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    Intelligentsia Coffee

    3.8 (1.7k reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Closed 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Intelligentsia Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Intelligentsia Coffee

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    Alex H.

    It's definitely gourmet aka high class type of coffee and feel inside is that way too which means you do pay the extra price for it Coffee is good though! Was pretty busy when I went but did get my coffee in good time despite the crowd Nice friendly barista

    Phuc T.

    I love Old Pasadena area because they have so much cool restaurants and cafes. I was meeting up with my friends in the area and decided to check out Intelligentsia Coffee for a catch up session. We decided on Intelligentsia because they look like they have big seating area with lots of space and tables. The coffee shop was definitely huge with lots of people either working/studying or just hanging out. I love the tall, brick walls with cool paintings. The lighting is nice and bright, which fit well with the modern aesthetic. I tried the Crimson Limeade, which was super refreshing. It looked so pretty with the ombré crimson color. My friends tried their Matcha Latte and their Avana Latte, which they said both were really good! Overall, Intelligentsia Coffee is a good place to catch up with friends and to get your work done!

    Chai Latte with Almond Milk
    Merrick C.

    Oh, Intelligentsia... what happened? It's admittedly been a while (years) since I've come here, so I was shocked by everything that changed. The cozy atmosphere has been replaced by white walls and glaring lights. The WiFi is unacceptably slow as if they don't want people to actually do work here after over paying for the tiniest lattes in the world. The chairs already also uncomfortable. The drinks are good (chai latte with almond milk), but I can't see myself becoming a regular here again due to the harsh vibes, expensive parking, and small drink sizes.

    Brian N.

    The place is pretty spacious. Pretty nice place to do some work. The service is kind of non existent. The lady taking our order was helpful in helping us choose our drinks but they didn't even call out when our drinks were ready, they just had our drinks sitting there and we only found out it was our drinks when we walked up to the pick ip counter. When I thanked the barista for my drink and wished him a nice day, he did not even bother to look or acknowledge me LOL But I digress. The drinks themselves were not bad. I give it at 3/5. The tea seemed to be watered down. Maybe from sitting on the counter. Overall, there was nothing really that would bring me back to try something else out.

    Shawn S.

    Great drinks in a big and nice setting. They have plenty of tables and also lots of interesting art pieces hung up on the walls. The drinks are very tasty and good quality, and the staff are very friendly. The washrooms are all the way in the basement with a code to access and are very clean.

    Jasmin H.

    Solid coffee shop with some decent coffee in walking distance of the pasadena convention center. The Lemon poppy seed loaf was somewhat too moist but had a good taste.

    Miori I.

    Not the most friendly here but the coffee is good and I got lucky by not having to wait long for my order. Enjoyed a delicious Vanilla Iced Latte for National Coffee Day. Didn't hang out much or order anything besides by son's yogurt parfait so I can't speak on anything. I did love the vibe of the cafe and saw several people using the space to work. Would consider coming back.

    Black Cat Fizz
    Andy T.

    As I continue to find a study spot, I decided to pay Intelligentsia Coffee a visit. At around 9:30 am, it wasn't too busy yet. I was able to order my drink and get it in a few minutes. I did ask the staff for recommendations on something that wasn't sweet and decided to get the Black Cat Fizz. As described, it wasn't sweet. It definitely had a fizz and a hint of range. Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much due to a lingering aftertaste. There was a lot of seating available from the window to the wall seatings all the way to the back. There were outlets available. There is free WiFi without a password needed. However, the signal was pretty weak, so keep that in mind if you rely on it. For noise level, the music wan't too loud. However, as time passed, there was definitely more people coming through, so noise level rose. In case you need the bathroom, this store has a shared one with other stores. This is located in the bottom level, which can be reached by stairs or elevator. It does require a code, so ask the staff before heading down. For parking, since I went early, there were plenty of spots available in the nearby parking structure. It believe it was $1 for 90 minutes.

    Inside
    Ana M.

    Been my fav coffee shop places to go for years! You live in Pasadena , im sure you have been here! If you are a tourist, then add it to your list! You drink good coffee and see interesting people there!

