Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea - Chicago, IL Review

My favorite way to start the day is stopping in at Intelligentsia for a latte or mocha on my way to work.  I get off the Blue line 'L' at Jackson, maybe drop off some mail at the gorgeous Mies Van der Rohe designed post office, and then head to Intelligentsia in the Monadnock building. I grab my coffee, occasionally running into an old friend or colleague, then stroll down to the Brown like station at State and Van Buren.  I wait for my train, hop on, then off at the Merchandise Mart stop and walk a block to the office, sipping my coffee the whole time.  Now this little ritual, as relaxing and tasty as it is, adds about 25 minutes to my commute, so I only attempt it once a week or so.  But the coffees at Intelligentsia are that good and the bustle of this great metropolis in the morning make the detour worth it.

Intelligentsia has 3 cafe locations in Chicago.  They also import and roast their own coffee beans from all over the world.  Many other cafes use Intelligentsia beans, so you can get their coffees all over the city.  That said, the Intelligentsia location on Jackson keeps drawing me back.  The service is always friendly and quick (even when the lines are long).  The Monadnock building is a Chicago landmark (being one of the tallest non-steel frame building in the world at 17 stories) and Intellgentsia's space oozes with classic cafe atmosphere.

And then there's the coffee.  I love their mocha (espresso, steamed milk and chocolate) above all others.  They make it with a dark chocolate that mixes so well with the rich espresso taste.  There was an article that I read on the web not too long ago about the 50 must do experiences before you die, and they listed drinking a triple espresso from Intelligentsia.  Now that's some praise!

My only complaint would be the rush hour crowds that swarm this location.  On occasion I've been down there after 10AM and found it to be a much more laid back, sit and enjoy sipping your beverage atmosphere.

My original mini-review which is feature on the back of my Viewpoints business card: 

Serving up delicious espressos, Americanos, and other tasty coffee drinks, Intelligentsia has something for everyone. Located steps from three CTA 'L' stops this location is packed during the morning rush hour. For a more laid back cafe atmosphere, come back after 10AM. As a final bonus, Intelligentsia is located in the historic Monadnock building.