great coffee, small little shop with tasty espresso and other drinks (the merienda ube/coconut was delicious). standing space inside

It no longer smells in here. Baristas have gotten much friendlier. Coffee is still great a their donuts are some of the best in the city IMO. It's not a big spot, but it's a good spot. Chill vibe. Not good for work, which is fine, because people don't camp out here like some coffee shops. read more

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This place SLAPPED, excellent vibes, great music, the most delicious ube coconut latte of my life (meryenda), def on the sweeter end but I'm obsessed. Worth the trip. Want to come back and try the pandan. read more

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Place was jam packed when we went in on a Sunday afternoon! There were 3 baristas working hard and had a ton of cups that were lined up still waiting to be made. We ordered a hot pandan vanilla latte and an iced lavender latte. They offer oat milk or whole milk. Since they have such a limited menu, we were one of the many customers who ordered the same drink, so it was hard to tell who's order was what and if we were before or after the customer who had the same drink. We waited for about 20 minutes and the drinks were good overall. read more

Four Letter Word - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pleasantly surprised! I always say Chicago has a disappointing coffee scene but I thoroughly enjoyed 4LW- the Ethiopian drip was brewed well, no complaints here. Good temperature. The Ube latte was steamed well, not too sweet. Interior is a great vibe, wish my apt looked like this. My only complaint is the lack of pour over options (like at Metric) but this drip was great. Recommend to anyone who takes coffee seriously. The baristas are all very friendly as well. read more

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Been wanting to come here for such a long time. It's way smaller than I was expecting, and there was a huge crowd already inside when I arrived which was pretty overwhelming. The people taking my order and preparing the drinks were all very friendly. It took a long time for my coffee to be made and I would have missed it had I not followed up and asked them if that was my order. I got the pandan vanilla latte and it was delicious. I didn't really taste the pandan it was very much vanilla flavor forward but it was tasty nonetheless. read more

Four Letter Word - Pandan vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I ordered an oat milk Latte and a chocolate bun and stayed there for an early afternoon. Unfortunately they don't have other alternatives for milk option like the nonfat or almond milk, but the Latte was great and very balanced. The chocolate bun was super crispy and not too sweet. The inside space is cozy while I guess not big enough to contain a lot of customers during rush hours especially on weekends. Friendly baristas, and I noticed that people come in were also very elegant and nice to chat with. read more

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Four Letter Word is one of those small-but-mighty cafés that feels designed for flow. The space isn't massive, but that actually works in its favor--people can get in and out smoothly without it ever feeling cramped. I tried both a drop coffee and an Americano. Flavor-wise, they were good (though not mind-blowing), but the real star for me was the espresso setup. They're rocking a 2-head La Pavoni Commercial Lever machine, and it pulls such a smooth shot--it's the kind of detail coffee lovers will geek out on. If coffee gear isn't your thing, they've got plenty of other highlights: draft kombucha on tap, and their ube drink was freaking amazing. Presentation alone was next-level, and the taste delivered too. read more

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Decent latte art, cute vibe inside, smooth drinkable beans. But I have to say for we paid $14.50 for two 12oz lattes with just double shots..it is a little pricey for Chicago. read more

Four Letter Word - Pandan vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Four Letter Word offers a solid menu of coffee. They have two seating areas, one air conditioned and the other open air book store with plenty of seating facing the street. It is a whole hipster vibe. Love it! My cappuccino is very creamy, aromatic and strong in a small cup. I'd come here on a cool sunny day to people watch over coffee and good conversation. read more

Absolutely adored the amount of fun books that you can look at in here! The book store next door makes the ambiance even better. The pumpkin spiced latte was very delicious as someone who doesn't like coffee too much unless it's sweet! Had a great time sitting with my loved ones enjoying the drinks and browsing through the cool books! read more

Four Letter Word - Pumpkin Spiced Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Small little place. But quality espresso. Quick service. Friendly service. We both got honey and cinnamon in our drinks. YUM read more

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Good place to come and try some locally made coffee. If you like pretty small intimate spaces this is another reason to come here. Four Letter Word makes me want to say one, and that word is "good." Maybe there's many better places for better prices, but it's a nice place to chill in the morning. The prices still aren't that bad for quality. Came here after a rough night to unwind and then perk myself up a bit. It's pretty small and there's not much to it. There's seating at the counter and a few tables. It's about $5 for the cheapest coffee. Really that's not bad for an independent coffee shop like this. I got the Espresso And Milk. Obviously this comes with milk, but you can choose which kind, and I got it with oat. Full of flavor. There's also plenty of syrups. For sure the coffee is the main thing to get here. If looking for anything to munch on there's pastries. There's none that appear okay for vegans though unfortunately. read more

