Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea (Venice)

Intelligentsia’s newest Los Angeles coffeebar is another re-imagining of what a coffee experience can be. Located in Venice on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, guests are not met with the standard experience of waiting in line. After passing through the iron gates facing the bustling boulevard, visitors walk down an ivy-covered hall open to the sky where they are greeted at a butcher block “concierge desk.” From this point, they are taken to one of four custom-fabricated espresso machines where their espresso drink or coffee-by-the-cup is prepared. The idea is for a barista to stay with one person throughout the interaction to create an individualized experience for every customer, regardless of how many are being served.

Intelligentsia hired Ana Henton of MASS Architecture & Design to execute the Venice coffeebar. She and her partner Gregory Williams have designed numerous projects, including BREADBAR Century City, the Silverlake Wine expansion, the modern downtown cafeteria Lemonade, Locali and the Auburn 7 residences in the Silver Lake hills. Henton created a space that contains very little in the way of defined seating, and there is no counter or register, which will create a more communal sense of setting.

Possibly the crown jewel of the coffeebar? The 1972 La Marzocco which is now used to craft single origin espressos as part of Intelligentsia’s Black Cat Project.