Thank you so much for all the recommendations! It was a short trip for us this time, but we appreciate all the comments encouraging us to visit again soon and explore more of the city.
Being a Chicago native, I'd say Intelligentsia was once one of the best known with decent coffee, but now they're mediocre, and there are so many other spots to check out all over the city outside of downtown. Downtown gets the volume of customers which helps a new business but I could see a great Japanese coffee shop like yours opening up in River North, Logan Square, or even Andersonville. Best of luck and hope Chicago becomes a new home for you!
My wife and I live in Chicago and spent our honeymoon in japan last October. The coffee was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I am glad you made it to Dark Matter while here, a lot of restaurants here that serve coffee make it a point to state that they serve dark matter coffee on their menus. If I am ever back in Kyoto I will be sure to make it to Kurasu
I am a barista in a specialty shop in Chicago. Visited Kurasu back in 2018 and it was a super positive and memorable experience. Japan’s coffee scene is an inspiration for many people here, myself included. If you ever opened a Kurasu in Chicago, I’d definitely jump at the opportunity to be a part of the team! Cheers!!
The algorithms must be working. I’m currently drinking Metric Coffee, living in Chicago, and have my first trip to Kyoto planned in October. Will check out your shop while I’m there! Hope you had a good time in Chicago!
I visited Kurasu in Kyoto back in 2018, and will forever remember the level of customer service we received. Everyone in the shop had a genuine smile on their face and we felt so welcome. I'm currently living in South Korea, maybe a potential spot for a future Kurasu store 😀
as a chicagoan, it’s interesting to hear your perspective. if you make it back, i recommend some smaller spots, like Soloway, Bueno Days, Wormhole, Doma, Hexe…. Thanks for visiting!
Next time, be sure to check out Avondale Coffee Club featuring Reprise Roasters - they always have 8 or so pour over options from single origin farms that they work with directly.
I was excited to see this in my recommendations. I absolutely adore Sawada's Military latte...thank you for coming to Chicago. It was cool to see you visit the Intelligentsia in this video--I only visit often due to convenience, but I agree it can be inconsistent. Still, I think our cafe culture is wonderful here. Would love to see a Kurasu here!
We are Chicagoans and just watched this video. We found your commentary spot on! We would love to see you here or even if we have a chance to visit Kyoto again.
@KurasuKyoto next time you are in Chicago you need to try Printer's Row Coffee. They have a location in Lincoln park that always has a line out the door. Good coffee, good people.
I grew up by the original Intelligentsia and unfortunately the tourist-heavy locations are underwhelming. Thankfully the original location still makes excellent coffee and the baristas are very good at their jobs! Sawada makes awesome drinks and I loved going there when I worked nearby. Glad you enjoyed your time in my home city.
If you're ever back in Chicago, you need to check out Hansa Coffee up in Libertyville and Tala Coffee's cafe in Highwood - They're both world class roasters that I prefer over anything (expect maybe metric) in Chicago proper.They're about an hour north of the city, feel free to reach out to me if you're in town and need a ride! lol
U really should go to wicker park next time, they have a very vibrant coffee scene and I think you’ll like a lot of the coffee there. Espresso and Milk in the civic opera house is also a good place to check out
I have to agree with you about Intelligentsia. I used to go to their Lakeview location all the time since I live in the neighborhood, but they are now overpriced, coffee is subpar and customer service is terrible. There are just too many other great coffee shops around to put up with Intelligentsia.
As a local, Metric is hands down my favorite coffee in the city. I buy their beans to make at home too. Also worth noting Sawada is tucked inside one of the city’s best BBQ joints, Green Street smoked Meats
Oh hey nice! It looks like the bean was open! The last few times I've been to Chicago the beans been under renovation and closed for a while. Happy your trip to the US went well!
Consider Sparrow Coffee Roasters. Only retail location is 45 min drive from downtown Chicago but they ship beans and may allow visit of Chicago Roastery
Love these comments. Everyone has their favorite roaster. There's a ton of them, and not a bad one in the bunch! I'm partial to Gaslight, but I used to live in the neighborhood. The downtown Intelligencia has always been a waste of time though. Pourovers in a location that busy just results in rushed work and staff burnout. That was true even in the years before the buyout.
