- Q: What is Chicago widely considered a pioneer of?
- A: Chicago is widely considered to be one of the pioneers of third-wave coffee, an American culinary movement begun in the 1990s to emphasize high-quality, artisanal coffee roasting and beverage production.
- Q: What characterizes Chicago's local coffee scene?
- A: A vast level of innovation permeates the city's local coffee scene, with many cafes offering unique twists on roasts from popular area roasters.
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1. Bridgeport Coffee Company
Savor expertly roasted coffee, enjoy locally sourced blends in a cozy setting.
Bridgeport Coffee Company is a popular South Side coffee shop located at the corner of 31st and Morgan Streets, serving up some of the world's best fair-trade coffee roasts with a quaint neighborhood corner shop vibe. The company, which was founded in 2004, roasts all of its own beans in house, crafted to emphasize the rich and complex flavor profiles of each crop. A varied menu of hot and cold coffee and espresso-based beverages ranges from simple but elegant pourovers to agave lattes, white mochas, and chai lattes infused with rooibos tea or yerba mate. Bagels and breakfast sandwiches are served up during the morning hours, with a wide variety of hot and cold deli sandwiches and wraps available at lunchtime. Three other locations of the coffee shop are offered at Roosevelt Collection, the Hyde Park Art Center, and adjacent to the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park.
3101 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60608, Phone: 773-247-9950
2. Sip of Hope Coffee Bar
Enjoy great coffee, support mental health awareness in a welcoming space.
Sip of Hope Coffee Bar is a hybrid coffee house and charitable organization in Chicago's Logan Circle neighborhood, opened to the public in May of 2018 as a collaboration between the city's famed Dark Matter Coffee Roasters and the Hope for the Day nonprofit organization, which aims to improve mental health for area citizens through exposure to the arts. The cafe is the world's first coffee shop to donate 100% of its proceeds to mental health education and suicide prevention. A full menu of hot and cold coffee beverages are served, including the cafe's namesake blend, which has been brewed by Dark Matter since 2013. The shop hopes to raise suicide awareness in the Chicago community and serve as a space for people to discuss mental health without stigma. Merchandise purchase also support Hope for the Day, with items such as t-shirts and coffee mugs available.
3039 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, Phone: 773-661-6986
3. Passion House Coffee Roasters
Savor specialty brews, explore unique flavors crafted with passion.
Passion House Coffee Roasters is an intimate coffee shop near Chicago's Logan Square, originally opened in 2017 by Joshua Millman. The shop serves up a variety of delicious coffee and espresso-based beverages using beans crafted at its own roastery, striving to create excellently-balanced roasts and blends using minimal technology in an effort to emphasize the unique character of each plant cultivation. Coffee-based mocktails are also served, along with a selection of French-style pastries and globally-influenced fare from popular nearby dining spot Fat Rice. Regular public special events include coffee instruction courses and public cupping events on Friday afternoons.
2631 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, Phone: 847-224-6993
4. Ipsento
Enjoy handcrafted coffee, savor creative lattes and fresh pastries in a cozy atmosphere.
Ipsento is a bustling coffee shop offering two Chicago locations on Western and Milwaukee Avenues, originally opened in 2006 by founders Rachel and Jeremy Smith. The shop's name is a combination of the Latin words ipse, meaning "self," and sentio, meaning "to discover," reflecting its philosophy of coffee drinking as an experience of self-reflection and wellbeing. Today, the shop is helmed by co-owners Mandi and Tim Taylor, serving up a variety of globally-sourced roasts on a constantly seasonally-rotating menu. Signature beverages include Nutella-infused lattes and the flagship Ipsento, which infuses coconut milk and espresso with honey and a pinch of cayenne pepper. A light cafe menu of sandwiches and breakfast items is served at the shop's flagship Western Avenue location, while a full selection of beers, wines, and cocktails is available during the evening hours at its Milwaukee Avenue location.
1813 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, Phone: 872-206-8697
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