Chicago is an exciting, busy, beautiful, diverse city! I loved spending a week exploring the city and seeing all of the incredible architecture and meeting so many friendly people! But it was extremely hard to get caffeinated…

I guess I’m so used to having easy access to quality espresso after growing up in a city like Portland that I’ve taken it for granted. I’m not trying to throw shade at Chicago, I loved the city but if you are like me, then it’s important to know where to find some good espresso and that’s what this post is for. Where to find coffee when Dunkin’ Donuts just isn’t your cup of… coffee?

Department of Coffee and Social Affairs

On my first day I had wandered into a neighborhood North of Lincoln Park area. I was meeting someone and decided to grab a pick-me-up while I waited for them. This coffee shop was called Department of Coffee and Social Affairs. This is a chain that sells single-origin, direct trade coffee. They believe in respecting the rights of the farmers who produce the beans and value quality over quantity. That is so important to me, not only when it comes to the ethics but also the taste of the coffee. I would say this macchiato was the best espresso I had during my trip.

They opened their first cafe in London and now have several cafes in the UK and in Chicago. Check out their website to find out where to try some of their amazing espresso!

Hero Coffee

Before hitting up a popular brunch spot, Savannah and I wanted to get a cup of coffee first and decided to try out Hero Coffee. This is a chain in Chicago but there is only one location that it is deemed one of the most instagrammable spots in Chicago.

It took a little while for us to find this one because Google Maps wasn’t giving me the right directions. Basically go to the corner of East Jackson Blvd and S Wabash Avenue and circle the block until you peak into an alleyway and see the iconic string lights. Savannah was the one who got us here successfully because I have 0 sense of direction…

They serve their Ambition espresso blend in stores and it was delicious! It’s a full body, dark roast and made the perfect americano. I love coffees with chocolate and caramel notes, rather that fruity notes so I loved this blend.

Definitely check out Hero next time you’re in Chicago! Even if just for the Instagram photo.

The Wormhole

The last place I went to was Wormhole, in Wicker Park. Even though this wasn’t my favorite espresso, it was my favorite cafe and Wicker Park was, by far, my favorite place in Chicago! The atmosphere is extremely rad and there were so many restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops that I couldn’t even decide where to stop.

Wormhole is an 80’s themed cafe that serves Halfwit Coffee. Let me start with the interior of this cafe… It’s the perfect study spot with a huge array of seating options. I ended up picking an old, worn out couch seated right next to a Nintendo set up. I had sudden flashbacks to being four years old and sitting in an attic at my great aunts house where all my cousins were crowded around playing Mario on a similar tv.

After asking the barista for some recommendations and chatting about coffee and Portland, I went with their Triforce Espresso, a blend of Colombian and Ethiopian beans. This coffee is described as having notes of milk chocolate, vanilla, and candied orange. The orange notes were a little too strong for my preference but this macchiato was still delicious. A+ for atmosphere and experience!

I hope this helps you find some good coffee next time you’re in Chicago and Dunkin’ Donuts isn’t satisfying your craving. I’m sure there are lots of other places so let me know in the comments if you have any favorites that I missed? I would love to try them on my next visit!