Sometimes I want a shot of single origin. Sometimes, a latté. Or a pourover. The Pasadena outpost of Intelligentsia was, for a long time, my “local” and as a total package, is my favorite of all three of Intelly’s LA branches.
The flavor profile of Intelligentsia’s roasts are muscular without being aggressive, if that makes any sense. As a long time drinker of Stumptown in Portland, I’ll admit that it took me a while to get used to that. For many non-coffee aficionados, this is the first step of coffee enlightenment: recognizing that there are differences not only between beans, but truly between roasters. But I approached Intelligentsia with the open mind that any spirits aficionado would for any new liquid ventured: my palate is the canvas, and the subtleties I’d long employed in tasting wines and spirits translate nicely to appreciating craft coffee as well.
Drinkers often like to “call” their spirit, citing a specific brand to be used in a cocktail. But there’s also a case where one trusts the bartender to make the right choice, and so too does this exist at a coffee shop like Intelligentsia. Asking for a latté at Intelly means allowing the barista to pick the right roast and done the right way.
The Pasadena branch also serves food, and the program was launched by Heirloom LA. While they’re no longer directly affiliated with the shop, Heirloom LA has trained the staff well and the cafe side of the shop puts out great savory items to complement the array of pastries. The menu changes with some frequency, so there’s no guarantee that awesome dishes like their chilaquiles will be available. If you’re not in the mood for something that savory, perhaps a simple pistachio tea cake will hit the spot.
Of Intelly’s three Los Angeles locations, the Pasadena outpost has become my favorite. The coffee is great across the board at all the locations, so Pasadena rings true for other factors like the space, the food and the convenience. It’s become my gold standard; my template for criticizing most other shops is that it isn’t as ____ as Intelly Pasadena. If you need me, my favorite spot is toward the back, on the church pews, sipping on my coffee while watching Old Pas stream in and out.
