I saw a line out the door, so I knew I had to check it out. I grabbed a hazelnut latte, and it was…read moregreat! The staff are super friendly and impressively quick, even when it's busy. I would not wait in line but it is a solid coffee.

But the barrels... they're so tempting!…read more Running right across the middle of the shop, there are barrels full of different kinds of coffee beans. It is so tempting to open them and start smelling, only the signs very nicely ask you not to. Wanting a break from dime-store coffee and tea (Folgers - no hate, it has a place), I decided to get something a little less "meh". Added bonus is that I am able to support a family business, as opposed to the Walton family and their associated shareholders. The staff at The Coffee & Tea Exchange was wonderful! They helped me select three different coffees to take home, speaking to the roasts and what makes them unique. I'd also like to award some bonus points for just the right grind of coffee for my reusable Keurig pods. My amazement does not stop at coffee, either - this also applies to teas. I went home with a few varieties of some of the more flavorful loose-leaf teas I've had! The kicker? The prices were very reasonable! True, it is not as cheap as a large can of Red or Blue coffee from the grocer's, but at the same time, not as expensive as something a corporation (maybe with a two-tailed siren??) has convinced you comes from a magical place called Seattle. Final verdict: My freshman year roommate had 4 open tubes of toothpaste because "variety is the spice of life." I have one tube of toothpaste, but coming up on a dozen different coffees and teas in my cabinet. Once I start running low, The Coffee & Tea Exchange is the first place I'll go to restock.

Can it get any better? What happens when a Chicago chef and a restaurant pro open a neighborhood…read morecoffee shop? Amazing coffee of course but there's so much more. They roast their own beans, serve chef-made (Michelin-type) bagels with herb mascarpone (cream cheese) or honey-butter, home-made seasonal scones and more. Added bonus they play great music, serve a ton of neighborhood regulars including the owner's dad and a dog who loves his whipped cream. The quality of a Michelin Star restaurant with the vibe of your friend's living room.

Have come here a few times…read more I really wanted to like this place. But I always leave feeling unappreciated by the owner and today, belittled for requesting that my hot drink to be hot. "Politeness costs nothing and gains everything."

Absolutely shook at the matcha latte here. Diabolical- it tasted so bad I somehow could not hate…read moreit, left me simply flabbergasted. I love my matcha unsweetened and this one was CHUNKY and grassy, with none of that umami goodness... but man the color was niceee. Berry chantilly latte was the saving grace, although it had way too much syrup. Price and size is soo good though... next time sticking with the coffee.

It's part of the Whole Foods grocery store…read more Drinks and food - just ok Staff attitude - apathetic Atmosphere - really loud music makes it hard to work there. There are plenty of tables/seats.

BLUF: Great place to get work done and sip on coffee…read more Ambiance (5/5): This place gave off the vibes of "working your corporate job outside to get SOME semblance of control." It was packed with people and had plenty of outdoor seating. It's right by tons of stuff to do, eat, and see. I'd recommend this place for a morning coffee or to get work done. Service (5/5): Fast and nice. Interaction was very little. Drinks (5/5): Great flavorful drinks. The elderflower was actually noticeable and the honey they used was good. The salted caramel cream cold brew was sweet and delicious. Perfect for a hot morning.

The only friendly employee was the one who took my order. Everyone else was very snooty and seemed…read moreinconvenienced by simple requests. The egg and cheese croissant had egg, goat cheese (weird), and some chalky dry pesto spread that no one explained would come on a simple egg and cheese croissant. The croissant itself was unique and delicious, but I didn't really get a chance to enjoy it since the spread was all over it. The patio is a nice place to sit and chat, but overall I would not recommend this place for its coffee or food.

Tucked away at the ground level of an apartment building is Crema. A lovely small coffee shop…read moreserving coffee, tea, and various pastries. The coffee is good. Lattes are balanced and you alter the sweetness level to your preferred, just give them a heads up. They also serve matcha and a variety of tea drinks. The seating is limited but there are tables to sit and chat, study, and for groups. The staff are friendly and overall just delightful. You can purchase their roasted beans, other teas, and infusions.

What a cute little corner coffee shop!!! Saw the coquito latte online and HAD to try Crema's…read moreversion. It was DELICIOUS. There are some tables for seating, but not a ton of space to spread out and make this a WFH coffee shop. They sell addition items beyond their cafe. Choose local!!

