The Intelligentsia Direct Trade Program

Intelligentsia Coffee’s buying philosophy is not very complicated. They believe that to offer great coffees they must work closely with actual producers, not just importers or exporters, so that they can build great coffees from the very start.

In the broadest terms, these coffees should be understood as a true collaboration, with both sides investing a great deal of time, energy and ideas to produce something great. Intelligentsia believes human effort is the most critical factor in quality coffee and that the growers who do the best work should receive the best price and individual recognition.

Quality Control Standards

Intelligentsia’s coffee-buying team, roasters and quality-control team expend a great deal of effort developing and refining unique blends – sweet breakfast blends, balanced seasonal blends and rich, full-bodied after-dinner blends that pair well with deserts. Intelligentsia’s blends are created to match a certain cup profile. Each blend is tasted and evaluated regularly. Blend components are updated throughout the year to ensure fresh, vibrant-tasting coffee while maintaining the unique profile of each blend.