Popped in on a Saturday morning while I was waiting for the Chicago bus. I needed coffee and something to munch on before heading downtown for a fitness class that my former roommate was dragging me to. They had a case of delicious looking case of scones so I ordered iced coffee and a scone. As the server identified the scone flavors (blueberry, chocolate, etc) my heart stopped on bacon jalapeño cheddar. Excuse me what? I have never seen that flavor combo in a scone! I ordered it and promptly devoured it I continued to wait for the bus. The coffee is good too. I like my coffee as dark as my soul but not all coffee tastes good without cream and/or sugar. Theirs does. Its perfect on its own. It's delightful and I would definitely come back for it alone. My only fault with this coffee shop is that it's not closer to my apartment. If they could open up a location in Avondale, I would be ecstatic. All the coffee and bacon jalapeño cheddar scones for me! Alas they are not next door to my apartment so I will have to remember this place fondly until I can come in again. read more

Probs my favorite coffee shop in Chicago. Whatever I order, they always do it right. Staff is welcoming and warm. I love the simplistic and inviting atmosphere as well! read more

A cute cafe with a decent amount of seating and unique lattes and pastries! The 16oz latte has four espresso shots which is actually double the espresso of the 8oz (not just extra milk, which seems to be the usual these days). It was not very sweet and had more of a subtle cinnamon flavor but great nonetheless. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - 16oz Horchata latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

ordered a light roast that was advertised as freshly roasted, but what I received was completely different. The bag I got was roasted over 4 months ago, the beans were dark and oily, and the taste was far from a light roast. Very disappointed with the quality and misleading description. Definitely not worth the price. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - The bag I got was roasted over 4 months ago, the beans were dark and oily, - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is quickly becoming one of my standard neighborhood coffee bars. It started with the need for some coffee beans after a workout class, and I thought I'd stop in. I love the free latte that comes with buying beans! Staff was super friendly and helpful when I had no idea what to get. The interior is cozy and nicely decorated. There's not a ton of seating given the small space, but the people working on laptops seemed to have enough space. I'll continue to come back! read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Big fan of the coffee and the ambiance - staff is always so friendly and welcoming! Always a bright spot on busy days

Just want to give a huge shout-out to Sarah & Cassandra who made my short time in Chicago incredible. Friendly service, wonderful coffee and an a deep overwhelming feeling of being met with true hospitality. This was my first trip to Chicago and I've been in the world of Food Service for over 25 years. Whenever I meet individuals or businesses around the world that do the thing that makes others feel welcome, it warms my heart and puts a smile on my face. Thank you for being great at what you do. Thank you for caring about others, and thank you treating me like a regular. read more

used the bathroom and the worker was very nice! The barista lady however screamed at me when I asked for oat milk of the Horchata only had rice milk when i asked for oat milk. I feel like the Orion experience was nice however, it was a little awkward and confusing as to why the barista got somewhat irritated and annoyed because I had asked for outback. I did not know it would've been such a big issue. read more

See all

Very nice staff! Made some nice conversation with them. Food was good too. I appreciate it

Big Shoulders, big sausage sandwiches, big cups of coffee, big happiness! 10/10 would come back.

I went to the location on Jackson Blvd and Franklin Ave in Chicago. The proprietor was nice, attentive, funny and engaging. Even when they were out of a particular blend, he was quick to make a recommendation of a new coffee concoction of his own design. Not only was the flavor perfect, but the temperature was at a level I would describe as "just right." Thank you for the great service, product, and experience! read more

There is a new location at 213 W. Lake Street. I figured what the heck let me try something different. I wasn't impressed. I ordered the regular size dripped coffee. Besides, they only have one size cup for $2.79. I'm not a fan of Lattes or Expressos. The coffee was not hot and it was a bit too strong for my taste. The guy behind the counter was very nice and polite. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming but the coffee is not on my hit list. Maybe, I will feel the urge to stop in again and give them another shot. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I've been to many coffee shops in my lifetime. So when I heard about Big Shoulders Coffee, you know I had to go check them out. I went on a Sunday and they were super busy. Cold mornings and coffee really do go perfect together. This location is such a cute little coffee shop that when you walk by, you can smell the coffee roast. I walked in and was awed by how nice the store looks. I was greeted by Cassandra, oh what a lovely welcome. She took my order and made sure it got to me at a decent time. Mind you, it's a Sunday, and they were packed. I couldn't be any more happier. Cassandra exceeded beyond my expectations and I had a fantastic coffee experience there. They have many options on the menu as well as breakfast pastries and food items, along with cold brew in a can and coffee grounds to choose from. I had their vanilla latte and a coffee cake. Delicioso! The best coffee store I've been to here in Chicago and amazing staff! I highly recommend anyone to come by and grab a coffee. read more

