This is a review in the time of COVID-19. Want to say that Big Shoulders is doing a great job still supplying coffee to residents safely. All staff were properly outfitted with masks and gloves, they have markers outside to help people stand 6 feet apart, and their app functions super well. They're quite efficient for only having a couple of employees working. Not the cheapest coffee, but tastes great. Especially like their iced vanilla latte with oat milk. Their sandwiches are also bomb. Don't know where they get their English muffins are from but they are so fluffy. They've also been doing discounts a couple of times a week which is a great pick me up. read more

Another great coffee option near Chicago Loyola's Water Tower campus in the Near North Side. As others have said, I was really surprised how empty it was considering it was prime time coffee hour (7-8am) in a busy part of town. The black coffee was a solid cup and refills were free, a welcomed and added bonus! Staffers were friendly and attentive and the black coffee stacks up again other smaller coffee shop venues. Will definitely go back when I'm in this part of town for business. I really hope it's still there upon my return especially because of the dearth of customers throughout my visit. Don't let that fool you, it's a solid place to caffeinate before, during, or after your day. read more

I ordered the caramel iced latte and a blueberry muffin. Both my friend and I agreed that we've had better coffee in the city. Also didn't like how the iced coffee only had one size available. read more

I was kind of disappointed with this spot. The staff wasn't overly friendly. No pleasant greeting or have a great day. There is also some bit of confusion with where to pick up your order. There's a huge sign that says order here, but no direction on where to wait for your order. Which means you're just kind of awkwardly hanging out around the tables crowded around you. The donuts from Do-Rite are fresh which was great. I got a vanilla latte which was pretty sweet. I prefer a more mellow taste so that could just be a personal preference. Not sure if I'll be back again to try the coffee. I will also mention that the small is quite small so just keep that in mind when ordering. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Vanilla Latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Looked up coffee near where I was staying and this was had good reviews, for good reasons! It is cute inside and very clean! The staff was friendly. I had the golden latte, excellent and not too sweet at all. I then sampled my husbands coffee - very smooth. They make their own oat milk. I didn't have it in my drink but that is a bonus in my book - the extra step. We went on a Sunday morning and it was not too busy and no wait read more

Terrible cappuccino. Didn't extract right and barista didn't know how to steam. Blamed it on the milk. Don't waste your money. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Terrible cappuccino. Barista wasn't the best and blamed it on the milk. Don't waste your money. - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Most amazing staff and coffee is bomb! Highly recommend for a chill place to work during the workweek or weekend. Lots of outlets and plenty of seating just potentially at the bar if you come at a peak time. They serve do-rite doughnuts including a gluten-free one! Bring your own mug for a discount and get the Perka app for rewards towards a free coffee. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not a fan of the coffee here :( Cool little place though... very friendly staff and very cool atmosphere. Will have to try tea next time... read more

I bought a bag off coffee that they ground for me to take home (Uganda Bugisu AA, which I 10/10 recommend) and they said it came with a free coffee. I had an iced coffee with oat milk which was so yummy too! I'll definitely go back to buy more coffee to take home! read more

I just love big shoulders coffee, and I am thrilled they just opened this location, although I never did mind walking down Chicago Ave, to their Noble square location. It's totally worth it! Marshmellow Latte is my ultimate favorite "fancy" drink. I'm a simple drip coffee kinda gal, but when I wanna treat myself I order this drink, and I'm always so impressed that the drink has always been made exactly the same no matter which location I visited. The consistancy of the quality in their drinks, speaks for itself. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Awesomeness - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good coffee and friendly service. It's your typical industrial atmosphere, so be sure to layer. It was a very cold day when I visited and the space did not hold heat. Just one more excuse to order another hot coffee (as if I need an excuse!). read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice location, nice vibe! Smaller coffee shop with an independent feel. Bar with seats as well as countertop to sit at overlooking street. read more

