Intelligentsia Coffee Monadnock Coffeebar — Restaurant in Chicago

It has become tradition for me to visit an independent coffee shop in any city I travel to. I'm a big fan of Chemex/pour-over coffee, and I absolutely love third-wave coffee roasters and independent coffeeshops. I've had all the "Big Three of Third Wave Coffee" coffees - Stumptown, Intelligentsia, and Counter Culture - but this was my first time visiting a standalone Intelligentsia Coffee shop.

This Intelligentsia was only a mere block from Millennium Park, so it was very conveniently located. I like the industrial feel which didn't diminish the coziness of the shop. There's a large coffee bar, behind which the baristas work their magic. There's a handful of seats available, but it can definitely fill up quick.

If you are a fan of Chemex, V60, Siphon, and Cafe Solo, you will be satisfied with Intelligentsia's offerings. They also have espresso, cold brew iced coffee, chai, loose leaf tea, iced tea, matcha latte, and hot chocolate. I had their Chemex and their matcha latte, and both were fantastic. The baristas take great care in crafting the perfect cup for you. I like that for Chemex, they'll give you a cup of the brewed coffee and an additional decanter of extra coffee on a wooden...

I never thought that I'd see some SoCal coffee in Chicago, but Intelligentsia has proved me wrong. As one of my favorite coffee shops in LA, having the ability to come here and grab a cup in Chicago is something to die for. Intelligentsia is not your typical coffee shop. Unlike Starbucks, the coffee here actually tastes good, and the baristas know what they're doing. There's a neat hipster feel to each Intelligentsia location, which gives it that character that I've come to love.

If you love having a regular cup of coffee, and not those sugary drinks that you'd find at Starbucks, then you've come to the right place. They make each cup of coffee to order, and whatever blend you decide to go with has a whole lot of flavor. For those who prefer an espresso drink, their cappuccino is something to rave about. It's nice and creamy, and when mixed in with those espresso shots, creates a coffee bliss.

It is kind of unfortunate that they close at 6pm because I wouldn't mind a cup or two after work, but on the bright side, you can just buy a bag of beans and make a cup yourself at home. The staff here is friendly, service is fast, and there are plenty of tables and chairs for you to...

I've been wanting to try this coffee place for a while, but was deeply disappointed in my experience there today. Right when my friend and I walked in, we received cold stares from the customers and the baristas. The baristas seemed very uncomfortable with us being in the cafe, and would not stop staring at us, which in turn made us very uncomfortable and feel unwelcomed. We had not done anything or had spoken since we walked in that would create that kind of action towards us, but we proceeded to order our drinks anyway. When asking about the menu and the coffee flavors the barista gave us an unpleasant attitude. We then sat down to do some homework, and the barista kept giving us very clear messages that we were not welcome there. It got to the point where we felt compelled to leave because they had created such an uncomfortable atmosphere. They made it very clear that we were not the “ideal” consumer for that location. Overall I am very disappointed and will be warning others about my...