WEEKLY DEAL: Chicagoland Coffee Tour

As owner, John Clark, drove design/marketing associate (...and daughter), Jamie Clark up to Chicago, he didn't skimp on the opportunity to see the competition in the Windy City.

First on the list of tour stops was Julius Meinl. In Vienna, this was the original Vienna coffee house and where John got his idea of what a Vienna Coffee Company should look like. Granted the Chicago version of the Vienna company is slightly more Americanized, but still has the Vienna classy style. (John and Sue were given the amazing opportunity to go to the real Julius Meinl Cafe in Vienna a couple years ago.)

Second on the tour was Intelligentsia. This coffee company is top class when it comes to their baristas. Last year several of their baristas ranked in the top 10 in regional, national, and international barista competitions while getting 1st place in both regional and national. In fact, the manager of the cafe we went to won 1st place at the Great Lakes regional competition. This cafe was crammed pack with people and interesting industrial artwork.

The final coffee stop was Metropolis. This small batch roaster/coffee house is very eclectic, and is more on the size of VCC. They roast for many local chicago bakeries and coffeehouses, but the coffee shop itself was PACKED, and very interesting artwork all over the walls.


All in all the coffee tour was a success, and John was able to see what is going on the Chicagoland coffee scene.


THIS WEEK'S COFFEE DEAL IS ABOUT COFFEESHOPS. IF YOU ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION ON THE BLOG OR TELL YOUR ANSWER TO US AT THE ROASTERY YOU WILL RECIEVE A FREE 2oz OF OUR MONTHLY FLAVORED COFFEE SPECIAL "AMARETTO."

WHAT IS THE BEST COFFEEHOUSE YOU'VE BEEN TO AND WHY?