Chicagoist Grills: Intelligentsia Coffee & Roasting Works CEO Doug Zell
Posted by TheShot on 13 Feb 2007 | Tagged as: Barista, Fair Trade, Foreign Brew, Roasting
Today the Chicagoist blog published an interview with Intelligentsia founder and CEO, Doug Zell: Chicagoist: Chicagoist Grills: Intelligentsia Coffee & Roasting Works CEO Doug Zell.
Intelligentsia not only boasts some of the best roasted coffee in the country, and the reigning U.S. barista champion from one of their cafés, but they also helped set a standard for sustainable coffee growing. Last year Intelligentsia stopped doing business with Fair Trade, due to its many shortcomings, and instead developed their own standards and certification process, called Intelligentsia Direct Trade™.
In the interview, Doug reveals their plans to open a new café in Los Angeles, of all places (how he did so through an introduction by Chicago celeb chef, Charlie Trotter), how he got started in San Francisco selling bottled iced tea (he got his coffee inspiration from S.F.’s Spinelli Coffee, which was later bought out by Tully’s in 1998), and how Intelligentsia is customizing coffee blends for high-end restaurants.
3 Comments »
on 19 Mar 2007 at 10:04 am PT 1.Espresso News and Reviews - TheShot.coffeeratings.com » 2007 Western Regional Barista Competition said …
[...] Congratulations again to Heather Perry of Coffee Klatch in San Dimas, CA. Over the weekend, she successfully defended her 2006 title at the 2007 WRBC: Western Regional Barista Competition March 16-18, 2007. Also placing were Kyle Glanville of Intelligentsia in Los Angeles (yes, you read that city correctly) and Chris Baca of SF’s own Ritual Coffee Roasters. [...]
on 19 Apr 2007 at 5:36 pm PT 2.Espresso News and Reviews - TheShot.coffeeratings.com » All’s not always ‘fair’ in coffee labeling said …
[...] All while I happened to be in Chicago today. Stopping by Intelligentsia’s downtown location this afternoon, I can assure you that all is well in the house where Geoff roasts. [...]
on 27 Apr 2007 at 4:10 pm PT 3.Espresso News and Reviews - TheShot.coffeeratings.com » Portland’s Stumptown Coffee Roasters coming to Seattle said …
[...] With Stumptown adding to Seattle’s coffee riches, and Intelligentsia recently opening up shop in L.A., it makes you wonder when S.F. is going to get a little extra coffee love and attention. Caffè Artigiano, perhaps? (Please!!) [...]