Four Letter Word - Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We REALLY enjoyed this place! Some of the best coffee we have had, super smooth and delicious. It is definitely small inside but decorated very tastefully and it's all delicious! Would highly recommend! read more

This visit wasn't completely my speed, but I still enjoyed my morning here. I've heard of four letter word from restaurants that serve their coffee and word-of-mouth otherwise, so I had to try it. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, though indoor spaces are limited in their smaller establishment. Couple of tables with standing room. In the garage-turned-bookstore nextdoor, there's some outdoor season with literature for purchase. Come for some light reading or with a couple friends, because four letter word is not built for people looking to study. Americano - wasn't actually on the menu, but not difficult for the barista to pull a shot and add water. This was pleasant, with fruity espresso that didn't leave your mouth with an acrid aftertaste. Blueberry pancake donut - aside from the powdered sugar on top, this was surprisingly not too sweet. Jam inside was very nice, though can get easily messy eating this. Would've preferred less powdered sugar or one deep breath and you'll end up inhaling most of it Ube latte - this was a lot more subtle than most ube lattes I've had. Wouldn't be surprised if they actually used ube in this instead of a flavor syrup. Pretty good! Scallion roll - I made up the name for this because I know we got a green onion roll but I don't remember what it was actually called. It was scallion in the French way, not in the Chinese way (you'll get it if you've had anything scallion the Chinese way). A bit heavier than I was expecting. I'd come back to try their different rotation of beans, and it also seems like their pastries vary too. read more

Four Letter Word - blueberry pancake donut & americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service was friendly/upbeat when I got there and placed my order, but was decidedly chilly when I left. It was weird that I got a little mini cup of chai, which is fine (if a little too much was made, why waste it) but I got this really kind of condescending and cold attitude when I asked what it was. I also don't love this trend of being asked if I want espresso added when I order chai. If I wanted coffee, I'd order it, but coffee is gross so no thanks. Let non-coffee drinkers have something without folks assuming we want to spoil it with coffee, please and thank you! There's already only like two things for us to order from the drink menu. They had orange raspberry beignets but they were out by the time I was there around 10:45. Get there early if you want to try them! Unfortunately the chai was forgettable. No depth of flavor. I was bummed that I wasted the calories on it but it was warm (which is one of the reasons I got it) so at least that was something. Parking is street only. The barista wore a mask which I appreciate. I'm not sure if it was walk up only or not; there was someone inside, but maybe just visiting the employee because I the door didn't seem openable (it looked blocked from inside). read more

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It's Mothers Day and my children are away at school etc. I decided to treat myself to a hot chocolate. So against my better judgment and for ease I walk down the block. In the last year I've been there 2 times out of shear stubbornness that the service will be better! I stand outside and wait my turn -three people later it's my turn. The window is opened by the same little jerk that watches the window every day. He asks if I have a dog. I say no and he says you need to come in unless you have a dog. I said I've been waiting in line out here can I just order- I didn't know this. I see no sign on the window! Nothing that says anything about the dog rule. He says NO -We only serve people with dogs at the window. You'll need to come in and there's another line in here too at which point he shuts the window on me. I then go inside after taking two and tell him that they are rude and arrogant every time I come and they all stand there and smirk and laugh, especially the guy from the window. Then his boyfriend comes in and tells them how wonderful they are and mocks my frustration like a bunch of children. I don't know if the owner pays any attention to these reviews and maybe I'm the only person that takes the time to do them, but I think it's important to communicate good service and bad service! I would rather be struck by lightning before I ever walk into that place again. read more

Cute little neighborhood gem. Menu is limited which I like - they do just a few drink items but seem to do them quite well. Would appreciate if they had more milk substitutes ( they have oak milk but no almond milk as an example) and would appreciate a sugar free syrup option ( I settled for Splenda in my latte and was quite satisfied with my drink ). The vibe in there is relaxing and interesting. Love the Mexican house music playing in the background. Not a ton of seating but they have a great round table in the back with maybe 6 leather chairs so if you can snag one of those it's a great place to go with a friend to catch up for an hour. read more

