Chicago is filled with the best coffee shops, but has that always been the case? When coffee first made its debut in the 19th century, it spellbound all Chicagoans with its quick “wake-me-up” effect and became a “cup of joe,” as they liked to say, every corner of the city flared up with simple establishments that offered a basic caffeine fix.
However, as the city evolved, so did the coffee shops in Chicago. Coffee enthusiasts demanded a personalized touch to their experience and an artisanal, authentic approach to coffee making. With that, the coffee culture brewed into a diverse community that comes with roasteries and serious cafes offering the best coffee in Chicago.
Here is our ever-growing – but for now definitive – list of the best coffee shops in Chicago that you must try out.
Intelligentsia Coffee Millennium Park Coffee Bar
Address: 53 E Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
Emily Mange and Doug Zell launched this premier coffee shop way back in 1995 after they were piqued by the idea of introducing freshly roasted coffee in Chicago. Growing the idea ever since, Intelligentsia Coffee has now become one of the best coffee shops in Chicago that operates on three main principles – sourcing exquisite coffee, purposeful roasting, and connecting with a global community to shape this industry.
Their trendy set up in Heritage At Millennium Park offers rare, in-season, fresh, and single origin coffees which are sourced from Direct Trade suppliers. Even the finest restaurants and cafes around the world proudly call it their house coffee.
Sawada Coffee
Address: 112 N Green Street, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Swada’s rustic-chic ambiance makes it one of the best coffee places in Chicago (a partner coffee shop of Green Street Smoked Meats). It’s a suitable space to serve the best coffee in Chicago from the world-renowned latte art master and barista, Hiroshi Sawada.
All industrial style décor elements, with huge windows facing Green Street, wooden ping pong tables, a painted espresso machine, and a punching bag, totally make sense in this cozy space. Try a Military Latte Matcha, High Five Mocha, or a Jasmine Cold Brew with a buttered croissant or one of the Doughnut Vault Doughnuts (available every day).
The Wormhole Coffee
Address: 1462 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
Yes, the smell of coffee brought you here, but the first thing that you notice at this laid-back, 80s-themed coffee shop is the DeLorean at the back. The rest of the theme matches this quirky introduction with the 80’s cheeky décor – mismatched vintage furniture, movie posters, and worn wooden floors.
This coffee shop in Chicago serves Halfwit Coffee and the friendly baristas are much revered members that bring together the whole ambiance. It’s a place for the best coffee in Chicago while you work, catch up with friends, or chill out.
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
Address: 955 W Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Randolph is a restaurant-choked street with some of the best eateries that you can find in the city. But when we are talking about the best cafes in Chicago, La Colombe Coffee Roasters comes on top as a bustling, cozy, and inviting space.
This espresso bar welcomes coffee lovers from all over the West Loop to try out their artisanal coffee blends, café pastries, smooth cold brew, draft lattes, and much more in a warm and comfortable space (plus points for the exposed brick walls and wooden beams, metal accents, and wooden tables.)
Ipsento 606
Address: 1813 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
The secret to Ipsento’s delicious coffee is the careful selection of quality beans from around the world, and roasting them to perfection. The batch brewed drip coffee, espresso drinks and pastries are exemplary of their love for coffee culture, plus the bacon cheddar rosemary scones, house made mini donuts (prepared every morning), croissants and Kouign Amann are so addictive that you will forget all the other best coffee places in Chicago.
The brews are killer, for sure, but the excellent selection of coffee alternatives – vanilla matcha latte, rishi tea, chai, and hot chocolate – are worth trying as well.
Dark Matter Coffee
Address: 1117 W Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
Dark Matter Coffee – a quirky, industrial-style space – is one of the best coffee houses in Chicago, covered in unique graffiti-like designs, neon lights, colorfully painted walls, uncovered ductwork, and accentuated pipes.
Besides provisions of directly sourced coffees from Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador, they are super talented in preparing barrel aged, fermented, and cask conditioned coffees. Dark Matter is established in five locations throughout Chicago, and has become an evergreen space to work, study, or spend a joyful time with your favorite musicians and artists.
Hero Coffee and Bagel Bar
Address: 439 S Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
A dinky, funky, and quality coffee shop in Chicago on the South Dearborn Street, Hero Coffee, and Bagel Bar has been hot stuff in the coffee lovers’ community ever since it opened in 2014. Its philosophy has always been to “make a positive impact on the community by one meaningful coffee cup at a time,” quickly helping this coffee shop earn a reputation.
Genial vibes, a quality menu with vegan donuts, hot and iced drinks, pastries and seasonal drinks proves the cafe’s commitment to make each cup of coffee as enjoyable for you as possible.
Backlot Coffee
Address: 3982 N Avondale Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641, United States
A very modernist take on the coffee shops in Chicago is Backlot Coffee. This contemporary, unconventional bolt-hole is located in the fine neighborhood of Avondale and certainly looks the part, with its clean lines, floor-to-ceiling windows bringing in lots of natural light, simple and stylish furniture, and intriguing artwork dotting the walls.