Coffee is fresh and flavorful and most importantly STRONG!! Staff is friendly and the atmosphere is peaceful. Space is clean and air conditioned well!! read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Iced vanilla latte with oat milk - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've not been to the coffee shop so I can't say about the shop itself but I've had their coffee at Home Run Inn and it is next to Intelligentsia, the best coffee I've ever had. Those two are my favorites ever!!! read more

Love Big Shoulders Coffee. Chill atmosphere...almost too quiet sometimes. Thankfully one of the workers today was belting out the song on the speakers so that eased the silence a bit. There was a couple in doing some kind of engagement or couple photoshoot, but other than that it was all guys solo sitting around the big table - aside from me and my friends. The workers were both really friendly and patient with us, explaining anything we needed. They had apple pie & coffee cake and even offered the last piece of pie to whoever wanted it! Two guys raised their hands and they split it for them...very sweet! I had a delicious chamomile tea for $3 and the coffee shop worker brought out spoons, spoon holders and glasses of water along with our tea. Really liked the vibe and service, would definitely come back to Big Shoulders Coffee. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Chamomile tea - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Big Shoulders Coffee is the epitome of coffee done right and it's a place that makes me so glad (ecstatic, in fact) that coffee culture exists. They have high quality beans, a straightforward menu and the friendliest, most hard-working baristas who care as much about preparing the coffee as ensuring that you're enjoying it. Wonderful. If you have the Indie Coffee Passport, they don't have a separate drink menu to choose from; you can have any drink already listed on their menu. Even more wonderful. The moment I walked in, I was greeted with a "Hi, how are you?" For every person who leaves, the staff wishes them well with a "thanks for coming by" or "have a good one." Even the call-and-answer way the baristas communicated with each other behind the counter displayed the fluidity of their teamwork. When I was seated at the counter, I was kind of fascinated. They would constantly give each other tips or experiment making different kinds of coffee. I realize now that they're relentlessly perfecting their trade. I ordered a Uganda dark roast in a press which is timed to 4:00 minutes. I absolutely love how they talk each other like scientists geeked out in a lab... along the lines of: "Is your timer set?" "You bet, it's to 4 minutes." I did have a front row seat to witness their craftsmanship. Words from Carl Sandburg's "Chicago" poem were painted on their walls: "Hog Butcher for the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler; Stormy, husky, brawling, City of the Big Shoulders:" Their space is open and inviting, and somehow they capture some of Chicago's history and embody its hardworking spirit. There are bar stools at all the windows and their counters even have purse/jacket hooks underneath! You will see shelves of pour over contraptions with names like kalita wave, stacked alongside beakers, kettles, scales and timers. To go with my coffee, I also ordered a Basque pastry (like a petit madeleine in the shape of a tart, dusted with powdered sugar) and those run about $4.00. It was exceptionally good. If I hadn't gotten a dark roast coffee, I would have ordered their Cardamom Latte. A friend (also with the Indie Coffee Passport) had raved about the Marshmallow Latte that comes with a toasted marshmallow. It has been awhile since I've given five stars to a cafe, but both their coffee/staff top the list in the coffee world and are nothing short of wonderful. read more

See all

Horrible customer service at the midway location!! Definitely never again will stopped to buy anything! They should hire people with better attitude!! read more

