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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lakeview
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How good can a cup of coffee be? Well, if that's a question you've ever asked yourself go to Asado. You'll get your answer. I had heard amazing things about this tiny little store. That they brew each cup of coffee to order, that they roast all their beans in house and that they strive for attaining caffeinated beverage perfection. On my first visit I found all of these things to be true.
The shop is small, I imagine a handful of people in there at one time would make maneuvering around a bit difficult. That however is not a big deal. The smell of fresh coffee beans roasting right behind the counter combined with the extremely friendly staff; I could have stayed all day.
I order a simple cup of coffee. No shots of flavored syrups, no whipped cream, sprinklers or other distractions to muck it up are offered thankfully. What I tasted was truly amazing. The brewing process they use results in a extremely balanced cup of coffee. It's not over extracted and bitter nor underdone with that watery consistency.
Definitely worth the trip. In addition to my cup of coffee I bought a 1/2 pound of Ugandan beans roasted that day. I will definitely be back as soon as my supply runs out!
Here's an article about the place: http://www.chicagoread...
Apparently, Intelligentsia is now doing away with the fancy Clover machines and moving to Hario ceramic filter cups like Asado Coffee Co. Don't they say imitiation is the best form of flattery?
Go Asado Coffee!
This place is very easy to miss (i.e. somewhat difficult to spot) if you're not paying attention.… Read more »
EDIT: My review was originally 2 stars, but I changed it to 4. I definitely appreciate when businesses use Yelp to get feedback, and I assume this is what happened today. Just now I got a call from Kevin, the guy who was working while I waited outside with my dog (read what happened below). He had my number on the caller-ID and apologized for having me wait so long. He explained that he thought I was holding someone else's dog and was waiting for them. He made it right and I can have some coffee on the house next time I come in. Which is cool because like I said before: the coffee does rock. -EB
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I feel really bad writing this review, and I will definitely go back and try again and hopefully write a 5 star, but my story must be told.
I live pretty close and I wanted to take my dog for a walk, but I thought it silly to drop her off and walk back to Asado. So I called and asked if I held my dog while waiting for coffee they'd kick me out. The gentleman told me there is a front step outside, the door was open, and I could wait for my coffee there. Cool, I said, I'll be there soon.
Soon enough I got there and waited on the step. After a minute or two he saw me and told the woman at the counter, Oh, the girl with the dog. He then told the woman to tell me that there's water outside for the dog. So I thought, wow, awesome.
After the two customers in the store leave, I continue waiting, where he can see me. 10 minutes pass, and I watch him, waiting for my coffee. I get out my $5 dollar bill so he can see I have money to pay him. I catch his eye and he says, "What's her name?" I tell him, he smiles. 5 minutes pass, he asks, "Want a cookie?" No thanks. I'm starting to think this is pretty awkward because what if he's not making me any coffee? I wait some more.
Another 5 minutes pass, and two women walk in. I ask one to give him my $5 bill for the coffee I think he's making me. Sure! Of course! she says. She gives him the money and she brings me back change (1 dollar and some cents...I thought this coffee was only $2?) and I'm happy because now I'll finally get my coffee.
I see him make both of their coffees (about 4 minutes) as I watch on, right inside the door. Finally I see him ask a question, something about the first coffee she paid for, and she pointed to me. He looks at me confused and goes back to make some coffee. Then I hear her say to him "To-Go!" and she gives me a funny look.
FINALLY he brings over a cup of coffee and he says, Sorry, I didn't realize you were waiting for this. ..........???
Now, he could have a lot on his mind. He might of thought I was a crazy person, I guess. But I thought this whole thing was weird and it made me feel really stupid and I hate feeling stupid.
The coffee was awesome (hence any stars at all). But I had a bitter taste on my way home from waiting over 30 minutes outside of the store for the very expensive coffee.
Like I said, I'll go back, with friends and without my dog. I'll tell you if the service improves.
People thought this was:
I have finally found perfection in a cup!
Simplicity is the key for this coffee shop. They only roast small batches of choice coffee, but the Uganda Bugisu brew both Deborah E. and I had was amazing.
I chose their iced coffee with half and half and sugar. It said on the menu that their iced coffees are iced brewed for 18 hours and that's what makes it taste so good. They weren't lying either.
