Each time I visit Chicago, I try to make a stop at
Intelligentsia Coffee. I first discovered Intelligentsia through my friends
Doug and Randy who just started a media production company in Chicago called
Advocate Creative. Doug introduced me to the coffee, but then, another friend
introduced me to an actual Intelligentsia coffee shop.
What’s so special about Intelligentsia? Well, there is a
degree of showmanship, and science that appealed to the analytical chemist in
me. As I started my career, I worked as an analytical chemist at MylanPharmaceuticals, and so my world was filled with extractions, beakers, flasks,
and balances. Believe it or not,
Intelligentsia is similar.
When they are brewing a cup of coffee, they use a pour over
method for brewing to optimize extraction of flavor. The average pour over
takes approximately 3.5 minutes to complete, and uses a specific weight of
water and coffee (they literally pour the water over coffee grounds on a scale.
They heat water to 210 degrees, and begin the pour over knowing that after
filtration the brewed coffee will be at about 185-190 degrees.
Their shop is filled with coffee mugs, filters, beakers, and
flasks, and no matter how you slice it, they brew a pretty incredible and
flavorful cup of coffee. If you like
coffee and find yourself in downtown Chicago, I suggest giving them a try. And
if you go on Tuesday, you can buy a bag of their coffee for $2 off and get a
free cup brewed as well. I typically like my coffee with half and half or heavy
whipping cream, but Intelligentsia is so rich and flavorful, that I enjoying
drinking it without any additions.
Hope you get a chance to enjoy a cup!
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