Sawada Coffee: Chicago Coffee Adventures

Due to the glorious weather and a four day weekend, Kirsten and I decided to make the most of our Saturday. We went down to Greektown for lunch, enjoyed massive gyros at a local restaurant, grabbed some coffee, and walked all the way to Maggie Daley Park.

For the coffee part of our afternoon, we checked out Sawada Coffee. It’s about a block north of what is officially considered “Greektown”, and was absolutely packed because of the weather. Kirsten and I both got cold brewed coffee, and we didn’t stay long. The place was crazy, and we agreed that it would not be a very good place to study, at least not early on a Saturday afternoon when the weather is super nice.

Part of this is probably because while the coffee shop itself is quite a small area, it is attached to what I think is the Pizza Parlor Bar. The two spaces are connected as if in a large warehouse, and if you take a few steps down into them main area of the room, you’re in the restaurant.

Here you can see one of the coffee shop patrons attempting to get work done at the “ping pong” table that is one of the only places to sit in the actual coffee shop (there are a few seats at the windows looking out onto the street). The two girls are sitting on a bench between the Coffee shop and the bar, and the big main area is the Pizza Parlor Bar, accessible through a staircase to the left of the photo.

Here’s another look at the area down below. There were patrons taking coffee into that area as well, but they may have been ordering food also. There is a little more room down there too. I’m not 100% sure it’s the Pizza Parlor Bar, but it might be part of it, or another similar restaurant/bar space.

Sawada Coffee itself is not the easiest to find. Like Wormhole, Kirsten and I nearly walked right past it.

This is the main entrance to the coffee shop, and the direction which we were coming from had no signs or indication that this is what we were looking for. On the windows, there is small writing with the name, but we didn’t see that until we were past the door.

After getting through the graffitied door, and going up a few stairs, it becomes more clear that this is the place.

Everything is very simple and very unique. There are lots of skateboards and lots of graffiti. I wish I could have gotten more pictures, because it was actually a pretty neat space, but we only stayed long enough to get our coffees, both because it was so crowded and also because we really wanted to be outside and walking around.

I really liked the pour over coffee maker station built into the skateboard. All surfaces were wood or brick, or like the wall below, some sort of rustic-looking metal.

The other side of the bar.

 

This is the sugar and cream station, back by the entrance, on the opposite side of the shop.

And lastly, the punching bag hanging by the door, my personal favorite.

On the way out, there is a nice graffiti wall by a staircase. Sorry the picture is a little blurry, since we weren’t staying I tried to take it a little too quickly.

I actually rather liked the place. It was definitely too crazy and loud to get any decent work or studying done (though there were several people trying), and it was a busy atmosphere, but I would go back, (perhaps not on the warmest Saturday all year), and enjoy the vibe. They played some David Bowie (and maybe some Elton John) while we were there. It was playing rather loudly, though, as we could hear it over the already loud din of voices.

So there you have it. Two coffee shops in one weekend!

As always, thanks for reading!

The Wormhole Coffee – Chicago Coffee Adventures

We have a long weekend here for Easter, so today Kirsten and I decided to go to a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop in Wicker Park, The Wormhole Coffee. We actually walked past it at first, though that may have been due to the adorable toddler twins petting a dog outside that distracted us for a moment with their cuteness.

We did find it, though even if we hadn’t, there were half a dozen or more coffee shops that we could have gone to between Wormhole and the Damen Blue Line stop alone.

Mario Kart and TMNT drinks made us lol, as did the seasonal “Holy Water”, Iced Jasmine Green tea with Melon and Honey.

The biggest attraction for this shop is the DeLorean time machine at that back, but the nerdiness does not stop there. Next to Marty McFly’s car is a cutout of Darth Vader. Several R2-D2 figures are scattered throughout the cafe, and Han Solo makes a few appearances, both in cutout and Funko Pop! form. Lots of Funko Pops are all over, as well as older posters from movies like Aliens and Beetlejuice. 

 

 

 

The coffee is excellent enough on its own, though, and without the DeLorean, I don’t think the shop would suffer much. Kirsten was very pleased with her iced vanilla coffee, and my latte not only looked pretty, but tasted great as well.

They use their very own halfwit coffee beans, a company that this very coffee shop started in 2012. (Visit the site for more info.)

The tea is apparently on par too, as one of the girls sitting nearby me got an iced hibiscus-something-or-other tea, and exclaimed “This is really good! Well done, you guys.”

 

I just had to take some pictures of the nerdy decorations. This stuffed Millennium Falcon may have been my favorite.