If I ever want to introduce the local places to my out-of-town friends, Big Shoulders Coffee is certainly on my bucket list. That was my first time this late morning. The location is just as prime as it can be; take the "southbound Chicago ave." exit of the CTA Chicago Blue Line station, you will see BSC and can't possibly miss it! It's a small place, but they utilize windows and simple, clean-looking decors to visually enlarge the entire venue. Without any hesitation, I ordered the marshmallow latte, while hubby had the cappuccino. I've been browsing through pictures on Yelp and curious about what and how the marshmallow latte tasted like. Let me be as descriptive as possible with this human ingenuity. The latte was pretty "honey-strong" with a mild tone of marshmallow to draw a correlation between the "toasted-marshmallow stick" on top of the latte. I anticipated that some might not like the sweetness, yet some would go bananas with it since it definitely added playfulness and innovation to a regular latte. So what did I think about the marshmallow latte? I'm a fan of this, especially when I want to have a lazy day in the city. They do have restrooms available; they share the facilities with the playwright theater next door. Please ask for a key at the service counter. They have bus trackers on the big monitor (56 Milwaukee and 66 Chicago). If you're catching a train, you can track the progress on the monitor attached to the entry/exit of the Chicago Blue Line station. In the meantime, you can enjoy people-watching, the free show of the day. read more

See all

Great coffee and it has a neighborhood-y vibe. The Milwaukee & Chicago one has a great location. You can see the John Hancock building and the Chicago Academy for the Arts read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - a drawing of a city street - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Summary: Nice shop, friendly people, average coffee. The staff was great, very welcoming, and friendly. No pretension or snobby hipster coffee baristas here. That was big plus. I'm not sure why all these new coffee shops hire unfriendly people who don't seem to give a sh!t about you because they are fancy baristas. Seems so contrary to what a coffee shop should be. I like smiles, warm hello's and maybe someone that will even make an effort to get to know me if I stop by often enough. Big Shoulders seems like it could be that spot. The location is great for people that take transit in that area. There is a real dearth of coffee shops and restaurants over there unless you like horrible pizza or subway. I do like the bar at which you can sit and sip you coffee, but OMG those stools are uncomfortable. Unless you are a 5'1 skinny woman, good luck sitting comfortably on those things. As for the key ingredient, their coffee, they need a little work. I had an espresso there that was just awful. It was bitter and had a tang to it that made me think of metal. They have a beautiful, expensive espresso maker, but they don't know how to use it. Until they figure that out, I'll avoid any solo shots there. As for their coffee, it wasn't bad, but just because you have your own roaster, it doesn't mean you know how to use it. The coffee was better than Starbucks, but it isn't better than any of the other coffee shops who buy fresh roasted, small batch bags of beans. Lets just call it a wok in progress, because I think they can do better. That being said, between Starbucks and Big Shoulders, I'll take Big Shoulders any day. Between Big Shoulders and Caffe Streets, Wormhole, Buzz Killer Espresso, Intelligentsia, etc., I'll chose any of the latter. Good start guys, but you need work. read more

I got to try 2 of their coffee lattes and I loved them!!! First of all, the marshmallow latte is delicious! Just sweet enough for my tasting! You also get to enjoy a toasty marshmallow at the top of your latte. I ordered the horchata latte and it was also pretty good. Two great options to choose from. Didn't try other ones but I'm sure they're just as good. read more

See all

I might be a bit partial since I love steps away, but believe me, I've done my fair share of coffee tasting all over town and this is still my favorite spot. Best coffee, relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and a variety of treats from local bakeries all adds up to a great experience. Their variety of pour over options used to be better, but it's still a solid choice, plus their cold brew will keep you powered up for days! read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

How much can you say about a nice cup of coffee and a donut? Visiting Chicago our friends brought us here. A mocha that was just right and hit the spot. Not to take any shine away from the coffee, but the glazed donut was just perfection. Pillowy soft, not too sweet. Great way to start our day. read more

See all

Not only is their coffee some of the best in Chicago, their customer service is even better. Coffee is flavorful and fresh! read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Columbia 5lb bag - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped by on my way out of town before getting some work done and was just looking for a good/local coffee roaster. Atmosphere: +decent amount if seats (10ish for their smaller space) +lots of natural light +friendly staff -not a ton of outlets Coffee: Ordered the espresso which was decent. Nothing special but it was fairly priced. Their coffee bags didnt have descriptions of coffee notes so basically a shot in the dark but The bags of coffee are reasonably priced and include a free cup of coffee Overall: 3/5. Okay drinks, not a ton of variety and a good place to stop by if local. read more

