With coffee shops and cafes at every turn, it can get overwhelming when you need a quick caffeine fix. Luckily, we have narrowed down the 25 best spots you can visit for the best coffee in Chicago.
Whether you are going to work or looking for a date spot, the city has some of the best coffee shops. From neighborhood cafes to sleek coffee cocktail joints, it's coffee scene offers enough varieties to match every coffee lover's needs.
You know Metric Coffee takes its coffee seriously when it roasts coffee in-house in its back-room roasting facility and offers seminars for coffee enthusiasts.
The Scandinavian-aesthetic cafe works with independent coffee farmers for quality beans while paying them fairly. Warm beverages pair perfectly with their freshly made sandwiches.
Location: 2021 W Fulton St suite, k-101b
Every day is Halloween at The Brewed, a coffee shop that feels more like a horror movie museum. It is decorated with monster murals and horror figurines, a perfect place for caffeinated horror aficionados.
The menu board and coffee bar support the theme. It serves locally made coffee like the Skull Island, a delightful banana mocha, and Nordic-inspired sandwiches.
Location: 2843 N Milwaukee Ave
A minimalist place with peach-colored walls, Dayglow almost looks like a spa salon, but different coffee makers on the counter give it away. The menu, though, is anything but simple.
The coffee shop offers some of the most creative drinks in the city. Concoctions like "Howl's Moving Castle" inspired by the eponymous movie, are made with distilled coffee, butterfly pea flower, and coconut.
Location: 1757 N Kimball Ave
With over three locations on Chicago's South Side, Sip & Savor is on its way to becoming a coffee empire. Trez Pugh, the founder, wants to provide a space that makes customers feel at home.
They provide a warm inviting atmosphere to make you fee at home, while the expertly crafted coffee delivers an unparalleled taste experience, made from scratch.
Location: 5301 S Hyde Park Blvd
The Wormhole is one of the best-reviewed coffee places in Chicago. They serve coffee made by very serious baristas, but that is not why people love this place.
You take a double shot of expresso and add a dollop of sweet, all-natural blueberry blossom honey. You can also choose the milk of your choice to be silken with latte-style perfection at precisely 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Location: 1462 N Milwaukee Ave
If you search for “coffee house Chicago” on the internet, chances are Ipsento Coffee 606 will always pop up.
The locals cannot get enough of this coffee house thanks to its flawless batch-brewed coffee, comfortable and inviting ambiance, house-made mini doughnuts with rotating flavors, and unusual beverage options like mushroom-based cappuccino and cardamom rose lattes.
Location: 1813 N Milwaukee Ave
Opened by the famous roastery Dark Matter, the Osmium Coffee bar offers some strong coffee in an eclectic space with low lighting and graffiti-style artwork.
If you're looking for a treat with your coffee, they also have a rotating list of donuts from Do-Rite. Osmium welcomes working people looking to use the wifi and those hanging out with friends.
Location: 1117 W Belmont Ave
Unlike other coffee shops hoping to serve good coffee, Sip of Hope is on a mission to spread mental health awareness.
It is the first and only coffee bar that donates all of its proceeds to support proactive suicide prevention and mental health education. The baristas and employees are not mental health specialists, but customers can find different resources on the wall.
Location: 3039 W Fullerton Ave
With coffee shops in New York and Chicago, Sawada, named after Japanese latte artist Hiroshi Sawada, is a popular coffee house with a relaxed vibe with picnic table seating, but the coffee is nothing but.
Customers come to Sawada for the signature military latte, a combination of matcha tea, espresso, and chocolate. Some of the other offerings include espresso and iced coffee.
Location: 112 N GREEN ST
Hero Coffee Bar might not be one of the best coffee shops to work in Chicago. It is tiny, with two top tables and eight seats at its coffee bar, but what it lacks in space makes up for with its coffee.
Grab an espresso and a bagel sandwich, or get the seasonal beverages like the Spring Blossom or the iced chocolate pumpkin latte.
Location: 22 E Jackson Blvd
If you love Twin Peaks by David Lynch, you will love it at Damn Fine Coffee Bar. The coffee house pays homage to the horror film with black-and-white motifs and subtle fan art.
They provide high-quality coffee like a pulled espresso and creative drinks like AFIRE, made with banana ube and vanilla latte.
Location: 3317 W Armitage Ave
VietFive was the first coffee house in Chicago to serve Vietnamese coffee in 2022. The coffee shop uses robusta beans, which are grown and harvested on the owners’ family farm in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
The menu has a range of traditional Vietnamese and fusion coffee and unique snacks like Bánh Mì Empanadas and Vietnamese coffee ice cream.
