Since I moved to Chicago I’ve been desiring to get out into the surrounding areas and explore more. Last semester in all my business I did not succeed at this goal. However, yesterday my Roomsmate sent me an e-mail with a link in it to an article that yahoo did on the 15 best coffee shops in Chicago and as I read through them I thought, this is exactly what I need to get me out of my rut.
So I have taken on the goal of trying all 15 of these coffee shops in the next five and a half months. It’s the perfect goal because my schedule is quite open on a lot of days of the week which means getting off campus and doing homework elsewhere is totally feasible. So I’ve also decided to document them as I go.
Today finds me at Ch’ava Cafe in Ravenswood. It was #2 on the list and I actually quite like it. Definitely more of a cafe than a traditional coffee shop, it has floor to ceiling windows which provides a bright atmosphere. They brew their coffees individually using a Clover machine (which, I believe, my good friend Eric uses at his coffee shop in Arvada, CO). The employees are super nice and friendly, the guy taking my order offered up a suggestion of which coffee for me to try.
The coffee itself was delicious, a little on the pricey side for a brewed cup (in my opinion), but we are in Chicago I guess. The decor is quite creative and modern. White walls with orange accents, which I loved, and a few murals of trees painted on the walls, which I also love. They have a full menu of salads, soups and sandwiches to go alongside the coffee and the smell and look of those are amazing.
Overall, I think this is a great little cafe. I would love to see what the vibe is like during a weekday when it’s not so busy with people enjoying their Saturdays. I will probably come back here but maybe more with friends for lunch than to study for any length of time, but who knows, the brightness of it really appeals to me.
adventures in living an abundant life