You’ll probably need a bingo card to keep it all straight, but oh, what an energizing game it will be to take a sip from each of these purveyors of liquid happiness.
Best friends Jose Balaguer and Ryan Klem took over the former Brewpoint location at 163 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park and renamed it The Coffee Shop. Balaguer says they want their space to be a place where people can come to connect or disconnect as needed. They still serve Brewpoint’s beans with a keen eye out for what a barista brings to the cup.
“We want to make sure that if a customer orders a cup of coffee today and then come back next day, to get a good consistent product,” Balaguer said. “We weigh and measure every shot of espresso, every time.”
A unique offering on the menu is what they call a “walking waffle.”
“We offer a homemade, made-from-scratch, waffle in a sleeve. We invite customers to walk our beautiful town. Come summertime, there’s no better place to walk around,” he added.
Espresso Café opened in October at 7501 Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park. The cafe had long been a dream of owner Fernando Silva. He had his eye on this former branch bank location, across the street from Living Fresh Market. The light filled space is warm and inviting.
“This has been on my mind for 23 years!” Silva said. “There is no other [coffee] shop in this area. The neighborhood has been very supportive. Pastries, empanadas, even bread for sandwiches are all made here.”
When it comes to brewing, Silva serves Whirlwind coffee, roasted in Oak Park.
This winter, Zemi Coffee Cart has taken over the Three Spoons Ice Cream location at 133 N. Ridgeland Ave., just around the corner from Ridgeland Commons. It’s a trial run for owner Dominique Betancourt, who was considering a brick-and-mortar location to compliment her pedal-powered cart that roams our streets and parks in warmer weather.
“I had no winter plans, so I had no idea of what I was going to do,” Betancourt said. “This was an opportunity beta test in a really small location. I don’t have to commit for a year to a lease. One of the many things I learned, is that food is an important driver in a cafe.”
Zemi now stocks a rotation of pastries, including gluten-free ones each day. In April, the storefront will transform back into Three Spoons Ice Cream.
A preview of caffeinated attractions coming soon to the area
U3 Coffee Roasters will open on Valentine’s Day at 7430 Madison St. in Forest Park. Owners Kristi and Craig Ross come from the world of finance and healthcare, but together they have a vision for all the good coffee can do.
“We have a mission to unite the coffee farmer, the coffee entrepreneur, and the end customer, because there’s a massive education gap between the farms,” Kristi Ross said.
Their highly curated bean selection supports mom-and-pop roasters and farmers too. The menu, which will cover sweet to savory, is in the hands of Michelin-starred chef Nick Fron.
“I’m extremely excited about Nick’s insanely awesome brownie. I don’t even like brownies. He hooked me with those for sure,” Kristi Ross said.
Keep an eye out for another opening. Wild Card Coffee has been in the mobile coffee bar biz first in San Francisco, but it’s now moving to a permanent address later this year at 1053 Madison St. in Oak Park. Owner Evan Berger returned home during the COVID pandemic. Along with his wife, Lauren Marmol, the two imagine the new space as a community hub, a café life experience.
“Our intention behind the space is to realize that third place, away from home and work,” Berger said. “It’s really important for a healthy community to have this place. It’s my way of creating the life I want for myself and my family.”
Along with that welcoming vibe, Berger wants customers to feel “smarter” about their coffee. “There is going to be a mixture of what I consider the best roasters around the country and then also trying to highlight smaller local Chicago roasters,” said Berger. “There will be bakery items, but we’ll also be very focused on salad sandwiches, healthier food options.”
Last, but certainly not the least is Kribi Coffee’s purchase of Sugar Fixe bakery. It’s the newest jewel in the crown of the hyperlocal java juggernaut, which includes three Kribi locations and Buzz Cafe.
“We want to bring Sugar Fixe back to what it used to be – such an amazing place to get a bakery item, treats, and custom cake designs,” said Abbey Brumfiel, Kribi’s director of operations.
Alongside regular operations, Bonjour Bakery will be whipping up croissants and other pastries for sale in-store and wholesale out of Sugar Fixe’s kitchen.
“I want everybody to be on the lookout, to give it a second chance, because we’re looking to enhance everything,” Brumfiel said.
With all these options, surely you can find a cup of coffee that suits your tastes at one of the many local coffee emporiums.
For more info:
- The Coffee Shop: 163 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park thecoffeeshopoakpark.com
- Espresso Café: 7501 Roosevelt Rd., Forest Park @espressocafeforestpark
- Kribi Coffee/Sugar Fixe: 119 N. Marion St., Oak Park sugarfixe.com
- U3 Coffee Roasters: 7430 Madison St., Forest Park u3coffee.com
- Wild Card Coffee: 1053 Madison St., Oak Park wildcard.coffee
- Zemi Coffee Cart: 133 N. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park zemicoffeecart.com