CC: Istria Cafe

Subject: Istria Cafe

Location: Chicago, IL

Free WiFi ? : yes

Rating: 6+ [see key]

While coffee gets much of it’s spotlight in the morning hours and amidst the work day, I have to admit that some of the best coffee times I have are at night when I can slow down and relax with my coffee. Given a divine blessing, caffeine rarely affects my sleep patterns, so while some might unwind with a cup of chamomile, I’ll occasionally treat myself to an espresso or pourover as I sit in my ninja turtle footie pajamas.

Where the evening coffee treat really proves lovely is when I’m in a town with a coffee establishment with later hours. Chicago being one city with a plethora of cafes that are open when the street lanterns are lit, I made my way to a local coffeehouse called Istria Cafe right after clocking out of work that eve. Located at the Hyde Park Art Center, it proved close to my last stop on business.

The café has large open windows that allow the approaching patron to take in the café well before the door opens. Inside, the café is a mix of orange-cushioned walls and white counter space, complete with beautiful lighting and plentiful seating. For my order, I decided on an espresso of Intelligentsia’s Black Cat and a pourover of Counter Culture’s Ethiopian Idido.

The espresso, pulled short with brown crema, held notes of lemon, cola, bitter cocoa, a bit of pepper and a dash of dough; a good pull of Black Cat. The pourover plowed into my tongue like a mac truck of raspberry and tomato, with aftershocks of wheat, rose petals and potato skin. The pourover proved well extracted and quite delicious. They also serve gelato, free leaf tea and a decent food menu. 

Aside from some minor issues in finding a street parking spot (it is Chicago), Istria was a glorious stop that ended my work day and gave heed to my evening activity beautifully. Give Istria Cafe a hearty hello if you're nearby. 

CC: Asado Coffee Co

What does CC mean?

Subject: Asado Coffee Co

Location: Chicago, IL

Free WiFi ? : yes

Rating: 6+ [see key]

Back before smart phones, I landed in Chicago for a university conference and one night I determined to go for a walk. The weather was fair and I was feeling energetic, so taking in the fair sights of Chi-town, I kept walking in a straight line for some time. After a good 2 hours or so, I finally came to my senses and since I naively viewed public transportation as more of a headache than a time-saver, I had a long walk back. But I made the best of it, took a different route and made my way home to my room with burning feet and a nice walking tour of the city under my belt.

These days I rarely strut that far, but in all of my travels in Chicago, I occasionally stumble upon places that look familiar from my fabled long walk. One such place is Asado Coffee Co, a Chicago roaster that exists in a small, uniquely-colored shop on West Irving Park Rd. My last trip, not being as interested in it's hard shell as I was the gooey center, I stepped into a shop with tiled ceiling, green walls and a cozy-but-spacious use of space between seating, the counter and the roaster. 

As for my coffee, I ordered an espresso (I did not catch a unique name for the coffee used) and a pourover of their Ugandan. The espresso, pulled short/medium with light brown and blonde crema distributed a light yet punchy beverage with notes of ginger, cocoa, sweet milk and salt (a fine showing!). The pourover had notes of sweet molasses, salted pork, cocoa, fresh dill, a little elderflower and a medium body that all in all proved to shine as a delightful cup of coffee. 

Thus, if you're looking for some well-roasted coffee in Lakeview, give Asado Coffee a try. 

CC: Star Lounge Coffee

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Star Lounge Coffee Company

Location visited: Chicago, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]



Sadly, transparency in people has become more and more a unique rarity, like a responsible oil company (oh smack!) or a cheerful velociraptor. But I caught myself an unprecedented glimpse of such a cryptozoological specimen at a local cafe in Chicago (with a kicking lunch menu), where the young barista confided in me that the cafe's coffee was lackluster and that if I was looking for good coffee, to check out a place called the Star Lounge. As I recovered from my initial shock of such a disarming recommendation, he readily sketched down their web address and with strong enthusiasm, encouraged me to check it out if I wanted to try some amazing coffee.

Well, I certainly wanted to try out some amazing coffee so I suggested the spot as a rendezvous for meeting up with a gaggle of colleagues. In the waning hours of daylight, we made it to the Star Lounge, shimmering in a slightly older storefront on W. Chicago Avenue. Up the stairs to the slightly-elevated-off-the-street viscera (inside), I stood amidst a bustle of patrons nestled amidst orange walls, wood floors, an old bar and some snazzy furniture.

As I stared at their menu, I learned that though Star Lounge roasts their own coffee, they use the name of Dark Matter for their roasting operations (I do love an appropriate astronomical pun). I ordered their Burundi via drip, a juicy yet beef broth-ey coffee with notes of Earl Grey tea and a subtle grassiness in an overall smooth cup. The espresso, pulled short with a pleasing crema and velvety mouth feel, tasted of lemon, dark cocoa, sugar cane and a bit of bitterness. Both the coffee and the espresso proved pleasing with only a tad too much bitterness in the espresso. The tea is free leaf.

