Who are the Best Coffee Roasters in Chicago?

Coffee is such a personal thing, it is hard to say which roasters to visit when you are traveling to Chicago, or just have an afternoon to kill if this is your hometown. A true coffee lover would say to try them all, but this list recommends coffee that puts a lot of passion into the process and sets you on the right track for the whole day. There’s no accounting for taste, but most coffee is better than no coffee and these coffee roasters are just about better than anything.

Sparrow Coffee is the smoothest cup of coffee you can imagine. This coffee was not available outside of restaurants until now. Chris Chacko is at the heart of this organic and sustainable coffee roasting operation. The roaster is located in the West Loop of Chicago and you can visit to learn about the craft of coffee roasting and try the perfect cup.

A slightly more accessible option is Bow Truss Coffee. With shops in River North and the Loop, Bow Truss delivers accessible single origin and direct trade coffee.

Kevin Ashtari started Asado Coffee in 2008 and has been going strong ever since. With cafés in Lakeview and River North, you can get a pour over without skipping a beat.

Finally, for a harder edge and the ability to trace your beans from plant to cup, Dark Matter serves up socially responsible coffee at more than four locations around the city with its “Mothership Roastery” located downtown at Jackson and Jefferson.

The heart that goes into all of these operations makes it clear you’ve got to try them all.