Their espresso comes from the beans they roast at Backlot roastery and also features standout flavors of their processed coffees like strawberry-forward Tanzania, delicately floral Tabletop, and the rich chocolatey Mexico Organic specialty coffee.
Good Ambler
Address: 216 N Peoria Street, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
For all its refined, contemporary setting Good Ambler is something of an artisanal café and bakery where you can enjoy the best coffee in Chicago, as well as handcrafted chocolates, cakes, cookies, and many savory items.
The quirky café-cum-chocolatier-cum-coffee shop in Chicago has a soft and ambient vibe with plush chairs, delicate décor on shelves, and an open and airy space filled with the delicious aroma of house made coffee flavors. Breakfast pastries include chocolate, ham and cheese croissants, blueberry muffins, Pain Suisse, double chocolate espresso cookies and vegan snickerdoodles, and unique confections and chocolate bars.
Dollop Coffee Co.
Address: 345 E Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Taking full advantage of its vantage point on the Ohio street, Dollop Coffee Co. has employed the use of floor to ceiling windows with tables facing the serene neighborhood so that you can sip and savor your coffee at any time of the day. However, they have multiple retail locations from where you can get the best coffee in Chicago – including Gold Coast, Michigan Avenue, and Ravenswood.
That is to say, the ambiance is brilliant – for work, lively chatters, solo coffee experience, or whatever you came here for. The single-origin roasts are even better, with new roasts dropping every now and then, enjoyed with quick house-made eats and locally sourced pastries and other baked goods.
Vietfive Coffee
Address: 1116 W Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Named after its delicious Vietnamese coffee, pastries, snacks, and ice creams, this is one of the best coffee shops in Chicago with pared-down aesthetics – modern minimalism with hints of Vietnamese charm, such as sleek white chairs, lush green plants placed around the shop, and Vietnamese lanterns casting a soft glow at each table.
Founded by Tuan Huynh, this is one of the best coffee houses in Chicago, decked out at a prime spot, serving the shop’s own Robusta Coffee Series that is grown and harvested in farms in Vietnam. The great selection of coffee comes with popular Vietnamese snacks like Banh Mi, Banh So, and Xa Xiu Chicken Sandwich.
Kapéj Coffee Roasters
Address: 1447 N Sedgwick Street, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
A snug coffee joint with a homely vibe – Kapéj Coffee Roasters is always going strong in terms of customer values, superior coffee, and making the brewing experience as special as possible. The brick floors and walls are what impart that old-world and cozy feeling in the ambiance, and if you happen to pass by the vintage-style Sedgwick Street, don’t forget to try out this coffee shop in Chicago.
They have set a standard for their green coffee beans – they must be carefully selected and the best they can find in farms. If you are a bean enthusiast, experiment with their coffee profiles from Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Costa Rica, etc., to make your coffee experience even more exciting.
Overflow Coffee
Address: 1449 S Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
The appeal of this coffee shop in Chicago is threefold.
First: A newly opened spot in Mox. E Coworking (formerly Vee-Jay Records), that still holds on to its love for the South Loop community and pays homage to the arts and performance history of the building.
Second: Freshly baked pastries, made in house every day – croissants, quiche, sandwiches, bagels, grilled cheese and oatmeal, etc.
And third: Their organic coffees sourced from the best roasters and retailers, including seasonal specials like Cold Foam Cold Brews, Lavender Lemonade, and The Morning Rush, topped with house made syrups.
Metropolis Coffee Company
Address: 1039 W Granville Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660, United States
Opened by a father-son duo, Metropolis Coffee Company proves that coffee does make you smart. After a fun espresso-drinking competition, they decided to purchase a 12 kg roaster and share their love for coffee with all of Chicago, and today they have upgraded their operations to an 18,000 sq ft roastery.
By staying on top of the Metropolis brand, they have created this modern and creative space that makes Metropolis Coffee Company one of the best coffee places in Chicago. Not only do they serve their brews at all of their best cafes in Chicago, but also partner with restaurants, cafes, grocers, hotels and all the other places known for great coffee.
Cafe Jumping Bean
Address: 1439 W 18th Street, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
Who says that the coffee shops in Chicago must be rustic, bleak, and boring? How about visiting the OG of the coffee scene in the city, a colorful coffee shop and one of the best cafes in Chicago? With its striped counters, orange walls, quirky décor and aesthetics, and patterned floors, Cafe Jumping Bean is a coffee lover’s haven.
The coffee here is excellent – no doubt – but people mostly visit for the Lox Bagels, Cuban Sandwiches, Avocado Toasts and Croissants as well. Cafe Jumping Bean is a fantastic space, given its size, if you want to stop by for a quick bite or a good selection of coffee. However, it can get a bit crowded at times, given its strategic location and friendly ambiance, but the food and drinks are worth waiting for.
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