J’adore Intelligentsia.
I “heart” it. Straight up.
Tattoo me on the arm and call me Sailor, I don’t care, just keep Intelligentsia branded somewhere on my body so I don’t forget that Los Angeles can actually get something right for a change.
And by “right” I mean give us a cafe that cares about their product, a place that loves ’said product’ personally enough to share it in a focused, welcoming, high-quality manner, and who can achieve that without looking like they did anything other then roll out of bed, throw on some really cool clothes and just, you know, look great.
Sitting smack dab in the middle of Silverlake-junction and flanked by the most darling music conservatory you’ve ever seen, a Fantasyland of a cheese store and a neat little flower shop that drips with reckless color, this seemingly effortless flair doubles the brick-red cafe’s height to something so equally cool and charming that it’s practically unfair. I think I’ll start calling Intelligentsia a “Coffeeserie” in honor of Patisseries, Chocolateries and Boulangeries, those undeniably lust-inducing, specialty shops that line the streets of Paris. [Editor's note: We call the Cafes, but we'll let this slide]
When I first had a drink at Intelligentsia a couple months ago, I was like “Yes. Thank you God.” Excuse the lack of polish, I am a Valley Girl after all and sometimes you gotta go with the colloquial, because like, ya. That’s good coffee. And really good atmosphere.
A simple outdoor patio and hypnotic, Moroccan blue and white tiles pave the way to joy. I waste seriously overpriced gas just to drive there when I’m depressed and want to feel like I belong somewhere. Professional baristas, who look about as corporate as a graduating class from Cal Arts, steam latte art in white cups making foam so soft and creamy you want to stick your nose into it like a pillow.
They made me a perfect cappuccino with nutty, sweet, flat-out lovely espresso (their Black Cat blend). Multiple daily coffees are offered on a seasonal basis at Intelligentsia when, according to the website, “their stunning aromas and flavors elevate it from commodity crop to an elegant foodstuff to be savored”. Smartly printed cards sit by the door describing their blends of the season in words like “butterscotch” “pear” and “gentle” and when I leave I get to pet a lot of happy, rambling dogs who keep their coffee-drinking owners company.
Icing on the cake!
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All photos by Jamie for LA.Cityzine
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15 responses so far ↓
1 Jeff Holmes // Jun 5, 2008 at 2:26 pm
why, yes- i am as big a fan as you, Jamie. I’m a simple coffee drinker, but they get it right, with nice friendly people on both sides of the counter. I bought an Intelligentsia mug with my beloved California flag on it, and last week when my friend Ambie flew in from NY, she demanded that we go straight from LAX to Intelligentsia for her long lost love… The Mocha. Well done, everyone.
2 laure // Jun 5, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Dude, I cannot wait to check it out. Love that floor!
3 Bobbie // Jun 6, 2008 at 8:59 am
Great article! Very witty with good photos!
4 Danny // Jun 8, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I like coffee
5 ronne // Jun 8, 2008 at 1:10 pm
i love the beans, having started many mornings with the smooth yet rich taste of their “kid o’s” organic espresso–a gift that keeps on giving. but it looks like a good place to visit as well! your enthusiasm is definitely contagious!
6 bridget // Jun 9, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I definitely want to try this place after your review, next time I’m in LA (I’m quite fond of organic and fair trade coffees here in SF). the black cat blend sounds like it would be my favorite!
7 Coffee Competition: Quest for the Best Bean | LA.CityZine.com - Los Angeles // Jun 10, 2008 at 12:23 am
[...] Intelligentsia, Silverlake [...]
8 Jamie // Jun 13, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Black cat blend! I is in coffee beanz!
9 Emberly Modine // Jun 15, 2008 at 11:15 pm
My new spot - a few blocks from mah house. Amazing coffee. Great nude baristas.
10 Edie // Jun 16, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Hands down the best espresso in LA! Great place to sit and have coffee. The Iced Angeleno is to die for!
11 Matt // Jun 17, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Intelligentsia is by far the most important place to have opened in Los Angeles for coffee to date. Being the first to do one thing means little, it is all about consistency. What they do is done perfectly every time when it comes to making a cup of tea, coffee, latte or what ever secret coffee concoction they come up with.
Before Intelligentsia it was all about getting horrible local coffee or passable starbucks. And as they are being imitated regularly now, I really doubt anyone will be able to keep up with the integrity and consistency that they have to offer. I can say this having been there 4 days a week minimum since they have opened and I have never had a bad anything.
12 Mizz // Jun 18, 2008 at 11:01 am
These guys are true artisans. There’s no comparison to any other coffee house in L.A. Every espresso pull, every latte pour, every coffee brewed are all flawless.
13 JS // Jun 20, 2008 at 8:57 am
Honestly, I had given up on espresso before I found Intelligentsia. I had finally started to grow tired of the bitter, acidic espresso drowning in way too much milk that I ordered from the chain stores . Ironically enough, it was a Peet’s employee that told me about Intelligentsia. The second I sipped one of their cappuccinos, I knew it wasn’t that I was outgrowing espresso - it’s just that I was having bad espresso. This was the best cappuccino I had had since living in Italy. The ambiance is great, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. It’s a great little community unified by a love of artisanal trades.
14 Trey // Jun 20, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Absurdly delicious coffees. Quality seasonal blends, “drip” ground and brewed by the cup, press pots, chemex, inspirational espresso, grace and precision in frothed milk creaminess and latte art, courses on cupping and home brewing, and… Direct Trade for the troubled conscience. And my wife would add: agave nectar.
15 Dre // Jun 25, 2008 at 2:48 pm
After spending several weeks in Italy, where gas station espresso rivals the best coffee shops in North America, you get a perspective on how good espresso is made — very little liquid, so the tail-end of the brew (full of bitterness and nasty caffeine), never makes it in your cup. I can’t speak to drip coffee lovers, but when it comes to espresso, there’s no other coffee in this league, at least not in L.A.
If you don’t believe me, just visit some coffee bars in Milan for about a week. Intelligentsia makes espresso (not eXpresso) that’s in the same ballpark. If you can’t afford Milan for a week, save some time. Just go to Intelligentsia.
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