I was so excited to stop here on infrequent trip to wilmette and have a scone and coffee. It's charming and smells dreamy. I was sad though bc I asked for a cherry scone (fresh out of the oven even) and it was burned on the bottom. I felt sheepish complaining about it so i didn't. Big bummer though! read more

Alchemy Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

This tiny little coffee shop is nestled amongst the apartment buildings and shops on Linden. There's only about five seats in the shop, three of them along the front window, so it can get cozy inside but for the warmer months they seem to have lots of outdoor seating. Inside they also have a record player for some ambiance and good music. Their chai is delicious! It was sweeter than I expected but I like it sweet too. On the spicy to sweet scale of chai, this is definitely on the sweet side, so if that's not your bag you'll want to select something else. The menu overall is small, but the drinks are pleasant. They had several scones and although I skipped those, another woman in the shop was buying a scone wheel to bake at home, so I don't deny they piqued my interest. There is a good deal of parking along the street here, but I don't think they have a parking lot. As of March 2023 they are open Friday through Sunday only (see my photo). read more

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Alchemy Coffee House offers a selection of their roastery coffee options as well as their famous scones for purchase. We came here to get a caffeine fix, and tried: +Caffee Mocha +Chai Latte +and, one of their summertime specialties, The Alchemist - blended with bananas, pecans, figs, honey, and milk Beverages come in 3 sizes - 12, 16, or 20 oz. Don't sleep on their scones, as if they are out at the store, you can get frozen ones to-go and bake at home. Great with your choice of butter and jam of choice. Staff were friendly, and there's plenty of street parking in the area. +try their scones +friendly service +plenty of street parking available read more

Alchemy is Open! Some of the best coffee and scones in the area. Get to Alchemy early if want to get a scone. They sell out fast on the weekends. read more

Excellent service and beautiful & tasty scones. I will return to what is obviously a neighborhood favorite.

I live in Chicago but took the CTA up to go to the Baha'i temple. This place is only a block from the linden purple line stop, so it's extremely convenient. I saw they take card. I was hungry, and it was 12:30pm on a Saturday, and I grabbed two scones that I was surprised they still had some left! I got an apricot one and a chocolate chip. They were both positively delicious. I'm a scone fanatic and holy sh*tballs they blew my mind. I'll be hiking my pretty a** from Chicago to go here again for sure. Just for the scones! Needless to say, this is the one yelp review I'll write without a picture because I absolutely demolished my scones...for obvious reasons read more

A friend of mine told me about Alchemy so I biked up from Evanston (no shortage of coffee shops) to check it out. Inside and out it's unpretentious, quirky and charming. Their medium roast coffee was very smooth but what knocked me out was their cranberry walnut scone. I don't profess to be a "scone guy" but on the first bite I noticed the crust was crunchy on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside. On my way back in to get one to go for my wife I noticed they had a display cooler with scone dough proofing inside. If you are a scone lover Alchemy is a must stop! (Note: The shop is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) read more

Alchemy Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

This is my Dad's favorite coffee shop and they're in a nice, quiet location. It's pretty easy to find parking here. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The owner here is also really nice. I went to get a gift card one day and, though they were out of them, he hand-made me one on the fly! Much appreciated. read more

Solid place for a quick coffee. Looks like it is frequented by locals often as many people were sitting outside conversing. The service was fast. They don't allow people into the coffee house itself, I assume because of Covid. Coffee was delicious. read more

Alchemy Coffee House - Outside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

They have the best coffee in Wilmette and outstanding scones -- roasting beans on-site

Alchemy is my stop every time I walk to the beach. This little café that has made it for 15 years in the east Wilmette small Linden street retail area near the L station. Linden and 4th streets. Very small 8-10 seat café but they roast their own beans and everything I've had has been excellent. Espresso today, rich and not too bitter. Wonderful. Raspberry iced tea for Tresa. Scones available too. Staff is always friendly, good music playing and tables outside also. About 4 blocks away from the Baha'i temple. read more

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Cute and out of the way, located in a beautiful neighborhood perfect for a post-breakfast meander. Scones are the only food option and there are about five types. We tried cranberry and chocolate chip. Both had nice flavor but were crunchier than I'm used too. Coffee was tasty and the staff were friendly. Seems to be family run. read more

Tiny space with outdoor seating. Good coffee and and the best scones around. Stop in and support local businesses