As a customer sitting in the Big Shoulders Coffee location on Chicago Ave, I was very concerned to overhear the hiring manager asking questions during a job interview that were illegal to ask. I was sitting in the coffee shop on the morning of July 5th, and the hiring manager on duty was interviewing a job applicant for a role at the coffee shop. The hiring manager noted that the person's resume indicated that they had held a job in another country years ago, and the hiring manager proceeded to ask if the applicant was born in that country. He then asked the applicant an odd question about "why they do coffee," using wording that didn't quite make sense, and then proceeded to question the applicant's fluency in English when they asked for clarity about his poorly worded question. The hiring manager then proceeded to ask if the person is a US citizen, which is also illegal to ask any potential job applicant. Then he kept saying "I don't know how that stuff works" and he also said that he didn't know how well this person would "fit in when talking with coworkers." The whole interview was very biased, discriminatory, and contained questions that are illegal to ask potential job applicants. I was a regular customer before this incident, but I have not been back and will never go back to a company that allows this blatantly discriminatory behavior. read more

Grabbing a quick drink for my caffeine fix. This place is small but the space feels really open. There is a chill and relaxed feel that i like. I like the music, it's not the typical playlist or music you hear constantly on the radio. I got and iced cardamom latte with almond milk, pretty good. I definitely taste the espresso with each sip and that's how I know it's balanced and not too sweet. read more

3.5 stars. I came here a couple years ago solely to try the Marshmallow Latte, which is still my favorite drink there! I've been there a handful of time since, so now I feel like I have a better grasp to leave a review. If my rating was based only on the drinks, I would give it closer to 4.5, but the reason why it's not is because of my experience buying bagged coffee. Vividly I remember going in a couple months ago, looking to buy a bag of coffee for a friend. I knew he liked a medium roast and more chocolatey flavor, NOT FRUITY. I looked on the shelf and wasn't immediately sold on anything, so I looked at the menu that they had right next to the cashier. There was a blend, I believe was the Colombia, that looked perfect, so I asked the cashier about it and he said yeah just look for it on the shelf. I hadn't seen it earlier, but I went to double check just in case I missed it. As I had expected, it wasn't there. I asked him if he had anything in the back that wasn't put out here and he said no came around to help me look. After looking he pointed at the Lake Street blend, which if I remember correctly was fruity. I had already mentioned to the cashier that I was looking for something more chocolatey because my friend wasn't a huge fan of fruity. So I was a bit confused when he pointed at that one. I told him nicely that the one I was looking for was the Colombia blend, and he responded with oh I guess we don't have it. But this one is similar and is also good *proceeds to point at another fruity blend*. At this point I said thanks for your help and just went with the best I could find. I asked this guy in hopes that he could give me suggestions on what he liked and also based on the information that I gave him as to what my friend liked. He wasn't helpful at all and even gave bad/opposite suggestions of what I was looking for. I will definitely back for coffee and drinks and hope that if I ever buy bags of coffee there that the employees will be more helpful. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Marshmallow Latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I bought Big Shoulders Uganda coffee beans and it was superb .. I bought 4 more and sent 2 to my brother and all 4 of our beans were terrible.... no flavor at all .. very disappointed . read more

What a great coffee/tea spot. Stopped by for a quick caffeine fix and it was great. The place has a good layout despite it being a smaller venue, good high ceilings. There is some space to do work if thats why you need a coffee shop. They had a wide variety of honey syrups and some breakfast sandwiches. I got the chai latte which had a great taste to it. I also spilled some of it on accident and the barista topped it off for me, it made my day. Definitely a place to try if you are in the area and need some caffeine. The friends I was with also enjoyed their drinks, trying the horchata chai. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Chai - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I tried a tasty golden turmeric, honey, cayenne pepper latte with almond milk while waiting for my train. The convenient location next to the blue line makes this place a good waiting spot. They also have monitors showing the wait for the next trains and buses. Their do-rite donuts looked scrumptious, though by the time I had gotten there this Sunday afternoon, most of the selections were taken. read more

Mocha was rich and delicious. Marshmallow iced latte was also delicious. We did a mobile order and pick up was very quick and convenient.

