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.