Loctaion: 116 W Madison St
Some coffee shops are great for working, while others, like Build Coffee, are ideal for reading and hosting events and projects. Grab a book to read from the shelves lined with fiction novels and college magazines.
The coffee shop serves coffee from HalfWit and snacks from Justice of the Pies, a Chicago-based bakery specializing in savory treats.
Location: 6100 S Blackstone Ave
Intelligentsia is one of Chicago’s most influential coffee makers, with three separate locations: Broadway in Lakeview and two in the Loop. They pride themselves on being the first few to source and roast their coffee before it became a trend.
The friendly baristas serve some not-so-classic coffee drinks like the Avena Latte and the espresso tonic.
Location: 53 E Randolph St
Big Shoulders has multiple locations in the Chicago area and offers cheap fast drip espressos. They serve fun drinks like cardamom lattes, and marshmallow lattes, and in-house snacks like breakfast sandwiches, scones, and coffee cake.
They serve fresh roasted and no-nonsense artisan coffee. Their coffee is born out of a love for learning about people, food, and culture. You can taste a chef's attention to detail in every cup of Big Shoulders coffee.
Location: 1105 W Chicago Ave
Afro Joe’s Coffee & Tea is a cozy coffee shop that serves aroma-rich brews that pair perfectly with their rotating selection of mouth-watering pastries breakfast sandwiches, and paninis.
They also host community events like artist showcases and coffee tastings. Expect a warm and inviting space in this beloved spot.
Location: 1818 W 99th St
For a guilt-free sip of coffee, Nomad is the place to be. The coffee house procures its beans from independent roasters at fair trade practices.
They host events like artist showcases, workshops, and open mic nights to get your creative juices flowing and connect you to Chicago's art community.
Location: 820 N Franklin St
Oromo Cafe transports you to East Africa with unique coffee creations inspired by the region. Named after an ethnic group in Ethiopia, they serve Ethiopian coffee brewed in the traditional jebena pot and East African cuisines like doro wat.
The coffee house brings people across continents together and fosters connections for a home away from home.
Location: 4703 N Lincoln Ave
Hexe means "witch," in German, a cue to the witchy theme of the coffee shop. It is dark and whimsical with a gothic-tinged interior.
This coffee shop takes its coffee seriously. With an in-house roastery boasting unique blends of coffee as bold as its aura, the coffee shop takes coffee lovers on an adventure.
Location: 2000 W Diversey Pkwy
Dark Matter Coffee is a popular coffee house chain in Chicago. They have eight locations in the city, each with a different name and distinct personality that matches your mood.
They roast and age their beans in-house with spirits for a unique flavor profile. You can pick up their canned iced coffee with some of their other popular roasts.
Location: 738 N Western Ave (The Motherhsip coffee shop)
Caffé Streets is another one of the Chicago coffee shops with a fan following, clearly evidenced by a 4.1-star rating on Yelp. Regulars claim the coffee shop makes them feel at home.
The industrial-chic interior gives a European coffee bar vibe with quality coffee to match. One should not miss their signature Monkey Latte, a coffee concoction with banana, molasses, and agave.
Location: 1750 W Division St
Side practice is more than just a coffee shop. Founder Francis Amelda is on a mission to help small entrepreneurs in the community by hosting events, collaborative projects, and pop-ups at his coffee house.
In the spirit of helping entrepreneurs, this coffee shop features coffee from independent roasters such as Four Letter Word, Angora Coffee, and New Math Coffee.
Location: 5139 N Damen Ave
Your cup of coffee comes with a view of Logan Square at Gaslight Coffee Roasters. The coffee shop has large picture windows welcoming a bloom of natural light.
Aside from the beautiful natural light, they serve excellent coffee, brunch options like duck eggs Benedict, and desserts. You don’t have to take off when you are hungry.
Location: 2385 N Milwaukee Ave
Brew Brew is a coffee shop that reflects the Mexican roots of the owners. The specialty food, decor, and friendly staff make for a warm and inviting experience at this coffee house.
Customers can expect out-of-norm coffee and lattes inspired by the flavor from south of the border, like the Cafe de Olla (spiced cinnamon coffee) and classic Mexican dishes like tortas.
Location: 3832 W Diversey Ave
Volumes Bookcafe offers heavily curated shelves of books, and tasty menu of baked goods, and quality expresso drinks. They aim to create a warm and inviting community space for book lovers of all ages.
This place is a family-owned business, brought to life by the two Chicago sisters, Rebecca and Kimberly. They wanted to create a store that would complement the existing niche bookstores, which finally became a reality in the neighborhood.
Location: 1373 N Milwaukee Ave
