Amazing service and great drinks! Small space with limited seating, but it was perfect for our little group of 4. I tried the banana bread latte with oat milk, (which was supposed to be seasonal but ended up being a long-term menu item) and i really enjoyed it. I also got a turkey sandwich which was kind of basic, but still filling. My total was $17 for both items. My only wish is that the space be decorated to be more cozy. They have quite a bit open space that they can utilize to really give the space even more life. Would definitely return if I'm in the area + they have WiFi! read more

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I was really excited to try Café Carranza for two reasons: it's a small business, and it's Latina-owned--both things I genuinely love supporting. Unfortunately, my experience fell short of expectations. There were only two employees working, and they seemed extremely overwhelmed. No one was at the register when I walked in, and no one acknowledged me even though both clearly SAW me.. so I was left standing there awkwardly waiting to be acknowledged...(there were no ppl in front of me) They were also out of Chocolate Abuelita, which was disappointing given that it's such a traditional and recognizable Mexican brand. For a Mexican-inspired café, I would hope something that central to the menu and culture would be consistently stocked. I ordered the iced Café de Olla, and unfortunately, it was very watered down and lacked the flavors that are found in Cafe de Olla coffee... cinnamon, piloncillo, or the characteristic spices that make Café de Olla so distinctive. Overall, it was very weak and didn't taste much like coffee at all. The interior is really cute, and I genuinely hope they're able to work out some of these kinks. I'm rooting for them and hope they can improve the consistency, service, and overall experience. I'd be willing to give them another try down the road. read more

Disappointing drinks -- completely missed the mark on flavor. I was really hoping for a great experience here, but both drinks we ordered were a massive letdown. Café de Olla: This did not taste like authentic Mexican café de olla at all. Instead of the warm, rich spices and piloncillo sweetness you expect, it just tasted like old, burnt, black coffee that had been re-brewed. Horchata Latte: The texture was incredibly grainy, almost like I was given the very last sludge at the bottom of the batch. On top of that, it had absolutely no actual horchata flavor. The mix ratio was completely off and it just tasted like bland, gritty milk. Definitely not the best mix ratios or quality control. I won't be coming back for drinks anytime soon. read more

Great coffee shop in Pilsen! The artwork on the walls is really cool and the staff is welcoming with a friendly vibe. I ordered a banana bread latte, which was delicious. Definitely worth stopping in! read more

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Cafe Carranza has been on my coffee shop list for awhile and I am so glad I finally was able to check it out. The space itself is very cute, with light pink walls and a warm vibe. While there is not a large amount of seating, there is enough for a few groups to hang out, work and catch up. The service was amazing! The girls are very friendly and helpful. I believe the owner took my order and she seemed grateful towards each person that came into the cafe. I ordered two drinks, the iced horchata latte and the iced chocolate abuelita latte. The make their horchata in house, fresh every day. The espresso and sweet horchata made for a delicious treat! The iced chocolate abuelita used the Abuelita Mexican chocolate, so the drink had hints of cinnamon. I really enjoyed this latte; it was not overly sweet. I appreciate how you can swap from whole milk to nondairy options for your drinks (except the horchata latte since it uses the house made dairy based horchata - no worries!). You can also control the level of sweetness in your drink, which is always nice. I wish I lived closer to Cafe Carranza to try out their other drinks and food items! Definitely worth checking out. read more

Cafe Carranza - The inside of the cafe is very cute. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute coffee shop on 18th street. Felt like switching things up from my usual Starbucks. I had a brown sugar shaken espresso that was good and frothy. Also tried a bagel, very fresh. The prices are a bit high but service was friendly and it's nice to support a small local business! read more

Cafe Carranza - Mural - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was looking for a local spot in Pilsen to try and came across Cafe Carranza. I made it in when the staff was making fresh concha's so you know I have to try one. Very friendly staff who takes your name down and calls you when your order is ready. Plenty of seating available inside. The cold brew had a smooth chocolatey profile with no afterburn. Very reasonably priced too. Will be back again! read more

Cafe Carranza - COLD BREW and CONCHA - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm addicted to the banana bread latte! They used real bananas & not artificial flavors. It is the best banana latte I've ever had! Highly recommend! Staff is always friendly & the location is cute with a colorful mural. You MUST try the banana bread latte! 10/10 read more

Cafe Carranza - Banana bread latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The staff is so nice and their suggestion to get the jalapeño cheddar bagel was a 10/10 especially bc they make a ham sandwich out of it which was delicious. The banana bread latte was so good; I will be definitely coming back for more. Keep up the good work and much success to everyone there :) read more

