In town for the holidays and was pleasantly surprised to find this gem on Central st. Love being able to support local. Stopped in on a walk and grabbed a chocolate croissant and a flat white. Both were excellent with great service too. Line was out the door on the sidewalk, could tell it was a neighborhood favorite and they had a lot of options on their menu. read more

This is our go-to coffee shop in town. My partner and I absolutely love Backlot Coffee and each of their Evanston locations. They have taken great precautions for COVID safety including limited people allowed in the store and space between everything. They have not just drinks and food but, also some merchandise like hats, oats, coffee beans to take home, and other items for your pantry! Their drink options are amazing and include coffee, drinks, and even kombucha! You can get regular coffee drinks and also fun flavored ones! We really enjoy the lavender latte, matcha lavender, and oatmeal cookie coffees! They also have a great chai tea and other tea options if coffee is not your thing. In addition to drinks, they have some delicious food options. These include some sweet treats like scones, muffins, and donuts. They even have gluten-free donuts! If you want savory they have sandwiches that are so delicious! Overall, there is something for everyone. read more

Backlot Coffee - Candle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I'm a regular at this coffee shop, everything here is great from their pastries to the coffee which they roast themselves. My usual is the cold brew during the summer or the chai oat latte during the cold season, both of which are top notch. The atmosphere is a great neighborhood coffee shop vibe, the owner seems to know everyone walking in. read more

Backlot Coffee - Chai Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Have been going to Back Lot for years. The foot overpriced. The electricity works. For the privilege of ordering, Back Lot conveniently leads with the tip amount we will want to give. Starting with 15%, then 20%, 25%, 30% and more. Today when I was done with my tea cup, I did a favor by taking the cup to the counter. Was instructed in not too-condescending tone by the counter person that the bin for used cups is in the back. How convenient! So in return for a 25% tip, we are their personal bus service. This review is my gift to Back Lot. I hope that they thank me appropriately. read more

Great coffee, food, service and ambiance One of the nicest coffee shops in the area. Highly tecommended read more

I happen to find this place by chance and I am glad I did. This is a coffee shop in a busy street in Evanston, a street bustling with people shopping. The coffee shop is a nicely put together place with a black board as a menu board. I had their latte which had a smooth and flavorful taste. The expresso used to make the coffee had a profound flavor of sugar cane with other sweet undertones that you pick up on specially since I think the milk enhances the flavors. The place has a nice trendy, somewhat modern feel. The services was excellent as well which enhanced the overall coffee experience. read more

Backlot Coffee - My awesome cup of latte! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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My favorite coffee shop in Evanston!! I would study here all the time if it was closer to campus. The atmosphere is so bright and fun, and the service is super friendly. I love the coffee (they roast their own) and they made me one of the best oat milk lattes I've ever had!! Iced coffee is also good. read more

Backlot Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Great coffee selection and all day breakfast and lunch. My avocado toast was delicious! read more

Backlot Coffee - Avocado toast on ciabatta - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Came alone upon a recommendation from a friend. I was the crazy person ordering hot tea in 94°F weather, but the Mallorca Melon was spot on. A small was $3, and after steeping for several minutes, the tea turned pomegranate red with a tart, hibiscus-like flavor. So refreshing! Since I had come alone, I opted for window seating and was treated to plenty of natural light and amusing passerby. There were plenty of small tables and group style seating at a couple large tables as well. Comfortable noise level. Service was fantastic; baristas were friendly and outgoing. I heard them chat with a few regulars while waiting for my drink. I very much recommend this spot for anyone looking for a productive few hours or to stop by for a small meeting or drink. Have heard good things about their brew and would love to try another time. read more

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What a friendly atmosphere. I love hearing a cheery "Hello!" at 8 am in the morning. What makes this place a great environment is the fact that (I'm assuming) the owner has named at least 3 people that have walked in within a five minute time frame. What a champ! Another Yelper suggested to try the Vegan Scone. Oh My! My! My!: D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S seems to be an understatement. It's perfectly crunchy on the outside and practically perfect in every way on the inside. My coffee tasted great too - just a plain cup to compliment my scone. Seating is pretty wonderful. They've got booth-tables if you're coming to meet a friend. They also have commune tables - one in the front and one in the back - which is great if you're on your own. They have some bar stool seating at the very front for those that enjoy people watching. Water filling station is right by the restrooms which is something I don't see at other coffee shops. Usually there would be a water pitcher, am I right? The deco behind the counter is beautiful nonetheless with plants and art prints. The place gets busy around 9 a.m. which is totally understandable. Just keep note that you might have to give-in to either the commune tables or bar stools. read more

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Stopped by here for a quick coffee. It was a nice looking set up on the inside and very welcoming. The baked goods smelled delicious, so that will be a must the next time I go. The coffee was hot, but not as flavorful as I would have hoped. The staff was extremely nice and had very positive vibes. read more