Chicago retail customers definitely seek out and support smaller local coffee roasters and beer brewers making them kinda mainstream. That also comes with less experimentation and more just focusing on consistency. Intelligentsia has definitely become less consistent since the sale to Peets unfortunately.
Sorry I'm late to this, and I don't know if anyone is around to answer... but I'm a long-term Chicagoan, and I do most of my work in coffee shops, so I've sampled all the ones in this video and most that are in the comments. I have two questions: (1) I wonder why there's no mention of the pourovers, and especially the choices of single-origin pourovers in the different coffee shops. For me, that's the most interesting part of the scene, and it's how I often decide where to go. (2) Except for a brief mention of the flavor profile of Dark Matter, there's very little comment on taste. Is that just Kurasu Kyoto's amazing politeness and generosity? Or is there an idea of the perfect espresso? I know from trips to Japan that the service, the cleanliness, the cups and silverware, are absolutely stupendous, and the level of barista expertise is very high. But at the same time I have an idea that there's a general consensus on what comprises an ideal espresso. Or is that just my own experience? Love to know what others think.
As a local, you missed out on Printers Row! Their coffee is fantastic. Another fantastic roaster who doesn't have a brick and mortar store is Kikwetu. They sell mostly at farmers markets but their beans are great. Metric is great though. I used to work across the street from them and their staff is great. My criteria for a great coffee shop is this: 1. If I order a black cup of coffee at any time of day, will it be fresh. Too many coffee shops have coffee that's luke warm or I can tell it's been in a thermus for several hours. Coffee flavor does degrade 30 minutes after roasting. 2. Are the beans smooth? It shouldn't have a bitter back of mouth feel. This is typically from the water temperature it's brewed at. Diner coffee (even with good beans) typically tastes this way because they brew it with boiling water instead of around 200F. I've had coffee at diners that serve Dark Matter and it's a stark contrast for what is served in the coffee shops.
Bro really said “the costumer experience here is largely shit I might just have to come back here and show yall how it’s done” in the nicest way possible
The Kurasu people are being so polite with this video by allowing Chicago coffee and Japan's coffee to even exist in the same sentence together. Absolutely miss Tokyo's pourover shops.
Hey, former SCA member, Chicago native, and barista. I've been technical judge for competitions before, and while I'm no longer in the industry Coffee and Chicago are two passions of mine. 1) Shout ot to Metric; I think the best Chicago roaster. I don't brew a lot of their coffee actually, but enjoy every cup I get from them. 2) The best coffee shop in the city isn't well known, but it's called Beans & Bagels. If you engage with this reply let me know if you want me to write up a detailed explanation for why, because I can absolutely pop off and tell you so much you'll want to book your flight back just to see it. 3) Intelligentsia had such a sad fall from grace. It's not just that they got bought by Peets though... the same company bought Caribou, Peets, Intelli, Stumptown, and more. The company JAB Holdings is just the investment wing of a super rich family of Germans who made their fortune selling chemicals in Germany in 1930/40s... I'll let that speak for itself. Mostly just thank you for visiting our city and checking out the coffee scene.
@@koalamaster The manager has run the floor of the SCA competitions and takes coffee very seriously. Has a sustainability plan in place that has attracted academic attention, and has flown to Cambridge to give talks about how he's de-carbonizing his shop, how he removed plastic from his restaurant almost entirely, and how he does this while providing sustainable wages as well to his employees. He also bakes every single morning lol. It's unlike any other shop in existence, seriously. I'm only scratching the surface.
Customer service at Intelligentsia -- in particular the Millennium Park location you show here -- has tanked, a trend that I started noticing around 2017 or so. It's like the shop lost its heart. I can't tell you how many absolutely glorious moments I had at that shop. I don't consider the brand anymore -- basically, a last resort for me. I'll recommend Big Shoulders, Metric, Reprise Roasters / Avondale Coffee Club, Jackalope, Side Practice or Drip Collective, most of the Dark Matter locations, Passion House... sit outside on the river at The Kitchen and enjoy an espresso with orange peel. Or lemon. They'll do you 20/10 on service.
Thank you for the comment! Its unfortunate to miss shops when you only have a few days including the expo. This will be on our list when we visit again!
Such a big turnaround in the last decade. I was really disapointed when I first moved there. Little Milwaukee's coffee shops had a better vibe at the time. Milwaukee is still great but Chicago has surged.
