Colombia Cauca Castillo — Espresso
Navel Orange, Prune, and Dried Cherry on a washed lot.
Cauca, CO · Washed
Typical $1.67 to $2.67/oz
Broad comparison

Roaster · Chicago, IL
On YouTube
From the roasterBrand film
Intelligentsia Coffee · 4.7K views on YouTube
Watch on YouTubeCherrybook summary of the video
A brand overview video showcasing Intelligentsia Coffee's meticulous approach to roasting, sourcing, and quality control. The team highlights their dedication to freshness, precision, and highlighting the natural attributes of coffee.
From Intelligentsia Coffee:
“Great coffee is not the result of chance, it's by design.”
“We roast each and every order directly before it ships out. It's as fresh as humanly possible.”
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28 lots in stock, mostly Colombia, Ethiopia and Kenya.
Coverage is below 50%. Available roaster-level evidence comes from Reddit. Per-lot evidence from SCA grades, Coffee Review entries, and public on-shop product ratings is limited across the catalog. With limited signal, scores are also pulled toward a neutral 50 baseline by the Cherrybook Index methodology, so lots can read flatter than the actual cup quality differences between them. The average Cherrybook Index therefore leans more heavily on roaster-level reputation than per-lot quality.
Roaster signals
Apply to every lot from this roaster.
Per-lot signals (averaged)
Vary across lots; averaged over 28 in-stock lots.
Bonuses earned (per lot)
Base components are renormalized over whatever signals are available for each lot. SCA + Coffee Review are capped at 40% combined to keep the cupping story from dominating. Bonuses (accolades, awards, editorial coverage) and freshness decay are applied on top.
The catalog
Navel Orange, Prune, and Dried Cherry on a washed lot.
Cauca, CO · Washed
Typical $1.67 to $2.67/oz
Broad comparison
Lime Zest, Black Cherry, and Stone Fruits on a washed lot.
Sidamo, ET · Washed
Typical $1.48 to $2.82/oz
Limited comparison
Expect Red Apple, Cherry, and Orange from this washed lot.
Huehuetenango, GT · Washed
Typical $1.50 to $2.86/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.99 to $3.18/oz
Expect Dried Dates, Orange, and Tamarind from this washed lot.
Santa Ana, SV · Washed
Typical $1.61 to $2.58/oz
Broad comparison
Typical $1.89 to $3.03/oz
Typical $1.22 to $2.33/oz
Limited comparison
Washed lot with Blood Orange, Black Cherry, and Black Currant in the cup.
Guji, ET · Washed
Typical $1.36 to $2.59/oz
Limited comparison
Washed lot with Cherry, Cola, and Orange in the cup.
Carmo de Minas, BR · Washed
Typical $1.35 to $2.16/oz
Washed lot with Honeysuckle, Green Apple, and Red Currant in the cup.
Guji, ET · Washed
Typical $1.83 to $2.94/oz
Washed lot with Dark Chocolate, Toasted Marshmallow, and Baking Spices in the cup.
Brazil · Washed
Typical $1.31 to $2.49/oz
Limited comparison
Expect Chocolate, Lime, and Caramelized Sugar from this washed lot.
Lempira, HN · Washed
Typical $1.26 to $2.40/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.32 to $2.51/oz
Limited comparison
Expect Dark Chocolate, Baked Apple, and Plum from this semi washed lot.
Cerrado, BR · Semi Washed
Typical $1.22 to $2.33/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.38 to $2.63/oz
Limited comparison
Roaster flags Black Cherry, Tangerine, and Stone Fruit in the cup.
Huehuetenango, GT
Typical $1.72 to $3.28/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.76 to $3.36/oz
Limited comparison
Expect Blackberry, Plum, and Tangerine from this natural lot.
Guji, ET · Natural
Typical $1.46 to $2.78/oz
Limited comparison
Washed lot with Molasses, Cacao, and Brown Sugar in the cup.
Carmo de Minas, BR · Washed
Typical $1.23 to $2.35/oz
Limited comparison
Washed lot with Molasses, Pipe Tobacco, and Dark Chocolate in the cup.
Mexico · Washed
Typical $1.25 to $2.39/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.22 to $2.33/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.22 to $2.33/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.43 to $2.72/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.22 to $2.33/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.22 to $2.33/oz
Limited comparison
Cocoa, Turbinado Sugar, and Apple on a washed lot.
Carmo de Minas, BR · Washed
Typical $1.28 to $2.06/oz
Broad comparison
Think Plum, Dried Dates, and Cherry.
Typical $1.28 to $2.44/oz
Limited comparison
Roaster flags Milk Chocolate, Honey, and Stone Fruits in the cup.
