The world’s largest Starbucks is coming to Chicago and will be the latest in a series of spectacular showplaces that the iconic coffee chain has opened across the world. With four-storeys and a roof terrace, Chicago’s Starbucks Reserve Roastery will be more than just a coffee shop. Offering interactive tours and showcasing a range of different brewing methods, it will also sell fresh coffee beans and artisanal breads at the in-store shop. The Reserve Roastery will have a prime location on Michigan Avenue, suitably located just a couple of miles from Jackson Boulevard where Starbucks first expanded beyond Seattle back in 1987. 24 times larger than the average Starbucks and at 43,000,000 square feet, Chicago’s Reserve Roastery will be sure to turn the heads of all coffee lovers and tourists alike.
Illinois and its coffee…
Did you know that Chicago, Illinois’ iconic elliptical “bean” sculpture in the heart of downtown Chicago isn’t actually meant to be a coffee bean, despite its appearance? Designed by British artist Anish Kapoor it is called Cloud Gate as the 12-foot-high arch provides a “gate” shape whilst the reflective surface mirrors the sky. The shape was actually inspired by the shape of liquid mercury.
Grab a cup of coffee and ponder the above at one of these top coffee spots in Illinois:
Chicago’s Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Best for: The world’s largest Starbucks
The world’s largest Starbucks is coming to Chicago and will be the latest in a series of spectacular showplaces that the iconic coffee chain has opened across the world. With four-storeys and a roof terrace, Chicago’s Starbucks Reserve Roastery will be more than just a coffee shop. Offering interactive tours and showcasing a range of different brewing methods, it will also sell fresh coffee beans and artisanal breads at the in-store shop. The Reserve Roastery will have a prime location on Michigan Avenue, suitably located just a couple of miles from Jackson Boulevard where Starbucks first expanded beyond Seattle back in 1987. 24 times larger than the average Starbucks and at 43,000,000 square feet, Chicago’s Reserve Roastery will be sure to turn the heads of all coffee lovers and tourists alike.
Café Tola
Best for: Creative coffee recipes
Café Tola is a husband-and-wife run empanada and espresso café which has quickly become a firm favourite among both locals and visitors to Chicago, Illinois. The café celebrates the rich heritage of Chicago’s residences and its amalgamation of different cultures by blending together traditional spicy Mexican empanadas, classic American flavours such as apple-pie, and delicious coffee from around the world. Café Tola is not to be missed, with its famous espresso bar serving a range of drinks including spicy-hot mochas and cool iced coconut coffees. Café Tola now has multiple locations across Chicago for you to enjoy world-class coffee and unforgettable Mexican delights.
Hansa Coffee Roasters
Best for: Shopping for hand-crafted coffee blends
Based in Libertyville, just outside of Chicago, Illinois, Hansa Coffee Roasters is a high-quality coffee retailer and roaster. Hansa specialises in selling and brewing coffee which is sourced from small, quality-driven cooperatives and communities from around the world, showing-casing the best coffee out there. Their charity work also shines though in their continued support of community partnerships and veterans’ charities. Hansa takes everything into consideration, hiring only the best baristas and giving them manual brewing training, teaching espresso theory and a technical understanding of the industry. Hansa Coffee also have their own shop selling a range of hand-crafted blends and graphic t-shirts.
Crown Brew Coffee Co.
Best for: Fair-trade coffee from around the world
Located in downtown Carterville, Illinois, Crown Brew Coffee Co. offers a broad range of sustainably sourced blends with origins from across the world including Guatemala, Ethiopia, Sumatra and Papua New Guinea. Enjoy the atmosphere of the Irons in the Fire building where you can shop for local arts, crafts, books and furniture. Crown Brew Coffee Co. is also known for its use of manual brewing techniques and are one of the only coffee shops in the world to be using the ‘Flair’ manual espresso maker to create a perfect cup of coffee every time. Crown Brew Coffee Co. was born from the owners’ love of coffee, who spent years travelling the world and serving their coffee to different communities. They experimented with different flavours, fair-trade blends and unique brewing methods, all discovered on their travels, to create Crown Brew Coffee Co. which shares their love and unbeatable knowledge of coffee with the rest of Illinois.
Zion Coffee Bar
Best for: Sustainably sourced coffee
Zion Coffee Bar is a speciality coffee company in Peoria, Illinois experimenting with different recipes and flavours to create unique coffees such as the Golden Turmeric Steamer. Located in the historic Union Deport Hotel, Zion Coffee Bar has been welcomed by locals and become an exciting new initiative in the local Warehouse District. Zion has a close relationship with their suppliers, sourcing their coffee from a range of small growers in Central America. Their farmer-direct and profit-sharing business model helps support these communities in the most economical and sustainable manner. Zion Coffee Bar continues to grow in the community as they roll out exciting new initiatives such as Zion U, a series of unique coffee master classes and Zion Out Loud, a community led passion project.