In departing, I thought the honest barista's recommendation was not too far off. Star Lounge seems like a great local place looking to refine with time; with a few minor tweaks, the place could really earn a name for itself (especially if all their clientele are as fervent as the chap I first met). If you're in the vicinity, shoot over to Star Lounge.

CC: Knockbox Cafe

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Knockbox Cafe

Location visited: Chicago, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]


Of the many things I've seen in quality Chicago coffee, the one thing that impresses me is the loyalty to local roasters. I've been to a number of coffeehouses in the Windy City and thus far, I only see a dire love for the likes of Intelligentsia and Metropolis.

Adding to my repertoire of such establishments was a place in Humboldt Park called Knockbox Cafe. In my travels around the city, the streets leading me to Knockbox definitely didn't strike me as a place a random tourist would happen upon but more a space where locals enjoy their daily coffee (i.e. it was largely residential). Upon arriving, I also noticed the exterior of the cafe was under a bit of construction, with a big piece of plywood over one side of the corner, though the remainder of the exterior looked spiffy. Inside, the cafe trumpeted a huge counter area, a high brown metal ceiling and large colorful walls surrounding a spread out sea of seating.

Knockbox is a Metropolis Coffee purveyor, proudly toting the roaster not only in their cafe but quite visibly on their website (a refreshing sight, given the ridiculous trend amongst some cafes of either masquerading a roaster's coffee as the cafe's own or withholding the roaster because its a "trade secret").

I purchased a cup of medium roasted Peru as well as an espresso. The Peru displayed some asian pear, a bit of almond, some pepper, a molasses-like sweetness and a tingle of grain; a good, pretty balanced cup though I felt the brew was a bit off. The espresso, pulled short with a nice crema, held a strong dark peppery flavor as well as some nice notes of bright acidity, cocoa and a little bit of celery. A decent pull though I can't say I was in love with the blend (I believe it was Metropolis' Redline Espresso, a blend better marketed for its performance in milk). The tea is free leaf.

After ingesting my coffee and a quick boardgame with friends (they had a nice selection), I was on my way, pleased with my Knockbox interaction.

Whether you live local or you're passing close by, give Knockbox Cafe a visit.

CC: Brothers K Coffee

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Brothers K Coffee

Location visited: Evanston, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]



Sometimes it feels good to get out of the routine and do something a little different. I had one such day in Chicago where I had a good chunk of time to kill before my first engagement so I made my way a little north of my usual travels to Evanston for a morning cup of coffee and a little down time.

For the coffee, I headed to a Metropolis-slinging place called Brothers K Coffee. The coffeehouse sits in a maroon-awning-ed, stone structure on the Main Street of this North Shore town. Amidst the high ceilings and old tile floor, the cafe was buzzing with a morning crowd. After wading through the line and ordering, I found myself a spot at the bar along the window and set my eyes to my bounty.

I ordered myself a cup of a medium roasted Sumatran as well as an espresso. The Sumatran held a bit of sauciness, hyacinth and lime with some bits of apple, molasses and whole grains (a pretty good cup). The espresso, pulled short and with a nice crema, had the flavor of Christmas (like a cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg combo), light cocoa, a little whiskey and overall, a nice brightness and bitterness balance. The tea is free leaf.

After some time at the bar next to a wee lad sipping a latte with his mum (this past year, I've seen a lot of kids getting lattes), it was time to begin my day and I have the Brothers K to thank for the good start. I can heartily sound that I enjoyed my experience and would recommend a visit for any who traverse north of the Loop.

CC: Coffee Studio

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Coffee Studio

Location visited: Chicago, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]



A relaxing afternoon amidst a delightful cafe does not often happen. Most of the time, my coffeehouse visits are brief but once in a while, relaxation can weave its way into my coffee experience.

Such was the occurrence one brisk day in Chicago. I had finished my work for the day and so a colleague and I made our way to a place called the Coffee Studio for a respite. Having reviewed some press from Bon Appetit that toted the Coffee Studio as a top boutique coffee establishment, I had a piqued interest to take it in.

The setting is that of a warm, invigorating interior with a chic, modern design and a beautiful mixture of wood and exposed brick. An Intelligentsia-toting establishment, I moved to the counter and ordered myself a Black Cat espresso and a cup of their Brazil freshly-brewed via filter. The Black Cat modeled deep chocolate and sugary lemon with a milkiness towards the end, all embodied in a short pull with beautiful crema. The Brazil demonstrated what I would equivocate to a nice Belgian ale with a squeeze of citrus as well as a chunk of caramel. Together, a great showing of coffee. The tea is free leaf.

After chill-axing for a good part of the afternoon, I had to end the pleasant trip to the Coffee Studio. Without a doubt, yet another great shop to add to Chicago's north. Go.

CC: Blue Max Coffee

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Blue Max Coffee

Location visited: Forest Park, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]


As much as I wish I was a morning person, getting up with the sun for work-related purposes is harder then scaling a wall upside-down (sorta). But little incentives can make all the difference.

