Sparrow Coffee in Chicago is the Naperville-born roaster's flagship cafe in the Fulton Market on Green Street, with espresso flights and Saturday public cuppings.
Tip: Saturday cupping at 11:00 is the value play: two coffees, a 45-minute talk through origin, free with a cafe purchase.
Address: 2040 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60612
Big Shoulders Coffee in Chicago is the Noble Square neighbourhood roaster on Chicago Avenue, with single-origin pour-overs and a small Chicago Avenue cafe up front.
Tip: The Chicago Avenue cafe doubles as the cupping room; ask about the seasonal-roster bag before the website lists it.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Rwanda, El Salvador
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail, Subscription
Dark Matter Coffee's Star Lounge cafe on West Chicago Avenue serves the roaster's bold single-origin and signature blends in a long-running West Town space.
Tip: The Star Lord blend is the everyday espresso; Unicorn is the seasonal showpiece. Buy both bags and decide at home.
Sources from: Mexico, Honduras, Ethiopia, Colombia
How they serve: Espresso, Cold brew, Whole bean retail
Intelligentsia Coffee in Chicago is the third-wave roaster founded 1995 by Doug Zell, with Black Cat espresso as its signature roast and a flagship cafe in the Loop.
Tip: The Direct Trade catalogue rotates by season; subscribe to the cupping-room newsletter for first access to new microlots.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Guatemala
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail, Subscription
Metric Coffee in Chicago is the West Town roaster from Xavier Alexander and Darko Arandjelovic, operating from a former blacksmith shop on Fulton since 2013.
Tip: The Fulton Street cuppings are open to the public Thursday 14:00; arrive 10 minutes early for a seat at the bar.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Brazil, Burundi, Honduras
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
