In need of nourishment on a trip to Chicago, we stopped by Magnifico Coffee Roasters for some food…read moreand coffee. The establishment has a chill atmosphere and the owner was so incredibly friendly. Even though we were out of town, we were immediately invited to a small event they were having the next day and asked about our days in a manner that reflected genuine interest. I wish this could be my local coffee shop, you're so lucky if this is! Their unique offering was a wonderful selection of coffee and a delicious array of Colombian pastries. We ordered an empanada, a churro donut, almojabana, and the pan de bono. I'm vegetarian so I was very happy to see such a wide number of options for me! The churro donut was delicious and cinnamony - if you like sweet breakfasts, definitely get this! I really enjoyed the almojabana and the pan de bono. I liked the pan de bono so much, I even took a picture of the crumb to share with my mother, who is Colombian! Truly, I could have eaten 5 of the pan de bono because they tasted just like the homemade one's my abuela would make when she visited.

Such a gem- seriously! Cute, charming and well crafted Columbian coffee. They roast in-house. It's…read moreauthentic. Such a positive vibe here. Owners are so nice. The staff is so chill and kind. Seriously though, it's a good coffee spot without pretentiousness and ego. You know what I'm talking about?? You do . You know exactly what I'm talking about. They have events and pop-ups on the regular and DJs on Sundays, like all the time. Give them a follow and get here. One of the best local roasters in Chicago. Period. Boom 10/10 recommend.

I saw a line out the door, so I knew I had to check it out. I grabbed a hazelnut latte, and it was…read moregreat! The staff are super friendly and impressively quick, even when it's busy. I would not wait in line but it is a solid coffee.

But the barrels... they're so tempting!…read more Running right across the middle of the shop, there are barrels full of different kinds of coffee beans. It is so tempting to open them and start smelling, only the signs very nicely ask you not to. Wanting a break from dime-store coffee and tea (Folgers - no hate, it has a place), I decided to get something a little less "meh". Added bonus is that I am able to support a family business, as opposed to the Walton family and their associated shareholders. The staff at The Coffee & Tea Exchange was wonderful! They helped me select three different coffees to take home, speaking to the roasts and what makes them unique. I'd also like to award some bonus points for just the right grind of coffee for my reusable Keurig pods. My amazement does not stop at coffee, either - this also applies to teas. I went home with a few varieties of some of the more flavorful loose-leaf teas I've had! The kicker? The prices were very reasonable! True, it is not as cheap as a large can of Red or Blue coffee from the grocer's, but at the same time, not as expensive as something a corporation (maybe with a two-tailed siren??) has convinced you comes from a magical place called Seattle. Final verdict: My freshman year roommate had 4 open tubes of toothpaste because "variety is the spice of life." I have one tube of toothpaste, but coming up on a dozen different coffees and teas in my cabinet. Once I start running low, The Coffee & Tea Exchange is the first place I'll go to restock.

We had a lovely evening listening to great music in a clean, safe environment. Staff was so…read morefriendly and helpful. Loving the coffee I brought hime.

Incredible coffee! The flavor and taste is smooth yet savory and is unique in its originality…read more Can't wait for this to open! Come on city of AH.

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.

I really like this spot. Baristas are friendly and speedy even during a rush! If you sit in the…read moreglass box behind the bar while the coffee bean processor machine thingy is on it kinda makes you feel like a caged hamster while your owner vacuums. Unique experience.

Cool place to have a coffee, hang out. Lots of nooks, alcoves and spaces if you're looking for a…read morepeaceful place to work. The coffee itself is bold and delicious. I had a tumeric ginger chai latte which I will now refer to as calm in a cup. It was just what I needed. Scones were great too.

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!

I would give Matari 4.5 out of 5 stars, so I'm rounding to 5 based on service and ambiance! I heard…read moreabout their fruit mousse cakes online, so we knew we had to stop by to check it out. The cafe is immaculate and service was very friendly. The person who took our order was patient as he explained the different pastries in the case. I wish they had signs explaining what each pastry was so I could have decided while waiting in line. We ended up sharing an iced pistachio latte (delicious and 10/10!), the pistachio cheesecake (10/10!), and the strawberry mousse cake (7/10 - a subtle sweetness, great texture, but needed more cake or crust inside as it was mostly whipped cream and the shell). The mousse cake was $12.00, which felt steep considering it was mostly whipped cream, even though it was obviously beautiful. We would definitely come back for the coffee and to try more menu items! Check this place out!

I wanted to like it. I did. But after a few visits, it's just not for me…read more The first trip, I tried the Matari Tea: Green tea, Himalayan pink salt, milk, and spices, topped with roasted pistachios. Sounds good, right? Alas, it could not have been blander. I couldn't taste any "spices" or even the hint of salt. The profile was that of very watered-down tea mixed with milk, and a ton of pistachios floating on top. Like, barely crushed pistachios. Huge pieces, covering the top of the drink, bobbed around like tiny icebergs, and even they somehow had a toned-down flavor. The drink was definitely a swing and a miss. Fast forward two weeks, and I tried Matari again. This time with a simple cortado. I sat at the table right by the door, and the espresso was pretty good. Solid body, not too bitter. It was on the pricy side ($7+), but I was ok with that. But then, I'm hanging out, sipping my coffee, and I catch a burst of perfume-like scent. I'm shocked, but whatever, I figured someone in heavy perfume walked by, no big deal. A few minutes later, wham, I'm hit in the nose with another burst of perfume. Then, I see it. A slight haze around me. So, not a heavily perfumed woman after all, but an automated air-freshener. After further inspection, I see the unit plugged in on the ground right behind my chair, which sprays up and out on a timer. That's right, an air freshener right next to a table where people consume food and beverages, shooting a mist into the air that slowly rains down onto my head and table, and into my coffee. I ended up tossing the last few sips of my cortado, as I could taste the scented whatever-it-was in my cup. I'd have gone to the counter and asked for a new one, but I was so over my visit by then, I just opted to get out. The staff aren't very friendly. Not rude, but they don't give off a welcoming aura, and I didn't feel like trying to explain the issue. Lastly, can we talk about their little "your order is up" beepers? We've all seen them. The little electronic things that blink and make a noise when your order is ready, so you can go snag it from the counter. When I think of a coffee shop, I think quiet and peaceful, or perhaps a bit louder, with bustling people and well-paired music. At Matari, it's an insane BEEP BEEP BEEP that goes off every few minutes when an order is up. I get it, you don't want to bring the food out to your customers. But does it really need to feel like an airport Chili's? It's a bummer, because Matari is beautiful inside. It's clean, it's chic, and its location is at a notable crossroads in Skokie with plenty of parking, leaving it extremely convenient. They've even got an easy-to-use website, which so many coffee shops simply do not have. There aren't a lot of coffee shops in this particular part of town, which is why I so, so very much wanted to love Matari. But subpar drinks? Air freshener spray intrusions? Frequent and obnoxious beeping? I tried. I'm sorry. I just can't.

Beef empanadas is super addicting. Chicken tamale had a…read morenice spicy kick, I do wish it didn't fall apart so easily though. Beignets are always fire Horchata Coldbrew was delicious

Cute cafe! The place was hopping on a Sunday morning. Despite the busyness we received our order…read morequickly. We tried the horchata cold brew. It was really good! A perfect mix where you tasted both horchata and coffee. The prices were average for Chicago.

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.