    Seating
    Vivian C.

    Intelligentsia Coffee is in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, within walking distance from the main Fair Oaks and Colorado intersection. I was walking around the area early in the morning, and the clean, sleek appearance that is in full view through the full-glass storefront drew me back to this place during my return route. As far as food, the options are minimal, but the Kouigan Amann was amazing. Flaky, buttery, softly sweet. It was perfect! I'm sure the other pastries are delicious too. Something I love about this place is that it offers pistachio milk which is pretty rare. I ordered a hot chai latte with pistachio milk and it tasted great! A tad too sweet although not overbearing (for me), the spiciness was what I found most delicious about the drink. The coffee shop is modern, spacious, and clean with plentiful seating. The baristas were quick and friendly. Nice place and great for an early morning coffee shop stop!

    salted maple latte
    Nicole C.

    I got the salted maple latte, per the barista's recommendation from the seasonal drinks. It has a nice balance of sweetness, maple flavor, and a tad bit of salty. A warm, perfect drink for the fall season, but a little too pricey for a nice latte.

    Misleading ordering process

    Placed a pickup order in the app for what I thought was an iced latte (see photo) but instead ended up being a 16oz hot latte. Nowhere in the app is there an option to make your latte iced, so it seems like the photo for a 16oz cup is just what it looks like: a 16oz iced drink. The staff should be trained on how the app works, as well - when I asked how to order a drink iced in the app for future reference, the person I spoke to didn't know. Highly inconvenient.

    Front entrance.
    Nikki B.

    Founded in Chicago in 1995 by Doug & Emily Zell with the intent of serving thoughtfully sourced, freshly roasted, & proudly poured coffee Intelligentsia has since expanded to Austin, Boston, L.A. & New York. I stopped by this location for a pick me up before my morning workout. George greeted me with a smile and a welcoming demeanor. After browsing the menu, the Dark Cherry Grenadine Latte sounded intriguing. Made from a small batch recipe using real pomegranate and dark cherries, it was a described as a touch of sweet and a little tart. I was sold. George asked if I wanted my beverage in a ceramic mug or to go. I asked for it to go. While I waited I surveyed my surroundings. The place is spacious. The exposed brick wall reminded me of NOLA and the industrial modern décor emits a hip contemporary vibe. I watched George as he made my drink and noticed he prepared it with care and proudly presented his finished creation. It was lovely. As I went to position my cup for a photo op I accidently spilled some on the counter. I went to get some napkins to clean it up and George said, "Don't worry. I'll take care of it." George is awesome and deserves a 10+ for customer service. Based on the description I wasn't sure what to expect. I took my first sip, and it was heavenly. Rich, bold, light on the sweetness, and perfectly creamy. The hint of cherry was a pleasant surprise. It made me wish that I had gotten the Dark Cherry Grenadine Mocha instead. The combo of chocolate and cherry would have been even yummier! The Latte is made with oat milk. Even though I prefer almond milk I'm learning that oat milk produces a creamier foam. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back and trying the Mocha version. When I return, I hope George is there. *Free Wi-Fi *Metered street parking or surrounding lots.

    Ordering bar with an interesting setup!

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    10 days ago

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    Kris D.

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    5 months ago

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    Kris D.

    Thanks Steve, we appreciate the kind words and your loyalty!

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    3 months ago

    It was fine. Not my style of coffee but for medium roast it is good and serious. Great location.

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    4 months ago

    Great coffee, what more can you ask for? Stopped in for a cappuccino, plenty of people were working in the cafe.

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    Intelligentsia Coffee Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Intelligentsia Coffee

    Are bulk beans for purchase delivered every day? if not, on what days are they delivered?

    What's going on with this location? It's been closed for months with a note saying they're remodeling, but no signs of it. When will they be open again?

    Hi, Intelligentsia is now open 7:30AM-5PM! Come on in!

    What are your hours Christmas Day?

    We will be closed on Christmas.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Intelligentsia Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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