An inconspicuous neighborhood coffee shop on the corner of Lincoln Ave and Altgeld St. The cafe…read moreutilizes most of its space, so there is mainly standing room with a few high chairs along the small counter to rest your coffee on. The cafe allows dogs and I was greeted by two puppies. The staff is very welcoming and seems to know the regulars, both four and two legged. I ordered The Chill Brew which was unique having Amaretto syrup which really comes through with that almondy-honey flavor.

Donut was amazing. Would absolutely recommend the donuts here…read more Coffee... not so great tasting. However, it's neat that they don't upcharge for non dairy milk. That said, customer service could use a bit of improvement. All of the staff looked really stressed and unhappy to be there. Multiple patrons who ordered after my partner and I got their drinks significantly before us (even if they ordered the same or more complicated drinks). Kind of a bummer.

Don't think I could love this place more!…read more I discovered Big Shoulders on doordash a long time ago and have consistently ordered the same thing from them... I always order the breakfast sammie because their english muffins are SO yummy and the caramel scone because duh - so underrated. It was such a fun change to go into this location! The space itself was BEAUTIFUL and big and spacious with all kinds of seating. I loved that. They also had a great pastry case with a lot of items. As expected, everything was awesome!

If you like bold, strong and rich coffee, this is the place for you. Boldest coffee I've had, with…read moreno acidic burn. The baristas were welcoming and quite serious about their brews. I also indulged in a cinnamon caramel scone which they warmed up, much to my delight. It melted in my mouth. The cafe itself is cozy and comfortable.

My favorite Dollop location!…read more Great ambiance, baristas, and drinks! Lattes: 5 Matcha lattes: 5 Chocolate banana latte iced and hot (prefer hot, but both good): 5 Service and atmosphere: 5+

Stopped in after a morning at the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the location couldn't be more…read moreconvenient. The interior alone is worth a peek -- dark, moody, art deco vibes that make it feel like more of an experience than your average coffee stop. The breakfast sandwich was genuinely good. The coffee was fine but didn't stand out, which is a little disappointing when that's ostensibly the main event. There are a couple other spots within a block or two that I'd probably try first on a return visit. But if you're already in the neighborhood and want somewhere with atmosphere, Dollop delivers on that front.

The cardamom Rose latte was not good at all. Very bitter the the cup had about an inch without…read moredrink at the top, it wasn't filled all the way, and the foam was about an inch deep so in the end was about 2 inches at the top with no drink. I didn't taste the rose, only the cardamom, with bitter coffee. Also I ordered an extra hot and it came lukewarm. The Horchata latte was good. Ordered extra hot but that also came lukewarm. The drip coffee was very bitter and not enjoyable.

Super cute coffee shop with friendly staff! I don't like super sweet lattes but thought the oatmeal…read morecookie latte was pretty well balanced and a reasonable price. They have free wifi so it would be a great place to work or study but I'd recommend getting there early or going during off hours since it was full when i went on a Friday afternoon.

Fun spot to grab coffee with a friend or date!! The decor is so cute, love the gold and green and…read moretile theme they got going on. They really went all out!! There's a fair amount of seating considering the size of the place. Wasn't able to get a spot today unfortunately, but we did go at a busy time on a Sunday morning. I got the honey and lavender specialty latte with soy milk. I get mixed feelings about lavender - sometimes it tastes pretty soapy to me. I thought this was delicious! I'd definitely order again and recommend it. Overall, definitely recommend this spot especially if you're able to get a couch or table to enjoy the space!

I went here with a friend the other day and we ended up spending a good deal of the afternoon just…read morerelaxing and catching up. Even though we were seated at a regular table, the place had a comfortable vibe and it was easy to settle into. The counter women were efficient, nice, and filled our orders promptly. They did give my friend the wrong size coffee at first, but corrected it quickly and without any problem. One thing I didn't love: my cappuccino was served in a Styrofoam cup while we were staying there. If you're drinking in, it really should come on a ceramic cup and saucer. Save the Styrofoam for takeout! The best part was that we stayed for a couple of hours and no one hovered over us, or made us feel like we had to leave. As for the coffee itself, it was just okay. Not bad, but not memorable either. That's a shame too, because the space is so comfy. Still, there are plenty of other coffee spots on the North Side - and this just gives me a reason to explore others in the neighborhood.