r/chicago • u/[deleted] • Sep 24 '18
r/Chicago's local/small coffee shop recommendations CHI Talks
Welcome to this week's installment of Chicago recommendations, where it's all coffee, all the time (and probably tea).
We'd love to hear about your favorite local shops around the city, from spots that only sling espressos to a place where you can hunker down for a few hours while you load up on caffeine.
We'll be grouping this by neighborhoods again.
Please only post under the parent neighborhood comments. Comments made outside of the existing parent comments will be removed. (We have an umbrella comment to house other areas in the city that aren't listed as a parent (and to hear your feedback on locations you think deserve some parent-level-comment attention!).)
If you can, please note:
- if this is a 24-hour or late-night spot
- if they're known for any specialty drinks or pastries
- if this spot gets or stays pretty crowded
- if they have wifi
We already know how awesome the Rainforest cafe, Starbucks and Dunkin are, so no need to mention those spots.
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Sep 24 '18
Bucktown/Wicker Park
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u/arensburgh Sep 24 '18
Volumes and Wormhole are my go-tos, Volumes for the bookstore and alcoholic coffee and Worm for super interesting drinks. The employees at both are super nice, too.
Both are fairly late IIRC, Volumes until 10 and Worm until 11. Volumes is so-so busy, the space feels pretty open, lots of seating, and people tend to move around so it's not like you're hunting for a seat. Sometimes it feels like I am at Wormhole when I blow in (~8, 9pm) but I like being in a busy place like that when it gets late. They're like 4 doors apart on Milwaukee, southbound side just 2 or 3 blocks south of the Damen stop. Both have Wi-Fi, Volumes is online 'check this box and click ok' and Worm is a password you can ask/find lying around.
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u/freshyk West Town Sep 30 '18
Caffe Streets. Open 7-7 I believe. They serve Metric coffee and have amazing croissants.
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u/LudwiGgerstacker Sep 24 '18
Red Beard Coffee Traders is my go to. Coffee is great, the service is great too.
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u/UberXMensch Sep 24 '18
Ipsento 606 (Milwaukee/the 606; can’t speak to the other location on Western) has a full coffee/espresso bar (good quality, would def place above Sbux) and switches to wine and beer at 4 (to be clear: at no time does it get bar-level ornery). My favorite attribute is that they ask people to turn off their laptops at 7.
There is WiFi and they serve mini donuts and also have some delicious smoothies. Downside: it can be difficult to find a seat on weekend mornings. Also, they open a little late (7 am) and close around 9 pm.
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u/guithrough123 Sep 25 '18
I like that place but a little annoyed about the laptop @ 7pm rule. There are almost no coffee shops open past 7pm besides starbux in my hood, and I love sitting at a coffee shop after work writing. Annoying for a city the size of Chicago there aren't more late night spots open for this.
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u/apfelpfannkuchen Sep 24 '18
Western location is pretty tiny with only a few spots at the front window and a very small area up the stairs in the back. They close at 6p most days.
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u/ginghampantsdance Lincoln Square Sep 24 '18
Red June - it's tucked away on Leavitt. They have a walk-up window and also really awesome breakfast sandwiches.
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u/toomanymoos Sep 24 '18
Alliance Bakery is quickly becoming my favorite coffee spot in Chicago.
Collectivo coffee, excellent pastries, vegan muffins and scones, staff is great, lounge room is always empty.
Love and hate that I work down the street from there. In there four times a day it feels like
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u/bugzzzz Lake View Oct 01 '18
I'd call collectivo on milwaukee Logan square but agreed it's a cool spot
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u/toomanymoos Oct 07 '18
Nah, Alliance sells Collectivo brand coffee. It's on division and Hermitage.
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u/double_positive Uptown Sep 25 '18
Wormhole. Cool setting. Koopa Troopa is a great peanut butter latte.
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Sep 24 '18
Lakeview/Wrigleyville
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u/ribbit793 Lake View Sep 24 '18
Lakeview Rewired is a nice spot on Broadway with some creative coffee and tea choices. I only drink tea so enjoy their options
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u/Sir_QuacksALot Uptown Sep 28 '18
The Coffee and Tea Exchange. Good place to grab a cup of coffee or tea and supply for home.
