BE WARNED - they make the tea WAY too hot here and it actually burned my tongue. Had to return the Hibiscus Spice tea . It's actually dangerous how hot they are serving the tea here - even after they had steeped it , it was insanely hot How was someone supposed to drink and enjoy that tea ? It would have taken like a half hour to cool down. I actually have an ice cube in my mouth now. It's dangerously hot tea. My friend did enjoy his Cortado and his Pumpkin muffin which was nice . On one bright note the Broccoli Asiago Scone was tasty . But it's literally the first time I've ever returned a cup of tea. Ever . read more

Honored to be the 100th review for this location. Came here after visiting the farmers market with my mom and we were happy with our visit! My mom got an almond milk iced chai and I got a cold brew with oat milk and vanilla. I was tempted to get the marshmellow latte but they did let me know that it's just a vanilla latte with a toasted marshmellow on top so I got the cold brew instead. We both really enjoyed our drinks! It's small in here, but wasn't too busy when we were here. It's really cute too. And the baristas are extremely nice and stylish. Would visit for sure next time I'm in town. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Chai and cold brew - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really solid coffee and good breakfast muffin sandwich. Service was good. Nice place to have coffee and catch up with people in a smaller intimate space. read more

I came here almost every day I was in Chicago since it was near my hotel and I love trying new local coffee places. Seating can feel a little cramped when it's crowded, but it's otherwise nice inside. I liked sitting by the windows and watching people walk dogs nearby. Service was decent. Some baristas were friendlier than others. Drink menu is pretty simple with drip coffee, espresso, and tea. Prices are comparable to other local coffee shops. I like their homemade syrups. I tried the cardamom, horchata, and marshmallow (comes with a torched marshmallow!) lattes. The lattes were nicely balanced, smooth and not too sweet. Small selection of pastries and breakfast sandwiches but good options if you want a quick breakfast. read more

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

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This place was good for take out. It didn't have much of an ambiance to sit in. It's a good option if you are looking to avoid huge chains.

Looked for a place to study for a couple of hours. Found this place and it turned out to be a gem! The coffee (vanilla) was pretty good and the cafe ambiance was built for a chill time. The drink menu was pretty simple and not too overwhelming and the cinnamon scone was delicious ( warmed up of course!). I was able to get a window seating which helped mellow me out to get down to studying. The street view was pleasant and good change of pace from staring at a screen. It looked like a small place but there was a lot of room. The window seating was great for long sitting as it had multiple food holds and rest to help keep active or adjust the body. The staff was very nice and welcoming. Definitely a place I would post up again if i need to study in Chicago on vacation! read more

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

I love finding local coffee shops when I travel. Big Shoulders was my latest find on a recent trip to Chicago. It is a small, unassuming location located on the edge of the Gold Coast/Magnificent Mile. They offer the usual offerings of drip coffee, pour overs, and espresso drinks. They also have a small variety of food offerings. I opted for drip coffee during my visits. It was brewed to perfection with the flavor of the beans shining through. I tried a breakfast sandwich on one visit--I wasn't wowed by that. It's flavor was so-so and was a bit soggy like it had been microwaved. But I was there primarily for coffee so I stand by a 5 star rating. The staff was pleasant and helpful as well. A suggestion would be for Big Shoulders to be listed as a coffee shop instead of a roastery--it didn't initially come up when I was searching Yelp for coffee places near my hotel. read more

I really like this place for the story, the community and definitely the coffee. Randomly discovered on a work trip and now I'll cruise through anytime in town. My wife tried their breakfast sandwich and it was very good too. Cozy hideaway from the rush of the city. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Sausage and egg breakfast sandwich and marshmallow latte. - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

GM vans at this place is very cozy, the service was excellent and it was fairly fast the variety and coffee and the menu is great. I will definitely come back I recommend this place. It is right on the strip of chestnut and Chicago downtown strip. read more

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I woke up early and wanted to get a cup of coffee alone before starting my day. It seems like a lot of people ordered the marshmallow latte, and so did I. It was pretty good. The toasted marshmallow adds a fun taste to the latte. Too bad I can't tolerate that much caffeine or else I would try their other fun lattes too! read more

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

Service was quick, food was good. Had a cinnamon caramel scone and a cold brew. I just wish it was a little bigger because seating is hard to find. Still searching for my go to cafe as it doesn't look like they'll have outdoor seating for the summer either. Will still be back though as I was very impressed with the scone. read more