Typical $1.32 to $2.52/oz
Limited comparison
Also available · subscriptions, sample packs, gear
Not much signal yet; the detail page has what we know.
Taste data is still sparse; open the detail page before judging this lot.
Roaster flags Lime Zest, Black Cherry, and Stone Fruits in the cup.
Sidamo, ET
Roaster flags Apple, Citrus, and Milk Chocolate in the cup.
Roaster flags Dark Chocolate, Raw Sugar, and Marshmallow in the cup.
Expect Black Cherry, Tamarind, and Orange from this natural lot.
Apaneca-Ilamatepec, SV · Natural
Red Currant, Mandarin Orange, and Clove on a washed lot.
Cauca, CO · Washed
Expect Ube, Strawberry, and Violet from this natural lot.
Bench Maji, ET · Natural
Expect Strawberry, Pineapple, and Violet from this natural lot.
Bench Maji, ET · Natural
Expect Rainier Cherry, Mandarin Orange, and Tamarind from this washed lot.
Alto Ihuamaca, PE · Washed
Expect Pomegranate, Mandarin Orange, and Nectarine from this washed lot.
Nariño, CO · Washed
White Grapefruit, Blackberry, and Black Cherry on a washed lot.
Cajamarca, PE · Washed
Washed lot with Black Currant, Clove, and Dates in the cup.
Cajamarca, PE · Washed
Expect Blackberry, Cherry, and Tangerine from this anaerobic natural lot.
Cauca, CO · Anaerobic Natural
Expect Plum, Peach, and Nectarine from this anaerobic washed lot.
Cauca, CO · Anaerobic Washed
Blood Orange, Tamarind, and Juniper on a washed lot.
Huehuetenango, GT · Washed
Juniper, Grapefruit, and Black Cherry on an anaerobic natural lot.
Apaneca-Ilamatepec, SV · Anaerobic Natural
White Grapefruit, Dried Florals, and Tamarind on a washed lot.
Kiambu County, KE · Washed
Experimental lot with Red Licorice, Concord Grape, and Acaí in the cup.
Cauca, CO · Experimental
Blackberry, Red Grape, and Wintergreen on an experimental lot.
Oaxaca, MX · Experimental
Expect Red Licorice, Plum, and Floral from this washed lot.
Marcala, HN · Washed
Dried Apricot, Orange, and Floral on a washed lot.
Cauca, CO · Washed
Expect Persimmon, Candied Orange, and Honey from this honey lot.
Tarrazú, CR · Honey
Raw Sugar, Cocoa, and Golden Raisin on a natural lot.
Minas Gerais, BR · Natural
Expect Grapefruit, Berry Compote, and Nectarine from this honey lot.
Nariño, CO · Honey
Cupping notes point toward Raspberry, Tangerine, and Grape.
Cauca, CO
Washed lot with Plum, Black Cherry, and Apple in the cup.
Espirito Santo, BR · Washed
Anaerobic Natural lot with Rooibos, Orange Marmalade, and Honey in the cup.
Mantiqueira de Minas, BR · Anaerobic Natural
Experimental lot with Papaya, Honeydew, and Jasmine in the cup.
Colombia · Experimental
Washed lot with Nectarine, Papaya, and Rainier Cherry in the cup.
Cauca, CO · Washed
Experimental lot with Orange, Dried Cherry, and Caramel in the cup.
Antigua, GT · Experimental
Honey lot with Green Grape, Orange Blossom, and Honey in the cup.
Cauca, CO · Honey
Experimental lot with Blackberry, Red Grape, and Wintergreen in the cup.
Oaxaca, MX · Experimental
Washed lot with Blackberry, Red Currant, and White Grapefruit in the cup.
Kiambu County, KE · Washed
Anaerobic Natural lot with Bergamot, Plum, and Key Lime in the cup.
Guji, ET · Anaerobic Natural
Washed lot with Bing Cherry, Butterscotch, and Citrus in the cup.
Espírito Santo, BR · Washed
Expect Magnolia, Baking Spices, and Apple from this washed lot.
La Paz, HN · Washed
Expect Grapefruit, Green Grape, and Rhubarb from this washed lot.
Cauca, CO · Washed
Washed lot with Black Cherry, Blood Orange, and Red Plum in the cup.
Gedeb, ET · Washed
Expect Blood Orange, Lychee, and Blackberry from this washed lot.
Huila, CO · Washed
Cupping notes point toward Pink Peppercorn, Blood Orange, and Apple.
Huila, CO
Cupping notes point toward Lime, Dried Cherry, and Cola.
Acatenango, GT
Expect Black Grape, Lime, and Hibiscus from this anaerobic natural lot.
Nariño, CO · Anaerobic Natural
Cupping notes point toward Marmalade, Toffee, and Black Cherry.
