Brothers K Coffeehouse — Restaurant in Evanston Township

I chose to give a five star review for nostalgia’s sake and because this place has all the potential in the world! That said, this place is really a mess. Once known for epically kind staff, the staff is now comprised of mostly uninterested workers, who can’t even bother with a “thank you” and “hello” when you’re ordering. Once a prime community hang out, it is now dead most afternoons. I can’t help but think that some of the wonky vibes are due to the general decline of the atmosphere in the place. Long ago, this cafe replaced an equally cozy, but filthy and unkept cafe. Years later, Brothers K feels just like the old one did. Go to sit down and find dirty, rocky beat up tables and chairs, broken outlets, strange smells, a high pitched ringing nose from one of the fixtures, and really gross bathrooms with dirt visible everywhere. It’s really sad to see this place go downhill like this. Cafes don’t have to be pretentious to feel clean and functional. Evanston has several bright and nice cafes like Cupitol and Collectivo. With much better competition just down the street, I hope the owners can give this place a little bit of TLC to prevent it’s nearly...

Great caffe latte, tasty ham and cheese croissant, unfriendly service. The premises are warm and inviting with a nook for more private conversations away from main space and ordering line. A large bookcase holds games and books that invites one to linger and enjoy community as many were doing. Large windows create nice light even in winter. The staff was unfriendly, bordering on surly unless when speaking with each other. The barista did open up when I shared I was visiting from San Francisco and someone had recommended their establishment; I even think they may have smiled. Onto the coffee. Rich crema, great beans and powerful aromas delivered everything a coffee aficionado could desire. The artistry was exceptional - a beautiful micro landscape of foam and caramelized arabica unrivaled by other baristas. It almost felt bad having to disrupt the early morning coffee canvas. It’s unfortunate the poor service detracts from the overall experience. Seems easy enough to fix and everyone would be happier (visit Dollop 2 blocks away for exceptional service and baked goods). I plan to visit K Brothers again and will adjust my ratings as...

I'll be so honest, I only came here cuz of the name and I had to know if it was a reference to Dostoevsky or not. while I'm still not certain, I don't think it is. anyways, I ordered a caramel cappuccino (no photo unfortunately cuz there was no latte art) and I'll admit I was slightly disappointed. while the microform was nicely textured, it was not nearly close to frothed enough for a cappuccino. admittedly (as a barista), cappuccinos are hard to make so I will say that if I had ordered a latte it would've been perfect. it was also however, very very VERY sweet: far sweeter than any coffee drink I've ever had in a cafe. not to say that it was bad, but next time I come I'll have to specify my preferred sweetness amount. because of this, I couldn't really taste the flavor/quality of the espresso at all, so I'll definitely try to come back again, order more specifically, and provide a more accurate and...