My experience with "Alchemy Coffee House" was worth 4.5 stars. ACH is located steps away from the CTA Linden Purple Line Station, the northbound terminal stop. I knew this place only accepts cash. I was lucky like a Irish man in March since I had a $10 bill in my wallet. Otherwise, there's an PNC ATM inside the Linden Purple Line Station. The young lady on duty was really down-to-earth. I informed the content of "buzz queen" and was told that it was basically coffee with two (2) espresso shots. Cool, whether it would cause me any buzz or not, I could use some to wake me up since this daylight savings thing has thrown me off a little bit. They also bake the pastries onsite. I also asked for an apricot scone just in case the buzz became apparent. Sweetness could probably offset this effect. So what was the verdict of the "buzz queen?" There wasn't much buzz that I felt. However, it was a great-tasting coffee overall. They roast their coffee beans and sell them in a bag. It's a solid local business in Wilmette and has been going for ten (10) years since 2005. I liked the decors. The entire coffee shop was pretty tiny, but all the lights coming through the windows seemingly amplified the space. The choice of furniture emphasized the "rustic nature," which looked homey and helped me relax a bit before I had to run the rest of errands for the day. Perhaps the buzz queen could upgrade itself to the "buzz king," or should she be more of a feminist. Perhaps couple more shots of espresso would have done the trick. read more

Alchemy Coffee House - Buzz queen (2 shots of espresso) and apricot scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

One of the best coffees I've ever had and the scones are deeeelicious!!!! Definitely worth the trip if you're looking for a great cup of coffee. They sell freshly ground beans as well. Wish they were open more days during the week. read more

Alchemy is a really cool family owned coffee house, perfectly located near the metra. It feels good taking a break from the Dunkin donuts and Starbucks of the world to enjoy something more unique. Prices I'd say are still comparable to Starbucks however. I do need my coffee in the afternoon. When I went it was quiet, me being the only one. I believe they roast their own beans here and it smelled great when I entered. From walking in you get this really funky 70s vibe. My dad is a carpenter and used to make furniture that looked similar to the tables and chairs in Alchemy, so I thought it looked really neat and original; all made from plywood. I liked the eclectic decor and old time music that played. They have a vintage tape reel and one of the biggest dictionaries I've ever seen! When I asked the girl behind the counter what she recommended she asked me if I prefer sweet or not. I say a little, bc I like all things a little sweet. She gave me the hazelnut latte which I Loved! Sooo good and not overly sweet. Just perfect. And I grabbed a scone to go with. It was delicious! They also serve some cakes that sound amazing and worth a try! Banana cake with chocolate ganache, espresso cake with salted caramel and a chai spiced cake. There are bottled juices and flavored water too. Perfect place to grab a coffee to go, or perhaps meet someone. Perhaps not in the busy mornings, bc they are very small. I saw a sign for fruit smoothies so I will have to go back with my kids for one. read more

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Hands down THE BEST chai tea latte I've ever had- and that's saying a LOT! I was very impressed with the flavor in the latte and I could tell that it wasn't just from a cheap, concentrated mix like most other shops. This place is so tiny and cozy! Keep doing what you're doing! read more

Alchemy Coffee House - chai tea latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

Had an event the area and wanted to try an independent shop on my way home. My buddy and I stopped in for a double espresso and were both disappointed. The man behind the counter was crabby. I asked for espressos for here and he pulled the shots into the dirty clear glass cups and then transferred them to porcelain cups. If you drink espresso, you know this is not how to do it. I asked him to remake the shots and pull them directly into the porcelain cups. He was clearly irritated because it was more work for him and with the store's goofy setup, he had to go into the back room to rinse the portafilter in a sink. I watched the shots and they were too fast. Our espressos lacked crema and were thin, weak and acidic. We did not find the atmosphere warm or inviting. Not a good first impression... read more

I have been getting Alchemy coffee beans delivered to my home weekly for several months and the freshness of locally roasted beans can't be beat. I grind for both drip and espresso and love the selection of single origin Alchemy offers. I haven't had a variety I didn't love. I can't recommend Alchemy enough. Local gem! read more

Decided to finally try this place since my sister was getting a massage in a nearby shop in this center. I looked at the reviews and decided to get the iced chai latte since the pictures of the chai looked good and the reviewer said it was the best chai they've ever tasted. I received my chai and was surprised by the color since chai lattes are usually a bit darker since chai is black tea so usually the color of the latte will change a little darker. I then try it and it was okay- I've had better from other places. If you like a heavy distinct chai taste this isn't your latte, but if you like a subtle chai latte taste then this is for you. It just didn't do it for me. read more

Alchemy Coffee House - Iced Chai Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

Coffee and lattes are always quality and consistent. Their roasted beans are great to take and brew at home. Not really a place to hang out and work more a stop and get your coffee before you go to work. Cash only. Pricing is confusing and seems to change daily. But otherwise our go to for coffee for sure. read more

Independent and small, this coffee shop is primarily a coffee roaster, but they also have a select menu of coffee offerings and scones. Of course, in retrospect I could kick myself for not buying a scone, because I later found out they are supposed to be absolutely incredible. But, next time for sure! First of all the smell in this place when I walked in was incredible! Kind of like that amazing aroma you experience from when you open a coffee can or bag of beans for the very first time. The interior is funky. All the furnishings are made from plywood--a very unique concept. But what immediately caught my attention was the giant coffee roaster in the back and the cute bean grinder up front attached to the wall (reminded me of an old school pencil sharpener). This place is tiny, so there is only a bar at the window and a couple of seats. I was planning to get my vanilla latte to go, so that really wasn't an issue. If you want a place to hang with a friend this wouldn't be my first choice. But, as a great place to grab a guaranteed great cup to go, you won't be disappointed. My vanilla latte was memorable, and I have a thing for lattes. I've also heard their cappuccino is really tasty, so next time I will report back! Great coffee, great place, and great service. Can't go wrong with this place! read more

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Alchemy Coffee House are very serious about their coffee - or at least they appear to be ... because it takes a full 5 minutes of labor, pipes; steam; thermometers; widgets; stirring and sweat before my extra-shot 'for here' latte to be completed. I almost felt I should hold it high above my head and shout some Kenyan / Zulu Lion King thing before sipping the fine brew in awe and wonder! The place is not impressive to look at ... in fact ... pretty darn dumpy ... but that is its charm. It has a cheap wooden counter, an old second hand refrigerated (I think) display case for some dodgy (but expensive) pastries / scones and then the two pieces of magic that clearly help to explain the joint's name :: Alchemy Coffee House ... In the back room is a wooden pallet containing a few random bags of raw coffee beans some half torn open and then ... the sexiest green coffee roasting monster machine you've ever set your fortunate green eyes on!! WowZa. But the potions we pay for are via the coffee brewing machine (I lack the correct knowledge to attribute its correct name) which is a wonder of stainless steel pipes, knobs and funnels; fussy, high maintenance and perhaps a bugger to clean ... this machine is majestic! I'd buy it diamond from Tiffany if I owned it! (Alas!) The kid behind the counter (literally a kid!) -- Merlin's Apprentice (?) -- knows what he's doing and 5 minutes of wand waving // a flurry of hands turning and twisting and shrugging (?) et voila ... The result is divine coffee! And sitting outside on a Sunday morning drinking and enjoying what the Catholic Church once called "The Devil's Drink" is hilarious because my poor wife and kids are suffering Sunday Mass at SFX just up the road. Ha. The Irony! read more

Alchemy Coffee House - The best coffee. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

Cash only but otherwise wonderfully quirky! I love it! Small and EXCELLENT coffee that's roasted and ground on-premises. They make their own scones too. I got a Dirty Chai with almond milk and it melted my tongue in orgasmic joy. Friendly staff and an overall fantastic place to hang out and chill. read more

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A tiny coffee shop. I don't think I quite grasped just how small it is until I walked in. There's 2 small round tables and a bar along the window, and that's just about all the seats the place has room for. The coffee is pretty good. I appreciate their roasting in house, but I personally don't love their coffee enough to come out of my way to grab some when I can go to coffee lab, except maybe on Sunday mornings. But they have this crazy thing that's 2 shots of espresso in coffee, and it's very interesting and super strong. It's coffee spiked coffee. It's awful for my body, but it's awesome. There's also a similar blended mocha that's like that too for cooler weather. YES. Cash only is also kind of a pain. read more

i pass by and i smell the coofee i bike from uptown to the bahai temple so i get back to the coffee shop and get a ice coffe and enjoy in the patio really good the girl on the counter was cool and attentive see you next time read more

Alchemy Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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Hmmm... beginning to tire of the unpredictable nature of what has been my favorite coffee and scones place. They might be open during normal business hours, and they might not be. If you're like me and go 20 mins out of your way to find them closed this gets old quickly. I'd call ahead, alas they have no working land line. read more

The place is small,peaceful and clean, they play music for the 50 or 60s (which is a good touch to a coffee place), the employees are really nice, the scones are pretty good, the coffee was good too and yes there restroom is open to anyone wanting to use it. It's a bit too small for a group of 6 and they don't take credit cards (which is always a shame) But it's a good coffee place if your feeling to give it a try. read more

I had an almond latte here which was great but didn't know this place is cash only. The barista was very nice and told me I can bring her the money later! I wish there was more kindness in the world. I did fine some cash at the end but still was a few cents short which she forgave. I will be having coffee there soon and will give a big tip. read more

Great coffee shop serving the basics but doing them well. Standard no frills selection but every option is good. The homemade scones in rotation truly set Alchemy apart - the date & walnut or cherry ones are the best and are just so so so good. Warm, buttery, and crumbly. read more

Would've been 2 stars if the scone wasn't AMAZING. Cash only was lame. House roasted is cool but the roast wasn't very flavorful at all. 11 year old working the register was a little odd. read more

Good coffee and FANTASTIC scones. In the summer it's a great place to get a coffee and sit outside. Only drawback is the inside is a bit small and they are a cash-only business. read more

Our neighborhood gem. The best! The scones are ridonculously good. Really nice vibe. The inside space is tight, but there are outside tables pretty much all year round. read more

Disclaimer: I'm basing this review entirely on their beans. While I've also had espresso drinks, coffee, and edibles here, I haven't had nearly enough to construct a well informed opinion. I first began making my weekly/bi-weekly alchemy runs after a friend tipped me off to them. Casteel coffee down on Central street recently went under, and I was looking for a roaster a little more local than intelligentsia. After initially being skeptical due to their rather limited variety (they typically only have around 3 sources at a time), I was quite pleasantly surprised to find that these beans are absolutely out of this world! If you've been drinking coffee in and around Chicago, you may have noticed that within the last decade or so local coffee shops have become increasingly dependent on a couple of big names in the business (notably Intelligentsia, Metropolis, and more recently, Alterra). While these few "super-local" roasters have maintained exemplary quality despite massive and rapid production increases, it's somewhat disheartening to explore a new part of the city only to find that the local independently owned cafe's cup of bean juice is the same as you'll find in your own neck of the woods. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for awesome coffee being available everywhere, but it has been my casual observation that the overwhelming success of these few roasters has begun to threaten independently owned and operated roasters including gems like Alchemy. For instance, high-end coffee roasters have been so influenced by Intelligentsia that many operations are afraid of giving their beans a little more color. Intelligentsia found a way to sell light roasts by focusing on brightly flavored beans from small farms in eastern-African countries, and in accordance with the "if it ain't broke" philosophy, many roasters have shunned darker roasts entirely or only include a token selection of dark roasts. Alchemy coffee shines in its ability to consistently provide exceptionally evenly roasted beans, even when they tend to be on the darker side. The first time I made a mug of their Colombian, I was absolutely taken aback; I had completely forgotten just how good a dark roast could be. Unlike some other super-local roasters where I only end up tasting the roast (I'm looking at you Alterra) or where I end up with a greasy inconsistent cup of coffee (Intelligentsia's Diablo Dark anyone?), Alchemy really manages to dial it in perfectly. The result is a full-bodied, full-flavored cup of coffee of the caliber you simply cannot find anywhere else. The Short Version: The storefront is small, the selection of beans is limited, and it's pretty much a one man show, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Easily the best beans I've had north of Howard, and the best dark roasts I've ever had the privilege of preparing in my life. Keep up the good work! read more

Excellent coffee and chocolate chip scones. In the summer they have this smoothie thing that was out of this world - I think it had banana, almond, honey, and ... I can't remember, but it was amazing. This morning I had a mint mocha made with REAL peppermint oil, and it was really, really good. read more

Other Yelp reviews raved about how friendly the staff at this place was and how great the coffee was. I stopped in here midday...not really friendly service. Tried the limited edition sea salt caramel latte. It tasted like a latte with a hint of caramel. Good for the suburbs but not as great as I was hoping for. read more

One-of-a-kind coffee house oozing character. During my first visit, the very nice owner had music going on his period reel-to-reel tape player and I felt like I was in another world. He roasts his own beans and you can tell he really cares about quality. It's a great place to sit down outside on a nice day and relax. One of the best places in the neighborhood. Try to stop in when the scones are warm; they're delicious! read more

Alchemy is a quaint coffee shop in Wilmette. The coffee was good and decor was fun. Love the old cassette reel. The almond milk was store bought rather than homemade (trust me, there is a difference). Ambience is fine but small. Service is personable but can be inconsistent. Decent place for coffee. read more

Best coffee on the North Shore. They roast their beans almost daily which makes all the difference. But the major attraction are the homemade scones. They are fantastic! Made with real butter as opposed to the crummy hydrogenated oils the major chains use. (I asked.) The scones are warm and flaky with a nice crispy crust. The perfect accompaniment to their delicious coffee. These folks take their coffee (and scones) seriously. Don't bring your laptop in here to camp out and show everyone how important you are. Refreshingly, these modern smart-gadgets are frowned upon in favor of real conversations like the old days when people actually talked to strangers. In fact, in this tradition, you will find a funky vinyl record player that operates on its side behind the counter. read more

Was in Wilmette over the weekend; this coffee is absolutely amazing; first time in long time I've craved a coffee; ordered an americano - delish; while I was there everyone was like the scones are amazing - but I had to wait 30 minutes as they were preparing another batch - I left came back and it was worth it!; the beans I bought for home were amazing as well. read more