joelb wrote:fantasmatical thorr wrote:tmidgett wrote:please allow me to take this chance to plug my favorite coffee in chicago, that of intelligentsia roasters and coffee shops. this unfortunately named concern produces a magnificent espresso roast called 'black cat.' their pulls of 'black cat' at their downtown store are wonderful, the equal of good italian espresso. the drip and iced coffee is really good, as well.
yes! intelligentsia! holy shit.
I avoided this unfortunately named concern for years because of the unfortunate name. After a while, I decided I wasn't proving anything to anyone and now drink the best coffee in the world almost every day.
Star is pretty CRAP.
Intelligentsia is very good and I love it when restaurants have it as the house coffee. so nice. I will also vouch for he Quality of the Coffee and Tea Exchange on Broadway. They have a roaster in town (on diversey) and the boss there is a great guy--really good to his employees. I think I'm more partial to CTX's coffee over intelligentsia, but it may be the taste-nostalgia of having worked there for three years during college. their Kenyan is to die for.
Re: Stuckybucks-I've found that in a pinch, getting an americano instead of a cup of their overroasted coffee really helps out in the flavor dept.