A chic, high-end coffee house and a “training lab” will be coming to Watertown and take over the spots on Mt. Auburn Street formerly occupied by Olympic House of Pizza and Viva Amore.
The following information was sent out by Intelligentsia Coffee:
Direct Trade coffees and the meticulous process of sourcing, roasting and brewing them are on display as Intelligentsia Coffee introduces a new Coffeebar and Training Lab in Watertown, Massachusetts, opening May 4.
The locations are Intelligentsia’s first in the Boston area as the brand expands its East Coast presence and the first to operate adjacently. The Watertown Coffeebar and Training Lab invite guests to fully experience the company’s vision for serving exceptional coffee, while illuminating the finer points of crafting it. Open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, the new Intelligentsia Coffeebar and Training Lab will be located at 810 and 818 Mt. Auburn St., respectively.
Intelligentsia, known for introducing Direct Trade coffee sourcing to the industry, is serving its full slate of coffees on-site, including In Season™ single-origins, blends and espressos. The Coffeebar is also among the first to serve Intelligentsia’s sparkling iced tea and cold brew coffee poured from its industry leading tap program. Customers also will be able to enjoy offerings from Intelligentsia’s Kilogram Tea line – one of the top loose-leaf hot tea programs in New England. Expertly sourced and served only In Season™, all Kilogram teas are steeped to order, which will appeal to the finest tea palates. Intelligentsia is also proud to serve an array of fresh pastries from Boston-based Forge Baking Company.
“Intelligentsia is synonymous with the style, energy and culture of the enlightened culinary community here in Watertown,” said James McLaughlin, President of Intelligentsia Coffee. “Our mission is to create a space that welcomes our neighbors and elevates their day with exceptional coffees that have a rich story.”
Inspired Design
Intelligentsia’s 1,900 square-foot retail space at 810 Mt. Auburn Street, designed by Bestor Architecture, features a long, open Coffeebar and adjoining “chef’s table” pour over bar, allowing customers to engage in the crafting process of each beverage. The space incorporates thoughtful, built-in seating, special nooks and vintage European furniture that invite guests to relax and use the space as a home away from home. The site is also the first of Intelligentsia’s 11 locations to feature on-site parking.
At 810 Mt. Auburn St., the new Coffeebar’s boho modern interior design preserves and exposes much of the original building structure. The space previously operated as a pizzeria, and before that a town auto shop. The Coffeebar honors the industrial roots of Watertown by blending existing concrete with new, warm, wood elements. Surrounding the Coffeebar, customers will be able to sit outdoors in multi-level, beautifully landscaped spaces.
Balancing Barista-Controlled Recipes with Precision Automation
Built with an engaged and consistent customer experience in mind, Intelligentsia’s Watertown coffee menu will feature both traditional brew bar service of V60, Chemex, Cafe Solo and Kalita Wave, as well as custom Grindmaster Cecilware Barista Series Urn-brewed coffee for a delicious ready-to- go option. For espresso service, baristas will be working with La Marzocco’s Strada AV. Additionally, the Watertown Coffeebar incorporates a remote ModBar Steam Font.
World Class Training with Intelligentsia
Within the 818 building, the Intelligentsia Training Lab will facilitate continued education around the full spectrum of barista skills. In this space, wholesale partners will work through Intelligentsia’s world-class training program, while more casual coffee enthusiasts may participate in public courses that cover the fundamentals of brewing and steaming on professional equipment. The lab is Intelligentsia’s sixth in the country and represents its enduring commitment to refine its craft and share it with others. To learn more visit: https://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/Watertown.
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.