Amazing coffee, very pleasant people working there!…read more Don't expect a cafe lounge, as it's a walk up order and go. If you are looking for a great cup of Joe this is a must go to!

friendly service and affordable, no frills coffee at this walk-up order window. menu is simple with…read morejust 2 coffee offerings (drip and cold brew) and the price listed is the price you pay-- no added tax or tip. they brew their beans in house-- the guatemalan medium body drip tastes great!

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.

It's a bit far out of the city but if you're looking for interesting beans, Magnifico should be on…read moreyour list. I had a wonderful light roast pour over (El Paraiso). They use the Kalita pour over here and it produces a fantastic product- bright and clean while still showcasing some bold flavors. The cortado was also excellent. The servers are all very friendly and will help you pick out a coffee based on your preferences. Great sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows and abundance of seats, this shop would be a great place for a coffee date or to get some work done.

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.

Tried this place on a whim and so glad I did. The store itself is small but super cute. No room for…read moresitting but looked clean and smelled like fresh pastries. Staff were so nice and charming. Very polite and welcoming when you walk in. Some of the best cold brew I have ever had. I'm a black coffee drinker and will definitely be back. They also had an assortments of baked good and their almond croissant is a must try.

I've always wanted to try this small cafe but they're only open on the weekends! Finally got my…read morechance and they have some lovely people inside who greeted me and my dog warmly. There is street parking but no seating except for a small bench outside. It was hot outside so I wanted a cold drink, so I went with their Chocolate and Pistachio Iced Coffee. Unfortunately, this wasn't it for me. I couldn't even taste the chocolate and pistachio...it was like garnish on the cup more than anything. I tasted the espresso shots briefly but it was all milk afterwards. Since I got there in the afternoon, I decided on their Breakfast Sandwich for a late lunch. This one hit the spot for me! Bacon, soft scrambled eggs, caramelized onions and sriracha...delicious! For my pastry, I chose the Guava Cheese Bread. It's like a bigger and denser version of pao de queijo. Really liked how the tartness of the guava jam complimented the savoriness of the bread. A little bummed the drink wasn't a home run for me because that's mostly the reason I came but I'll give it another chance! Also, it's a dog friendly place so that's always a plus for me!

Thank you to the lovely Lady at the front , she ended up changing my coffee , Highly recommend this…read moreplace !

The cardamom Rose latte was not good at all. Very bitter the the cup had about an inch without…read moredrink at the top, it wasn't filled all the way, and the foam was about an inch deep so in the end was about 2 inches at the top with no drink. I didn't taste the rose, only the cardamom, with bitter coffee. Also I ordered an extra hot and it came lukewarm. The Horchata latte was good. Ordered extra hot but that also came lukewarm. The drip coffee was very bitter and not enjoyable.

The espresso is delicious and the baristas are kind. Oftentimes these two things don't correlateread more

Good coffee. Clean bathroom…read more Limited food but good quality. Uncomfortable chairs. Baristas are hit or miss. I'd go there regularly if I lived close by. Certainly better than Starbucks.

Cozy and huge coffee shop! They have my beloved oat milk for lattes. And tons of donuts, cakes,…read morecroissants, cheesecakes and also custard and pies! And cookies and danishes and muffins. Oh my! The pies kind of look like homemade individual sized pizza pockets with either spinach, chicken, veggie or zatar. They're on the bottom shelf in the picture. All kinds of pastries from savory to sweet. I was eyeing the chicken pie for a future visit during lunchtime. If you want to work on your laptop, the free WIFI is good and there are charge cord plugs all along the wall. I like how spacious and bright it is inside, not to mention the high ceilings. When I get cabin fever it's nice to "escape" to a clean and friendly location like this.

Qamaria is quite literally tucked away in Albany Park so I was shocked to see the ginormous space…read morewhen I entered. There's seating for probably 50 people, if not more, and it's open till midnight most days. This is the perfect 'third space' for anyone looking to catch up with friends or looking for a new work/study area. I loved the iced mufawar because it's a perfect blend of spices like cardamon and it gives me a caffeine high. There's an assortment of sweets and a few savory items like croissants. A shared parking lot in front is a major plus, but it's also steps away from the Brown Line making it super convenient. Definitely a great place to get some work done.

Absolutely love this coffee shop! Happy Monday in Edgewater is such a small and hidden coffee shop…read morewith the best service! It always seems to be a hit and busy on the weekends. And that is because it is only open on Saturdays and Sundays! It is dog friendly, trendy, and such a hit. Highly recommend this local joint.

UPDATE: Wow, what a speedy response, thank you. I usually…read morechat with the guy who runs this location who says he is a co-owner. I figured the limited hours had something to do with the menu. Now that you all have gotten rid of the DJ table and added more chairs, it does feel more like a standard cafe! I'm looking forward to the menu changes. Thanks for your consideration! Previous review: I really enjoy their beverages and I keep coming back. That being said, there is almost no price transparency. The only prices they have on their menu are for the THC additions. I've mentioned this to the owner twice (he's a cool guy) but he has always sort of shrugged it off. It bothers me every time I'm in. Sometimes my latte with oat milk comes out different prices. Price transparency is so important for consistency . Not including the prices is a bit elitist, especially when the average drink is $6-$8. You should want folks to come in and comfortably order what they can afford. I hope this suggestion is taken into consideration. The drinks are good and like I said, I keep coming back but this has been a sticking point for me for a year plus.

Really good breakfast burrito and amazing coffee. They roast the beans right on site. They also…read moremake their own syrups. In the summer they host a group that sells heirloom seeds. We love Perkolator!

I stopped by Perkolator Coffee in Portage Park for a scheduled work meeting at 9am. Surprisingly,…read moreit was already very crowded for a Wednesday morning, which made it a little difficult to find a comfortable place to sit. The space itself is pretty small and the tables are also on the smaller side, so it's not the easiest spot if you're trying to have a meeting or spread out to work. I ordered a latte, which was really good nice and strong, exactly how I like it. I also tried a breakfast sandwich. It was decent but pretty average, and I did feel like it was a bit pricier compared to similar coffee spots. The staff was friendly, which always helps the overall experience. Parking can be a challenge though since you have to rely on street parking in the area. Overall, it's a solid neighborhood coffee shop and I would come back, but it's probably not my favorite spot if I'm planning to meet someone or need a little more space.

As coffee goes, Poppa Mac's is low-cost, but the quality is excellent. We ordered some decaf beans,…read moresomething hard to find, not very flavorful, and generally expensive. Usually, we mix the beans with regular French roast for half-caff coffee. However, these beans are fine on their own. We can even use them to make decaf espresso.

From the owner: After careers in the insurance industry, and high school teaching, Kevin decided to follow his…read morepassion and expand his love of coffee by learning the craft of roasting. Kevin has lived in Evanston, IL since 1970 (except for a few years across the border in Chicago's Rogers Park) and has had a LOT of coffee. So, while some people can "talk the talk" because they've "walked the walk", he knows coffee because he's "drunk the drink".