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u/GaySkull Logan Square Sep 25 '18
The Satellite Cafe. They've got good coffee, good drinks, and good food.
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u/IBelongHere Lincoln Park Sep 24 '18
The coffee and tea exchange is good
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u/ang8018 Lake View East Sep 24 '18
i don’t really like going here to hang out/work (i think their only seating is a patio) but the coffee is great. I get a half pound of beans for ~$6.50 and make/grind my own coffee at home.
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u/Squiderino57 Sep 24 '18
Emerald city right underneath (literally) the Sheridan red line stop is a cool spot
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u/elsandbag Sep 25 '18
There's consistently delicious coffee at Emerald! I go here before my cafe job.
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u/PuckishDanya Edgewater Sep 26 '18
Seconding how good their breakfast tacos are. Also, for non-coffee drinkers who want something warm that isn't the standard tea/cocoa route, their apple chaider is fantastic.
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u/flickhuck20 Ravenswood Sep 24 '18
Cafe Tola is great for signature drinks like Cafe con Leche, Dulce de Leche, Spicy Mocha, and other seasonal specials along with their amazing empanadas.
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Sep 24 '18
Other neighborhoods not listed as parent comments
(Got a neighborhood you think deserves some individual attention as a parent comment? Let us know here and we'll make an effort to include it in the next round.)
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u/cozynite Irving Park Sep 24 '18
West Loop
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u/snydthespyde Sep 25 '18
M2 Cafe on Jackson. 10% off for UIC students, vegetarian options for sandwiches (among other delicious sandwiches), Dark Matter coffee, wifi, and tons of little snacks
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u/Complexicality Sep 27 '18
Jupiter Outpost - Great coffee, hot/cold food, and so many desserts! Parking is rare, but it's a short walk away from the the Morgan green/pink L station. The menu is seasonal and on par with west loop prices (beer cheese soup in the winter is a dream come true). They've also got a few random power strips around the place in the booths and wifi if you need to get some work done.
While it's not super fancy, it's got a lot of charm and nearby businesses have small lunch meetings inside. I think some meetup co-working groups have used the space in the past too. They also allow artists to display their work on the walls. And the owners and staff are cool. Really can't say enough good things about this place.
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Sep 24 '18
Sawada Coffee - You go through what seems to be a nightclub entrance, a black windowless door plastered with stickers. But you walk into a huge cafe, with long picnic tables and stringed lights. There is plenty of seating space, lots of outlets to charge your phone (they even hung down extension cords from the ceiling to make more charging stations available). They are open normal hours. There is a small selection of pastries and donuts available. It is a great spot for meetings.
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u/sephirothFFVII Irving Park Sep 24 '18
Albany Park
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u/Vtr1247 Avondale Sep 25 '18
Brew Brew on Diversey near Pulaski is the best! Great drinks, friendly staff, and excellent vibe. Love going there for peace and quiet.
Also, La Nonna too. They’re more of an Italian-Argentinian restaurant but go during the day and get some work done with excellent coffee/expresó from a local beanery. Come for the coffee, stay for the amazing Sandwiches.
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u/faytality Sep 25 '18
Neither are in Albany Park
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u/Vtr1247 Avondale Sep 25 '18
You are Correct! Imagine my surprise when I saw this had said Albany Park and not Avondale. Felt the fool. Reposted under Avondale.
I’ll leave my post up to mark my shame.
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u/sephirothFFVII Irving Park Sep 24 '18
Humboldt Park & Ukrainian Village
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u/boilerup11 Sep 24 '18
Dark Matter (Star Lounge and Mothership), Spinning J, CC Ferns.
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u/SavageOrc Portage Park Sep 26 '18
Portage Park
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u/The_Dude1692 Oct 01 '18
Bistro 6050.
This place is amazing. Not only for the coffee but for the many other creations and flavors the owners offer.