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This place is expensive but the coffee is really good so it's worth it! They change up the pastries a lot and have some really interesting ones. Recommend if you want to treat yourself. More of a to-go place, not much seating. The baristas are really friendly and nice too! read more

Beautiful coffees, I really liked that I could choose espresso for my latte, and drip coffee was amazing !!!! read more

Okay, I work in Coffee, and for a company that roast their own beans and Four Letter Word has the best espresso in Chicago. It's sooooo good. Overall they stick to basic, only being themselves, and doing it very well! read more

We stopped by after eating nearby at Cellar Door Provisions. Great ambiance and service when we had went. Enjoyed their Turkish coffee and picked up a bag of beans to brew at home. Would like to try their pastries next time. 5 stars because of their quality selection of single-origin beans, including from Asia (currently they have intriguing varieties from the Philippines). New Math Coffee is another roaster in Chicago that offers beans sourced from Asia. They both belong among my favorite Chicago-located coffee joints to get beans for home brewing: - Reprise - Metric - Dark Matter - Groundswell - Blue Bottle - Intelligentsia read more

Four Letter Word - Turkish coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My good friend lives nearby so I have been here with her about 15 times over the past 4-5 years. I wanted to try it several times before I reviewed it. I'm ready. My first comment is not about the coffee or the food -- but about an even more important sensation... The ambience is unfriendly. The baristas seem like they can hardly bear the insult of having to talk to us. If we ask a question, the answer is mumbled. Definitely no "hello" or "thank you" or even any acknowledgment that a customer has entered. We aren't looking for chit chat, just basic humanity. Worse yet, this attitude seems contagious to the customers. I can drop by for a coffee to go--and leave--but it still makes my day less pleasant to go there. If it were downtown, that would be one thing, but the place has such a self-conscious vibe as if it's a local neighborhood gem. Ugh. If this is part of the new cool detached hip "Logan Square culture" sweeping the area, this place is ground zero. I'll say that this review is not based on the pastries or food, which all look good. The espresso and lattes are excellent, expertly made, and have a range of accents. I would not recommend the mochas, which both times has been "off" -- the oat milk and espresso and chocolate balance was unbalanced both times, but in different ways. So in short: good coffee, bad vibes. read more

Wandered over to 4L Word cafe after spending the afternoon plant shopping a few doors down. I loved my chai latte and the barista was incredibly friendly and went over a few of the specialty lattes. The music was on the louder side so it would be difficult for me to come in and work, but they have excellent pastries so overall well worth a visit. read more

Tried their latte in both Ethiopia based espresso and Philippines based espresso. They were good lattes, but I liked the Philippines better as the taste was stronger. The wait was a bit long as there was just one barista who did everything. Worth visiting! read more

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Go early if you want to grab pastries! Picked up some coffee to go from their sweet little window after thanksgiving, and service was very sweet and friendly - especially for a one woman show. It's a place that's all about the coffee - a little pricey, but worth trying out! Small selection of cute hats and stickers for sale in the window. read more

As someone who almost always drinks only iced coffee, craft coffee places are sometimes lost on me. Iced coffee is usually an afterthought, thin and watery. Four Letter Word might have the absolute best iced coffee I've ever had, thick, flavorful, and creamy. In the craft beer world, we often use "mouthfeel" to describe beers that just feel incredible on the tongue. The iced coffee here could be described the same way: excellent flavor with incredible mouthfeel. read more

Four Letter Word - cold coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Smallish shop on Diversey just west of Sacramento, I think it's been around for about 9 months. Straight to the point menu offering espresso, drip coffee, lattes & pour overs...they also have a simple iced latte. Beans are mainly single origin from about 5-6 different regions and some of the best I've tried! Definitely try the Ethiopia "Telila Yurko".. it's outstanding. Prices a tad higher than most & the give you a free drip coffee or espresso with the purchase of beans!! Service is knowledgeable & quick/ don't forget to tip. Talk later? read more

I just moved to the area and popped in here for a morning pick me up. This little coffee shop is cute! Standing tables and some seating. You can order through a to go window or walk in and order at the counter. The staff were friendly and the iced ube latte I ordered might be the best latte I've had! read more

