Milli by Metric ★ 4.5
Milli by Metric is the 12,000-square-foot all-day Avondale cafe Metric Coffee opened in September 2025. Order the metric house espresso and seasonal filter.
Signature drink: Metric house espresso and seasonal filter
La Colombe Coffee (Randolph) is a cafe in Chicago.
La Colombe in Chicago is the West Loop branch on Randolph of the Philadelphia roaster, with the draft latte (nitrogen-infused) and a large airy front room.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Tip: Draft latte is the room's signature; buy the can to take home if you don't want to wait for the tap pour.
Address: 955 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
Milli by Metric is the 12,000-square-foot all-day Avondale cafe Metric Coffee opened in September 2025. Order the metric house espresso and seasonal filter.
Signature drink: Metric house espresso and seasonal filter
Sawada Coffee in Chicago is Hiroshi Sawada's West Loop cafe on Green Street, doored with Green Street Smoked Meats, home of the matcha-espresso-cocoa.
Signature drink: Military latte (matcha, espresso, cocoa)
Tip: The window counter has the best light; the back of the room is louder than it looks because it shares with the BBQ kitchen.
Intelligentsia in Chicago is the Monadnock Building flagship of the third-wave roaster (founded 1995 by Doug Zell) on Jackson Boulevard, with Black Cat.
Signature drink: Black Cat espresso
Tip: Order the Black Cat as a single-shot macchiato; it shows off the roast better than a long milk drink.
Metric Coffee in Chicago is Xavier Alexander and Darko Arandjelovic's West Town roaster-cafe on Fulton, in a former blacksmith shop, with single-origin.
Signature drink: Single-origin pour-over
Tip: Ask for the bar seat by the pour-over station; the baristas talk you through the cup as they brew it.
Big Shoulders Coffee in Chicago is the Noble Square cafe on Chicago Avenue with a strong cortado and a small back room of communal-table seating.
Signature drink: Cortado
Tip: The breakfast bagels from Beard Papa next door work well at this counter; carry one in and pair it with a cortado.
Dark Matter in Chicago is the Ukrainian Village roaster cafe (the Mothership) on Chicago Avenue, a heavy roaster with Unicorn espresso and rotating gallery.
Signature drink: Unicorn espresso blend
Tip: The cold brew on tap is the high point. Get one for the walk to the next stop on Chicago Avenue.