Marcala, HN
Expect Blackberry, Tamarind, and Sage from this natural lot.
Marcala, HN · Natural
Strawberry, Raspberry, and Blood Orange on a washed lot.
Guji, ET · Washed
Apricot, Blood Orange, and Red Grape on a washed lot.
Yirgacheffe, ET · Washed
Cupping notes point toward Toffee, Grapefruit, and Black Cherry.
Cauca, CO
Expect White Peach, Raspberry, and Navel Orange from this washed lot.
Guji, ET · Washed
Expect Preserved Lemon, Baking Spice, and Magnolia from this washed lot.
La Paz, HN · Washed
Expect Mandarin Orange, Golden Berry, and Cherry from this washed lot.
Marcala, HN · Washed
Roaster flags Red Grape, Key Lime, and Tangerine in the cup.
Acatenango, GT
Expect Raw Sugar, Apple, and Dried Cherry from this honey lot.
Tarrazú, CR · Honey
Plum, Dried Cranberry, and Navel Orange on a washed lot.
Nariño, CO · Washed
Honey lot with Blackberry, Tamarind, and Red Currant in the cup.
Mexico · Honey
Natural lot with Strawberry, Blueberry, and Orange in the cup.
Yirgacheffe, ET · Natural
Natural lot with Tangerine, Cherry, and Plum in the cup.
Guji, ET · Natural
Expect Cherry Jam, Meyer Lemon, and Apricot from this washed lot.
Karuzi, BI · Washed
Washed lot with Ruby Red Grapefruit, Persimmon, and Cranberry in the cup.
Kirinyaga, KE · Washed
Anaerobic Washed lot with Dried Cherry, Orange, and Plum in the cup.
Marcala, HN · Anaerobic Washed
Cupping notes point toward Orange, Raw Sugar, and Milk Chocolate.
Santa Cruz, BO
Expect Dried Apricot, Meyer Lemon, and Baked Apple from this honey lot.
San José, CR · Honey
Washed lot with Honey, Orange, and Apricot in the cup.
Yirgacheffe, ET · Washed
Taste data is still sparse; open the detail page before judging this lot.
Cupping notes point toward Orange, Raw Sugar, and Milk Chocolate.
Santa Cruz, BO
Apaneca-Ilamatepec, SV / Washed; taste data is still thin.
Apaneca-Ilamatepec, SV · Washed
Think Nectarine, White Grapefruit, and Sugarcane.
Nariño, CO
Expect Nectarine, Maraschino Cherry, and Clementine from this natural lot.
Peru · Natural
Experimental lot with Black Cherry, Plum, and Toffee in the cup.
Kayanza, BI · Experimental
Roaster flags Cocoa, Dried Fruit, and Apple in the cup.
Huehuetenango, GT
Expect Black Cherry, Dried Fruit, and Citrus from this natural lot.
Nariño, CO · Natural
Roaster flags Mandarin Orange, Molasses, and Pear in the cup.
Gitega, BI
Cupping notes point toward Plum, Ruby Red Grapefruit, and Currant.
Aberdare Mountain range, KE
Cupping notes point toward Black Currant Jam, Lime Peel, and Currant.
Nyamasheke, RW
Washed lot with Chocolate, Marshmallow, and Dried Fruit in the cup.
Cajamarca, PE · Washed
Washed lot with Clementine, Dried Cherry, and Cranberry in the cup.
Ethiopia · Washed
Roaster flags Black Cherry, Baking Spice, and Honey in the cup.
Guji, ET
Expect Raspberry, Red Grape, and Hibiscus from this natural lot.
Guji, ET · Natural
Community reputation · Reddit
Well-regarded· sentiment 72/100
Two Reddit contributions give Intelligentsia Coffee a positive but qualified picture. One commenter praised the brews at a Chicago location. A home brewer found older Intelligentsia beans good but slightly ashy when steeped too long.
The bigger Intelligentsia location in the loop uses a pour steady to make up to ~4 V60 at once. These machines are crazy expensive, so I’m guessing they don’t want to proliferate them. They make great brews though. I do hope Intelli can make a better AP than me. I’m useless with that thing.
...o long ago vs. ground too long ago staleness have different stale flavors. My timeline of realization went like this: Early December- gifted a bag of roasted in October Intelligentsia beans, put them in the freezer knowing I would get a good grinder soon. Mid December- bought some specialty coffee locally about 5 da
Press · Sprudge
Pooches and pour-overs.
How to make a tiramisu with Intelligentsia Cold Coffee and Biscoff cookies.
Flagship cafe
Broadway Coffeebar
3123 N Broadway, Chicago, IL
Open in maps →Intelligentsia Coffee coffeebars located across Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Austin, and Korea.
For roasters
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