Four Letter Word - Iced Ube latte with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best espresso in Chicago. Period. The beans are outstanding, unique, and ever-changing, and they have the fewest defects out of every roaster in Chicago. They are also the only espresso shop with a lever machine, which pulls a better shot. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and the pastries are excellent. read more

I can't say enough great things about this small shop. Fantastic lattes done well and I can't wait till we can dine inside and I can try their Turkish coffee! The pastries are all fantastic, and as you can tell from the pictures we couldn't settle so we got lots to try. Their options change almost daily too so always something fun to enjoy. They even have some cool chocolate bars and the best instant ramen if you need treats for later. Super nice staff to boot. read more

Four Letter Word - Canele, calamansi meringue tart, goat cheese knot, milo coffee cake slice .... so good!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was a weird experience. When I walked in and ordered, the staff kind of gave me the cold shoulder and weren't friendly at all. However, once I finished ordering some people who they knew came in and they were being very friendly and outgoing with them. It's a small space, so there isn't much seating; there are a few tables that don't have any chairs, so you just have to stand (?). Didn't get any espresso or coffee so I can't speak to that. As soon as I ordered I couldn't wait to leave. read more

I am craving more Four Letter Word (!@$?!*#%)!!! Picked up some medium roast Mexican blend and just finished today. Back in California and far away from (!@$?!*#%) it. LOL, needing more smooth, round, mellow deliciousness to start off my day. read more

Four Letter Word - Whole bean coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great Coffee. Relaxing environment. Delicious pastries. I tried the Koung-Ame(sp?) and it was amazing! There's no filling, but the butter caramelized crust was phenomenal. Seating is pretty limited. read more

Four Letter Word - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First visit, first impressions, very good...it is pricey, the larger size here, seems pretty small to me...ordered a large ice coffee, and large Latte... I'm thinking the size for a large drink here is only 12 ounces...it seemed to be adequate enough to fill my caffeine craving. Tasty drinks, they didn't have skim milk which my wife wanted in her latte, so I had them use oat milk...it was tasty... Friendly place, I'll come back for sure...better than any Starbucks.. read more

Four Letter Word - Brewer.. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

definitely a new favorite! its absolutely a little on the pricey side, but, in my opinion, worth it. i can't remember if this is with or without tip, but i paid about $14.50 for a specialty drink and a brioche pastry. baristas were on the quiet side which, like, works for me cos im awkward and don't know how to exist in public. i had planned for an iced latte but was enticed by the meryenda (ube + coconut milk + espresso over ice). delightful! it is on the sweet side for someone who doesn't usually get flavored drinks, which honestly was really nice for the 90 degree weather. fantastic espresso, too. l was staying in, and the guy making my drink asked whether i wanted a to-go cup anyways since it was a little larger. super thoughtful! it was a decent size inside (and helped that few other people were there) and very well-decorated. super relaxed vibe without feeling like its trying real hard to be a ~*hangout spot*~. absolutely a gem! read more

The inside is great. The coffee and treats have all been really satisfying. The barista's I've interacted with have all slayed.

I wish I could have gone in and hung out! :) Great vibes, music, chocolate choices, and a basic coffee menu of quality coffee. Tons of good community resources, too, about self-care and etc. hanging up-- totally appreciate it. read more

I'm all about cozy coffee shops so I really like this place! I loved the decorations and overall feel of the shop. I'm always looking for a good work from home spot and this would definitely be one. Nowadays, a lot of coffee shops have loud music making it difficult to sit there for more than an hour and it was nice to find that this place was super quite. It's the ideal place to come sit for a few hours. Their coffee selection is super simple - with just a few items to choose from. I absolutely loved their cold brew. It was delicious and refreshing. I personally was not a huge fan of their Turkish coffee, and maybe it was my own mistake for not knowing this - but coffee grounds were still in there. I had a hard time getting past that but other than that it's a great place! read more

Four Letter Word - Turkish Coffee & Cold Brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love, love, love Four Letter Word. It's my regular weekend coffee spot. Their coffee, while pricey, is worth every dollar. They've also got a rotating menu of delicious pastries from local spots (including Cellar Door Provisions across the street; best baked goods in town IMO). Plus, some of the friendliest people behind the bar! One of the best secrets of their offerings is their canned cold coffee, canned at their roastery in Back of the Yards. Truly the best canned coffee I've had. They're handling Covid extremely well. Cute lego-shaped 6-foot markers in line, sanitizer at the window, baristas are always masked. Love this place. read more