Owner is super nice! Go there, you'll love it. I was climbing up walls after their Americano

One of the best coffee houses you can hope to find anywhere. The drinks are made with attention and they will do any combo you want to try. They have a very nice selection of coffees to go, I recommend their Dark Haus blend, for your home enjoyment. The pastries are from one of the best bakeries in the City, their soups homemade and the sandwiches and wraps made fresh. Add to this friendly staff, an eclectic but homey atmosphere, changing art work from local artists on the walls, a book and record store next door and a place for little kids to play while the owner spins a variety of great tunes and you have a fantastic place for a momentary respite from the world. But wait, there's more! The owners, Joe and Melissa, are friendly, attentive and genuinely into their community and willing to chat about most anything. The Perkolator is a one of the best. read more

If you want affordable quality just make you feel good breakfast or lunch come to perkolator. I came in today with high expectations but they exceeded my expectations. Super chill place not too busy, great ham egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. I'm gonna try the Cubanski the next time I come here. It just feels like what a coffee shop should be , like pretty much an all around place that has everything you need. They have real sugar Dr Pepper had like 4 of these , you can't enjoy these is most places. I really wish it was open late because I can see myself here at 2-4 in the morning eating some late night breakfast. Customer service is great super friendly and chill people to talk to. Thanks for the great experience guys. read more

A really great find! Loved the iced chai and the ham, egg and cheese sandwich. The staff was friendly and I loved the atmosphere.

The perk is the bomb diggity. Cold brew is on point which is hard to find in my opinion. I usually drink it black and so the body and taste is really important to me, Although they do have some badass specials like "the dude" and "Miami vice" both better than anything they sell at *bucks. Food is crazy good. Pretty simple for the most part but as others said, made with love :) Also they have the best staff ever. read more

Reasonable prices, friendly staff, good food options, and wifi. It has a fun and cozy atmosphere. It's a great place to get a cup of coffee and hang out. read more

The first time I walked in I fell in Love! Tired of the same old Corporate boredom---- then you must stop by and you'll likely be a regular. FORGET STARBUCKS!!!! No comparison to this original and unique place. The food, beverages and atmosphere are far better. There's a decent organic beverage selection and alternative milk substitutes. There's also toys to keep the kiddies busy. Don't miss the connecting vintage section with records, books and misc. You can easily spend several hours there. read more

Perkolater is always a great place to visit. The coffee is delicious. It's got a great vibe for relaxing and writing, etc. The owners are really cool and always like to talk about the coffee and the neighborhood. Now that they've added Something Sweet Donut's, you can't miss this place. read more

Love this new addition to the neighborhood! Only two suggestions... Post the wifi code and make the Nutella banana panini a breakfast item.

Our go-to coffee shop in the neighborhood! We loved this place even before they opened Sputnik next door, now it rips even harder! Great coffee and pastries too. Kill Die Kill. read more

Quintessential small business that everyone in the neighborhood should come out and support. A true family run local business that takes great pride in giving personal service and an expertly brewed cup of joe for a fair price. They also have tasty pastries and a light food menu that is rumored to be growing soon. Can't wait. They also have a retro vibe that feels genuine, unlike all those chain restaurants that are art directed. A needed addition to the neighborhood and a must try spot for anyone on the northwest side. read more

Joe and the crew are top notch. I always enjoy coming here alone or with my family. Being a teacher, you get a discount, too. Too bad they're not open later for those late night grading sessions, but maybe if the Patio theater gets going on a regular business, they'd open later. Wishful thinking! :-) read more

My new favorite local coffee shop! If you're in the neighborhood, you must give this place a try. It has a really unique atmosphere and the cafe extends into their used record/bookstore. Such a cool place! I can't wait to stop in for lunch and try their sandwiches. read more

great vibes for the neighborhood, strong wifi, strong coffee (get a caramel macchiato), friendly staff, cute workspace with a used bookstore & record store attached. LOVE that they have so many non-dairy options (soy, hemp, coconut, almond)! skip the average sandwiches unless you're really hungry. read more

I love the vibes of this coffee shop! It's even attached to a record store. My new favorite place to come do homework!

Perkolator gets it right. I went once when they just offered coffee and some sweets but I've been back a few more times recently to see their food menu and I'm really impressed with this place. It looks like the neighborhood feels the same. The coffee shop before Perkolator would be almost empty every time I went in there but Perkolator is at least half full every time I go in. Good Job! read more

I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with turkey tomato provolone cheese and bacon, it was delicious!! my husband had the Cubanaski. He also thought it was good. The cafe latte was fresh and great tasting, but very strong much stronger than what you would find at Starbucks. if I lived close to this place I probably would be a regular. read more

Spicy Latte!!! Shedd the straw. Jalapeño popper bagel Sandwhich! Smiley staff, great vibes, perfect start to my morning. Makin it a new regular spot. read more

I cannot overstate how happy I am this place is here. It is the perfect coffee shop. The employees here are so nice. They have a small but impressive array of pastries/sweets and an awesome menu. The coffee is amazing. And it is spacious. Now, I mentioned this place is spacious. It has 2 rooms. The initial one you walk into and one labeled "lounge." And let me tell you how amazing the lounge portion is (the main entrance is nice too). But it has a huge bookshelf and a room with books covering the 3 walls and a cool chair in the middle. It has records. Nice, big tables. An old school juke box. And just awesomeness all around. I couldn't be happier. read more

This place is terrific. Nice people, nice setting. Just don't come if you're in a rush. Things move pretty slow.

