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Illinois · Dad Fuel

Best coffee for tired dads in Chicago

26 curated specialty roasters in Chicago, ranked on roast quality and local standing. The short list for the 5am wake-ups.

20 top specialty coffee roasters in chicago, US, ranked by nri.

  1. 1

    magnífico coffee roasters & coffee shop

    the kind of place where they know coffee isn't just caffeine delivery.

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  2. 2

    colectivo coffee of lincoln park

    there's something about the way regulars lean into the counter at colectivo that tells you everything.

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  3. 3

    tasa coffee roasters

    the thing about tasa coffee roasters is how they make the ordinary feel intentional.

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  4. 4

    sparrow coffee

    the hiss of steam cuts through morning chatter at sparrow coffee, where 1,127 google reviewers know something the chains don't.

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  5. 5

    gigawatt coffee roasters

    the hiss of steam cuts through morning conversation at gigawatt coffee roasters, where 200 five-star google reviews tell you what regulars already know.

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  6. 6

    backlot coffee

    the thing about backlot coffee is how it feels like stumbling onto something that wasn't meant for you to find.

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  7. 7

    i have a bean

    the thing about i have a bean is how they nail that sweet spot between precision and warmth.

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  8. 8

    kapéj coffee roasters

    kapéj coffee roasters sits on sedgwick street like it's been there forever, though the 651 google reviews averaging 4.7 stars tell you this place earned its reputation the hard…

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  9. 9

    kindred coffee roasters

    at kindred coffee roasters on west washington street, the name says everything.

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  10. 10

    conscious cup coffee roasters - crystal lake

    conscious cup on northwest highway proves that crystal lake doesn't need downtown chicago's coffee scene to get exceptional beans.

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  11. 11

    metric

    chicago has a deep specialty coffee culture, and a lot of it runs through the west side, where fulton market has pulled serious roasters and curious drinkers alike into its orbit.

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  12. 12

    ten drops coffee

    ten drops coffee sits on center street in plainfield, and honestly, the name undersells what happens inside.

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  13. 13

    vietfive coffee - chicago

    the steam hisses just right at vietfive coffee, and that matters more than you'd think.

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  14. 14

    pistachio sweets | coffeehouse

    the burnt sugar sweetness hits you first, then that familiar roasted earth smell that pulls you deeper into pistachio sweets.

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  15. 15

    mojo coffee

    mojo coffee roasts beans that actually matter.

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  16. 16

    everybody's coffee

    everybody's coffee roasts beans the way chicago needs them roasted.

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  17. 17

    kribi coffee - forest park

    kribi coffee roasts beans that actually taste like where they came from.

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  18. 18

    the avondale coffee club by reprise roasters

    you're on elston avenue where industrial chicago blends into something softer, and the avondale coffee club sits right in that transition.

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  19. 19

    bae coffee company

    when you need a coffee spot that won't turn your work session into a social experiment, bae coffee company on north broadway delivers exactly that.

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  20. 20

    jimmy beans coffee club

    you're on west fullerton in logan square, where the coffee shops tend to come and go but some actually stick around.

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Questions, answered

Where is the best coffee in Chicago?

magnífico coffee roasters & coffee shop tops our Chicago list, ranked on roast quality and local standing. It is one of 26 curated specialty roasters in the city.

How many specialty coffee roasters are in Chicago?

26 curated specialty roasters in Chicago make our list, each chosen on merit rather than paid placement.

What is the best coffee setup for a tired new dad?

Buy whole beans from a local roaster and grind per cup, keep a simple AeroPress or pour-over by the kettle, and pre-fill it the night before. Two minutes at 5am, proper coffee, no machine to clean.

Coffee data via Not Another Sunday. Roaster names and notes shown as published.