When Intelligentsia Coffee dared to reimagine the daily coffee ritual, they turned to Prospect Studio for help. Intelligentsia, already celebrated for its friendly cafes and specialty pours, wanted to create a new way of making a cup that maximized flavor, consistency, and interaction between baristas and guests. So, they swapped traditional espresso machines for cutting-edge, freeze-dried coffees at their downtown Pasadena, CA location.

 To emphasize this innovative shift, the Prospect Studio team eliminated the typical long coffee bar and created three stations designed to encourage conversation. A translucent counter subtly links the stations together while still nudging the queue to engage with the drink-making process. The simplicity of the materials used, plus a striking lighting design, add to the space’s airy, visionary appeal. The resulting Illumination Bar is the U.S.’s first instant-espresso café, which offers a groundbreaking experience in an historic, albeit newly imagined, setting.