I love love love the Perkolator. I visit about once a week. After moving from (ultimate coffee destination) Seattle, I'd been scouring the streets for something akin to the low-key, functional-hippy vibe near my original Chicago 'hood. This place has really good food - creative sandwiches using local produce from the area - and of courssse, most importantly, amazing coffee. Friendly staff. A bright spot in the Portage neighborhood that's def. up and coming, giving it a nice caffeinated shot in the arm, if you will. Great space for reading, drawing, people watching - love! read more

Awesome local coffee shop with Lincoln Square charm. Adjacent room has used books and records for sale. Truly a gem in Portage Park.

I fall in love with this place. Everything is so nice. The barista is very friendly. My Americano is good. We try pepper&egg croissant and breakfast burrito and they are fresh and delicious. Also, the atmosphere and decoration make you feel comfortable. Will come back for sure!!! read more

Love the mocha here. Cool and friendly atmosphere along with being reasonably priced. Great place to grab a drink.

My first visit here - noticed their existence in a local online neighborhood publication and believe they opened around Labor Day. Met an old friend for coffee and a brioche and we were able to spend a couple hours catching up with each other's lives and families. Nice little trendy new coffee cafe in a neighborhood reinventing itself. Place is clean and friendly - folks of all ages even with kids coming in and out. If you like supporting local businesses/start-ups, do stop here. read more

Phenomenal place to sit, brew, study, work, read, rest and laugh. The quality of food and drink is HIGH, which I have not found in local coffee shops often. The environment is open, BEAUTIFUL (at any time of day) and friendly. The music is great. The colors and decor are bright and beautiful. So good to have a local owner whose wife owns the thrift store across the street. Joe, the owner, is behind the bar as barista and the two staff I have met were both very friendly and accommodating. My wife loves it because she can bring our 4 year old daughter and keep her entertained with a Perkolator selection of kids toys and books. Thanks Perkolator for sustaining local businesses in our neighborhood! read more

Well made coffee with fresh, local pastries and other good stuff. Fairly priced. I don't think you can beat that. read more

I really love everything about this place - except for the coffee. The ambiance is so relaxed and kitsch, and my daughter loved the toys available. The coffee is weak and watery. I will definitely give this place another try after they have been open a bit longer! read more

Cool spot. The neighborhood needs places like this. Happy for the owner Joe Basilone and his wife. They did a great job for the community.

This place is very cute, the employees are nice, and the baked goods always look amazing. The coffee is good, albeit maybe a tad overpriced, and the menu is big enough for being a cafe, I just wish they had gluten free bread as an option. And if I'm wrong and they do offer it, I'll add another 1/2 a star. read more

Always delicious. Everyone is sweet. Chai latte, matcha latte, all the coffee .... incredible.

There knowledge of coffee is basic at best. The coffee tastes over roasted, and on top of that the coffee is brewed to weak. Not even extraction happening. The espresso is pulled too long causing a harsh burning flavor in the coffee. Needs more work on bringing out the sweetness coffee has to offer. Atmosphere of the location is great. Very friendly place and fun for kids! Food is also good! read more

Good food, great coffee and even better people! I like this place more and more each time I come. So glad to have them in the neighborhood. read more

Excellent coffee grown locally. Well in Michigan but at least in the Midwest. They tell their grower specifically how they want their beans roasted and when done its trucked out that same day. Very fresh. Much better than any of those "chain" coffee houses. Great bakery selection and decent breakfast menu plus lunch choices. Decor is retro 1950s which I love. Excellent add to the Austin Irving business district. Much needed for the northwest side of Chicago for refreshing break from all the typical strip mall chain outlet crap. read more

I cannot express how much I love this place! Each time I was in there the coffee and food was amazing, and the staff were super nice and helpful. It is a good place to get work done or just hang out. Would highly recommend as one of the best places around! read more

This place is really aesthetically pleasing and I love the record store connected to the cafe. It was fun to explore it while waiting on my order. You don't have many trendy looking places around the area but this place makes the area look pretty cool. read more

I loveeeeeee this place! The atmosphere is always warm and open and gives off an extremely creative vibe. The staff is always kind and helpful and the food and coffee is always stellar. The space is unique from other coffee shops because of its attached book shop + record store. Seats can be limiting but there usually isn't too much trouble finding a spot. read more

Great coffee, unique place, I love just to stop there in the morning for a cup of coffee and read, very cozy place and nice atmosphere, highly recommended read more

Great new shop. friendly service and good coffee and pastries and also good lunch food!

We were first hesitant to try the Perkolator as it replaced a coffee shop that we were fond of. After the first visit, we were not disappointed! In fact, we immediately decided that this would be a place that we would visit frequently. The coffee is great. The food is outstanding! The pancake muffin intrigued us and ended being our favorite. The atmosphere and service are perfect. We cannot say enough about having this wonderful coffee shop in our neighborhood! read more