Intelligentsia Coffee to open in Pasadena; summer debut is planned

Doug Zell, chief executive of Chicago-based Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, said that a new Intelligentsia will open in Pasadena. This will be the Los Angeles area's third Intelligentsia, following the Silver Lake and Venice locations.

Zell promised another distinctive coffeehouse design by Ana Henton of Mass Architecture & Design. Mass designed the Venice Intelligentsia, distinguished by its custom espresso-making stations (with hydraulics).

"It will be as distinctive as Venice but in an entirely different direction," Zell says. "Similar DNA but the look and feel is very, very different in a way that hasn't been done in the U.S. yet for a coffeehouse. We want to continue to push the boundaries of the coffee making process." 

But Zell said he wouldn't go into details or reveal the exact location until construction was under way and all permits were in hand. A midsummer opening is planned.

The new Intelligentsia "will be very specific to the area where it’s going," he says. "I think that the market [in Pasadena] is underserved. There are a lot of people there that love great coffee."

-- Betty Hallock

Photo: A 1972 La Marzocco GS2 at Intelligentsia's Venice location. Credit: Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Brad]

I hope I'm not spilling the beans, but it looks like they will be at 55 E. Colorado in Old Town... which to me is disappointing since Old Town is too difficult to "swing by". You can't just run in and get a cup of coffee. You'll need to park, walk a bit, and stay a while. Don't get me wrong, sometimes that's cool but not every time.

[markus]

LOVE IT

[Carter Q]

This is wonderful news! I can't wait to check it out.