You can’t see in the picture, but there are floppy disk coasters, and stormtrooper mugs to hold the straws. There is an Emperor Palpatine mug as well, but I’m not sure what his job is. The Computer is an 80’s Mac Desktop with a Janine Melnitz desk plaque on top.

 

Han, DeLorean, Vader.

 

It was very crowded (adding to the illusion that today is Saturday), so Kirsten and I sat at the counter. I particularly like the corked beaker that I think had some sort of coffee in it at one point.

Even the baristas discussed how packed it was, probably due to the weather (as opposed to the fact that today is Good Friday). Sometimes, sitting at the bar has its perks, at least in listening in on coworker conversation.

For a good portion of the first hour or so that we were there, it was so busy that it was hard to hear any music at all, or at least enough to tell what it was. Closer to noon, things slowed down just enough that I could catch a few songs, all from Future Island‘s Album “The Far Field”.

I just had to get a picture of the Iowa poster. For reasons.

And of course, R2’s knitted cap with horns could not go unnoticed.

So, there you have it. Wicker Park’s own nerd coffee shop, The Wormhole Coffee. Highly recommend, if you are ever in the area, though I will warn you, you won’t want to leave, and it may become your favorite coffee shop you’ve ever visited. (So much so that you almost want to go there every week instead of finding new places around the city. And by you I mean me. If only it were a little closer…) Honestly, though, nerdy cafes should be everywhere. They’re the best.

Anyway, thanks for reading! Let me know if there’s a coffee shop I should review next!

The Perfect Cup: Chicago Coffee Adventures

Damen, Brown Line Stop.

Neither Kirsten nor I have ever gotten off at this stop, but it’s a rather pleasant neighborhood, with almost a “hometown” feel, as Kirsten put it. “The Perfect Cup” coffee shop is mere steps away, making the commute that much easier. Although, I don’t think we would have minded had the walk been further, since it was already 65 degrees at 11 am, and it’s not even April yet.

 

A classic Chicago corner shop, the place was already bustling when we go there, full of customers of all ages, from college study-buddies to elderly couples, and everyone in between. Not even the construction going on outside could deter these patrons from enjoying their coffee (or tea) on such a beautiful day.

Kirsten and I both opted for iced chai lattes, so I guess it’s more of a tea adventure today, but the sentiment still stands. The coffee smelled nice though, and the chai was excellent.

The decor is simple, and the ceiling the same old-fashioned tin that Nighthawk has, only The Perfect Cup has painted theirs white for a more updated-less rustic feel. There is a lot of light pouring in from the front and side windows, and the light walls certainly help the space feel more open and welcoming.

It felt to me a bit like Madrid (or Barcelona) in June, but perhaps that was just the weather, especially after they propped the door open around noon and let in some of the warm, fresh air. The staff was very friendly, and the pricing is good. We spent an hour and a half sipping our cool drinks and working on schoolwork, glad to get out of the house and off campus a little while. When Chicago throws such a nice day at you, what better to do than go on an adventure?

There are two sitting areas at The Perfect Cup, one right when you walk in the door, with 8 small two person tables and two bars, one against the front window and one against the left wall, for individual seating. To the right of the counter is a small entrance that leads into another space, equally big, with a few bigger tables, several couches, and a collection of brightly colored comfy chairs by the front window. It’s one of the bigger coffee shops I’ve been in in the city, excluding those that are restaurants as well. You can get food here, but expect the type of fare you might order at Starbucks rather than Panera.

 

The music was gentle jazzy when we got there (Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Buble), and moved into easy piano music later on, possibly with the shift change of the workers. Both styles gave the atmosphere a relaxed, comfortable vibe. In all, another successful coffee outing in the city.

More info at their website or facebook page.

Thanks for reading!

 

Oromo Cafe: Chicago Coffee Adventures

Less than half a block away from the Chicago Brown Line’s Western stop, just right of the entrance to Lincoln Square, sits the Oromo Cafe. Nestled between a yogurt shop and a chiropractor establishment, this “culture conscious coffee” shop has a sleek, modern vibe, made complete by the geometric decor and mix of wood and metal furniture.

I spent a little over an hour here this morning, and though most tables were occupied for the majority of the time I was there, the overall atmosphere remained peaceful and easygoing. Two larger tables near the entrance, eight two-person tables in the back half, and single-seat counter space by the front windows allow for all different styles of work spaces. Luckily, I arrived when one of the two-person tables near the back wall was open, a perfect vantage point to observe this unique cafe.

 The only drawback is the price of the specialty drinks. However, I’m not well versed in vegan, dairy free, or refined sugar free pricing, so for all I know, this could be decent pricing. Here is an online version of the drink menu, linked also at their website.