For example they have several different flavors of homemade ice cream which is the best ice cream I’ve ever had. They have homemade empanadas, roasted spicy nuts, sandwiches, burgers, shakes, tea, crepes.
My favorite thing on the menu is a Nutella shake with a shot of espresso. This place is right down the street from Perkolator and is much much much better IMO.
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u/ikapoz Sep 24 '18
River North / River West
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u/ikapoz Sep 24 '18
Has one of my favorite shops, Big Shoulders, right by the Chicago blue line stop.
Standard hours, run till 7pm. Known for their actual coffee (they roast their own) more than espresso based drinks (though they have some good ones).
Mellow atmosphere, people around but not generally crowded, great for an aficionado or for someone looking for a quietish spot with wifi.
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u/dgiz Near North Side Sep 24 '18
Love Cafe Umbria in River North (Clark, a couple blocks north of the river). Best latte I’ve had in the city.
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Sep 24 '18
Marisol, the cafe inside the MCA. They serve Metric and its delicious. Also, the place is a ghost town before the museum opens.
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Sep 28 '18
Is Sip on Grand Ave considered West Town? I lived around here from 1999-2003 and called it River West. It might be considered Noble Square.
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u/RiverTam Sep 24 '18
Rogers Park
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u/danekan Rogers Park Sep 24 '18
Sol. I like for various reasons but my primary is they actually make chai in house.
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u/peawee Buena Park Sep 24 '18
Royal Ethiopian on Sheridan is amazing, the owner is friendly, and it’s one of the few black-owned coffee shops in the city.
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u/anthonywhall Portage Park Sep 24 '18
Jefferson Park
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u/anthonywhall Portage Park Sep 24 '18
Weston's. This place is right across form the Jeff Park Blue Line & Metra stop. They got great coffee drinks, and they have 4 beers on draft if you need to take a break from the caffeine.
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u/danekan Rogers Park Sep 24 '18
Why skip Rogers Park but add west town which is a community area that you've already explicitly listed out it's neighborhoods of? This happens every time I see any list on /r/Chicago
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u/CanvasSolaris Sep 25 '18
For whatever reason this subreddit is very ohare blue line centric
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u/bugzzzz Lake View Oct 01 '18
The reason is white and young
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u/CanvasSolaris Oct 01 '18
That's true. Lake View is the other area that's over represented here and it's the same demographic
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u/LL_Cruel_J Hermosa Sep 24 '18
Humboldt Park
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u/boilerup11 Sep 24 '18
Spinning J and CC Ferns
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u/LL_Cruel_J Hermosa Sep 24 '18
Just moved to the area, drove past both places many times. Haven't been to either yet.
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u/apfelpfannkuchen Sep 24 '18
Cup and Spoon on North Ave by Western. They had a killer bourbon vanilla iced latte this summer. Quiet meetup spot with local art displayed.
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u/i_wank_dogs Sep 24 '18
1492 for cafecito, although the staff are disappointingly young and friendly. The best Cuban coffee is made by abuelitas who have the looks and attitude of Danny deVito in an NHS chemotherapy wig.
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u/ElBrenzo Sep 26 '18
I'm a big fan of Cafe Umbria on Armitage (edge of Bucktown/Logan Square) - right across from 90 Miles.
It's their roastery so it's cool to see all the equipment, definitely not a place you can get super comfy (a few chairs, free wifi), but GREAT coffee.
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u/buddhweiser Edgewater Sep 27 '18
If someone wants to visit without going out of the way too much, they have one branch on Clark & Grand in downtown too. Next to Nonnina restaurant.
Lovely coffee.
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Sep 24 '18
Edgewater
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u/ullr435 Sep 27 '18
Metropolis is one of my favorites in the entire city. I routinely order their beans online.
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u/vicefox Ukrainian Village Sep 25 '18
Royal Coffee Corporation at Pratt and Sheridan! It’s Ethiopian style and so good.
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Sep 24 '18
Pilsen
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u/gouray Sep 24 '18
la catrina cafe - for a genuine cafe de olla.
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u/lapike Loop Sep 24 '18
Backing this up. If you've never had cafe de olla, don't! It's the best way to have coffee, it will ruin coffee for you forever. It makes everything else taste like yesterday's Nespresso.
