An Intelligentsia employee using a Buono Water Kettle to make coffee

If you're a little obsessive about your coffee and you love the details of the home brewing process — like what temperature the water should be and how to produce a perfectly consistent grind — then Intelligentsia's in-person and online stores might be for you.

Intelligentsia is first and foremost a coffee shop, but they're a little more exacting than your average corner cafe. They use time-consuming Chemex brewers, high-end Clover presses, and ultra-controlled Buono Water Kettles to produce what they describe as "an unparalleled and complete coffee and tea experience."

These methods of brewing are known to produce clear, consistent flavors, and Intelligentsia prides itself on stocking top-notch equipment for their cafes and for home brewers alike. They sell almost all of their equipment — from affordable $40 Chemex carafes to super-expensive Clover bar parts ($$$) — directly to customers.

They also sell beans, including seasonal varieties, which are purchased directly from farmers around the world and brought back to their roasting plants in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Intelligentsia has three retail stores in Chicago, three in Los Angeles, and a lab in New York where they hold tastings and events. They also have an online store where you can buy beans, teas, and pretty much any equipment an obsessive coffee lover needs.

Photos: Intelligentsia

Store History

• Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois

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