Looking for a pick-me-up in “The Windy City,” but don’t know where to start? Well luckily for you, we are here to help! Ditch the traditional Starbucks run and try something new with these Chicago originals. Learn more about the 15 best cafes and coffee shops in Chicago below:
1. Oromo Cafe
The Oromo Café is best known for its culture-conscious coffee since 2016. This includes incorporating pure and sustainable ingredients into their coffees, as well as providing their customers with a boost of energy.
It is important to note that Oromo Café uses nut-based milks that are homemade, as well as ingredients that are free of dairy, eggs, refined sugar, and gluten. Come nurture your mind and body at this organic café!
2. Heritage Bikes and Coffee
Known as the intersection of bikes and coffee, Heritage Bikes and Coffee is located in the Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago, and alongside selling a variety of bicycles, they have a café that serves coffee from the area, as well as fresh sandwiches and salads.
With its inviting atmosphere inside of the coffee shop, it has become a popular meeting spot for members of the Chicago cycling community.
3. Fairgrounds Craft Coffee and Tea
With offerings of coffee, tea, and a variety of breakfast and lunch options, Fairgrounds Craft Coffee and Tea is known for the diverse offerings they provide to their customers. That is why they provide the best coffee and tea brands from around the world, as well as a rotating menu to showcase tastes from around the world.
4. Sparrow Coffee
Sparrow Coffee prides itself on the quality over quantity of a coffee shop experience, as they have spent decades perfecting the craft. It is also important to note that all of its coffee is sustainably sourced and certified organic, as the company values an environmentally friendly approach to running its business.
Sparrow’s website also includes an online shop where you can shop for their line of whole-bean coffees.
5. Philz Coffee
Founded by Phil Jaber in 1978, Philz Coffee has since expanded to 5 different locations across the United States, including downtown Chicago! Known as a sustainably sourced company with initiatives to give back to the Earth, as well as the coffee farming communities.
Philz Coffee also includes an app you can download on your phone so you can order coffee and eliminate the wait time.
6. Food Boutique Café
Located just inside the Chicago South Loop Hotel, The Food Boutique Café is a family-owned café that offers a vast array of coffee and food that looks and tastes great. Additionally, you can dine in or order online through the website.
This café also offers weekend specials that differ from the weekday menu, so be sure to check out all that they have to offer!
7. Patisserie Coralie
If you are looking for a boutique French coffee shop in Chicago, Patisserie Coralie is the place for you. With custom order offerings, choose the best-handcrafted pastries that can be created and designed for your needs. The café also offers a regular menu, as well as a high tea menu for any get-togethers and events.
8. Move Along Coffee
In the name itself, Move Along Coffee is a walk-up and takeaway coffee shop in the West Loop Neighborhood in Chicago. They are known for hosting the country’s best coffee roasters on a rotating basis, as well as a consistent local roaster. Stop by for something unique and different with each experience!
9. Colectivo Coffee
Colectivo Coffee started in a warehouse and has since expanded to become a staple in the Chicago area. The coffee shop is accompanied by the Troubadour Bakery which serves artisan bread, pastries, cookies, croissants, and much more.
If you are looking for wholesale bags of coffee, as well as ingredients that are provided by local farmers and producers around the Midwest, Colectivo is the place for you!
10. Metropolis Coffee
Known as a modern coffee brand intended for everyone, Metropolis Coffee Company pride itself on being avid coffee lovers, as they put passion and expertise into designing the perfect cup of coffee. The café also includes a rewards system where you can redeem your points for various coffee and bakery items.
Not sure which blend is best for you? Feel free to take their coffee quiz to learn more!
11. Intelligentsia
With 4 locations in the Chicago area, Intelligentsia can be easily found and enjoyed! With a warm and inviting atmosphere on the inside, the coffee company sells coffee as well as bags of beans for customer enjoyment.
Since the company values delivering quality and continuously innovating, they offer brew guides that customers can view at their own expense.
12. Floriole Café & Bakery
Branded as the French-ish bakery of the Midwest, Floriole gives back to its community. Because of this, most of their meat, dairy, and cheeses and sourced directly from farms in and around the region, as well as European-style butter and cage-free eggs.
Custom orders and event spaces are also available to personalize experiences or special events!
13. Vietfive Coffee
Vietfive Coffee is rooted in Vietnamese culture, as they offer Vietnamese Robusta coffee beans that are imported from the country itself. Alongside their authentic brew offerings, their menu includes traditional Vietnamese cuisine to pair with your diverse array of coffees and teas.
14. Everybody’s Coffee
With the goal of providing a warm and welcoming environment for all, Everybody’s Coffee is continuously committed to helping the Chicago community through their coffee, relationships with others, and resources. This is why the organization has paired with Cornerstone Community Outreach, an organization that helps feed and house individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the area.
They also offer fair and direct trade coffee to help the farmers, land, and community from crop to cup.
15. Mojo Coffee
Originating in New Zealand back in 2003, Mojo Coffee has expanded to the Windy City and opened 4 locations. They have a diverse array of coffee grown and roasted with an artisanal hand, as well as delicious menu offerings comprised of simple ingredients that are full of flavor.
Interested in Having Your Chicago Coffee Shop Featured?
As a digital marketing agency in Chicago, we want to feature all of the cafés and coffee shops that make the city unique. If you are interested in being featured in our Best of Chicago series, please feel free to contact our team today!