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

Really small cute place with a variety of pastries and lattes. Amazing different coffees and pleasant staff with great attitudes. read more

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I heard about this coffee shop on TikTok and I was super interested in the toasted marshmallow latte. I first wanna start off and say that the workers there are so sweet and so kind and so patient I really appreciated them letting me take my time to figure out the drink that I really really wanted. They have a great selection of food items I have ever seen before at a coffee shop. For those of you who are really big on sustainability they do give you plates that you can use while dining there so that you aren't using any plastic materials willing eating. The inside is really small so if you do plan to work from home here, I would definitely try to get here earlier in the day to make sure you can get a seat otherwise just stopping by and picking up a drink is perfect as well. 10 out of 10 when I'm back in town in Chicago, I will definitely be back here. The drink was amazing so everyone should order the toasted marshmallow latte and tell them Kaelyn told you to get it. read more

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Drinking my way through all the indie coffee shops in Chicago! Cute decor, friendly staff, a bathroom, and good coffee- what's not to love? read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - 16 oz iced latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Quick service, but not a ton of seating. Coffee was solid and the spinach queen pastry was to die for.

I used to have ice marshmallow latte and I tried the hot one this time to do the comparison. However, they burnt the marshmallow for the hot one so I am not sure if this should be happen for a hot latte. At least from my understanding and what I saw from other customers and Yelp pic sharing, this is not supposed to happen. Hopefully, they can improve this. read more

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Great place to get a quick coffee. I got the marshmello Latte and it was pretty solid. Was hoping for a bit more especially for the price, but the place was nice. I definitely recommend for any morning. read more

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

Marshmallow latte!! As an avid seeker of aesthetic and yummy drinks, I was pleased to see this place just a block away from home! Friendly staff, free wifi, and cozy reading chairs. Limited seating but I never had trouble getting a table personally. read more

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

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Seems like a good place to study! Smaller cafe, but several seats on the bar and with small tables. They have a variety of specialty lattes to try. Service was nice and didn't have to wait too long. (-: good stop if you're in the area read more

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

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pretty good coffee, better than expected. tried a cortado as well as the marshmallow latte - thought the latter would be too sweet but was surprised, they don't add too much flavor so you can still taste the coffee. also had a breakfast sandwich which was what you'd expect from a coffee shop, does the trick. read more

Idk the chai I had was so spicy, but I am weak so maybe it's my fault! Anyway the service was good so that's a plus read more

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

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There are few coffee places in Chicago where you can get a good cup of decaf. I am under the impression that it's an afterthought and I completely get it but it's all I can drink. You can't get a drip, you can find pour overs or an Americano. They're likely to be bitter, watery and completely undrinkable. BSC makes a good decaf Americano. I can also highly recommend the mocha version. It's not too sweet, just the right amount of chocolate without being over the top. I appreciate that there's somewhere I can go. Not only have they made an effort but it's a nice place to visit too. Everyone there has repeatedly been welcoming and kind. The pricing is fair and there's a nice assortment of food. Support local business and check them out. read more

Was in town from LA and my girlfriend needed a quick ice coffee. This was right across the street from our hotel. The barista was nice.

The atmosphere was good. Order cold brew coffee and the taste was mediocre. Too much ice and the coffee was not shaken well. The staff were really nice. read more

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

Got the Power Matcha which I believe was a matcha latte. It was simple, not too sweet and delicious, just what I needed for a cold walk home! read more

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

Coffee is a little pricey but it's pretty good. Not the most incredible coffee I've ever had, but better than majority of other places nearby. Good seating options with free wifi as well. read more

Tried this coffee shop on a recent trip to Chicago and I'm sad that it's not in my city, I would be here all the time! They have so many unique and delicious latte choices. My husband got their standard coffee and that was above par as well. read more

Cute little coffee shop. Staff seems fairly nice. Coffee was strong. I would come here again. read more

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

I ordered the signature marshmallow latte and to my pleasant surprise it came with a perfectly toasted marshmallow. The latte was a perfect mix of sweet and coffee. I got it iced because it was hot out and it did not taste watered down at all. Would definitely come back for another! read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Marshmallow latte with a roasted marshmallow! - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great coffee and awesome staff. Good Poufs. Excellent light lunch if you need something quick and not to get too stuffed. One of my go to places to sit down and crank some work out. read more

Very good coffee in River North, I usually get the iced lattes. Worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.

