I cannot believe I've not been to this amazing gem. If you're in the area (or even if you're not)…read moreyou should DEFINITELY come here. First of all, the ambience/atmosphere is soooo cute and unique. It is in the "lobby" of the apartment building above it, but it's done so seamlessly you wouldn't even realize it unless you were looking at the resident mail boxes. Either way - tastefully done. My favorite part was this area to the right of the coffee counter. Cozy chairs and inviting space. Loved sitting here and enjoying my latte and donut. Secondly, such unique drinks! They have some really fun seasonal and specialty drinks. I highly recommend the Thyme is Honey - it comes in a cute bear cup with a sprig of Thyme. The also carry Beacon's Donuts (if you haven't had them, this is your sign to!). And lastly, the barista, Clara (I THINK that was her name), was delightful. Super friendly and inviting. So, thank you to her for rounding out a really nice coffee break.

The guy who makes the coffee with the short black hair he is very rude. He seems racist, he didn't…read morespeak or anything. Not a great first experience. P.S I never ordered a beverage from there so you need to watch your camera again because you referring to the wrong person. You can't tell me what type of experience I had at that establishment. Just the manner you replied shows me you are hostile & your male barista is rude as a previous stated.

The folks here are nice and make a great brewed latte--nicely flavored espresso, and the milk was…read moresteamed well. Came here for my daily cup while in the area. Appreciated the lack of much line too (maybe luck?) even though there were people at the tables every time I went. They have a few pastry and breakfast sandwich options, but I didn't try them.

Service was quick, the latte was superb, and it was nice and bright inside on a moody day. If you…read morehave big shoulders, watch out, this place is itty bitty inside. Overall I savored my vanilla latte and left happier than I arrived.

We enjoy grabbing sacks of whole bean coffee while traveling and after reviewing their selections…read moreonline this made our list. Two sacks stuck out the most with our palate. NIGHT SHIFT: -- online tasting/sniffing notes: full body; deep chocolate; malty notes; dark chocolate; peanut butter; caramel; toasted marshmallow -- for me I noticed this more on the nose than the mouth, and especially when I "buried my beak" in the grounds after brewing -- the taste is nutty, smooth, nothing sour or bitter to speak of, caramel and light PB with some dark choc coming through...marshmallow only on sniff I believe RATING = A COLOMBIA (house drip): -- sack to be reviewed at a later date, too many sacks in the house right now STAFF were polite and efficient. No free drip cup offered with sacks purchase. Store is small but nicely appointed. It was not too far of a walk from our hotel which was a plus.

If you want great, small-shop-quality coffee with the speed and consistency of a streamlined…read moreoperation, Big Shoulders Coffee is hard to beat. The coffee is consistently excellent high quality, well crafted, and full of flavor yet the experience feels fast and streamlined like a large coffee chain. You get that neighborhood, specialty-coffee vibe without sacrificing convenience. It's the perfect balance between specialty coffee and convenience, which is why Big Shoulders has become my go-to coffee spot when I'm in the area. Highly recommend!

We really liked their coffee. Bought extra to bring home with us. Super cute coffee spot super…read moreclose to the hotel we stored at.

There is a theory about why Garfield hates Mondays so much. He's a cat who stays home, so what is…read morethere to not like? Well, this is the day after a weekend when Jon goes back to work! With that in mind, the phrase "Happy Monday!" is an oxymoron, even though I send it every week in the Teams chat. Something that helps fight the Monday blues? Coffee! Yet, despite their oxymoronic name, Happy Monday Coffee is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. As someone who doesn't often make coffee runs during the workday, this means my coffee time is relegated to lunch. Some more expanded hours would be helpful not only to me and others like me but also to boost business. Where the coffee itself is concerned, I love the creativity displayed in the latte selections. Even as someone who is not a big latte lover, this is the kind of beverage I always get here. Are these the greatest things ever? No. However, I can't fault them too much, as lattes by design hide the bite of espresso under milk and often sugar. The vibe inside is relaxed and modern-boho, with a tasteful DJ set playing at a reasonable volume on the flatscreen. While I always take my coffee to go, it seems like a comfortable place to relax with a cup for a bit. Finally, I want to give credit to the service. While there isn't often a long line, service is consistently friendly, welcoming, and fast. Their prices aren't the cheapest around, but they are in line with what I'd expect for premium beverages in a high-traffic, downtown area. Final Verdict: Does Happy Monday have the best coffee anywhere that has me stopping in religiously? No. However, as someone who drinks soda rather rarely, when I am craving a solid and creative latte while at the office, Happy Monday is the first place that comes to mind.

