The Best Coffee Shops in Chicago

Walk a few blocks in any direction in Chicago, and you’ll find a café pulling perfect espresso shots, pouring velvety lattes, or serving up something original. 

But with so many options available, where will you go? We’re here to save the day.

The following spaces aren’t just regular cafés; they are places with ambiance, character, and, of course, delicious drinks.

Some have been neighborhood staples for years while others are new on the block and shaking things up with inventive menus.

So, without further ado, here are 15 of the best coffee shops in Chicago that you must try:

Osmium Coffee Bar

If a coffee shop could have a personality, Osmium Coffee Bar would be the eccentric artist in the Dark Matter Family. 

Covered in neon lights and graffiti-style murals, it feels more like an underground gallery than a café. The coffee here? It’s bold, unapologetic, and deeply rooted in Dark Matter’s experimental approach to roasting. 

You’ll find the Agave Latte here, a drink that could easily be Chicago’s unofficial coffee signature. It’s made with agave nectar, chocolate, and cinnamon, making it dangerously addictive.

Find Osmium Coffee Bar:

1117 W Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657 

Layla & Ringo’s

Some cafes are for quick caffeine fixes. Layla & Ringo’s is for staying a while. 

Half café, half corner store, this polished new spot feels like it was designed by someone who truly understands the work-from-home grind. 

It’s a haven for remote workers and creative thinkers. It boasts fast wi-fi, sleek tables, and private phone booth-style rooms. 

Their menu delivers warmth with a little extra finesse. The Pistachio Honey Latte? A must-try. The Cinnamon Sugar Shaken Espresso? Motivation in a cup.

Find Layla & Ringo’s:

914 N Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60610 

OUD Coffee

Palestinian-owed Oud Coffee brings something different to Chicago’s café scene. The focus isn’t just on the coffee, but on the traditions and stories infused into every sip. 

Turkish coffee, inventive lattes, and house-made syrups sit alongside a delicious, fully halal food menu, making it a rare find in a city full of coffee shops.

“The Nas” Mint Latte is an instant stand-out, balancing bold espresso with a refreshing minty taste. Pair with a stuffed, chocolate-covered date, and you’ve got a break worth enjoying.

Find OUD COFFEE:

714 N Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60654 

Sputnik Coffee Company

Most coffee shops can overwhelm you with options. Sputnik Coffee Company does the opposite. 

They serve one roast, and it’s so good that you won’t find yourself missing the variety. Sourced from Brazil, Colombia, and Indonesia, this medium roast lands right in the sweet spot—smooth, fragrant, and just chocolaty enough to feel indulgent. 

Located in Chicago’s historic Back of the Yards neighborhood, Sputnik keeps things refreshingly simple. No long menus, no confusing specialty drinks, just a solid cup of joe poured into their signature red mugs.

Find Sputnik Coffee Company:

2618 W 48th St.
Chicago, IL 60632 

Metric Coffee Co.

Sourcing coffee from small farms across eight countries, Metric Coffee Co. takes trade transparency seriously, paying fair prices and sharing exactly where your coffee comes from. 

So, how is their coffee?

Expect freshly roasted, expertly brewed coffee with a twist. The baristas are always testing out new drinks, the espresso is dialed in with precision, and, if you visit on Friday morning, you can even sit in on a public cupping session to taste what’s coming next.

Space is limited, but, on warm days, sidewalk tables make the perfect spot to linger with a cup of coffee and a donut.

Find Metric Coffee:

2021 W Fulton St.
Chicago, IL 60612 

The Wormhole Coffee

Grabbing your coffee at a place named The Wormhole Coffee doesn’t sound appealing—understandably so! 

However, this place takes our coffee experience to a whole new level with a little bit of time travel. A DeLorean sits front and center, setting the tone for this retro-inspired Wicker Park café.

The walls are packed with ‘80s memorabilia, the vibe is effortlessly cool, and the coffee is strong enough to fuel any time-traveling adventure. 

When it comes to drinks, the Vanilla Latte is a fan favorite, striking the perfect balance between rich espresso and real vanilla flavor. If you’re feeling adventurous, Rocket Sauce combines yerba mate, ginger syrup, and lime juice for an unexpected caffeine kick.

Find The Wormhole:

1462 N Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622

Ludlow Charlingtons Coffee Shop

A café with great coffee is one thing. A café that serves top-notch lattes, supports shelter dogs, and wraps it all in a warm, inviting space? That’s something special.  

Every branded merchandise sale donates 50% of profits to Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control, helping local shelter dogs find homes.

Inside, you’ll find Victorian-style dog portraits, inspired by real rescue pups, some even adopted at events held right outside the café. As for their coffee, the Berry Cobbler Latte is a favorite, but anything seasonal is worth trying. 

