Cafe Mustache
2313 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Logan Square

Cafe Mustache.

Logan Square is flourishing with new restaurants and stores throughout the neighborhood.  One of those new establishments is Cafe Mustache, a wonderful new space that is being utilized for art, music, community, and hand-crafted coffee and tea.  Cafe Mustache’s coffee is locally roasted by the Bridgeport Coffee Company and they also sell fresh pastries from Roscoe Village’s Bleeding Heart Bakery.  Anna and I visited Cafe Mustache on a very hot and muggy day, so we both opted to have iced drinks.  Anna had a iced caramel latte that had a perfect balance of sweetness with a bold coffee flavor, while I went with the special of the day, a iced Mexican coffee that was brewed with fair-trade beans that are organic and shade grown.  The drink was medium-bodied, sweet, with hints of cocoa, and floral aroma.  It was quite impressive, to say the least.  Cafe Mustache is a great addition to the neighborhood, especially considering they opened up shop on a stretch of Milwaukee Avenue that is riddled with abandoned and empty storefronts.  It is also worth noting that Cafe Mustache will also host local and national music performances and art exhibits, so be sure to check out their current (and future) events too.

-Rob

Rob’s Mexican coffee on the left and Anna’s caramel latte on the right.

Cafe Mustache’s interior.

Kouks Vintage Cafe
5653 N Northwest Hwy., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Norwood Park

Kouks.

Tucked all the way up in Norwood Park is the oddity that is Kouks Vintage Cafe.  A combination antique resale shop and coffeehouse, Kouks lures in its customers with a hard to miss exterior, award-winning coffee, and a treasure trove of antique goods waiting to be discovered.  After browsing around the resale shop—and admiring all the vintage transistor radios—Rob and I ordered coffee and sat down at the counter.  I got an iced Milky Way latte and Rob got a custom Snickers iced coffee drink (I guess we were both in a candy mood).  Andy Pappas, co-owner with wife Georgia, chatted with us while we sipped our drinks (definitely worth the trek) and its clear that his personable attitude is what makes Kouks a mom and pop shop in every sense of the phrase.  Although it’s located in the outskirts of the city, Kouks is a gem that needs to be supported.  Next time you’re looking for great coffee and good conversation, ditch Starbucks for Kouks.

-Anna

A treasure trove of antique goods on the second floor of Kouks.

KnockBox Café
1001 N California Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park

KnockBox Café.

It was a blistering cold day in Chicago, so Anna and I decided to head over to the Humboldt Park neighborhood this afternoon to try out KnockBox Café for the first time.  KnockBox is a wonderful, eco-friendly, and cozy café that is situated on the corner of California and Augusta, across the street from one of our favorite bars, the California Clipper (we had our first date there!).  KnockBox is a nice addition to the somewhat tough neighborhood.  I appreciate the fact that KnockBox believes in supporting and utilizing other local Chicago businesses for many of their needs, like Metropolis Coffee Company for their fresh roasted coffee and espressos and Red Hen Bread for their fresh made gourmet sandwiches.  Today, I had a white mocha while Anna went with a hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows.  Both of our drinks were under $4, very tasty, and perfect for such a cold winter day.  I highly recommend checking KnockBox out; I plan on going back and trying out their food next time.  Also, remember to bring your own travel mug because they will give you a discount on your drink!

-Rob

Rob’s white mocha.

Anna’s hot chocolate.

Julius Meinl
3601 N Southport Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Lakeview

Julius Meinl.  Photo Credit: Julius Meinl’s website.

Julius Meinl is a Vienna-based company that is a leading manufacturer/retailer of coffee, gourmet foods, and other such products.  Oddly enough, they also have two restaurants/coffee shops located in Lakeview and Lincoln Square in Chicago.  Tonight, Rob and I decided to check out the one in Lakeview with my aunt, who recommended it to us.  We started off with their delicious coffee drinks (decaf German chocolate macchiato for me and strawberry hot chocolate for Rob), feasted on their reasonably priced and incredibly fresh sandwiches (turkey avocado for me, turkey on brioche for Rob), and finished the night off with some decadent dessert (nutella crepes for me, blueberry jam crepes for Rob).  Needless to say, it’s been several hours and I’m still so full I can barely function.  Julius Meinl is true to its European roots and is a wonderful restaurant whether you’re in search of a good cup of coffee or tea, or just want to have a cheap (but tasty) lunch with friends.

-Anna

Anna’s German chocolate macchiato.  All of their drinks are served on trays, European-style.

Rob’s turkey on brioche sandwich.

Anna’s nutella crepes.  Yes, they are just as amazing as they look.