I find Intelligentsia has the most consistent quality beans, but yea their customer service at their coffee shops is brutal. It’s like they go out of their way to hire baristas and cashiers that hate people.
Personally the intelligentsia in the Murdock building near the Chicago Board of Trade building is a better location IMO. The baristas there often go above and beyond
Thank you! Yes we visited there as well and agree that it was a better expereince for us. Maybe because it was not as crowded at the time we went as well.
Soloway Coffee in Lincoln park is my current fav, as Sawada has dropped in quality a bit in my opinion. I think the inferior beans are behind the quality drop though, not the actual coffee shop. They use beans roasted by Metropolis Coffee which in the opinion of many locals has seen better days.
Nothing touches Crepe Shop Coffee period. Yelp top 100 coffees in America with the first mention in Chicago at #17 or something. I was told they’re not a coffee shop, but crepe shop! Yet, yelp says otherwise and smashed everyone else based off yelp. My favorite spot was an AZ company, but past few years my standards have changed to better coffee! Funny you mention some company’s with several spots, and missed many other companies that are better. Everyone’s experience is different I guess. Everyone submerges their coffee with flavor lol Go to a coffee bar and see how good the coffee tastes naturally without additives.
Appreciate the recommendation! Unfortunately due to the limited time there we could only visit these few. Looking forward to our next visit for more spots!
@dieselkid10 thank you for the insight! I looked up that article. The specialty lattes they mention was my creation. The Crepe Shop wanted to be known as more than a crepe shop, LOL! But also a place where you could get a great coffee as well. I use to work there with an amazing coffee professional name Eric and together we took their coffee to another level!
Although Japans coffee seen is dominated by a handful of players it still offers a superior customer service experience that most coffee shops in America don't offer. Also, unlike in the majority of coffee shops in the U.S., there are many other countries, including Japan, that focus on their interiors and is an integral part of the coffee experience. Sadly, interiors are a second thought and many times are not even paid attention to in the U.S. -- the result is a hodgepodge of second hand furniture or hyper-corporate looking interiors that lack curation and attention to detail. The upfront cost and upkeep are part of the problem but perhaps the lack of creativity might also be the issue. Another saddening experience in U.S. coffee shops is the enormous amount of laptops -- Americans treat their coffee shops as work spaces or to-go centers rather than a place to meet up with friends or just sit and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, espresso, and food in a vibrant environment filled with conversation. There are a handful of American coffee shops that have delicious tasting coffee & espresso beverages but due to our obsession with speed and work the end result is lacking. At the end of the day, you can hang up all the local art you want and write out an inspiring mission statement about community connection but if the vibe is lacking it just doesn't matter...
Thank you for your insights. It's always great to hear from a local perspective. The US is the foundation of the third wave coffee movement, which has inspired many, including us in Japan. We hope the US can be the inspiration for the next movement.
all other coffee tastes bland after tasting dark matter's coffee. apart from having great coffee, the chocolates from sleepwalk are amazing. I'd suggest trying their mocha or drinking chocolate
It's weird that you came to Chicago to explore its coffee scene and only stuck to Dowtown and based your opinions on that small demographic. Chicago is not just Downtown (and you barely visited any shops). Venture out.
Agreed! With only few days during our expo trip it's unfortunate we couldn't visit more. We tired our best with the limited time we had and looking forward to digging in deeper in the future!
Chicago coffee sucks! People are not passionate about, the girl with nose ring and green hair sell you $5.50 sour expresso🤢🤢🤢 that's why I don't even bother going there
Coffee in Chicago is pretty mediocre. In general, the US' food and drinks quality are pretty low, the venues will have high ratings but that's because Americans rate places based on the space and atmosphere, not the quality of the food/beverages. I've lived here for more than 30 years and they've all been pretty basic or bad. La Colombe is the only one that I like in Chicago. If I wanted good coffee, I make it at home. The best coffee I had are from Asia and EU. Most barista's in Chicago just care about you giving them tip for handing you your coffee. It's rare to see a barista that's actually passionate about coffee and giving customer's the best experience.
It's definitely rare but it's worth getting your coffee when they're working. When I don't see my favorites baristas, no matter where I'm at, I just turn around and walk out. Honestly it's better than being disappointed
Thank you so much for all the recommendations! It was a short trip for us this time, but we appreciate all the comments encouraging us to visit again soon and explore more of the city.
Cousin casually at Sawada
WAIT I JUST SAW THAT
SAME
Fully saw this too! Had to be him right??
Man this guy has a lot of cousins
Being a Chicago native, I'd say Intelligentsia was once one of the best known with decent coffee, but now they're mediocre, and there are so many other spots to check out all over the city outside of downtown. Downtown gets the volume of customers which helps a new business but I could see a great Japanese coffee shop like yours opening up in River North, Logan Square, or even Andersonville. Best of luck and hope Chicago becomes a new home for you!
Thank you so much for the warm comment. We hope there's a future for us in the States!
4:02 OMG ！You caught a star Ebon Moss-Bachrach ！🙌🏻🙌🏻
omg I didn't even notice
@@naurrr 🧐😉
How the hell did you catch that!
Was about to comment this. I thought I was hallucinating!
lol. i was about to write this.
My wife and I live in Chicago and spent our honeymoon in japan last October. The coffee was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I am glad you made it to Dark Matter while here, a lot of restaurants here that serve coffee make it a point to state that they serve dark matter coffee on their menus. If I am ever back in Kyoto I will be sure to make it to Kurasu
We're happy you enjoyed your stay in Japan. Yes, please visit Kyoto and Kurasu next time!
I am a barista in a specialty shop in Chicago. Visited Kurasu back in 2018 and it was a super positive and memorable experience. Japan’s coffee scene is an inspiration for many people here, myself included. If you ever opened a Kurasu in Chicago, I’d definitely jump at the opportunity to be a part of the team! Cheers!!
Where do you work? Just moved to Chicago and looking for the best specialty spots! Also looking for work as a barista.
Thanks for your kind comments. We hope we can in the future!
The algorithms must be working. I’m currently drinking Metric Coffee, living in Chicago, and have my first trip to Kyoto planned in October. Will check out your shop while I’m there! Hope you had a good time in Chicago!
Glad they did to connect us! Looking forward to your visit to Kyoto. Safe travels!
@@KurasuKyoto let me know if you’d like a bag of coffee from Chicago! Happy to bring you one!
Hopefully if you come back to Chicago you can hit up the neighborhoods. Downtown is nice but most of the charm of Chicago is outside the Loop.
Yes, may times the best is outside the city center. At the same time its tough when you only have a few days! Hope we can visit again soon to revisit.
@@AlgebraicAnalysis There's great stuff all over the city. Even west of western and south of Roosevelt.
The best coffee is from Four Letter Word and Gaslight out in Logan Square. They blow the socks off most spots
4lw is the best by far imo
rt
Appreciate the recommendation. Few people have mentioned it and will be on our list for sure!
this was what I was gonna say! I love 4LW in Logan Square- they have amazing roasts and shots, and awesome service
5:07 hey that's me! thanks for stopping in, hope you enjoyed your stay in Chicago :)
We had a great experience there! Looking forward to being back.
I visited Kurasu in Kyoto back in 2018, and will forever remember the level of customer service we received. Everyone in the shop had a genuine smile on their face and we felt so welcome. I'm currently living in South Korea, maybe a potential spot for a future Kurasu store 😀
Thank you so much for your positive comment. We love South Korea, and would be a dream to have a shop there!
I love dark matter coffee light roast beans!!😍
Though in the suburbs, you should do a dive into the Yemeni coffee scene in the SW burbs - Qamaria in Chicago Ridge and Haraz in Orland Park
Thank you for the recommendations!
@@KurasuKyoto Qamaria, Heraz, Qahwa House are all really good, qahwah house the best pick of the lot
I am glad you enjoyed your visit to Chicago! I learned about new coffee shops from this in my own city! Best of luck!
as a chicagoan, it’s interesting to hear your perspective. if you make it back, i recommend some smaller spots, like Soloway, Bueno Days, Wormhole, Doma, Hexe…. Thanks for visiting!
Thank you so much for your kind recommendations.
Next time, be sure to check out Avondale Coffee Club featuring Reprise Roasters - they always have 8 or so pour over options from single origin farms that they work with directly.
We be for sure. Thank you so much for the recommendation!
Lived here in Chicago for ten years. You captured the coffee culture here very well! Hope you enjoyed your trip!
Only being in the city for a few days we know there are so many things and places we missed but we really appreciate the kind comment.