I will say that I was pleased with the drip coffee option. I paid $2.15 for a 12 oz, and it comes with the first refill free, which I was able to get to go! Essentially, I paid $1 for one coffee there, and $1 for one to drink later, which is always a good way to go.

From what I understand, all the ‘milk’ product is made from tree nuts, which is not something I knew going in, but didn’t really bother or affect me, since I drink my drip coffee black, most of time.

Turkish coffee seemed to be a popular option, and they even have a latte inspired by the Turkish Delight, which inspires the Narnia lover in me. Hibiscus, pistachio, lemongrass, and lavender are just a few of the flavorings that you can find for the drinks here.

Brightly lit, especially since it’s a sunny day and the whole front wall is glass, the whole space felt warm and comfortable. The staff was very friendly, chatting with the customers, regulars and newbies alike (the woman next to me told her friend she’d never been here before, but had a nice a conversation with one of the baristas).

The music genre was very different from what I experienced last week: here they play mostly dance/electronic and Alternative/Indie songs, several of which did not have words that I could hear or decipher. Siri kindly provided that Vampires by Thievery Corporation and Dreamy Bruises by Sylvan Esso were both played.

One of the most unique aspects of this cafe is the back half of the wall opposite the bar. While the front half has three square art pieces with geometric patterning to compliment the backsplash, the rear wall has a sort of plant or vine covering. I wasn’t able to get close enough to see if it’s actually real or not (though I think it’s one of those plants with a naturally more waxy feeling making it harder to tell) but either way, it added another element of modernist architecture and uniqueness to this coffee shop.

Similar to Nighthawk from last week, this shop also had those antique light bulbs, the kind made with tungsten filament to look more like the original “Edison” bulb. This also added a warm, yellowish glow to the space.

Overall, the coffee was quite good (even my basic drip coffee choice), and it was a great spot to work on my directed research and poetry for about an hour. I would go again, and maybe next time I’ll splurge and try out one of the unique latte choices they offer….

Nighthawk: Chicago Coffee Adventures

It’s my last semester in Chicago, and while I’m excited to go back home, at least for a little while, I will also be sad to leave this city. It’s also become home for me in the last four years.

So, to explore a little more of the city while I’m still living here, I’ve decided to try and visit some nearby coffee shops in the next several weeks. I meant to do this starting earlier this semester, but kept putting it off for no good reason. This week, though, I decided it was time.

Nighthawks, Edward Hopper

Mia and I visited the Nighthawk Coffee Bar and Tavern this past Friday morning. It was the perfect place to spend a few hours writing, especially on such a gloomy February day. Presumably named for (or at least inspired by) Edward Hopper’s 1942 painting Nighthawks, a copy of which resides on the back wall of the cafe, this little neighborhood cafe/bar offers everything you want from a local establishment of its kind. A recent addition to Albany Park, it is located right next to the Kimball Brown Line stop, just a few blocks from North Park University. I was almost surprised to not see more NPU students there, but it was the coldest day we’d had all week so I guess they all just decided to stay in. We only experienced the coffee side of things, but in the evenings this little cafe becomes a bar as well.

There weren’t a lot of other customers there, so while it’s a pretty small place, it didn’t feel too crowded. We were able to work on our scripts for our dramatic writing class for nearly two hours without feeling like it ever got too loud or busy. (I’m sure nighttime is a different story–especially on weekends.)

Mia described the place as “museum homey”, reminding her of the Yesterday’s Main Street at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, somewhere she went a lot as a child. The rustic tin ceiling and authentic brick walls certainly contributed to that feeling, but this “hipster” cafe does not feel outdated by any means. I agree with her: it has a very “old-timey” feel, mixed with the unique newness and casual nostalgia that modern coffee shops often strive so hard to perfect.

 

We listened to indie pop/rock basically the entire time we were there, including bands such as Cornershop, San Cisco, and Phantom Planet. A cutout in the ceiling holding birdcages strung with lights provided a unique aesthetic, as did the large screens inlaid in the brick wall opposite the bar that were used for the menu.  

The coffee was good, and it was a nice place to just sit and work for a while. The bartenders were chatty with the customers at the bar, some of which might have been regulars, and several of which sat there longer than we did. The prices for the coffee were also very reasonable, and if you order a “for here” large, you only get charged for the price of a small, something I’m all about.

     

I can’t say for sure what the general feeling of the place is on an average day, or what it feels like when it’s a bar and not a coffee shop, but I would go back again (maybe even for drinks next time).

As far as coffee shops in the city go, this one was a mixture of small-town familiar and big city hole-in-the-wall  gem. A classic itty-bitty city establishment, I think this place will be around for a long while to come.