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I was really excited to check out the pour over scene in Chicago and I have to say this particular Big Shoulders let me down. The place is cute with a fun hipster vibe and the folks are friendly but I am not sure they are familiar with the products they are selling. Online they advertise V60 Pour over but when I got there they said they only had aeropress which truthfully is not a pour over in my opinion. However, I prefer this to regular drip coffee (most of the time) so I ordered the aeropress. Now I know aeropress is generally very quick unlike a true pour over so I thought it would be ready pretty quick but we sat and we waited and we waited as those who ordered after us for their drinks. When they finally call for the pour overs it looked like she was adding water directly to the cup so as to water it down. Well she succeeded as it indeed tasted like water down coffee ...it might as well be instant coffee then ...which would be a lot cheaper! read more

In town for NBA weekend and looking for a quick breakfast bite + good coffee before heading out for a museum visit. I enjoyed my espresso drink and hubby had a pour-over that he shared (it had 2 cups worth!). Super welcoming vibe here! read more

What a great coffee shop right in the heart of river north. For $2.50 you can get great tasting drip coffee for unlimited refill. I came on a weekday afternoon and it was solidly empty. I grabbed the seat next to the window and had a wonderful afternoon working from there. The view of Chicagoans walking around the streets was very pleasant and relaxing. The environment was very quiet and WiFi is strong. Music was not loud at all, hardly noticeable, which is how coffee shop ambiance music should be. Bathroom is new and clean. Servers are polite and helpful and the nicest. Would revisit when I'm in river north for work. So much better than those chain coffee shops. Still gotta try some of the other options on their menu. Heard they have other locations available in Chicago as well. read more

Small, Quiet coffee shop right outside the hustle of Magnificent Mile. Their iced chai isn't as good as I'd hoped but their other iced drinks looked delicious. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We stopped in today for a cortado and pour over and loved it! Alicia was so sweet and was really helpful in answering all of our questions after we told her we were from Philly. The coffee was delicious and the seating was comfortable and relaxing too. Thanks for the great coffee! read more

Worst coffee ever. Truly would stay away. Chicago does not have best coffee spots but you can find better than that. Friendly staff gets the extra star read more

Awesome coffee. Super nice people. You're blowing it if you don't try this place. We had the nitro black and nitro white iced coffees. As an avid Starbucks drinker (I know, I know), this is by far one of the best coffees I've ever had. read more

They have great matcha and cold brew. Customer service wasn't that great unfortunately.

A small place right in the middle of all the hustle of Streeterville , ambience was neat and to the point and service was upto the mark, but my coffee was cold and tasted weird (not a good weird :P). I don't think I am coming back to this place. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Medium roast coffee - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good coffee and nice atmosphere, if you're looking for Europe standard cappuccino, that's the place

Coffee is pretty good but too expensive. It has somewhat of a monopoly on the law school students nearby but I have only been twice, both times I regret the money I have spent read more

I stop in here on my way to work sometimes. It's self serve for plain coffee, which is a huge time-saver. Plus, I bring my own cup for a $.25 discount. The baristas every time are super friendly and always smiling/making eye contact, and explain the process without sounding bored. The coffee itself is ok - definitely worth the $2.50 I pay but not the best cup I've ever had. The people make it 5* though! read more

Best coffee shop in the area. I'd rather not tell everyone that because it's small and I don't want it to be packed. The cafe has a great feel to it and the seating is very efficient. The baristas here are better quality than any of the other big shoulders locations. Their roasted bags of coffee are great too. Best value I've seen in Chicago. I've found their roasted dates to all be very recent as well. I brew in a chemex at home. So delicious! It's been around $10 for a bag of Columbia for 12 ounces. read more

I ordered the horchata latte and a yummy apple fritter. The barista was friendly and welcoming. All around a great visit!