I was excited to see this in my recommendations. I absolutely adore Sawada's Military latte...thank you for coming to Chicago. It was cool to see you visit the Intelligentsia in this video--I only visit often due to convenience, but I agree it can be inconsistent. Still, I think our cafe culture is wonderful here. Would love to see a Kurasu here!
Thank you for your insights!
We are Chicagoans and just watched this video. We found your commentary spot on! We would love to see you here or even if we have a chance to visit Kyoto again.
Thank you! We are looking forward to seeing you in Kyoto!
@@KurasuKyoto We'd love that and would love to start making plans.
@KurasuKyoto next time you are in Chicago you need to try Printer's Row Coffee. They have a location in Lincoln park that always has a line out the door. Good coffee, good people.
They have a new cafe next to the REI on Kingsbury and it's beautiful
Will definitely be on our list!
Try Metropolis Coffee... Also nice cameo from cousin.
I've been to many of these coffee shops. Was good to revisit them through your video.
Thanks so much for the comment!
Great video! Saludos from Mérida, Yucatán
Thank you so much!
I grew up by the original Intelligentsia and unfortunately the tourist-heavy locations are underwhelming. Thankfully the original location still makes excellent coffee and the baristas are very good at their jobs! Sawada makes awesome drinks and I loved going there when I worked nearby. Glad you enjoyed your time in my home city.
lol dude from the bear photo bombing at 4:03 🤣
Nice catch! That’s totally Richie!
If you're ever back in Chicago, you need to check out Hansa Coffee up in Libertyville and Tala Coffee's cafe in Highwood - They're both world class roasters that I prefer over anything (expect maybe metric) in Chicago proper.They're about an hour north of the city, feel free to reach out to me if you're in town and need a ride! lol
Thanks so much for the recommendation!
+1 for each of these recommendations.
U really should go to wicker park next time, they have a very vibrant coffee scene and I think you’ll like a lot of the coffee there. Espresso and Milk in the civic opera house is also a good place to check out
Thanks so much for the recommendations!
As a Chicagoan, I share your Inteligentsia sentiment, but luckily there are a lot of other really good coffee shops and roasters...
I have to agree with you about Intelligentsia. I used to go to their Lakeview location all the time since I live in the neighborhood, but they are now overpriced, coffee is subpar and customer service is terrible. There are just too many other great coffee shops around to put up with Intelligentsia.
As a local, Metric is hands down my favorite coffee in the city. I buy their beans to make at home too. Also worth noting Sawada is tucked inside one of the city’s best BBQ joints, Green Street smoked Meats
Love Metric!
Oh hey nice! It looks like the bean was open! The last few times I've been to Chicago the beans been under renovation and closed for a while. Happy your trip to the US went well!
We're looking forward to being back!
Really lovely video - thank you so much for your insights! One of my favourite cities, but i havent been for many years and holw to go back soon 🙏
It was a great visit 🧡
Consider Sparrow Coffee Roasters. Only retail location is 45 min drive from downtown Chicago but they ship beans and may allow visit of Chicago Roastery
Will put on our list. Thank you!
Thank you for visiting my fair city! I'll be visiting yours in September and can't wait to get some coffee!
Looking forward to your visit to Kyoto!
I highly recommend Four Letter Word in Logan Square! The best coffee and espresso in Chicago IMO 🙂
Thank you! Will in on our list for next time.
Love these comments. Everyone has their favorite roaster. There's a ton of them, and not a bad one in the bunch!
I'm partial to Gaslight, but I used to live in the neighborhood. The downtown Intelligencia has always been a waste of time though. Pourovers in a location that busy just results in rushed work and staff burnout. That was true even in the years before the buyout.
Chicago retail customers definitely seek out and support smaller local coffee roasters and beer brewers making them kinda mainstream. That also comes with less experimentation and more just focusing on consistency. Intelligentsia has definitely become less consistent since the sale to Peets unfortunately.
Its a difficult balance we certainly understand. Thank you for the insights.
In your travels to Chicago, I would recommend Typica in Wicker Park. The barista there has made me some excellent espressos.
Thanks for the tip!
Sorry I'm late to this, and I don't know if anyone is around to answer... but I'm a long-term Chicagoan, and I do most of my work in coffee shops, so I've sampled all the ones in this video and most that are in the comments. I have two questions:
(1) I wonder why there's no mention of the pourovers, and especially the choices of single-origin pourovers in the different coffee shops. For me, that's the most interesting part of the scene, and it's how I often decide where to go.