Backlot Coffee - Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I've been meaning to visit Backlot for a while now, but given it's distance from Northwestern's campus, I've mostly opted to go to other cafes closer by. I took the CTA to get there and was surprised to see the cafe pretty filled up. Don't be tricked by the small storefront, Backlot is actually very spacious. The WiFi is very decent for getting work done and there are a lot of seats available, though not all are outlet-accessible. I ordered a hot Seasonal Matcha that had a strong matcha flavor which I prefer. I asked if I could have bear latte art on my drink, and while the barista was unsure of his skills, he was very accommodating and said he would try his best! I was definitely happy with the end product (see photo). It's unlike anything else you can find in Evanston! read more

Backlot Coffee - Seasonal Matcha Latte (with requested bear latte art) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Often ask for coffee to be extra hot and usually it's not. Wait time is longer than it use to be. I'd rate three out of five stars

Bustling bakery with a wonderful selection of baked goods with very friendly service, however, after several visits I've come to conclude that Backlot's coffee tastes lousy. I don't know whether it's the brand or how it's prepared, but it's decidedly bitter and "off." I've compared notes with locals, so it's not just me. Surely Backlot can do better. read more

A fantastic neighborhood place in Evanston, near the Northwestern campus. Clearly a tradition in that community. If I lived in Evanston I'd be hanging out there a lot... read more

Backlot Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I went to the location in Evanston for the first time.. I didn't have any coffee this time but went in for some donuts/pastry. I got a chocolate croissant, cake donut and a chocolate yeast donut. All were awesome. Customer service was great. I'll be back to try the coffee. read more

Such a cute spot! Found in downtown Evanston. Parking was easy on the street, metered. This spot is great if you are visiting the Bahá'í House of Worship. Stop here before or after and grab some yummy coffee. I loved my silky smooth almond milk latte. I asked for it steamed extra hot and it was perfect. Would have been nice if they had some gluten free pastries or some healthier snack items such as fresh fruit but I didn't notice any. Mainly just baked goods loaded with sugar :(. Plenty of open seating, water available: definitely coming back here on my neck trip to Evanston. read more

Backlot Coffee - Almond milk latte no sweetener - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Super bummed out that the first time I came to Backlot Coffee was after I moved out of the Evanston area. If I was still a student in Evanston, I would've spent a lot more time here (especially since there's never any space in Evanston coffee shops). The service was great, I loved my latte, and it was super affordable (way more so than Starbucks). They have options for alternative milk and they don't upcharge you a ridiculous amount either! There are some really cool flavors for your latte, I wish I had tried the lavender flavor. You can only find paper straws here so that was very exciting for me. In the space, there are a variety of places to work from tables, to window seats, to a cozy staircase area! The inside is super well decorated and I had so much fun looking around at their little plants and knick knacks :) I would definitely come here again if I was in the Evanston area and wanted to get some work done or meet with a friend! read more

Coffee is amazing (got the best flat white). Good din, nothing AirPods cant cover up (worked from 9 - 11:45 am). Hang for a while and you'll be happy you did! read more

Love love love, this is the epitome of a coffee lovers cafe. Not only do they have incredible delicious coffee, not only are they fresh roasted, not only do they outstanding service with a smile and make everyone feel welcome but they also have good WiFi and really good healthy food choices. Lots of variety of tables, where it feels like a community and you can share the table with fellow coffee enthusiasts. For this digital nomad I give this place seven stars! read more

Great holiday coffee and pastries! The second you walk in you can see why it's so popular!!! Don't let the long lines scare you, they move so quickly! read more

This is a cute coffee shop on Central Street. They serve Stumptown Coffee which is pretty common on the West Coast since it's from Oregon. I find their coffee to be tasty and rather mild. I got a mocha here and it was just great. There was a lot of cream/foam on the top. The atmosphere is nice. It's friendly and cozy and there are some outlets along the wall for people to plug their phones or computers to charge. read more

Backlot coffee has great options, friendly staff, quick service, and overall great ambiance. I always have pretty basic coffee orders either just a normal house brew or an iced coffee and they are both consistently good. But can't speak to the more complicated orders like matcha lattes etc. They also have a great add ons stand with multiple options for milk and sweeteners plus paper straws (great for sea turtles everywhere). The ambiance and decor really sets Backlot apart however - ideal place to get some work down outside of the house or meet up with a friend. The owners obviously wanted this to be a place for people to linger over conversation and great coffee and it shows! read more