Cardamom latte SO GOOD. Staff is lovely. Also, I didn't have to ask for an extra shot because the large already comes with four

I hate to give such a poor review, because the staff was beyond kind, and I liked the small-time vibe of the place, but the coffee simply wasn't good. I had the iced coffee, which might have been the worst I've ever had. It was so acidic, I could hardly drink it. And yes I mean "acidic", not "bold" nor "strong". read more

Do yourself a favor and get the almond latte. it is amazing! They even put a cute heart made of milk on top. I love big shoulders so much it makes me cringe to know how much money I have spent at other places that give 0 thought to their craft, knowing that a place like this exists. read more

The marshmallow latte is one of my favorite lattes. This location is also perfect for working on the weekend. Love that there is a location in the loop near my office! I have recommended the marshmallow latte to my friends and coworkers. It's a must try! read more

I entered the shop and was greeted with a, "good afternoon" in stereo. I had heard that the shop was friendly and that they had a killer horchata latte. Unfortunately when I ordered it, I found that they were out of the necessary items to make it but promised that it would be available the following day. I rolled the dice on the marshmallow latte which was a gamble since I'm not a huge fan of marshmallows, but the barista recommended it so I went along with it. As my star rating probably already indicated, it was indeed delicious as promised! I couldn't have been happier with the experience or with my order. The baristas were both genuinely friendly and quick in making my order, which served as the perfect accompaniment to the 3 mile walk back to my hotel. read more

This has become my favorite coffee, and perhaps favorite location in the city to pick up some local brew for 3 reasons: Number 1, their regular drip coffee is delicious and packs a mean caffeine punch. Number 2. The staff are super friendly, helpful, and always seem happy to serve you. Number 3. The interior/atmosphere is fun, hip, and comfortable. Great job Big Shoulders. You've earned my loyalty! read more

I really enjoy going to this coffee shop! Excellent coffee & they have Do Right Donuts (so they already had my heart there). Excellent prices for specialty coffee right in the city. I love to go there and sit at the table right at the window, and just watch the business of downtown while I drink my morning cup of Jo! read more

Big shoulders coffee is fantastic but the staff at this location was extremely rude and seemed like they didn't even want my business. I stopped in to pickup an order of 4 coffees and doughnuts for clients and the manager rolled her eyes and told me that if I plan on placing "large orders" on a regular basis, it was going to be a problem. Clark location is a great alternative! read more

My Favorite coffee Shop out here in chicago. Good quality of coffee and donuts are delecious. Staff is always Friendly. However, Its Very small and Not Really a place to hung out. read more

A real specialty coffee place in the Gold Coast! Their bean sourcing is on point and you can see it in their latte's, espresso extractions and overall knowledge about their beans! Also super cool staff. read more

Awesome coffee. I got the slow pour and it was worth the wait. Highly recommend. I heard this is rated the #1 coffee in Illinois. It did not disappoint. read more

Locally Roasted beans!!! This is my favorite spot in the neighborhood because of both the baristas and the coffee quality. You can find the friendliest baristas and best drip coffee. They offer some unique specialty espresso and milk drinks, a Hario V60 pour-over, and on tap cold brew options. They recently added some hot breakfast sandwich options along with the normal pastries. The ambience is relaxed with mid century modern styled furniture and low volume jazz played in the mornings. I think that by about 10:00, the employees take over the music. Also, if you strike up the occasional conversation or become a regular, they will remember your name and your drink. read more

I was referred to this coffee shop and myself & another associate went the same morning. I felt the atmosphere was very cozy but not much room to move around. Friendly staff. They make their own cones. The lady I was with bought coffee and a cone, she said it was very good, not too sweet. I went back the next day and bought a chocolate cone with decaf coffee, boy, the coffee was still strong. The young lady that works there is very friendly and helpful. She said, they make all their coffee with a bold taste. I did enjoy the cone but next time I'll get tea. Nice experience though. read more

Overall, good. It is not really a sit down place, but there is a restaurant next door that you can sit in. I had the marshmallow latte, which was really just a regular latte with a marshmallow on a stick, which isn't that special. However, it was good. It is a very cute place with good coffee. read more