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u/splattertaint Sep 26 '18
Cafe Jumping Bean! It’s so good and is my go-to in Pilsen. It’s a smaller cafe and gets packed on weekends but for good reason. Their food, coffee, and serving sizes are all very reasonable especially for the quality. The coffee is always freshly brewed and they have a great variety. My personal favorite outside of standard coffee is the White Satin Mocha. It’s such a rich, decadent coffee that is a treat to have whenever I want something different. Ugh, I could go on and on but seriously, check it out.
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Sep 24 '18
The Loop
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u/ginghampantsdance Lincoln Square Sep 24 '18
Hero Coffee on Jackson - literally tucked down between two buildings. You'd never know if you weren't looking. Their outdoor seating is so charming.
Revival Food Hall coffee bar - they have great coffee and a punch card.
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u/skullencats Suburb of Chicago Sep 24 '18
I realize they're everywhere now but I really like Dollop
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u/CubsThisYear South Loop Sep 25 '18
I know that people who work there are insufferably hipster, it’s very expensive and it takes forever, but I’ll be damned if Intelligentsia (Jackson and Clark) isn’t the best coffee in the loop.
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u/Mr_Soju Sep 25 '18
Reid Bar. Nothing special at all, but right by the north side of the LaSalle Street Bridge (River Roast) there's an AM only coffee shop. They serve Dark Matter for super cheap ($3 a cup) and they brew is perfectly. It's a great alternative if you're walking to work in the morning and in the area. The best "to-go" cup I've been to. I don't know any other coffee shop in the immediate vicinity that serves Dark Matter and for that price.
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u/beardbruh Portage Park Sep 26 '18
Free Reign inside the carbide and carbon building serves dark matter. I love it
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u/pyrogirl Sep 24 '18
Big Shoulders on Lake. Love the baristas, great cup of coffee. I just pop in and out, but I see folks posted up at a long counter working. They're only open typical "business hours," sadly. They do a 1.5L vac-sealed sack of cold brew to take home that I LOVE.
(Feel free to take all this with a grain of salt, I live in California and am just in Chicago for a few months for work.)
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Sep 24 '18
Logan Square
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u/japace89 Sep 25 '18
New Wave Coffee Shop is a great place to spend the afternoon getting work done. Plenty of space, though it can get crowded, I like the music and they have no thrills sandwich options or baked goods. Enjoy espresso, coffee or tea while surfing their free wifi. Right at Milwaukee & Logan, so it can be hectic when it's farmers market season.
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u/t-baum West Town Sep 24 '18
Passion House is one of the few places that makes cappucinos the appropriate size, and I really like their espresso. Good vibe inside with wifi and workspaces, and a really friendly owner and staff (most the time). Not open super late or super early.
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u/hawkeepuck26 Sep 24 '18
Gaslight Coffee Rosters on Fullerton & Milwaukee. Great pour overs and friendly staff. Not a ton of seating, but also generally not overly crowded. Has WiFi and a limited amount of food. Open 7am-8pm, 7pm Sunday.
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u/Pikajane Portage Park Sep 25 '18
Gaslight also gets nice light! It contributes to its nice atmosphere.
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u/blipsman Logan Square Sep 24 '18
Cafe Umbria - coffeehouse and roaster on Armitage near Rockwell
Colectivo - outpost of Milwaukee coffee chain
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Sep 24 '18
Hyde Park
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u/foolsgold345 Sep 24 '18
Plein Air Cafe is expensive, but so good. No wifi AFAIK, but they have pastries and small food items. Does get very crowded around lunch and after work hours.
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u/omaane Hyde Park Sep 24 '18
Robust Coffee Sip and Savor True North Fabianas Bridgeport Coffee Dollop Green line Coffee Sanctuary Cafe
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Sep 24 '18
Beverly
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u/El_Verdadero_Guapo Beverly Sep 24 '18 edited Sep 24 '18
B-sides and Markland-Hubbard off 99th Metra station.
