Intelligentsia Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster and retailer founded in 1995 in Chicago, Illinois, by Doug Zell and Emily Mange. The company is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of the third wave coffee movement, which emphasizes direct trade relationships with farmers, transparent sourcing, and treating coffee as an artisanal craft product rather than a commodity. Intelligentsia was acquired by JAB Holding in 2015 and continues to operate as an independent brand.
The Intelligentsia website offers its selection of whole bean and ground coffees, including seasonal single-origin offerings, signature blends, and espresso. The brand is known for its Direct Trade program, through which it purchases coffee directly from producers at premium prices, often visiting farms multiple times per year to build relationships and ensure quality. The flagship Black Cat Espresso blend is one of the most respected espresso offerings in the specialty coffee world.