Your guide to local coffee in Chicago, IL
Profiling the best cafes across Chicago's neighborhoods, one cup at a time.
Featured Shops
Latest from the Blog
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Our score is calculated across five categories using a weighted formula designed to prioritize what matters most in a great coffee experience.
Coffee
50%
Quality, consistency, sourcing and technique
Food
20%
Pastries, food menu and quality
Vibe
15%
Atmosphere, design and feel
Price
10%
Value (higher score = more affordable)
Location
5%
Accessibility and surroundings
Chi City Coffee is a curated guide intended to highlight and showcase all of the different coffee shops in the Chicagoland area. As the curator, I have and will personally visit every single shop on this list — all photos are my own, and so are all of my opinions.
This started as a personal project inspired by Atlanta Coffee Shops, and I am excited to bring a similar concept to the Chicago area. We cover everything from pour-over bars in Hyde Park to hidden-gem espresso spots in Pilsen, cozy remote-work havens in Wicker Park, and new openings across all 77 neighborhoods. If a shop is worth your time and money, we want you to know about it.
Have a tip about a great shop? Submit a tip or reach out via our contact page.
Shops Profiled
Neighborhoods Covered
1
Curator, All Opinions Personal
Questions, partnership inquiries, or just want to say hi? Every message is read and responded to within a few days.
Submit a Tip
Know a great shop? Use our tip form — every submission gets looked into.
Partnerships
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Fill out as much as you know — every tip helps us find the next great cafe.
About the Shop
What makes it special?
About You (Optional)
We look for places with a genuine sense of place, quality coffee, and a reason to keep coming back.
Every shop gets personally visited before publishing. Tips typically take 2 to 6 weeks to process.
Feel free to submit a tip or reach out directly via our contact page.
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