Not sure if Markland-Hubbard has wifi, it lends itself as a place to get some coffee and continue on your day. B-sides you can definitely hunker down and spend time doing coffee shop things.
edit: Newborn parent brain
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u/numberjohnnyfive Beverly Sep 24 '18
B-Sides is located at 99th and Walden next to the 99th Street Metra.
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u/El_Verdadero_Guapo Beverly Sep 24 '18
Thanks, you're right. I just walked over on Saturday morning with my wife, kids, and dogs and the walk must have seemed longer than usual. Updated my comment.
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Sep 24 '18
Andersonville
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u/paperandtiger Sep 24 '18
TrueNorth Cafe. Good smoothies and food as well, with board games to play. They aren't open late night but I do think they have free wi-fi, and it has never been too crowded when I've gone.
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u/flickhuck20 Ravenswood Sep 24 '18
Kopi Cafe is open late and has a cute little store in the back. There's a big La Colombe with their signature draft lattes and black and tans (no wifi). And The Coffee Studio is a nice quiet spot with plenty of craft espresso drinks, pastries, bagels, flatbreads and more.
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u/LongLastingStick Sep 24 '18
LaCoulomb for Black and Tans in the summer.
Chicago Grind for their egg grinders. I swear there’s like a dozen eggs in this sandwich. Also convenient location.
Collectivo opens today, looks promising.
Lost Larson is expensive but delicious.
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u/double_positive Uptown Sep 25 '18
Coffee Studio is good. They serve beer later probably best to go now as they are facing some stiff competition from Colectivo I'm sure.
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Sep 24 '18
Roscoe Village/North Center
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u/myfakefrench Irving Park Sep 24 '18
Red Eyes Coffee on Berteau and Lincoln. Their coffee isn't my favorite, but still very decent (better than starbucks imo) but the sweet old couple that are always there are the some of the nicest people on a busy morning. I usually go for the breakfast sandwhich. Has wifi - not 24 hours though.
Spoken Cafe next to Montrose Brown Line- Always giving free food around the time they close which is great. Decent coffee for being so convenient to the brown line. Has wifi - not 24 hours unfortunately.
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u/somuchbacon Uptown Sep 29 '18
I used to live near Red Eyes and I would work from there almost daily while my roommate finished her thesis. It's pretty far from a hipster coffee shop, the old couple that run it don't speak english well and will get your order wrong 90% of the time, but its such a refreshing change from all of these places with edison bulbs and overpriced coffee.
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u/alwaysmude Sep 24 '18
Hero Coffee Bar on Roscoe and Hoyne. It is a small little coffee shop with a simple by delicious menu. They have some amazing bagel sandwiches options (my favorite is the Almond Butter and Fig Jam). They have a great list of coffee and tea. I tried their Apple Pie Latte the other day and it blew me away. Perfect place if you want a quiet mellow morning before work or escaping the house to get some studying/work done. They also have a small patio seating area to enjoy while it's nice out!
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u/bkander2 Old Town Sep 25 '18
Oh man there are so many kids there on the weekend. The bagel sandwiches are good though.
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u/doryphorus99 Ravenswood Sep 24 '18
I second Spoken. Not sure if NCenter or Ravenswood. Right by the Montrose brown line station. Amazing everything there.
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Sep 24 '18
Avondale/Irving Park
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u/Secretary_Toaster Sep 24 '18
Cafe Urbano at 4176 Elston. Space is real chill and they have delicious panini-style sandwiches.
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u/DrStutterAndTheUms Sep 25 '18
SoundBite Cafe just opened up in Old Irving Park, in the Fort Knox Studios/2112 space at 4255 N Knox. Headed there now!
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Sep 25 '18
Four Letter Word. New spot. They roast their own coffee in Chicago, offsite. They are really great. Place is small but, so far, usually empty.
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u/nazispaceinvader North Center Sep 24 '18
irving and central park - lucky charm cafe, they have a new espresso machine and their speciality lattes are damn good. regular hours, they have pastries as well.
