Intelligentsia Coffee

Intelligentsia is a small coffee company devoted to what is becoming known as 'direct trade' with it's farmers and quality coffee beans.

Direct Trade is different from Fair Trade in a number of ways, but most specifically in that, while Fair Trade products are still usually brokered by importers and exporters, Direct Trade products involve companies literally meeting with and buying directly from source. Not only this, but Direct Trade farmers are paid a minimum of 25% above the going Fair Trade rate for their product. This can be done because of the lack of middlemen that must be paid from the transition from farm to package to sale.

In addition to paying their farmers well, Intelligentsia is also able to use this relationship to broker safe environmental growing conditions, usually by keeping the coffees organic and by keeping a percentage of farmland as virgin forest.

Well treated farmers also make great beans, Intelligentsia beans are rated in the 90's (out of 100) by professional coffee reviewers.

Intelligentsia beans are micro-roasted in Chicago and are available for sale at Manic Coffee at Bathurst and College.