14 Local Coffee Shops to Know in the Chicago Suburbs

14 Local Coffee Shops to Know in the Chicago Suburbs

Winter is the time of year when I really hit the coffee shops. My weakness is a Mocha Latte. However, I have recently learned that I like Oatmeal Cookie Lattes and -- during the holidays -- I like Peppermint Mochas. I will certainly be exploring more coffee houses in the next few months. However, here are fourteen of my favorite Chicago suburban coffee houses. I like to pair my coffee house visits with a hike -- a latte treat is very much welcome after a hike particularly in winter. Or, I grab a cup to bring with me on a hike to help stay warm! 

Tala Coffee Roasters: Tala Coffee Roasters is my go-to for porting a hot cup of coffee on a cold weather hike at Highwood's Openlands Lakeshore Preserve. Tala roasts its own coffee and makes its own syrups for interesting concotions. Additionally, they have some incredible locally baked items.

Grace Coffee and Wine: Located in Yorkville, Grace combines both a coffeehouse with a more refined yet relaxed wine bar. At each you can enjoy incredible dishes and even charcuterie and small plates. Grace has a French Toast Flight which I think is incredible! The coffee is brewed from local Intellegentsia which is delicious. Additionally, Grace brews tea from local Tiesta.

Endiro Coffee: Endiro Coffee is a coffee shop with the purpose of brewing all the good we can together working towards ending childhood vulnerability throughout the world. Endiro Coffee is Ugandan coffee and the shop has locations both in Aurora and Uganda! The coffee, food and loose leaf tea at Endiro are amazing!

Around Cafe: Around Cafe is my hometown coffee spot here in Arlington Heights. I am absolutely in love with their Lavender Latte. However, they always have a unique coffee concoction if you would like to branch out! They have Stumptown, Dark Matter and Gaslight Coffee. Additionally, they can make a fantastic bubble tea and more. Check out their locally made baked goods as well!

Sipping a cup of mocha latte at Around Cafe in Arlington Heights.

Hansa Coffee Roasters: Local coffee roasters Hansa can be found in Libertyville, Lake Bluff and Vernon Hills (inside the Barbara's Books). In addition to incredible coffee, Hansa has amazing baked good including scones.

Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters: Another of my most recent discoveries is Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters. Conscious Cup has locations in Libertyville, Barrington, Crystal Lake and Cary. Conscious Cup stresses the sourcing of their coffee. On our visit, we noted quite a bit of interesting concoctions including the Peppermint Bark Latte that I enjoyed for the holidays! Plus, we had to dive into a scone!

Newport Coffeehouse: Located in Bannockburn and Evanston, Newport roasts organic coffee beans. Additionally, they have pastries from Chicago's pHlour bakery.  My husband loves the Cardamom Bun. What could be better?

Backlot Coffee: One of my more recent discoveries is Backlot Coffee in Evanston. In fact, Backlot is the first place where I enjoyed a coffee with oat milk -- their Oatmeal Cookie Latte. Incredible -- and I have since I had oat milk in another drink! Backlot has two locations in Evanston and Chicago. Backlot is named after the joint backyards of Evanston where people can join and be together. What a great message of community!

Divine almond croissant from Patisserie Coralie.

Patisserie Coralie: Patisserie Coralie brings a spark of French fancy to Evanston! If you are looking for a French pastry in the Chicago suburbs, this is the place to go! You will not believe how may flavors of macrons they have. Additionally, they roast their own coffee! A nice spot where we like to spoil ourselves.

Arcedium Coffeehouse: A couple of weeks ago, I had been tipped off that Arcedium Coffeehouse in St. Charles crafts an incredible Aztec Mocha Latte. After our snow hike at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, I needed a warm up. We headed to Arcedium for an Aztec Mocha Latte. The rec I received was quite accurate! The Aztec Mocha Latte was incredible!

Sparrow Coffee: Sparrow Coffee is a coffee roasted in Chicago found in a number of high end restaurants. So, I had to try it when Sparrow opened a coffee house in Naperville. When I visited Sparrow, I had just had some mocha lattes that were just not up to snuff. But, Sparrow's was amazing! 

Brewpoint Coffee: Elmhurst's Brewpoint is one of the first coffee shops that I visited when I started to develop a love for good, locally roasted coffee. Brewpoint certainly has some interesting concoctions such as Borealis and Pirouette! I am more traditional with a Mocha Latte. But, I appreciate innovative concoctions made with local roasts!

Adorable Mocha Latte and scoopable scones from Coffee Speaks.

Coffee Speaks: Located in Highland Park, Coffee Speaks roasts their own coffee and offers a variety of coffee and tea concoctions. I am not sure if they currently have them available, but their scoopable scones are amazing as well. I am totally a fan of the little treats!

Limestone Coffee and Tea: Just footsteps from the Fox River in Batavia, Limestone is one of our favorite coffee spots for coffee and a baked good while wandering the Fox River. We love the Peanut Butter Cookie and I am over the moon that they have loose leaf tea in addition to coffee treats. Yum!

I am continuing to add to my coffeehouse experiences here in the Chicago suburbs particularly in the winter months. So, I will no doubt find more to add! Please note that depending on COVID restrictions, you may need to order your items to go. Hopefully, things will be better soon and we will be back sipping in coffeehouses again! Until then, I am enjoying planning to port a mug on my adventures whether it be hiking or looking for murals!