Opted for an iced caramel latte with oat milk and a warm blueberry scone before a work meeting today at Big Shoulders Coffee. The latte was bold and the caramel wasn't overpowering, but it wasn't my favorite caramel latte (that honor still lies with Salty Donut). The roast was strong and the caffeine kicked in quickly which is what I ask of my coffee. The blueberry scone was top notch! I got it warmed and it was just the right combination of crumbly, buttery and sweet. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Caramel iced latte and blueberry scone - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The chai latte was awful. Staff lacked energy (Malek) and seemed really tired. Manager Rosalind too over 20 minutes to refund my money. I would not recommend this place. read more

Stop. Walk away from your nearest Starbucks. This is an amazing coffee shop in downtown Chicago. Being a Loyola student for some time now, I'm genuinely embarrassed for not going to this place for so long. I walked in and immediately was greeted with smiles and other customers on their laptops. It felt like a perfect cafe to watch traffic go by, drink some coffee, and catch up on a little work. I had the marshmallow latte. It was such an aesthetically pleasing latte. It was almost too pretty to drink.... but i did haha. It was basically a regular latte with a marshmallow in it but I have no complaints. Delicious and would totally recommend going back. read more

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

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This place is overrated. The coffee is just not good. Period. Last time I went here to give this place another try. The baristas were confused when I just ordered a iced latte of the menu. Also ordered a vanilla latte. The milk vs espresso was completely off. Watching the baristas make the drinks made it clear they did not know what they were doing. Worst of all has one sip and had to throw the drink away. Just horrible. read more

Very nice place. I got the Nitro Cold Brew. Very good. My husband got the manual Brew and he really enjoyed it. You wait for the manual brews obviously because they are done when ordered so are very fresh! Lovely people working too. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Cold Nitro Brew was great! They recommend not adding ice but I added just a little:) - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was not thrilled with the drink I ordered but I'd definitely give this place another try. The dragon wells green tea was a little weak and tasted like flavored water. The sausage egg and cheese was pretty good. Better than a Starbucks breakfast sandwich and pretty decent portion. Plenty of cheese, thick sausage, and the bun was super fresh and buttery. The people working there were very nice and service was pretty quick. read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Sausage egg and cheese - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I wish their iced drinks came smaller than a 20 oz. The 20 oz plain iced latte will set you back over $6 with tax included which was wasted on me because I just don't want that much in one go! The coffee was a very strong smokey roast, not so much so that I disliked it, but I personally like a softer roast. The pastries looked good and I'd return. Nice service and ambiance with seating outdoors on the sidewalk. read more

I have been a Nespresso coffee junkie since 2012. I've got both the regular pod machine and the Vertuo pod machine each spitting out nespresso pods faster than a jack hammer! It was my one true obsession in the food and drink world. This was my "Jones"! Our move from L.A. to Chicago found us here with our machines in storage so at this time, we entered the " brewed world" again. This wasn't so bad; but I did miss my pods! That is, until I had my first cup of Big Shoulders Uganda bean coffee. This was as good a cup of coffee as I ever had. It surpassed my (favorite) Kona coffee I drank in Hawaii several years ago. The richness, body, smell, taste just knocked me out. Paired with oat milk and monk fruit sweetener I was sold. I mean I am now a "Big Shoulder card carrying, convert! Big Shoulder" just does something magical to their beans. I asked my wife, who has the most sophisticated palette I know, "What the hell are these nice people doing to their coffee to make it so good"? She stuttered her response snd finally said, "I don't know? Maybe they use Guba Dust or magic encantations, but whatever their doing, it sure as hell is working"! We've now branched out to their Ethiopian bean and their Congo bean. This coffee house is as consistent as a Swiss clock with their roasting technique. All three beans we've bought from them, just soared. This coffee is so good, we retired our regular pod machine and put the Vertuo machine in the cupboard. We are leaving on a two week trip in August. Ya gotta know, I'm packing two pounds of Big Shoulders beans! read more

americans have a serious pre occupation with things that keep us awake, so do europeans...now that we are talking about 400 million people i think I'll shut up about coffee addiction. I was here a few times in the last few weeks most recently last week. I like the coffee. I find the atmosphere a little on top of everyone else. If you like the big store coffee feel then sbux is for you. If for some reason you have a hankering for small time americana like if you wanted that Iowa small town flavor while you walk the streets of downtown chicago than this could help solve your problems. I found the people helpful...bottomless coffee for $3 and change-I could think of worse things that can happen to someone :) read more

Big Shoulders Coffee - Trying this out - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois