Intelligentsia Coffee Opens Renovated San Francisco Roasting Works And New Training Lab
SAN FRANCISCO (January 24, 2017) — Intelligentsia Coffee has opened its newly renovated Roasting Works—including a stunning, rustic-modern wholesale Training Lab and sales office—in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. Intelligentsia Coffee’s investment in the renovated space, which it has occupied since 2011, represents the company’s continued commitment to creating the highest quality coffees throughout the Bay Area and Northern California—roasting up to 4,000 pounds of crafted coffee weekly. The new space also will host ongoing education, training, tools and support for customers.
“Our growing customer base in and around San Francisco inspired our expansion,” said James McLaughlin, President of Intelligentsia Coffee. “In addition to providing locally roasted coffee, we wanted to extend our world-class barista training program to Intelligentsia coffee enthusiasts and wholesale customers in the Bay Area. Our relentless focus on quality throughout the supply chain and our pioneering Direct Trade sourcing model are ingredients in making Intelligentsia unique and the leader in specialty coffee.”
The 5,000-square-foot location features state-of-the-art brewing equipment by La Marzocco, Mahlkönig, Fetco and Marco. All coffee is roasted in small batches daily on a 1952 Probat UG 22 roaster. Matt Bear of Berkeley-based Union Studio designed the space within the existing industrial shell. A new, oak-wrapped espresso bar and marble cupping tables anchor the space, framed by a tiled wall with Workstead’s brass lighting and a
10-foot steel and oak sliding door.
Intelligentsia’s entire line-up of coffee—including single origin, blends and espresso—will be roasted to order at the facility and available to the Bay Area. Orders placed by
1 p.m. PST are roasted and shipped the following business day.
At the San Francisco Roasting Works, Intelligentsia will offer customized programs that teach wholesale customers to serve perfectly prepared coffee and espresso drinks at scale. The public also will be able to experience classes led by award-winning baristas about the fundamentals of making an exceptional cup of espresso, among others. Weekly coffee tastings will take place on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. PST. The coffee presented will rotate with Intelligentsia’s single origin release menu along with a demonstration of different brewing methods. Follow Intelligentsia Coffee – San Francisco Roasting Works’ Facebook page to RSVP and for details on upcoming events.
Through these events for both wholesale and retail customers, Intelligentsia will speak to its work at origin and commitment to Direct Trade relationships and sustainability. Geoff Watts, Vice President and green coffee buyer, works in partnership with farmers around the globe to improve coffee quality. “Our aim is to carve a more exciting pathway for the coffee, one that leads to coffees of exceptional beauty and improved livelihoods for the people who cultivate them. We recognized long ago that the best way to realize that vision is to align ourselves with growers, build lasting relationships and work together in close collaboration to create extraordinary coffees that deliver more value for everyone they touch,” said Watts.
Intelligentsia Coffee’s San Francisco Roasting Works, training lab and sales office are located at 1125 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, California 94107. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST. For questions, please call 415-861-3384 or email sales@intelligentsiacoffee.com.
ABOUT INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE
Founded in 1995, Intelligentsia Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster and retailer with coffeebars in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, and roasting facilities in Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. With direct relationships spanning the globe, Intelligentsia sources and develops naturally sweet coffees from some of the best producers in the world. The company is recognized as an industry pioneer for its creation of the Direct Trade sourcing model, groundbreaking coffeebars and award-winning baristas. Intelligentsia Coffee has wholesale offices and customer training labs in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta and New York. For more information, visit www.intelligentsiacoffee.com.
