Studious Hifi Coffee Shop — Restaurant in Worth Township

I wanted so badly to love this place, but it’s no-cash policy keeps me out. I have a bank account and a debit card, an iPhone and PayPal and Venmo and Zelle, so I’m perfectly capable of patronizing this place, but my ethics won’t allow it.

I went inside and smelled the delicious aromas and saw the gorgeous decor, and I asked the owners who were behind the counter about the policy.

I call b.s. when the blonde white lady standing next to the fishbowl filled with cash tips on her counter says, “With Covid and all, cash is just so dirty, we just don’t want it. Plus we live upstairs. We don’t want to have money here.” Heavens, Karen! We better get rid of that tip jar. I hope you burn those dirty plague-dollars in the alley.

(Also— I have found that people who are concerned about Covid wear masks. They probably don’t open sit-down service establishments during any part of a pandemic, and they probably don’t spend so much money or work so hard to make their inside environment so welcoming and conducive to sitting and staying a while.)

They’re not keeping Covid out of their in-person, cash-tipping establishment. They’re keeping the neighborhood out. They’re keeping out neighborhood kids with five bucks in their pocket who would love a fancy little coffee drink. They’re keeping out lower working class, working poor people who live paycheck to paycheck and might feel more financially secure spending the cash in their wallet instead of risking a small swipe on a card that could push them into a $30 overdraft fee if their bank processes transactions in some goofball order.

Hard pass on the caffeinated gentrification.

6/26/2024 EDIT What happened to your original response, Studious? You woke up today and removed it and wrote this new, charming response.

*10/8/2024^

And you’ve altered it again! That’s great that you take cash now, but your “new” response is dishonest and reeks. I know and you know and anyone in Blue Island around your neighborhood knows that you had a NO CASH sign when you started, that you walked in with an elitist, exclusive policy. It really is a good thing that you’ve undone it, but it really is gross and nasty that you’re pretending you never had that policy. You’re really weird. Hope you all are enjoying the demolition and disintegration phase of gentrification.

SAD SAUCE. :(((((

I see you want it out there that you've changed your policy and take cash now. Kudos,...

You walk in, and it hits you... You've arrived! That place you've been searching for in a city riddled with local coffee shops... but half of them, it seems, serve the same coffee, so it's down to the aesthetics and the service.

This place has it all, everything I look for, in spades. Impeccably clean, comfortable, quaint, and inviting atmosphere set in an old brick building with just the right mix of local flare and old school vibes.

The coffee is sublime, and as a man who only drinks black coffee, I judge everything on this standard alone. I'm a connoisseur of all things coffee, 🍫, and community vibes.

Today's roast was brought to you by Wonderstate Coffee, a delightful roast called Flyaway! Dried cherry, Citrus, and a faint aftertaste of caramel. True to its label, this coffee hits the mark. 8/10. As i said, I don't impress easily, but this is unusually stellar coffee and much higher than I rate most.

Lastly, but not least, my service was stellar and prompt, and all my questions were answered. This is truly what a local coffee shop is supposed to be all about. Please give them a try, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

A 10/10 experience overall. There is nothing I could hold against them, for on this evening hour, it truly made my day to visit...

Wow, a quaint little coffee shop and what an amazing place!!! Once upon a time, in a land called the 1990s, cavemen roamed the earth and coffee shops where people could unite to read, write and discuss ideas whilst sipping from giant mugs abounded. The Studio Coffee Shop located in Blue Island proves joints like that still exist. The coffee shop just opened and I had to come to give it a try. I ordered a cinnamon muffin, It was delightful to have... it was warm and soft with every single bite exceedingly flavorful and filling. i sat there enjoying the lovely peace with it's rustic theme and creating a distinctive mood to start my day. Break away from the chains peddling caffeinated milkshakes and instead come to your local shop and order yourself a coffee and might as well also get yourself a muffin. The location is unbelievably amazing especially because blue island doesn't have places like this to enjoy, sit down and have a cup of coffee. So make a stop, get out of the car, and spend your money at a place with heart, soul and comfort intact. You know, like how coffee is supposed to be. Now, i will definitely will coming back for a cup of coffee...