Fall has arrived in Evanston. College students and residents alike are spending their Sundays flocking to their favorite places to cozy up and grab a warm cup of joe. With a surplus of options to choose from on practically every street corner, it can be difficult to decide what place has your desired ambience—each location offers something a bit different from the rest. I spent the last couple of weeks checking out five of the most popular coffee shops in Evanston, so I’m here to give a quick rundown and analysis of each.
1. Newport Coffee House
The sleek, eggshell-white walls of Newport radiate a minimalistic and modern environment for all who enter. With a simple menu consisting solely of drinks and maybe the occasional pastry, you certainly do not want to plan your Sunday at Newport if you’re coming on an empty stomach. However, the clean vibe of Newport creates a quietly powerful working environment. Newport customers always seem to have a business agenda, and if you plan on completing work or studying while at Newport, you are almost guaranteed to get it done. Having a limited menu enables Newport to focus on serving quality coffee and some fantastic smoothies.
2. Coffee Lab
On the other side of downtown Evanston, right beneath Noyes train station, lies the glorious Coffee Lab. If you are able to snag a seat in this cozy, college-student filled shop, you have struck gold. While many of our other coffee shops have a fairly even student-to-resident ratio, Coffee Lab tends to be dominated by the Northwestern population due to its close proximity to the middle of campus. Coffee Lab has a delectable spread of pastries right when you walk in, making it impossible not to purchase one. What’s more, Coffee Lab offers $5 bottomless coffee, so you may find yourself drinking two or three cups … maybe four?
3. Patisserie Coralie
You may be in Evanston, Illinois, but, entering the doors of Patisserie Coralie, you’re transport to Paris, France. With soft music and quiet chatter scattered throughout the boutique coffee and pastry shop, the vibes are immaculate. The people are friendly and the pastries are perfection.
I highly recommend Coralie if you are in need of a mood booster or just want to be immersed in a positive environment. I would not be too keen on getting much work done while working in Coralie, but it is a great place for a coffee chat or a fun hangout. There is also a mini-Coralie located inside of the Pancoe building where you can utilize Northwestern Dining Dollars on your purchase!
4. Cupitol
Cupitol has the perfect combination of a work and social atmosphere. While I personally believe they have the best selection of food and drink, Cupitol also tends to be on the more expensive side, so be sure to manage your budget. I love sitting on the cozy couches and relaxing in the lounge area while completing some work on my laptop. But, I have also spent a good amount of time in the sit-down restaurant portion of Cupitol to share a meal with some friends. Cupitol also offers some outdoor seating, so it’s great to take advantage of that while the weather is still nice!
5. Colectivo Coffee
Last but not least, Colectivo Coffee! Likely the biggest (and pretty much always full) coffee shop in Evanston. My favorite part about Colectivo is the open window store front. I love feeling the fresh air and breeze while sitting inside and sipping on a hot drink. Colectivo has many other locations scattered around the Midwest area, but the Evanston location happens to be my favorite due to its proximity to campus and the shop environment in general. You can also purchase the “Northwestern Wildcat Blend” whole bean coffee on their website at a reasonable price as a great gift to a loved one or future Wildcat!