Super friendly staff and the space is cute but I thought my drink was still too sweet despite asking for it half sweet. Prices are super reasonable though so I think I'll come back and try something else (also they were slammed Saturday morning so maybe that had some impact). They also have food too that looked yummy but I only got coffee. read more

Cafe Carranza - Brown sugar shaken espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was excited to try this place. The service was great, but the coffee was not. To be honest it tasted like it was old coffee. I ordered an iced pumpkin spice latte and a chocolate abuelita iced latte. They barely had flavor and they were not sweet at all. It was very disappointing. This was back in October. I have not been back since. I know they are a small family owned business so hopefully they continue to improve. The interior of the cafe is also cute and simple. Very cozy. read more

Cafe Carranza - Fall seasonal drink menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was hoping there would be more specialty drinks than there were. You cannot make the horchata latte dairy-free, as the base has dairy in it. The aftertaste of the horchata latte was very grainy. I got the iced chocolate abuelita latte, which was yummy - it was a mocha on the sweeter side. I was also expecting the sandwiches to be more breakfast-oriented, but they were just smaller tortas with lots of veggies. My ham sandwich/torta came with a side of pasta salad, which was very tasty. My friend mentioned that the avocado toast was very lime-heavy, which made it not so enjoyable. There are about five tables in the shop. It's a nice place to hang out or work from. read more

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Lattes were delicious!! Staff were really nice. I got the marshmallow toasted latte, really enjoyed it. They have seasonal drinks! read more

Cafe Carranza - Toasted marshmallow latte! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been here a few times and enjoy the iced coffee. They have limited pastries and some sandwiches too. A cute small place with a handful of seating options. I don't believe there is a restroom. I have noticed they give pup cups to dogs which is so cute. They regularly have the same customers popping in and out, I know this because the staff will call them by name and prep their order without checking in. (: I'll definitely be back. read more

Today I stopped in to buy bagels con rajas for my coworkers. They said they wouldn't be ready for 20 mins. The place was empty and I left disappointed. Why not have your products ready to sell at open. It's just bad business not to be prepared. read more

Gets busy quick, small space and limited seating but the coffee is absolutely worth it!

Conchas and bagels from scratch . Best concha I've had in the city and their espresso is the best in Pilsen. Friendly service, great start to the day. read more

Visited Café Carranza this morning. The inside was very cutely decorated, and the staff was super nice!! We ordered the banana latte, maple salted latte, and pumpkin spice latte. The banana latte was amazing!! The maple salted latte was a bit too salty but still good. The pumpkin spice latte didn't really taste like pumpkin, but it wasn't bad!! read more

Cafe Carranza - PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The banana bread latte was delicious, and the staff was super friendly-great experience overall!

Cute and quick! What we needed before hitting the road home from out of town! Got coffee and bagels! Jalapeño cheddar did not disappoint!

In my 3 years of living in Chicago, I've not reviewed a cafe even once. I've drank some incredible coffee in my time and Cafe Carranza must be in the top 5. The quality of the coffee is only the beginning! The syrups and flavors they have pair amazingly well and are expertly measured into the drinks. I had their abuela chocolate latte iced and it was delicious. I've also had their house coffee and must say I've never been more impressed by regular drip coffee. I'm not sure of their origins or really where they get their beans but it is of the upmost quality. Their customer service is nothing short of amazing as well. The employees are nice and knowledgeable in their craft. They work at a fast pace without sacrificing quality. If you are anywhere in the area you have to give them a try! read more

Ordered the iced brown sugar shaken espresso and the avocado sour dough toast. Both were awesome and to die for! The espresso had that Mexican coffee taste that reminds you of home and the avocado toast had me wanting to order more! Great service, Awesome food. Nice ambiance. Will definitely return. 5/5 read more

Cute small cafe in Pilsen! They played pretty good music and the staff were really friendly. Ordered the iced abuelita latte and it's really good (not overpoweringly chocolate and not too milky), I highly recommend! read more

Cafe Carranza - Iced Chocolate Abuelita Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went in for the 1st time and they gave me the wrong coffee I live 30mins away I called them more then 15x and they never picked up I heard many great things about this coffee shop but unfortunately I was left disappointed. read more

I really wanted to love this spot after seeing so many TikTok videos and because it's Latino-owned. Unfortunately, the drinks didn't live up to the hype. The Hotchata latte was too grainy and overly sweet, the Chocolate Abuelita latte with cold foam was extremely sweet, and the Café de Olla with minimal sugar tasted mostly like cinnamon. We also weren't asked if we wanted a milk alternative or informed that any were available. I wish I could have ordered the Horchata latte with a non-dairy option, or at least without whole milk. read more