One of the most enjoyable aspects of my first quarter in Evanston has been exploring the city, particularly the local coffee shops. As an avid coffee enthusiast, I have tried multiple drinks from nearby places, ranging from local cafés to national coffee shops such as Starbucks. Through my coffee trips into downtown Evanston, I have been able to meet people from the town and get a better idea of my new home.
The coffee shops reflect Evanston’s calm pace and diversity of cultures in the types of coffee that they offer. For example, Colectivo Coffee has a Cold Brew Oat-Chata that uses horchata flavors in their coffee, a drink that originated in ancient North Africa and is popular in Spain and South America. Out of all the coffee shops in Evanston that I have tried, I believe that Colectivo Coffee is great for Northwestern students who are interested in becoming regulars at a local coffee shop.
I first heard of Colectivo Coffee from many people in classes who love the vibe of the place and the drinks they offer. It’s currently a hot spot for many Northwestern students, particularly those living in South Campus, since it is only a ten-minute walk from The Rock. Every time I’ve been, I have run into multiple classmates, and even my TA for my English class once. Colectivo’s atmosphere is upbeat but designed in a way that people are still able to check emails and study for an exam. It has a good mixture between a community hub and a study spot. After ordering more items than I probably should admit, it’s time to rank them to determine which ones are worth getting and which ones you can skip.
1. Southwestern Burrito and Iced Cold Brew Oat-Chata
The first time I went to Colectivo was in the morning before my Friday English seminar class, and I ordered the Southwestern Burrito and was recommended the Iced Cold Brew Oat-Chata by the cashier as one of their most popular coffees.
Since then, I have gotten these items countless times because of how amazing they are. The flavor of each item is so pronounced and tasty. In the Oat-Chata, the honey, cinnamon, and vanilla are blended perfectly, and neither overpowers the other. Additionally, the oat milk enhances the flavors of the syrup rather than masking it.
For the burrito, the chopped eggs, vegetarian sausage, and other elements like the corn, cheese, and onions go very well together and are great for a winter breakfast. However, I will say the red pepper, jalapeños, and tortilla strips are not as pronounced as some of the other components in the burrito; nevertheless, the burrito is still good.
2. Cinnamon Roll
As for baked goods, after completing my first midterm at Northwestern, I headed over to Colectivo to get my regular Cold Brew Oat-Chata and, with it, a cinnamon roll. Colectivo’s cinnamon roll is unlike any other I have had before; the glaze was hardened over the cinnamon roll instead of being melty like others, which is now my favorite way of having a cinnamon roll. It has the right amount of cinnamon, and the bread itself is denser than a normal cinnamon roll.
3. Smoothies
Outside of coffee, I have also tried various smoothies from Colectivo, including the Berry Booster, Açaí Protein, and Pink Panther. Their smoothies are OK tasting but have a slight artificial sweetener that seems to have been added to the drink. Even though each is a different mixture of various fruits and fruit juices, all of them taste almost identical. However, the Açaí Protein has a thicker consistency due to the inclusion of the protein powder in the drink. The Pink Panther is the sweetest option of the three; it enhances the fruit mixture and has a faint tropical note that makes it taste more like a dessert than a drink.
4. Apple Yogurt Parfait and Seasonal Classic Oatmeal
Both the Apple Yogurt Parfait and the Seasonal Classic Oatmeal have the same ingredients, except that the yogurt is switched with the oatmeal. I favor the Apple Yogurt Parfait over the Seasonal Classic Oatmeal since the oatmeal was not cooked all the way through. The apple compote in these items was seasoned really well with fall spices; however, the apple chunks were the only component that had seasonings, which threw the balance of the dishes off. The yogurt and oatmeal were lackluster.
5. Classic Avocado Toast
I have seen some people picking up their avocado toast, so I decided to give it a try, and unfortunately, it did not live up to my high standards of what an avocado toast should be. As an avocado toast fan, the chili flakes were excessive, the bread was almost soggy, and there were no other seasonings or toppings such as salt, pepper, or lemon juice, which made the item seem one-dimensional. Enough said.
6. Turkey Sausage Egg White Burrito and a Better Alternative
On a whim, I decided to switch up my burrito of choice to the Turkey Sausage Egg White Burrito, which was a big mistake because it tasted like a kale salad with a soggy tortilla wrapped around it. It is the complete opposite of the Southwestern Burrito, in my opinion. On the other hand, the Chicken Sausage Biscuit is wonderful. For this item, I recommend switching the biscuit base to a croissant because it is less dense and richer in the buttery soft texture that the bun should have.
Overall, I really love Colectivo Coffee and go there at least once a week before a class as a quick pick-me-up in the afternoon. If you are a Northwestern student or exploring the Evanston area, I highly suggest checking out Colectivo.