With a line extending to the door, one must ask herself if Intelligentsia coffee is really worth the wait.
Intelligentsia originated in Chicago in 1995, and since then has sprouted shops in Los Angeles and New York City. Its Los Angeles locations are hotspots for the hipster crowd, and there were many a customer in skinny jeans and plaid shirt at their Venice Beach shop, with a soundtrack provided by Mumford and Sons to boot.
Most Angelenos have at least heard of Intelligentsia, and many of those can say they have at least tasted the coffee. Bags of their beans are sold at many stores, and even places like Whole Foods serves the coffee in their cafes, which leads us to the question—is it really that good?
The answer, honestly, is simple. The coffee is good, but it’s not great. The coffee is not particularly aromatic, and it does not necessarily mix well with soy, which is a big turn-off for dairy-free customers. The baristas even admit the soy latte is not as good as the dairy, and the beautiful flower design in the foam at the top of the cup is not as detailed or lush as one made with dairy milk. While customers still marveled at the lovely design, the baristas insisted on turning up their noses and saying it’s not perfection. The latte itself was bland and lacking an aroma and flavor worthy of the hype.
The décor of the Venice Beach location is minimalist, and benches replace the tables and chairs one would normally see in a café. One would think this design would lend itself to more socializing and meeting people, but when every other person is engrossed in their Mac Books, the design ultimately fails.
And yes, the line is long, but the baristas were surprisingly quick at making drinks and worked well as a team. And if you don’t want to wait for slightly lackluster coffee, pop in just down the way to Abbot’s Habit for a quick cup and maybe even a sandwich or muffin.
Intelligentsia has locations in Venice Beach, Silver Lake, and Pasadena, open seven days a week.
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