Intelligentsia Coffee Pasadena Coffeebar — Restaurant in Pasadena

No clue where this Intelligentsia craze came from, but if it's new, and it's coffee, I'm there. Being nestled on the heavily trafficked Colorado Blvd, this place should be a stop for shoppers who want to match their high-end merchandise with high-end coffee. Yes you pay for it, but there's something special going on here.

Plenty of sitting space in front but mostly in back. It's fancy how they brew coffee here without the use of those large silver time machines. Pretty fun to watch and all of it is done in the open center bar - must be an Intelligentsia thing. Nothing negative to say about the customer service here, but nothing positive either. If I approached the bar to a joyful, I'm-happy-to-be-here barista, then this place would get 6 stars from me (6 stars?!)

-=- Black Cat Latte -=- This drink won me over here. I have a daily afternoon coffee (caffeine addict alert), and stopping by here made my day. Servings here run a bit small and the price a tad bit high, but I'm judging this place on a totally different scale from staple Starbucks. Foaminess and presentation matched that of Urth, and the every sip was a song in my mouth. It was neither too sweet or too bitter. Perfect!

-=- Honey Badger Cappuccino -=- My friend got this thinking it would be your typical cappuccino Starbucks serving, but it wasn't. It's a tiny expresso shot cup, with a good layer of foam on top. I cannot attest to the taste, but word to the wise on the serving size. Also, there's no sippy lid for the expresso cups. Only...

Intelligentsia Coffee in Pasadena is a great spot if you're looking for a spacious, relaxed environment, perfect for remote work or casual meetings. The interior is open and airy, with plenty of seating options, making it easy to find a comfortable spot with your laptop or a book.

Their special frozen coffee is an intriguing option, made using powdered coffee and an automated milk foamer machine. While it's a convenient way to get a quick cold caffeine fix, the flavor can feel a bit lacking compared to other iced drinks. It’s not bad, just not as bold or refreshing as you might expect from a specialty coffee shop.

Where Intelligentsia really shines, though, is in their hot coffee offerings. Whether you’re a fan of a classic drip or looking for something more intricate like a pour-over, their hot drinks are well-crafted with deep, rich flavors that show off the quality of their beans. If you're more of a hot coffee aficionado, you’ll likely find something to love here.

Now part of the Peet’s Coffee family, Intelligentsia maintains its unique vibe while benefiting from the backing of a well-known name in the coffee industry. Whether you're looking for a productive space to work or simply want to enjoy a quality hot coffee, this Pasadena location is definitely...

Intelligentsia is one of the companies that has elevated the standards of coffee. The training these professionals get is remarkable. Every shot of espresso begins by a fine tuned dose of perfectly ground espresso. Fine tuned by highly trained baristas to the level of humidity and temperature in the room as it affects the extraction. Then measured down to the gram for consistency, then leveled as perfect as possible to make sure the extraction is even, which can greatly affect flavor. They then carefully watch as it is extracted to make sure it looks, sounds, and feels just right. If not, it’s discarded quickly and started over.

For example... Order a Cortado. It’s likely not found on the menu. Very few know how to make it right and it tests the skill level of the maker. Starbucks can’t make it, although they say they can. They don’t even have the equipment to do it. If you order one from a coffee joint and they look at you funny or say “what’s in that” or “what size” just run away. Don’t order it. Go with something else. A cortado at Intelligentsia will delight you. Served best in a Gibraltar glass, it is best ordered “for here” taken in and enjoyed before leaving.

Once you enjoy a good cortado, it’s hard to enjoy anything else,...