My friends and I came here on a coffee crawl, which we planned after seeing the Eater list "16 Innovative Iced Coffees to Try in Chicago" They're actually on the list for The Painted Lady, but we couldn't remember what drink it was when we were in, so we went with the marshmallow iced latte. We asked them to pour it into two glasses--because coffees at multiple locations already made me bounce off the wall--which they obliged. It's pretty cozy inside, but there were still some seats left near the window. The baristas even brought out drinks over to us. The latte was presented with a toasted marshmallow on top. I was nervous that it'd be pure sugar but it was actually well balanced and not overly sweet. It was my favorite coffee of the day and something I'd come back for as soon as possible. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Marshmallow lattes - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I have visited a lot of independent coffee shops in Chicago, around the country and even Internationally. Big Shoulders is one of the better ones. First, I love the name. It's a play on of Chicago's nicknames. They score points for that. Second, they have a very cool interior. It features a lot of clean lines and a pop of color with their plants. Third, and most importantly, the coffee is great. On my most recent trip, I got a oat milk latte. It's as good good or better than oat milk latte that I've had at an independent coffee shop. The coffee is smooth and creamy, but flavorful. If you are in the mood for something on the sweeter side, then I recommend ordering the marshmallow latte. That will blow you away. The only negative is that the prices are in the high side. A large size latte might run you between $5.00 and $6.00. However, this par for the course for most independent coffee shops in Chicago and the coffee here is totally worth it. read more

See all

Sleek, modern, simplistic. The name implies ruggedness but this shop is far from it but without being pretentious. I had a cup while at Windy City Cafe across the street but really wanted to stop in for an iced coffee to go. The menu is not large but it doesn't need to be when you are serving a premium product. I ordered the iced black and was taken aback by the amazing, rich flavor! I added just a splash of cream and a packet of Stevia in the Raw (first time seeing it a coffee shop and I was totally psyched!). They offer an amazing product and would like to go back and buy some of their beans so that I can enjoy it at home. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Iced Black - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this coffee shop and recommend any of their locations. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and delicious coffees. Selfishly, my only gripe is that they close at 5pm. There are times on my way home from work I want to unwind with a good cup of coffee or buy some beans for the weekend, but they're already closed. read more

Ok, so there are typically a few lines that are drawn when it comes to coffee. There are those who find Dunkin Donuts acceptable, and there are those that do not. There are those who drink only black and those that need milk/add ons. The list goes on and on. Invariably though, there is one thing non-industry coffee drinkers seem to agree on, and that is describing coffee as "acidic" (the pH of coffee is actually just below neutral, but for some reason people's tongues suddenly morph into hypersensitive pH test strips the second coffee is sipped). Big Shoulders roasts on site, the coffee is fresh, and yes, depending on what you order, it can be acidic, if by "acidic" you mean fruity or bright. If by "acidic" you mean sour, that would surprise me b/c these guys really know what they're doing. The coffee here is very good and I've personally had no complaints. Different strokes for different folks I suppose. I really enjoyed my espressos, lattes and the Kraakamandel that I ordered, I say give Big Shoulders a shot. Or a double. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Single espresso served w biscotti and a marshmallow latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't know what they put in those cookies, but I would drive 10 miles for those! The staff is very friendly and quick to serve. Definitely recommend this location :) read more

My friend and I decided to stop in Big Shoulders Coffee before dinner one night. This place is not your fancy coffee shop and doesn't offer many options, but everyone is friendly and their options are truly unique. My friend tried the marshmallow latte and I opted for the horchata latte. For my lactose intolerant friends, they do offer other choices of milk: soy or almond. The flavor of my latte was delicious. It truly embraced the flavors of a horchata while still having the rich aromas of coffee. It was a tad sweet for my liking, but nothing asking for less sugar (or even no sugar) won't help with. Overall, this is a great place to sit and enjoy your cup of coffee or on the go in a hurry. It's conveniently located steps away from the blue line. Definitely go grab yourself a cup. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Horchata Latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois