. They also have two stores in Boston and one in Austin, Texas.

Why Intelligentsia Changed Coffee Sizes

In 2008, Intelligentsia decided to stop selling 20-ounce coffee and espresso drinks. The founder, Doug Zell, explained why. He said that large sizes change the taste of the coffee. He felt that 20-ounce drinks made the coffee taste watered down. He wanted customers to enjoy the pure, strong flavors they worked hard to create. He said coffee should not just be a way to get caffeine.

Intelligentsia Acquires Ecco Caffè

In 2009, Intelligentsia bought another coffee company called Ecco Caffè. Ecco Caffè was based in Santa Rosa, California. Intelligentsia decided to keep the Ecco Caffè brand name.

Intelligentsia Joins Peet's Coffee

In October 2015, it was announced that Peet's Coffee & Tea would buy most of Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea. This deal was completed by the end of 2015. Peet's was expanding into the "third-wave coffee" market. They also bought Stumptown Coffee Roasters around the same time. Intelligentsia was expected to keep running on its own. The founders, Doug Zell and Emily Mange, continued to be involved with the company.

Intelligentsia Employees Form a Union

In May 2022, employees at Intelligentsia's Chicago locations and warehouse asked to form a union. In August 2022, the employees voted to create a union. By December 2022, they agreed on their first collective bargaining agreement. This agreement helps make sure employees have fair working conditions. They are part of IBEW 1220.

Intelligentsia Coffee: Awards and Recognition

Intelligentsia Coffee has received many awards and honors. These recognitions started in the early 2000s.

Local and National Recognition

From 2000 to 2005, Intelligentsia won many "best of" awards locally. In 2005, their recognition grew to include national awards. By 2006, Intelligentsia was on several important "best" lists. These lists were both local and national. One of their baristas also won national and international awards that year.

See also