La Colombe

I'm perhaps the wrong person to start this thread, since I'm not a coffee drinker, but I paid a visit to the newish West Loop La Colombe yesterday and am glad to have it as an option in the neighborhood. My friend had a coffee, which I think he deemed just OK, and a chocolate croissant which looked good. I ordered a hot chocolate and was happy to have the dark chocolate and unsweetened options (and to be given whole milk automatically--why even bother drink hot chocolate with something other than whole milk?). My friend and I were both struck by the prices. I think each of the items we got was $2 with tax, which seemed very inexpensive for the neighborhood but also in terms of cafe prices generally. The space is nice--open, with lots of natural light.



La Colombe
955 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60607
M-F: 7:00-7:00
SAT-SUN: 8:00-7:00
tel: +1 312 733 0707

Some of the friendliest shop owners and workers in town. My daughter and I are at La Colombe every Saturday morning and it's hard for me to convince her to leave even with the enticement of throwing Sun Chips all over the place at JP Graziano down the street. Roasts here tend to be darker and nuttier than the place with my favorite, more fruit-balanced roasts: Asado. But La Colombe's Haitian roast comes close enough for me to have all but eliminated Asado from my weekly shopping itinerary. Croissants and other eats are from Alliance. Mostly too sweet but the Almond croissant is pretty good.

Another great find thanks to LTHForum! I didn't know this place existed, yet I drive past it twice a day going to & from work. I'll have to check this place out on Monday morning.

I, too, am a big fan of La Colombe.





Pleasant space and some of the best espresso I've had in a while. I love Nizza, their signature espresso blend. It's a medium roast so makes a mellower shot than most. I also tried espresso made from unblended beans from Haiti, also a medium roast, also excellent. Can't wait to try this stuff at home in my French press.



La Colombe
955 W Randolph St
Chicago
312-733-0707
http://www.lacolombe.com/

I meant to start this thread a few weeks ago after stopping in (which was preceded by a friend gifting me some of their coffee), and just want to reinforce the positives on this place. I really, really enjoy the Haitian coffee, which is excellent in a French press. For those who went to the Paris iteration at Next, this is the same coffee that was served at the end of the meal with that menu (also brewed in a French press) -- which I recalled thinking at the time was likely the best cup of coffee I had ever had at a restaurant. Great place, super friendly staff as well. And, as mentioned upthread, pricing is imminently reasonable.

After first learning about this place thanks to this thread, I've now gone twice this week - what a great place to have so close to my office! I got to-go Americanos both times I stopped in, and thought they were on-par with the ones I've had at Intelligentsia, only $3.50 cheaper. I'm tempted to urge them to raise their prices by a buck...I'd gladly pay $2.75 instead of $1.75 if it'll help ensure this place stays in business.

What boggled my mind on my first visit was the presence of the bustling Starbucks across Randolph from La Colombe...why would anyone go there?! They're over there paying $4-5 for nasty, burnt-tasting swill served in what's essentially an overpriced store claiming to be a coffeeshop while I'm paying $2 less for smooth, properly-made coffee in such a nice café...it doesn't make sense.

I look forward to stopping at La Colombe for a morning pick-me-up on my way to work whenever I can.

I'm infrequently in the West Loop, so when I had to pick up something at Gold Brothers on Madison, I had the perfect opportunity to stop at La Colombe. It was nice to see Kennyz with his lovely daughter. I had a drip coffee to go and a raspberry pastry. The coffee was excellent -- strong and rich. I also thought the pastry was great too, but I was hungry. If I'm in the area again, I'd definitely stop in. I had some smug satisfaction as I parked in front of the Starbucks, but walked across the street to La Colombe.

They serve this coffee at The Bristol, and I think it's tasty.

Just a data point.

leek wrote:They serve this coffee at The Bristol, and I think it's tasty.

Just a data point.

At nearby (to La Colombe) Dodo, too.

Have been to their new store underneath the Damen blue line twice in the last few days. The best cappuccino I've had in Chicago, in part because of the Kilgus Farms cream they use, but the coffee itself was superb on every level. Taste, temp, balance, richness (because of the cream)… my bouche was quite amused.

La Colombe is also the coffee at Elaine's at the Hotel Lincoln (and at Perennial Virant). I'm not a big coffee drinker but theirs is so good, I stop in often. Lovely barristas as well!

La Colombe Torrefaction is coming to the former Vitamin Outlet & Health Food store in Andersonville this fall and opening a roasting facility in Logan Square.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140813 ... gan-square

La Colombe is opening in the heart of Lincoln Park, a spokeswoman confirmed Friday. The Lincoln Park location, 858 W. Armitage Ave., will be the fourth in Chicago for the Philadelphia-based artisan coffee roaster, and the brand's 19th cafe nationwide.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2016072 ... ncoln-park

Dave148 wrote:

La Colombe is opening in the heart of Lincoln Park, a spokeswoman confirmed Friday. The Lincoln Park location, 858 W. Armitage Ave., will be the fourth in Chicago for the Philadelphia-based artisan coffee roaster, and the brand's 19th cafe nationwide.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2016072 ... ncoln-park

La Colombe's Lincoln Park location opens on Black Friday

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/dr ... story.html