(2) Except for a brief mention of the flavor profile of Dark Matter, there's very little comment on taste. Is that just Kurasu Kyoto's amazing politeness and generosity? Or is there an idea of the perfect espresso? I know from trips to Japan that the service, the cleanliness, the cups and silverware, are absolutely stupendous, and the level of barista expertise is very high. But at the same time I have an idea that there's a general consensus on what comprises an ideal espresso. Or is that just my own experience?
Love to know what others think.
Hey that's me 4:18 right when we noticed Cousin hahaha
love these new style of videos ❤ any chance of international roasteries, like those in Chicago, being part of your partner + Kurasu plan subscription?
Thanks for the comment! Not at the moment but that would be a great suggestion for the future!
As a local, you missed out on Printers Row! Their coffee is fantastic. Another fantastic roaster who doesn't have a brick and mortar store is Kikwetu. They sell mostly at farmers markets but their beans are great.
Metric is great though. I used to work across the street from them and their staff is great.
My criteria for a great coffee shop is this:
1. If I order a black cup of coffee at any time of day, will it be fresh. Too many coffee shops have coffee that's luke warm or I can tell it's been in a thermus for several hours. Coffee flavor does degrade 30 minutes after roasting.
2. Are the beans smooth? It shouldn't have a bitter back of mouth feel. This is typically from the water temperature it's brewed at. Diner coffee (even with good beans) typically tastes this way because they brew it with boiling water instead of around 200F. I've had coffee at diners that serve Dark Matter and it's a stark contrast for what is served in the coffee shops.
METRIC IS MY FAVORITE!!
The best!
actually visited all the same shops you visited when I stay with my sister i Chicago for a few days last year :)
Awesome! Hope you enjoyed your stay in Chicago!
Aww you missed Printers Row in Lincoln Park. Definitely my favorite (and they get the same pastries as Metric 😊)
Great to know! Next time🤞
Please open in Los Angeles! I love the Kyoto location!
Would be a dream!
Bro really said “the costumer experience here is largely shit I might just have to come back here and show yall how it’s done” in the nicest way possible
also i love how you casually got a shot of one of the star actors from The Bear
We didn't know when we shot!
The Kurasu people are being so polite with this video by allowing Chicago coffee and Japan's coffee to even exist in the same sentence together. Absolutely miss Tokyo's pourover shops.
Hope we can see you in Kyoto soon!
Hey, former SCA member, Chicago native, and barista. I've been technical judge for competitions before, and while I'm no longer in the industry Coffee and Chicago are two passions of mine.
1) Shout ot to Metric; I think the best Chicago roaster. I don't brew a lot of their coffee actually, but enjoy every cup I get from them.
2) The best coffee shop in the city isn't well known, but it's called Beans & Bagels. If you engage with this reply let me know if you want me to write up a detailed explanation for why, because I can absolutely pop off and tell you so much you'll want to book your flight back just to see it.
3) Intelligentsia had such a sad fall from grace. It's not just that they got bought by Peets though... the same company bought Caribou, Peets, Intelli, Stumptown, and more. The company JAB Holdings is just the investment wing of a super rich family of Germans who made their fortune selling chemicals in Germany in 1930/40s... I'll let that speak for itself.
Mostly just thank you for visiting our city and checking out the coffee scene.
also a big fan of metric and would love to hear more about beans&bagels!
@@koalamaster The manager has run the floor of the SCA competitions and takes coffee very seriously. Has a sustainability plan in place that has attracted academic attention, and has flown to Cambridge to give talks about how he's de-carbonizing his shop, how he removed plastic from his restaurant almost entirely, and how he does this while providing sustainable wages as well to his employees. He also bakes every single morning lol.
It's unlike any other shop in existence, seriously. I'm only scratching the surface.
What is the great background music at 1:30??
Goddess and Grocer Cafe in terminal 5 Departures at O'Hare. They make good espresso! 👌
Would love to check them out!
next time youre in chicago, you should visit reprise coffee roasters!
Thanks for the recommendation!
I’m from Chicago and we’re begging you to bring a coffee shop to Chicago. The coffee here is so average and could use an upgrade.