Several weeks ago, I had to get up much earlier then usual but to make it truly worth my while, I had earmarked a coffee stop called Blue Max Coffee in nearby Forest Park outside Chicago. Driving up to Blue Max in the early AM, the sun reflected nicely off the vanilla siding of the converted house-to-cafe. Indoors, the old domicile layout is still evident but despite the extra wall or two, the space is fairly open with lots of seating, an enclosed porch and an overall pleasing aesthetic.

Blue Max roasts their own coffee (the drum roaster sits in the cafe) and that morning, I sprang for their Nicaraguan, a light roast that held the bright sweetness of pear and caramel as well as some hazelnut and a flair of sauciness (a good cup in my eyes). The espresso, pulled short with a marbled crema, gave a combination of a merlot, some cinnamon, a lemon sucker (the candy of course) and some orange juice with a tip of bitterness (aka pretty swell). The tea is free leaf.

Even though I still hit a predictable wall of weariness later that day, Blue Max definitely fueled my morning with some pretty stellar coffee. I hope to try them again (soon?) as I'm sure this trip was no anomaly.

Despite the hour which you arise, I propose making a stop at Blue Max Coffee.

CC: Chava Cafe

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Chava Cafe

Location visited: Chicago, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


While I have been to Chicago many times before, I revel in this recent trip the most. Not only did I get to spend some serious time in the thriving metropolis, but I was with good company (one of them a local) and in glorious weather for early Spring.

So on one sunny, calm day I made a trip to Chava Cafe, a joint reputed to be doing some good things with Intelligentsia's coffee. Chava sits in a nice round-cornered facility with windows between pillars throughout with a huge interior to match, rich with calming colors and intriguing furniture.

The cafe also owns a Clover (plus, if their barista was correct, mentioned that a comparable device was to be tested in Chava in coming days). I ordered Intelly's Ikerizi, Burundi clover-ized, a beautiful, light brew that showed maple syrup over buttermilk waffle, a little sour apple and some caramel and chocolate truffle. My espresso also impressed, as it was a good, short pull of Black Cat, producing a thick chocolate chip cookie, some lemon, a bit of sea salt and a nice crema. The tea is free leaf.

In my list of cafes I wish I lived near, I can confidently say that Chava would be in my top 20. If you're in Chicago, take a trip to Chava.

CC: Metropolis Coffee Company

What's a Coffee Commentary?

Subject: Metropolis Coffee Company
Location visited: Chicago, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]



Whenever I visit Chicago, it feels like I rush through city. Always rushing back and forth to see things or in this specific case, to grab lunch and show my good pal of mine a broad glimpse of the city (in the end, we saw most of the tourist spots under 3 hours...).

But as any serious coffee lover knows, you don't go through Chicago without making a coffee stop. My last time through, I hit Intelligentsia (always a good cup) but this time I wanted to pop in at Metropolis Coffee Company, a roaster/coffeehouse that has received much acclaim for their coffee as well as their espresso (a sweet-smelling melody to one's ears).

So, in order to make our time well-spent, we parked up near Metropolis in the far north of Chicago, which actually turned out to not be metered! We got there early and so hit the place before we began our whirlwind tour.

The shop is long, with some outside tables and a clean modern exterior. The inside blew me away with the square footage of the space, the nice art, and how every single piece of furniture was occupied by someone (obviously some local love).

As mentioned, they roast their own and (wo)man do they do a good job. Since they offer drip as well as french press for coffee, I figured I'd try the press. The coffee was beautiful, with a buxom body and just the right acidity (I forget which coffee it was, *tear*).

The espresso also knocked my socks off, with a really sweet tang that hit my tongue with sniper precision. The baristas, who were excellent in delightful service, had stellar skills in pulling the shots well.

I failed to note the tea (but I bet it's good!).

The fact that Chicago has such a gem really made my day. If you're ever nearby, make sure to make a side trip to sample Metropolis.

CC: Intelligentsia Coffee Roasters

What's a Coffee Commentary?

Subject: Intelligentsia Coffee Roasters
Location visited: Chicago, IL (Broadway)
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


Last week, as I was heading across the country with a friend, we made a stop in Chicago to get some lunch and afterwards refuel with a good cup of coffee. I had made a note that the guy who came in third at the World Barista Championship came from Intelligentsia, a Chicago-based roaster/coffeehouse that is absolutely "fanatical" about coffee.

After a little traffic getting up to their Broadway store, we found parking right in front but decided to grab a deepdish pizza, then come back for coffee. The pizza took forever (it was a place on Broadway that was known for their stuffed pizza) but boy was it amazing (even better cold).

Upon our return to Intelligentsia, we found the store pretty packed, with numerous people doing work or holding conversation. I noted that they had a completely seperate counter for their whole bean sales which I guess was more out of necessity due to volume.

From what I could tell, the coffee was amazing as was the espresso. Both were smooth and well-balanced. My iced redeye was neither sharp nor too bitter, but had the right bit of hootsba (sp?) to keep me glowing.

Oddly I don't remember seeing their tea or chai, but upon investigation on their site, they sell their own tea as well! A rarity indeed if the tea is as good as the coffee.

One of few places that needs no real review; they're reputation precedes. So if you're near Chicago, grab a stuffed (or deepdish) pizza and finish it off with a trip to Intelligentsia.