When I have to stop in Evanston this is a nice spot for morning coffee. They also recently expanded into an adjacent storefront, increasing their space and seating (though it did lead to separate entrance and exit doors, so be aware that what used to be the front door is now exit only). Decent coffee, and even when busy there's typically some seating available. They have a lot of counter seats, and some sort of weird step/tier mini outdoor-theater style seating in the new space. They have a ton of pastries and a small food menu, but the menu is pretty pricey. The pastries are priced at the sort of thick markup you expect at most indie coffeehouses, and they have a pretty wide selection... especially donuts, for some reason. The line gets long on the weekends but the friendly staff does a great job of moving it along quickly. The only knock on the place is beyond the establishment's control: The local Evanston/Wilmette clientele has that weird, bristled snootiness towards outsiders. They can be a little passive aggressive in a variety of subtle ways. But again, that's not the establishment's fault, and the staff here is nice. read more

Cute place, great for getting work done. It doesn't get too crowded or noisy. I've tried the iced lavender latte (kinda weird but also liked it) and matcha latte, as well as their old fashioned donut. All good. Also, the people that work here are so friendly. Their music playlists have been pretty on point. read more

Backlot Coffee - Matcha latte and an old-fashioned donut - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

They have delicious chai lattes! I just wish there were more vegan AND gluten free options. It's mostly just one or the other, and I'm both.

They had brewed decaf coffee, which I appreciate, and it was very good - relatively light roast and acidic. Super efficient in the early morning, and the pastry selection was impressive. Got the carrot coffee cake and really enjoyed it. read more

Stopped in for a quick coffee and snack. Highly recommend the yogurt parfait, it was amazing! read more

Backlot Coffee - Delicious yogurt parfait - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

We visit from Arizona several times a year, Backlot is always must! Always a great place! All their offerings and tasty! Personal very attentive. And ambiance very nice! read more

Crowded, and noisy even at 3pm on a weekday. Horribly uncomfortable seating. Terrible place to go for a coffee date - you spend an hour shouting, not hearing and falling off your milk crate seat. read more

It can get pretty crowded during rush periods but i still really enjoy getting work done here. Not only do they have delicious drinks, but i absolutely adore and respect the eco-friendly environment of this cafe!! Paper straws, reusable silverware, compost opportunities, etc. It feels good to support a business like theirs read more

Backlot Coffee - Old fashioned donut (delicious) with oat milk matcha ice latte and cup of coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Great space to do work! Tried their matcha latte. They nailed it! Great flavor, wasn't overpowering or too bitter. The latte art was cute, and made drinking this even more enjoyable. read more

Backlot Coffee - UnBearably cute matcha latte! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

great service. excellent decaf americano. Chocolate brownie was amazing. Soft and so fresh. I can't wait to go back when in neighborhood and try some more stuff. Very welcoming when you enter. read more

So I just recently found this gem and let me say.... Dang! Good coffee and the place is really spacious but it does get crowded veryyyy quickly. However, if you go in you have to try the chocolate chip banana bread. Pair that with a maple latte and trust me when I say it's just delicious! Overall I would say to go in early in the morning because once noon comes there's literally no space or seats. read more

I was delighted by everything about this place. I ordered a gluten free donut (thank you for accommodating gluten-free!!), and I ordered a cold brew! When the cold brew was ready, the barista put both almond milk and regular milk out with it, so that was really thoughtful! I love the decorations and the homey feel. read more

Backlot Coffee - Inside, shelf decorations - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

VEGAN OPTIONS - Yes. They have oat milk. Super disappointed by this location. I've been to the one on Irving Park, and the drinks were much better there. Awful cappuccino here. So bitter. Not well made at all. On a positive note - the space is incredible! Great layout and fun wooden bleacher style seating options. read more

As far as I can tell, this is hands down the best coffee on the North Shore, sitting squarely atop the Chicago cafe scene with Metropolis. The roast and espresso pulls are pretty near perfect and make a delicious espresso. Plus the excellent staff and laid back space make it a happy space to be in. Hats off to the owner, who is often in there pulling shots himself and who obviously cares very much for this place and what people experience there. read more

We had great cappuccinos and I had one of the tastiest breakfast sandwiches I've ever had. Try the Herbie. It won't disappoint. Super friendly staff and nice atmosphere. read more

I wish they had one at every corner! They carry Nitro cold brew which is hands down my husband's favorite drink. I get their caramel almond milk latte; It has more of a refreshing and 'natural' taste to it unlike Starbuck's caramel macchiato which tastes a lot like syrup and chemicals (I may be biased and brainwashed). Tip: Get a nitro cold brew then go next door to Tag's Bakery and get a couple of the gluten free almond macarons. It is an excellent combination! read more

Backlot Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Though this coffee house has a great vibe with beautifully laid out, airy, ambience and very friendly and informative staff, their coffee itself is lackluster and limp. As for their packaged coffee, it is even worse. Their roast does not live upto the expectations and delivers far below acceptable standards for that particular roast type. The approach by the owners when this is brought to their notice is one of nonchalance and ambivalent. In short Backlot is high on style low on deliverance. read more