Oh Yeah, You Blend

By Joanna Miller in Food on Mar 31, 2006 6:45PM

Chicagoist can be a bit picky. We try to not be obnoxious about it, but we know what we like. This is especially true when it comes to caffeinated beverages. We enjoy both coffee and tea, depending on the day and our mood. We like our coffee strong, but not too strong.

Recently, when a certain powerhouse chain handed out free samples of a new blend, we gladly took a cup. But we were frightened when our eye began twitching and even more frightened when other coffee drinkers took this as a sign that this must be good stuff and rushed out to get some.

Chicago-based Intelligentsia is taking a more creative approach. When the company’s third store opens at 53 E. Randolph next month, it will feature a “brew bar” where customers can choose from several offerings and taste made-to-order single cups before they take a bag home.

It will also feature a rotating line-up of “chef blends,” custom coffees that have previously only been available in some of the city’s top restaurants, such as Blackbird, Charlie Trotter’s and Frontera Grill.

Chicagoist is eager to pick out our perfect blend – a little newsy, a little snarky, with hints of humor and edginess. Well, that’s what we’ll try for anyway. Hey, as long as it doesn’t make our eye twitch.