Dana Kavan writes a weekly cocktail column for the Sun-Times' entertainment website, CenterstageChicago.com, where she used to work as an editor. When she's not scouring the city for creative libations and delicious drink deals, she enjoys exploring Chicago neighborhoods by foot, bike or CTA and working as the Local Content Director for Examiner.com.

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Forget Starbucks! When in Andersonville, head to a locally owned coffeehouse

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July 8, 7:35 PM

by Dana Kavan, Chicago Neighborhoods Examiner

Taste of Heaven's controversial sign;
courtesy of abcnews.com

I remember when Andersonville felt undiscovered—though I’m sure the Swedish immigrants who first settled the area to farm cherries would’ve disagreed. The neighborhood has long had a charming, small-town-in-the-city feel, but in the last five years or so, it’s really boomed, thanks to a thriving nightlife scene, top-notch restaurants and a friendly mix of residents. And the ‘hood really shines, in my caffeine-addicted opinion, when it comes to independent coffee shops.

Kopi Café has called Andersonville home for 17 years; Taste of Heaven joined the stalwart four years ago, when it relocated from its previous locale on West Foster; and the coffeehouse trifecta became complete this year with the opening of the The Coffee Studio. The best part? The three spots offer distinct amenities and vibes:

A Taste of Heaven

This corner coffeehouse/restaurant looks as innocent as they come, but it caused quite the controversy when it put up a sign reading 'Kids of all ages have to behave and use their indoor voices when they come to Taste of Heaven.' The story of the sign, which stemmed from a situation when the owner had to kick out a family because of rowdy kids, landed the cafe on the news show 20/20. But even the sign, decked with colorful kiddie handprints, should speak to this shop’s sweetness. And so should its amazing scones—buttery mounds of blueberry-studded dough that are big enough to share. The décor has a country-kitsch feel, with a blue-and-white checkered floor, tin pie posters and hanging quilts. It serves Casteel Coffee from Evanston, and breakfast is available all day.

Kopi, A Traveler’s Café

Kopi’s hodgepodge environs channel the campus coffeehouse every co-ed dreams of—from the cozy nook in the picture window up front, where relaxed patrons sit on pillows with their legs tucked under a coffee table, to the display of goods for sale in the back. Grab a Lonely Planet travel guide, a scarf or a trinket, and then sit down on the wicker-like chairs to order off the mostly vegetarian menu. The coffee is top-notch, as are the teas, but if you really want a treat, opt for the fresh fruit and yogurt smoothies to pair with your panini or veggie burger. The crowd is a little bit boho and intellectual; though there’s no wifi, you’ll often find customers on their laptops, presumably rhapsodizing about their foreign travels or writing the next great American novel.

The Coffee Studio

The Coffee Studio skews more sleek than cozy, with brick walls, clean wood paneling, long hanging light fixtures, retro-looking chairs and a narrow chalkboard that runs the length of the room. The grey-white color scheme furthers the minimalist theme, with the only color coming from a lone red rug with a few chairs on top of it. Whether it’s the free wi-fi or the modernly appointed digs, this coffeehouse caters to young professionals chugging away on their MacBooks. A crepe menu is on the horizon, but for now eats are limited to granola and the standard pastries. But there’s nothing standard about the coffee; served in wide, pristine white mugs, the brew is freshly roasted and locally sourced. The owners take their beans so seriously, they studied about the art of espresso for two years and blogged about their journey.

For more info:
Check out the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce website for a list of businesses and a community calendar.

Though it's a bit cumbersome in design, this map attempts to show all the independent coffeehouses in the city. How'd it do?

Get the latest Andersonville news here.

Topics: neighborhoods , Andersonville , coffeehouse

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Where to watch the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

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