TOC Coffee Roasters, LLC. — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

Overview: (4/5 star experience) Not long ago I was in a rush to get to work and jump on the Blue line when I almost missed this unique gem of a coffee shop. It’s far too easy to pass by and I was ecstatic to discover a new local option right in the Jefferson Park neighborhood. The location itself is a bit small and cramped but the employees are so warm, and inviting and the pastries/coffee delectable- you get over size limitations pretty quick. TOC serves a variety of handcrafted beverages ranging from standard coffee to Vietnamese Iced Coffee many of which include dairy-free options (soy, almond, etc); Lemonades, teas and more. Partner this with their one of a kind hot and flaky Cuban or Guava Cheese pastries… Oh yes, they melt in your mouth and bring me back on many a stressed work morning.

The Food: (Score 4/5) I usually get a varying roast of their morning coffee ($2.00) or a Vietnamese iced coffee ($4.00) combined with a Guava Cheese pastry (~$2.00). The coffee is almost always fresh, and roasts alternate with a collection of Colombian based influences. Once in a rare blue moon the coffee hasn’t been fresh or the pastry sitting for a bit. However, in the recent past I’ve observed that the owners are aware of that and taking great strides to improve quality. They’ll offer to heat my travel mug on cold winter days with hot water or pull pastries fresh out of the oven. If this new location continues to learn from its experiences and keeps up the great efforts, I’ll certainly be a returning customer with little complaint.

The Service: (Score 5/5) I believe the owners name is Naima: she, her partner, and staff are always at the counter smiling, engaging, and conversational. They go out of their way to connect with customers. They keep me in positive spirits on rushed work mornings. I feel bad that I’m usually having to rush on through. The only constructive critique I have is that staff should be mindful of balancing quality with speed. Sometimes handcrafted or more complex beverages can take a bit of time to prep. If you are getting something other than standard drip coffee expect to wait 5-10 minutes. The wait is worth it but isn’t whipped out like a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru. The owners have demonstrated over my repeated visits that they are learning as they go and every day improve the balance of both speed and quality. They’ve earned my loyalty.

The Location: (Score 3/5) The worst aspect about this coffee locale is the size and that seating space is limited at best. Don’t expect to sit and chat or make progress on your laptop projects. The area does not have WI-FI and has approximately 4-5 seats in all. There isn’t a private parking lot although I’m sure customers could snag a spot alongside nearby residential streets. That isn’t to say that the interior doesn’t shine. The owners have gone out of their way to make the most out of the small space. Decorations grace the interior, and everything is spotless, clean, and cozy for your wait. They aren’t always open as late or as often as I like and I only wish they had the retail space so I could visit and enjoy my coffee and pastries while completing work late into the night.

Conclusion: (Final Score 4/5) Overall it’s a joy to have Taste of Columbia here. I look forward to getting a unique flavor of coffee each morning combined with that melting guava cheese delight. It’s competitive with nearby coffee offerings while embodying its own unique flair. I’ll take this over Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts any day. The staff is a joy for conversation and they go out of their way to show they care about your experience. Small space aside they earn a solid high score in my book. If you haven’t checked this small local joint out grab a bag of their beans or munch on a pastry to give...

Glad to have heard this place is back again after some more turbulence! One of the best roasters in the city.

(Edited/previous) 1) Their coffee is excellent. 2) Their ability to make it clear whether they are open or not is atrocious. Don’t go out of your way to go here on the weekend because more than half of the time they will not be open. Has been this way for years so management can’t be bothered, I guess. A shame because the quality is great. 3) fret not, they do seem to have these beans at random grocery stores in town. Ive found them at Cermak Produce and la Casa Del Pueblo Supermarket and don’t hesitate to buy because their roast is so good. ——- Really sorry to hear about what happened. Hope that gets sorted soon. Where do you have this information up online? Because all winter I’ve kept looking and not seeing anything in your facebook or instagram or website.. there’s no note on the door. Would be considerate of your customers to actually post that somewhere visible.

Best of...

I have been going here for quite some time maybe around 2019 and I love this coffee shop so much! They have delicious coffee drinks, roasted beans are amazing, and best of all the pastries. The guava and cheese pastry is so flaky and fresh, and their pan de bono is another favorite. I always get both when I go! This shop has gone through so much between medical issues by the owner, floods, and other structural issues, but they keep coming back. I will always support them!! My dream for them would to have a better structural support for their benefit to reduce hardships and a nice indoor space for seating. Regardless I’ll keep coming back!! Thanks for being a neighborhood...