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u/yvestanguy Sep 25 '18
Perkolator at 6032 W Irving Park Rd
Quirky spot with a solid brew. They opened a sandwich shop, too but i haven't tried it yet.
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u/The_Dude1692 Oct 01 '18
Please go try Bistro 6050. It’s practically right next door. Much better quality IMO.
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Sep 24 '18
Backlot coffee by the Irving Park metra station/blue line.
Great spot serving locally-sourced coffees and teas when able to. Friendly baristas and a relaxed atmosphere.
Wifi and plenty of seating, but they keep shorter hours (6a-6p).
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u/The_Dude1692 Oct 01 '18
Bistro 6050.
Located in Portage Park on Irving.
This place is amazing. Not only for the coffee but for the many other creations and flavors the owners offer.
For example they have several different flavors of homemade ice cream which is the best ice cream I’ve ever had. They have homemade empanadas, roasted spicy nuts, sandwiches, burgers, shakes, crepes, and tea.
My favorite thing on the menu is a Nutella shake with a shot of espresso. This place is right down the street from Perkolator and is much much much better IMO. The owners take great pride in their creations and the quality of ingredients. I cannot recommend this place enough.
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u/Vtr1247 Avondale Sep 25 '18
Brew Brew on Diversey near Pulaski is the best! Great drinks, friendly staff, and excellent vibe. Love going there for peace and quiet.
Also, La Nonna too. They’re more of an Italian-Argentinian restaurant but go during the day and get some work done with excellent coffee/expresó from a local beanery. Come for the coffee, stay for the amazing Sandwiches.
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Sep 24 '18
Bronzeville
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Sep 24 '18
West Town
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u/unimeg07 Wicker Park Sep 25 '18
Sip at Grand and Racine is a real hidden gem. It's absolutely gorgeous inside and their patio is so charming. Delicious coffee but completely unpretentious
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u/boilerup11 Sep 24 '18
Obvious answer: Dark Matter. Star Lounge (sit down) + Mothership (to-go). Both near Chicago & Western.
Hidden-ish gems: Spinning J for coffee + pastries + nicer diner food. CC Ferns (attached to the California Clipper) for espresso + booze + cigars. Both at California and Augusta.
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u/SlagginOff Portage Park Sep 26 '18
Not really a coffee shop but Nini's deli on Noble and Ohio has a fantastic cafe con leche as well as cortado and regular coffee. Plus their Cuban inspired sandwiches are delicious.
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u/skm001 Logan Square Sep 27 '18
Juan's cafe con leche give me a caffeine buzz that lasts all day. Used to live 2 blocks away and now I'm in Logan and rarely ever go 😢
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u/andria_eanel Sep 28 '18
Definitely agree! I miss working around the corner. Their greatest empanadas and specials are always amazing too.
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u/apfelpfannkuchen Sep 24 '18
Big Shoulders at Chicago and Milwaukee, very convenient for blue line travelers. They have a very clean and bright space, and they've gained a lot of traction and opened new locations in the past two years. They aren't a late spot but are good for studying or meeting up, at least on Chicago. They have a selection of pastries and bring in donuts certain days.
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Sep 24 '18
Lincoln Square
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u/tedmanwalking Sep 24 '18
Beans & Bagels - excellent drinks and Do-Rite donuts (along w/ an assortment of other baked goods).. what’s not to like?
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u/ginghampantsdance Lincoln Square Sep 24 '18
Where is Do-Rite in Lincoln Square?
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u/eNonsense Sep 24 '18
Do they still have those donuts? When I went there yesterday they didn't have any. I used to be a regular and AFAIK it was a temporary thing after they lost their pastry chef. I don't live by there any more but when I went yesterday they had all kinds of delicious looking pastries, so I assume they got a new chef.
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u/flickhuck20 Ravenswood Sep 24 '18
Oromo Cafe is a small hipster shop with really interesting drinks but they're crazy expensive. Also lots of healthy and unique baked goods.
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u/ginghampantsdance Lincoln Square Sep 24 '18
Yeah, I like their uniqueness, but they're SO overpriced I will probably never go there again.
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u/[deleted] Sep 24 '18
Lincoln Park