Side Practice Coffee — Restaurant in Lake View Township

This is my local coffee shop. I live a few buildings down. I don't go in here that often as they are expensive, but I really needed a coffee today, and had none at home. Normally it's a non-event. The barista Isn't particularly nice to me, but they aren't rude to me either. Today, Friday morning , was different though. IDK who that Asian guy is, but good Lord, He's got zero customer service skills. I was standing in line for a while. Enough to observe him laughing and joking with his female coworker. As soon as he walks up to the register to take my order, his smile drops when he looks at me. It was such a viable shift that it made me immediately uncomfortable. He was downright scowling at me as I was nervously asking him questions about the drinks. Even though he had never seen me before, he was looking at me with such a mean look. So weird.. then as soon as he took my order, and coldly handing me my $9 cold brew that was so diluted it looked like ice tea, he turned around to some girl he knew, a customer, not a coworker, and then his smile suddenly was back, "Hey girl! So great to see you!" Then gives her a huge hug while grinning from ear to ear. Like HUH?? Such a confusing, off putting experience.

Sir, every customer matters. Not just the ones you know and like. Good grief. Made me feel so unwelcome, as if, "how dare I come in there?"...

This is hands down the best coffee shop in Chicago. I'll tell you why: The space is warm and inviting, the staff works hard to make your experience top-tier, the coffee is second to none, and they use part of their space to collaborate and support local artists and vendors.

Each time I go, I'm excited to see what third wave roasters they've brought in to feature on their shelf and as their daily brew. It is not an easy task to bring in fresh bags from international roasters (Manhattan, La Cabra, Friedhats, Morgon, etc.), but they do it without a high markup (probably because they simply love coffee).

The baristas always seem happy to talk about the coffee, and I have seen them regularly go out of their way to go above and beyond. Once, a barista went to the back to pull a fresh shipment of international roasts that had just arrived, and I had my pick of the bunch. That was a lot of fun!

Lastly, it's nice to experience the warm, welcoming, relaxing space that they've curated. There is no other space I can think of in the city that offers what Side Practice does. I hope they're around for a long time, as this is exactly what the Chicago coffee...

Great spot with some creative drinks that are fun and delicious. My favorite is their Manila Matcha (ube matcha latte). Street parking is easy enough to find and the vibe inside is comfortable and relaxed, perfect for hanging out or working remotely. The highlight was the exceptional service from one of the baristas named Josh. I spent two days working remotely at the cafe last week that included some face to face meetings. Both days Josh greeted me and my guest with so much positive energy and then proceeded to craft us beautiful lattes. As I sat in the cafe, I couldn’t help but notice him maintain that same incredible energy for hours, serving every customer with a smile—all while managing the cafe on his own. It was genuinely impressive to watch.

I can’t recommend this place enough. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick drink or looking for a spot to work, this cafe is a gem. Go...