We hope we can in the future
Customer service at Intelligentsia -- in particular the Millennium Park location you show here -- has tanked, a trend that I started noticing around 2017 or so. It's like the shop lost its heart. I can't tell you how many absolutely glorious moments I had at that shop. I don't consider the brand anymore -- basically, a last resort for me. I'll recommend Big Shoulders, Metric, Reprise Roasters / Avondale Coffee Club, Jackalope, Side Practice or Drip Collective, most of the Dark Matter locations, Passion House... sit outside on the river at The Kitchen and enjoy an espresso with orange peel. Or lemon. They'll do you 20/10 on service.
Appreciate your insight. We look forward to the day we can dive deeper into the scene in the future.
You didn’t go to 4 Letter Word?!
I second this. Really missed out on the great lever espresso from 4lw, which is really good and unique, at least in Chicago.
Agreed. One of the better shops in Chicago.
Thank you for the comment! Its unfortunate to miss shops when you only have a few days including the expo. This will be on our list when we visit again!
Oh man, I really despised Dayglow when they first opened. The coffee was so sour on my visits there. Perhaps it's time to circle back to it.
That's too bad.. Hope the second chance is a better one.
Printer’s Row Coffee Co. !!!!!! The best in the city.
Thank you for the recommendation!
You missed Bridgeport Coffee! It's the best in Chicago. Dark Matter is a (very!) close second. :)
Such a big turnaround in the last decade. I was really disapointed when I first moved there. Little Milwaukee's coffee shops had a better vibe at the time. Milwaukee is still great but Chicago has surged.
Thanks for sharing your insights. What's your favorite shop?
No Dollop? 😩
I find Intelligentsia has the most consistent quality beans, but yea their customer service at their coffee shops is brutal. It’s like they go out of their way to hire baristas and cashiers that hate people.
Thank for the insights. Unfortunate that you say so,,
Especially the one downtown… never had issues w/the lakeview store
You missed Sparrow! Put it on your list for next time. They've won several competitions.
Personally the intelligentsia in the Murdock building near the Chicago Board of Trade building is a better location IMO. The baristas there often go above and beyond
Monadnock*
Thank you! Yes we visited there as well and agree that it was a better expereince for us. Maybe because it was not as crowded at the time we went as well.
Soloway Coffee in Lincoln park is my current fav, as Sawada has dropped in quality a bit in my opinion. I think the inferior beans are behind the quality drop though, not the actual coffee shop. They use beans roasted by Metropolis Coffee which in the opinion of many locals has seen better days.
Will be on our list. Thanks so much!
Too bad you did not get a chance to check out Metropolis Roasters. They are a long-time staple in Chicago.
We really did want to but unfortunately did not have the time to😢
Stivers is a hidden gem that was missed.
Thanks for the recommendation!
I saw Necessary!
Yes! We enjoyed our breakfast there before the expo.
4:26 metric coffee?
Yep you caught our mistake 🙏
Nothing touches Crepe Shop Coffee period. Yelp top 100 coffees in America with the first mention in Chicago at #17 or something. I was told they’re not a coffee shop, but crepe shop! Yet, yelp says otherwise and smashed everyone else based off yelp. My favorite spot was an AZ company, but past few years my standards have changed to better coffee!
Funny you mention some company’s with several spots, and missed many other companies that are better. Everyone’s experience is different I guess. Everyone submerges their coffee with flavor lol Go to a coffee bar and see how good the coffee tastes naturally without additives.
Appreciate the recommendation! Unfortunately due to the limited time there we could only visit these few. Looking forward to our next visit for more spots!
@dieselkid10 thank you for the insight! I looked up that article. The specialty lattes they mention was my creation. The Crepe Shop wanted to be known as more than a crepe shop, LOL! But also a place where you could get a great coffee as well. I use to work there with an amazing coffee professional name Eric and together we took their coffee to another level!
Only get drip coffee downtown
シカゴへようこそ！僕は長年間クラスのファンで、シカゴ出身なんです！およそ四年前クラスのビデオで、フィルターコーヒーのやり方を習いました。去年京都に行ってクラスに行くことができました。それで、今年クラスがシカゴにきて色々なシカゴのコーヒーを飲んで、すごく嬉しいです！☺ シカゴの最高のコーヒーを見つけるのはちょっと難しいだと思います。僕の好きなコーヒーショップはFour Letter WordとDayglowとSide Practiceです。Side PracticeはNew MathとCeramicというミクロロースターを売っていて、おいしいだと思います。次のシカゴに来るときに、ぜひ行ってみてくださいね。
まだ学んでいますから変な日本語ですみません！
日本語すごく上手ですね！すごいです！コメントありがとうございます。またぜひシカゴに行く時はおすすめの店に行ってみます！
You missed Metropolis!!