DAY 1: This "sniffs…read morein" at 4.5 stars... We sniffed in here multiple times during our 3-day visit. Some of the things we consumed: YUZU NITRO COLD BREW: -- my favorite coffee drink here of the trip -- yuzu works very well and is clearly present -- very visually appealing -- smooth and tasty and not too sour -- only orange or multiple citrus blend coffees may beat out this for me RATING = A WHISKEY BOURBON CAKE DONUT: -- lightly sweet w/gentle lean towards moderate -- up to moderate bourbon sniff and taste -- not oily or greasy -- soft interior almost layered -- leans moist, not dry -- size is small -- $5 plus is pricey but a rare find donut flavor RATING = A NOTE: I do miss their Sicilian cannoli from 2022, but I tried something else here as a substitute later in the trip PROSCIUTTO PROVOLONE CROISSANT: -- buttery -- not heated up -- medium sized -- soft flaky croissant flatter, not airy -- nice quality pastry -- lightly loaded inside but good balance of inserts to bread -- a good light snack to save belly for our Italiano dinner RATING = A- We snuck in at the last moment apparently as we were nearly cut off from lining up at the bar at 9:29pm. We ordered the "ESPRESSO MARTINI FLIGHT" for $25.00. CHERRY LIMONE (LEMON/CHERRY): -- very cherry forward -- partial slices of fresh lemon rind -- not too tart, tad bitter -- it works RATING = A- MOLE SPICE: -- tiny cacao bean shrapnel on top -- moderately plus spicy overpowers the chocolate -- okay but weakest of the bunch RATING = B+ ORANGE CACAO: -- cut slice of orange rind -- clear orange on sniff and taste -- my fave of the three -- all 3 had creamy heads to them RATING = A DAY 2: NITRO COLD BREW w/UBE COCONUT WHIP ADDED ON TOP: -- very pretty visually -- initially the slow sipping for nitro drinking worked and I got a balance of everything in my mouth but then I mostly just tasted coffee....so I stirred it up and agitated it to blend it better and it improved -- not an item I would order often -- 2" foamy head RATING = A- RASPBERRY MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE: -- semi-firm exterior -- big price around $11.00 plus -- medium-sized -- bone/ecru coloring -- 5 fresh raspberries on top with a slice of dark chocolate -- thin shortbread crust was fragile and not thick enough, but I love the shortbread vs. graham cracker idea -- texture is layered and dense -- it is not NYC style nor Chicago style w/mascarpone but closer to Chicago style than NYC -- very creamy -- I tend to prefer ricotta cheesecake or Chicago style, but this is nice and anything is better than firm heavy brick dense NYC style RATING = A- The wife grabbed a fresh bag of the "Chicago" beans that we sampled on day one. It was a smooth tasty cup. The seating is great here if you can get it. Weekends are "sold out" almost so pick your time carefully and cross your fingers.

DRINKS I had their signature tiramisu latte. It was a solid…read morelatte, but I couldn't taste the tiramisu flavor. It is on the expensive side at $8+ for the drink. FOOD I tried their raspberry croissant. The pastry was flaky, and the raspberry cream was light and not too sweet. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly! You can order at any of the floors. The first floor is largely for grab-and-go customers and ordering at the floors above are typically for sitting down. AMBIANCE Ample seating across floors 2 and upward is available inside the reserve, ranging from tabletop seating to small round tables. Most guests visit the reserve in a tourist capacity, but some visitors were working/studying as well. PARKING Paid street parking is available at a limited capacity.

Such a cute spot. The space itself is really nice warm, cozy vibe, and thoughtfully designed but it…read moreis pretty limited on seating, so it can feel a little tight if it's busy. Definitely more of a linger-with-a-friend than a big group place. I got the chai latte and that spice comes through in the best way. It's not just sweet milk with a hint of chai you actually taste the cinnamon, clove, and that little kick of warmth. Super comforting and flavorful. Friendly staff!

This is a super cute and intimate coffee spot! I stopped by to do some work before an appointment…read morein the area. I ordered an iced matcha latte and found it to be smooth. I asked for it to be unsweetened as I wanted to be able to add stevia to my own liking. My order came quick and without issues. I would be happy to return again if in the area. It's a great alternative to other shops in the area.

We stopped in to Coralie Coffee before starting a day of sightseeing, and we really enjoyed our…read morestop! The pastries were buttery and delicious, the Chai tea was REALLY good, and the cappuccino was absolutely fabulous! Service was very friendly, and the location is super cute and clean. We will happily stop in again when we are back in town!

Another perfect latte and treat, another perfect day. As soon as I walk through the door, I cannot…read morehelp but smile. A mochiato to drink in, a latte to go and a chocolate chip brioche...yum! I couldn't stop there though... the quiche!!!!! Yuuum!

This place is really cool with a very chill, cozy vibe inside. I was visiting my sibling over the…read moreweekend who lives just down the street, so I ended up stopping in twice. On my first visit, I tried the dulce de leche hot latte, which was good but nothing particularly stood out. I also had the egg, sausage, and cheese sandwich on a jalapeño cheese bagel. It was huge and overall good, but I found myself more of a fan of the bagel itself. On my second visit, I tried the vanilla lavender hot latte, which stood out much more to me. It had a great balance of coffee and sweetness. I also tried the egg, ham, and cheese jalapeño bagel and definitely preferred it over the other sandwich. It was savory and filling. I'd come back again the next time I'm visiting!

Seating in the front is cozy and comfortable. The back area with the high chairs and big wooden…read moretables is good for groups but the chairs are very hard so bring a cushion or a hoodie to fold up and sit on. The back table can handle a group of about ten people comfortably. The coffee is very strong! They have oat milk. As a whole grain person I can't really eat anything because I try to avoid plain white bread. But if you like paninis you'll probably enjoy it. Service is tepid. I think they're afraid to talk. The staff act like they're always about to get yelled at for something. They don't look like they're having a very good time and it doesn't seem like a fun place to work. The location was convenient at the time I stopped in.

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

A cute cafe with a decent amount of seating and unique lattes and pastries! The 16oz latte has four…read moreespresso 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.

I passed by this place on my morning walk. I ordered a warm Black Chai and the vegan Coconut Curry…read moreEmpanada. Both were fantastic... highly recommend. The service was great. The inside could use a little TLC but it's winter. When the weather is better I can see ppl enjoying themselves outside on the patio near the fire pit.

This was some of the best and smoothest coffee I have had. It was my favorite coffee shop in…read moreChicago while traveling. They have multiple dairy free options like soy milk, oat milk, and almond milk. The cold brew and iced latte were great.