Double Cup Coffee — Restaurant in Highland Park

A new coffee place in Highland Park just north of Norton's on Sheridan Road. This is a cute place with an equally friendly staff. The owner, named David, happily walks around, bussing tables and chatting up guests, most of whom he knows by name, face, or has become instantly your friend.

I met friends there last Sunday and met David and he was quick to shake my hand, chat me up for a few moments, and then picked up plates and mugs and chatted up other guests.

He arrived that morning after his wife and he had a box of fresh donuts ready to sell and serve to patrons like me who love sugary pastries in the morning.

I ordered an iced mocha latte with extra chocolate as I'm not a coffee drinker (or like coffee for that matter) and prefer a sweeter flavor, but want the caffeine. I also ordered a sesame bagel (toasted) with butter on the side. I also got their decadent peanut butter and chocolate rice krispy treat.

The drink was a perfect blend of coffee and extra chocolate and not too much ice. They had oatmilk and that rounded out my drink. The sesame bagel was nicely toasted and was huge (most likely from a local bagel place, maybe Once Upon a Bagel), and the rice krispy treat was thick, rich, and decadent.

It's a warm design with several tables and a winding window bench along the large front windows overlooking Sheridan Road in downtown Highland Park. They also have some outdoor tables and chairs with umbrellas. It's a pretty area and a great place to come meet up with friends, stop for a coffee while biking, or grab a nice treat during your work day. They've been open barely four weeks and already there are lines out the door. My opinion: go early to...

This place was OK, but has potential. My first issue is that there is no online menu anywhere (yet?). Upon entry, there is a coffee menu on the wall, but it is very limited. I didn't know they had syrups until I inquired about the possibility of a lavender latte (maybe the list was somewhere and I overlooked?) Their selection of teas was printed in small font next to the register. There is also a small menu of food items, but when I was directed to the cooler, it was almost bare. They do have another chiller with juices and such. They did have desserts and donuts from a local bakery, but nobody had any info on their ingredients and nutrition (we cannot consume donuts fried in pork fat). I did get a couple items, and they were OK, nothing to write home about. The espresso in my drink was pulled well; it wasn't sour or bitter. The lavender latte, however, was a bit bland and lacking in flavor. We were hoping they would have specialty coffee drinks, with or without their syrup selection. The interior and atmosphere were pleasant. Parking was OK; there are spots out front and on the side. In general it was alright, and I might try them out again after some time. It felt like they were still trying to find their groove. The employees were all very friendly, helpful, and...

Alright, listen up! Double Cup is like that buddy who doesn’t need to talk a lot to impress you. I stroll in there the other day, ready for my espresso, and boom, this coffee just says, “I’m here to do business.” No fancy lattes with unicorn sprinkles, no confusing menu that makes you feel like you’re ordering at a wine bar. Just pure, unadulterated espresso.

This stuff is strong enough to make you question your life choices, but smooth enough that you don’t have to cry about it later. You take a sip, and you’re like, “Yeah, I got this. Let’s go take over the world.”

So, if you're looking for a spot that gives you coffee, not a performance, this is where you need to be. It's like the Rocky Balboa of coffee shops, straightforward, tough, and it’ll leave you feeling...