Sadly, yes😢
lol I only came in here to see if anyone else spotted Cousin at Sawada.
Although Japans coffee seen is dominated by a handful of players it still offers a superior customer service experience that most coffee shops in America don't offer. Also, unlike in the majority of coffee shops in the U.S., there are many other countries, including Japan, that focus on their interiors and is an integral part of the coffee experience. Sadly, interiors are a second thought and many times are not even paid attention to in the U.S. -- the result is a hodgepodge of second hand furniture or hyper-corporate looking interiors that lack curation and attention to detail. The upfront cost and upkeep are part of the problem but perhaps the lack of creativity might also be the issue. Another saddening experience in U.S. coffee shops is the enormous amount of laptops -- Americans treat their coffee shops as work spaces or to-go centers rather than a place to meet up with friends or just sit and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, espresso, and food in a vibrant environment filled with conversation. There are a handful of American coffee shops that have delicious tasting coffee & espresso beverages but due to our obsession with speed and work the end result is lacking. At the end of the day, you can hang up all the local art you want and write out an inspiring mission statement about community connection but if the vibe is lacking it just doesn't matter...
Thank you for your insights. It's always great to hear from a local perspective. The US is the foundation of the third wave coffee movement, which has inspired many, including us in Japan. We hope the US can be the inspiration for the next movement.
all other coffee tastes bland after tasting dark matter's coffee. apart from having great coffee, the chocolates from sleepwalk are amazing. I'd suggest trying their mocha or drinking chocolate
Appreciate the recommendation!
But they didn’t go to Metropolis!!
Wish we could've!
Intelligentsia suck so much; next time you gotta check out Gaslight and Bru on Lawrence Ave my guy
Thank you for the recommendations. We hope we can as well!
These are nice spots. I was expecting more of an expansive look, but Chicago’s -Downtown- Specialty Coffee Scene is a slice of what’s there..
Agreed!
you forgot Magnifico coffee !!
Thanks for the tip! We will note for next time🙏
If someone finds a matcha here that actually Tastes good please let me know.
It's weird that you came to Chicago to explore its coffee scene and only stuck to Dowtown and based your opinions on that small demographic. Chicago is not just Downtown (and you barely visited any shops). Venture out.
Agreed! With only few days during our expo trip it's unfortunate we couldn't visit more. We tired our best with the limited time we had and looking forward to digging in deeper in the future!
Only 5% of espresso in Chicago is decent in my 5yrs
holy im pogging off
All things Chicago are overrated. Coffee is no exception
Bruh. Ipsento? Wormhole?
Wormhole kinda sucks but the people there are so nice
They got no beanz my guy, gotta check out Gaslight and Bru on Lawrence Ave
Appreciate the recommendations!
Chicago coffee sucks! People are not passionate about, the girl with nose ring and green hair sell you $5.50 sour expresso🤢🤢🤢 that's why I don't even bother going there
That's too bad,, what city do you recommend for coffee?
I hate to say it but Intelegensia is absolutely not specialty coffee at the cafe level. It is a local commodity chain, same with Dark matter.
Thanks for the insight🙏
Coffee in Chicago is pretty mediocre. In general, the US' food and drinks quality are pretty low, the venues will have high ratings but that's because Americans rate places based on the space and atmosphere, not the quality of the food/beverages. I've lived here for more than 30 years and they've all been pretty basic or bad. La Colombe is the only one that I like in Chicago. If I wanted good coffee, I make it at home.
The best coffee I had are from Asia and EU. Most barista's in Chicago just care about you giving them tip for handing you your coffee. It's rare to see a barista that's actually passionate about coffee and giving customer's the best experience.
It's definitely rare but it's worth getting your coffee when they're working. When I don't see my favorites baristas, no matter where I'm at, I just turn around and walk out. Honestly it's better than being disappointed
Thank you for sharing your observation. Really interesting.
I know it’s Cali based but omg you missed Philz
Next time!
Bro went to Sawada and didn't eat at Green Street Meats! 🥲
Was such a rushed trip. Next time!🙏