Find Ludlow Charlingtons:

2425 N Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614

Nomad Chicago

Step inside and the hustle and bustle of the city fades. Nomad is a café and a boutique in one, serving up Metric Coffee, house-made syrups, and fresh pastries alongside globally sourced products.

The menus lean toward indulgence, with seasonal lattes that never miss—though at around $13 a cup, they might make you pause! 

Find Nomad Chicago:

2425 N Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614

Overflow Coffee

Sitting in the former headquarters of Vee-Jay Records, one of the country’s first Black and woman-owned record labels, Overflow Coffee is a piece of Chicago’s history. 

Memorabilia from its past fills the space, giving it a depth that most cafés can’t match. The menu is just as thoughtful, with house-made syrups bringing a fresh spin to familiar espresso favorites. Additionally, Overflow offers both Metric and Groundswell coffee.

Find Overflow Coffee:

1449 S. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605

Cafe Jumping Bean

Cafe Jumping Bean has been holding this space in Pilsen since 1994, serving up coffee, community, and just the right amount of creative energy.

Small and colorful, the space is always buzzing with conversation, the tapping of laptop keys, and the hum of a fresh espresso shot being pulled.

The menu sticks to the classic but knows how to stand out. The Sweet Thai Iced Coffee is as good as it sounds, and the Screaming Bean will keep you caffeinated throughout just about anything. 

Find Cafe Jumping Bean:

1439 W 18th St
Chicago, IL 60608

Casa Cactus

Walking into the Casa Cactus feels like stepping into a coffee shop and a greenhouse at the same time. 

Plants spill from every corner, thanks to its connection to the Plant Shop next door, and the space hums with the warmth of a record player spinning vinyl and the scent of cinnamon and star anise. 

Tucked away in Albany Park Casa Cactus is bright, lively, and exactly the kind of place you can unwind in after a long day.

The Café de Olla is a must-try. This is a traditional Mexican coffee brewed in a clay pot and steeped with warming spices. If you’re more into lattes, the iced horchata latte has just the right balance of sweetness and spices. 

Find Casa Cactus:

4595 N Elston Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630

Sawada Coffee

A coffee shop inside a barbecue joint might sound strange, but somehow, Sawada Coffee makes it work.

Hidden in Green Street Smoked Meats, this small but lively café trades traditional café vibes for something grittier: Community benches, the scent of smoked brisket in the air, and a menu that blends Japanese technique with bold espresso.

A must-try drink is definitely the Military Latte, a striking mix of matcha, espresso, and white chocolate that somehow manages to be roasty, bitter, and sweet all at once. If matcha isn’t your thing, the Tokyo-style latte is just as smooth. 

Find Casa Cactus:

112 N Green St.
Chicago, IL 60607

Intelligentsia Coffee

Before third-wave coffee was a thing, Intelligentsia Coffee was already perfecting the craft. What started in 1995 as a small Lakeview roastery has grown into a specialty coffee giant, with locations across Chicago and beyond. 

Despite the expansion, the coffee remains sharp, the baristas know their stuff, and the drinks are as consistent as they come.

Their AeroPress coffee is a standout, but if you’re looking for something different, the Avena Latte is a must-try. With ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, and orange peel, it’s the kind of drink that makes you rethink your usual order. 

Find Intelligentsia:

Afro Joe’s Coffee & Tea

Founded in 2020 by Aisha Griffin, Afro Joe’s Coffee & Tea café shop quickly became a South Side staple. Due to lease issues, Griffin relocated to Beverly in 2022. But Afro Joe’s is still a community favorite, keeping things welcoming, deliciously simple, and peaceful. 

The coffee is solid, but the food deserves just as much attention. With prosciutto, provolone, and fresh greens on sourdough, the Auburn Gres-Ham Panini gives a nod to the shop’s roots. And the Short Rib Grilled Cheese deserves a chef’s kiss.

Find Afro Joe’s Coffee & Tea:

1818 W. 99th St.
Chicago, IL 60643

VietFive Coffee

Ever had Vietnamese coffee? If not, Vietfive Coffee is the place to go. This café keeps things simple but powerful, brewing hot and iced drinks with beans sourced straight from the owners’ family farm in Buôn Ma Thuột, Vietnam. 

The result? A bold, naturally sweet cup with enough caffeine to keep us going throughout the day.

Of course, there’s more to VietFive than just coffee. It’s a family story, a refugee journey, and a community-driven mission all in one. 

VietFive champions sustainable farming, philanthropy, and direct hiring from under-resourced communities, proving that a cup of coffee can be more than just a drink. 

Find VietFive Coffee:

1116 Madison St.
Chicago, IL 60607

Wrapping Up

The best coffee shops in Chicago are waiting for you to explore them.

Some serve coffee with a side of history, others turn every latte into a work of art, and a few are destinations in their own right with their bold menus and artistic spaces.

No matter what kind of coffee you’re after, there’s undoubtedly a coffee shop in Chicago for you – one where you’ll feel right at home.