Loop Coffee
I’ve lived in Chicago my entire life. Yet, when every winter comes around, I can’t help feeling as if I’m experiencing it for the first time; the hard, freezing sheets of wind that slap my face walking to the car, to the train, to school, to work.
As I carry my heavy, booted feet up the steps from the underground subway and re-surface the sub-zero atmosphere above ground, grunting under my makeshift scarf mask, my only hope is for the Dunkin Donuts I see ahead that will provide me with warm, cozy French vanilla coffee stirred with cream and sugar. I cradle the Styrofoam cup with two hands, feeling the tenderness of the liquid seep through my thin black gloves.
With the beverage as my sidekick and trusty companion, we kick through the wind and slosh through the wet muddy snow that has fallen in the way of our path to wherever we are going. I really don’t care what it is: coffee, hot chocolate, or tea. But every year, I always need help to carry me through the dreaded morning droll on the days the snow begs me to stay at home. As spring awakens and the seasons shift, I walk with a different step to my favorite café. Tea is usually my beverage of choice in the warmer months. I don’t need the strong punch from coffee when the sun shines longer, and I feel more alive with the increasing daylight hours.
Below are my recommendations for the best coffee and tea locations inside and outside of the Loop:
Intelligentsia
53 West Jackson (as well as 53 East Randolph Street)
Excellent gourmet coffee on the go. If you’re a Metra rider from Union Station, the West Jackson location is a great place to pick up some sophisticated coffee on your way into the Loop.
Gourmand’s
728 S Dearborn
A cozy café frequented by Columbia College students. Grab coffee to go, or spend some time by yourself or with a friend at a table.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Look around on any block in the Loop. You’re bound to find one of these classic chain stores within every two blocks or so. This is my personal favorite place for a very good and quick cup of coffee when I’m in a hurry.
Argo Tea
819 N Rush St, as well as 16 W Randolph
An upscale retail chain and café.
If you feel like venturing outside of the Loop for a unique coffee experience, check out these great neighborhood coffee shops:
Metropolis Coffee
1039 W Granville Ave (Rogers Park) Everyone is welcomed at this eclectic coffee spot just off the Granville stop on the Red Line.
Bourgeois Pig Café
738 W Fullerton (Lincoln Park-DePaul) A great place to study or meet a friend. Get off at the Fullerton stop off of the Red Line and walk east.