Like a kid in a candy store, and like Charlie visiting the Chocolate Factory, I had a golden ticket this weekend. Mattatouille set up a private tour of the Intelligentsia Roasting Works in Glassell Park. And like Willie Wonka, Nick Griffith (West coast wholesale rep and Western Regional Barista Champion) emerged from the coffee factory. A place where true geniuses roast the best coffee in the nation.
Intelligentsia doesn’t just make a cup of joe. They take the beans on a journey… all the way from direct trade sources, to the roasting, grinding, brewing and poured with love (in the form of a rosetta pour) into your cup. But it’s just coffee you say! If you just want just coffee, you can stick to your corporate chain store brews. But if you actually want a cup at it’s perfectly brewed best, you must experience the baristas at Intelligentsia.
When other places roast the hell out of their flawed beans, here they examine and test every batch for optimum roasting temperatures and times. It doesn’t end there. They train each and every one of their baristas in house. Sharing techniques, styles, and wisdom on preparing that perfect espresso pour.
Nick was a great host. His knowledge of coffee, his eagerness for teaching us the intricacies and dedication to something as simple and complex as the coffee bean, was inspiring. If you love coffee, I highly recommend you check out Intelligentsia.
The beans are sourced via direct trade and are brought in and prepared for roasting.
The 60 year old vintage roaster with some custom touches, attains the perfect roast.
The training and tasting room are a perfect marriage of science and skill.
15. April 2009 at 9:29 am
matt – funny that you related the experience to willy wonka’s chocolate factory. that was my favorite book growing up as a kid. i think liked intelligentsia’s tour better because it’s real!
and we offered the espresso to you b/c you were “eyeing” it the most! haha
15. April 2009 at 9:42 am
I was thinking I had a golden ticket while standing out front, and then Nick came out and said “I feel like Willie Wonka.” When we went in, I asked, “where are the umpa loompas?”
Yes I was eyeing that espresso, ha! I actually went and got some of the Kenya Thunguri that Nick was talking about. It is amazing, well balanced, smooth and delicious.
15. April 2009 at 10:02 am
sounds like a blast. We still remember the “coffee test lab” in Intelligentsia’s Chicago roasting HQ. good times!
18. August 2009 at 3:20 pm
Matt(s),
Next time you guys are up in the Santa Barbara area, please come check out our roasterie. We buy only the top 3% of quality out there and specialize in certified organic an fair trade coffees. But it is my business partner and roastmaster Daniel Randall I would love for you to meet. He IS a coffee encyclopedia and talented artist when it comes to coffee.
18. August 2009 at 3:39 pm
We will for sure! We are up there often checking out the wineries, a coffee stop sounds like a good idea.