Anyone who is in college can agree that coffee is your best friend, especially during the weeks leading up to finals. Whether it be Starbucks, an overpriced café au lait, or the gross hotel dishwater kind, caffeine is caffeine, and caffeine is your best friend. I’m spoiled to go to school in Chicago, a town full of countless coffee shops that all have their own character. Here are my personal favorite coffee shops in Chicago that are, in my opinion, worth your money, your time, and a spot on your Instagram feed.
1. The Wormhole
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When I first went to scout coffee shops for this article, one of the first places that I went to was this hip coffee shop in Wicker Park, The Wormhole. Walking in here was almost like stepping back into the 80s, which seemed fitting given the ambiance of its location on the Hipster Highway, Milwaukee Avenue.
Lining the walls are memorabilia from different iconic video games of the decade and sitting by where you fill your coffee with cream and sugar is an original Macintosh, all with classic 80s bops filling the air. Try their Koopa Troopa, named after the winged turtle from the "Super Mario Bros." series, a peanut butter mousse and dark chocolate latte. The Wormhole is a must-go, regardless of how you feel about the bustling and bougie Wicker Park.
1462 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
773-661-2468
2. The Perfect Cup
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Ravenswood on Chicago’s North Side is one of my favorite neighborhoods simply because the community is so quaint that it almost feels like you’re in a suburb. Nestled in the heart of this neighborhood is The Perfect Cup, a small joint step from the Damen Brown Line L stop that almost gives off a Parisian vibe. When you walk in you hear smooth jazz playing softly and along the walls are coffee-themed euphemisms such as “My Blood Type is Coffee” that will make you say, “Literally me”. Though they don’t have a unique drink such as the Wormhole, they do have classic drinks like the café au lait and a chai tea latte, which are two that I personally enjoyed.
4700 N. Damen Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773-989-4177
3. Hero
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If you have ever been to downtown Chicago, you may have stumbled upon this coffee shop literally in a hole in the wall on Jackson Boulevard. Hero is popular among DePaul students in the Loop campus which is literally next door to this location. One go-to that I usually recommend is their cold brew and any of their all-day breakfast sandwiches. You can’t go wrong at Hero! They also have locations in Printers’ Row, Bucktown, West Town and Roscoe Village, if you don’t feel like trekking through the busy Loop.
22 E. Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604
312-285-2434
4. Heritage Outpost
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Heritage Outpost doesn’t have as much diversity on their menu compared to the other cafes on this list, but what makes this café stand out is how it came to be. The Outpost gets its name from a local bicycle shop called Heritage, located on Lincoln Avenue in the Lakeview neighborhood.
When you visit the Outpost, you not only get an interior that cries aesthetic for your Instagram feed, but you also could potentially get to see mechanics at work repairing bicycles, because after all, you’re technically in a bike shop, right? Heritage also has a wide variety of vegan options too, if that’s your cup of tea (no pun intended). I visited the one on Wilson Avenue in Uptown, but they also have another location on Lawrence Avenue a Red Line stop away.
1325 W. Wilson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
872-806-0639
5. Pick Me Up Cafe
Credit: Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune
Only several blocks away from Wrigley Field is this late-night diner, the Pick Me Up Café. At first glance, it just seems like just another diner, and when you look at the menu, it does seem like that. But the reason why I add this joint to this list is that of their coffee fittingly called Zombie.
Packed in this drink is two cups of coffee, three shots of espresso, steamed milk, and a mountain of whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. All I’m going to say is that just say a prayer for your heart and your sleep schedule once you down this pretty yet powerful cup of joe. So come finals, be sure to queue up this place in Wrigleyville to get a well-deserved buzz for that study session.
3408 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
773-248-6613
Honorable Mention – Starbucks Old Town
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You may be wondering why I’m adding Starbucks to this list as an honorable mention. You may, in fact, think that this alone invalidates this whole list because you’re probably thinking, “Really, Pat? There’s a Starbucks a block from my house, why are you putting one on here?”
The reason I’m putting this specific Starbucks in Old Town on this list is because this particular store is open 24 hours a day. No, that’s not a typo. Twenty-four hours. This rare store has personally saved me from falling asleep at my laptop and staring blankly at my ceiling during a case of insomnia. So thank you, Starbucks Old Town, for being there for me when literally no one else was.
210 W. North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60610
312-867-0186