Deb had the regular coffee that is manual-dripped and hand stirred. Check out their technique here:
http://www.chicagoread...
I thought it was really cool to watch and after every sip, Deb kept saying how amazing it had turned out and that she was very impressed. So, out of curiosity, I asked her if I could have a sip and I must say, it was strong, bold, delicious.
I can't wait to come back here. It's a cozy, relaxing kind of place where you'll want to curl up with a cup of coffee and a good book to whittle away a dreary afternoon.
People thought this was:
Easily the best cup of coffee I can remember. Well done, Asado. The Dunkin coffee I had this morning tasted horrible as a result of my experience at Asado over the weekend. Perfection has its price, but I think it is worth it.
People thought this was:
I don't think you should go here. You won't like it. In fact your whole family won't like it. Just keep going to Dunkin' Donuts, their coffee is good enough. And they have donuts and bagels and other crap made out of white flour.
But seriously:
A handcrafted product made by people who care about what they produce.
For the level of service you're getting, this is the best deal in Chicago.
And it doesn't matter what you get. The hand brewed solo, the cortado, the iced coffee. Each is rich, and complex, and fresh, and delicious.
This place does something simple (notice I didn't say easy), and does it very well. And you should heed that. On second thought don't heed it. Just keep going to Starbucks. But if you don't, I'll see you tomorrow morning, at Asado.
People thought this was:
I am the biggest coffee snob that I know. My fickle allegiance is really only to my taste buds. I have wavered somewhat between Intelligentsia and Metropolis coffee roasters in Chicago (and whose individual shops have their own brewing methods)...and the hipster-ridden press-potters, Ritual, in San Francisco. Intelligentsia's own shop on Broadway upped the ante last year with its complete conversion to Clover single cup brewing machines, giving even more time, control and expense into every cup. They have recently brought their cup prices down.
Asado, however, counters expertly--giving the ultra-discriminating coffee-snob the brewed-to-order answer in on-the-spot grinding and single cup service. (Intelligentsia used to do this for an extra expense prior to the Clover machines). Asado's method is to use single cup ceramic tea infusers with a paper filter, and the results--when paired with their freshly roasted beans--are not to be missed. I couldn't believe what I was getting for my 2 bucks, but I was completely converted to their business on the walk home.
That said, it does take just a few extra minutes of time. If you are a rushed commuter, you better stick to the chain service and sacrifice the taste. This coffee house is centered on the perfect cup and appears to house an on-site roasting and coffee shipping service. http://asadocoffee.com
People thought this was:
I am a coffee snob. I know this. I embrace this.
I was wonderfully taken aback by the sheer deliciousness of the coffee here.
And a super sexy roaster in the house.
Did I mention tin ceilings?
Yup. I highly recommend this shop and its socially conscious state of mind as well.
:)
People thought this was:
A roaster of small batches of choice-coffee. I had an amazing Ghana-blend drip coffee. Not your Intelligentsia nor Metropolis crowd, but this is welcomed in this small corridor of Southport and Irving Park!
Pastries are limited. Wi-fi is complimentary with a purchase.
Come for the coffee above all things!
After reading the review of Asado Coffee Company in the Reader last night I decided this would be our post-ride coffee stop.
Asado was certainly the most unique coffee shop I've ever heard of, and experienced. Owner Kevin Ashtari learned how to roast beans over a gas powered grill in the Navy and soon was so successful at it - creating a following among his peers and officers - that upon going civilian opened up his cafe.
Each cup is brewed to order. Yes. No brewing. Cups are lined up beneath a porcelein rack holding a filter. Each cup receives its own water and grounds.
It was, simply, the best cup of coffee I hadn't made for myself on a quiet Sunday morning with nothing to do but enjoy it. It was the best cup of coffee I'd ever been served in a cafe. Layers of nuttiness and chocolate gave it depth, balanced acidity gave it a shine.
I hope that this business grows and moves into a better space or they are at least able to renovate and open up the room. It suffers from the windows being too shallow, in need of sunlight, and like it was very recently a run down travel agent, or a dirty hot dog joint. It's a bit cramped and no room for any traffic flow, should this place begin to attract the trongs of coffee fans it should.
However, it took us over 5 minutes to get our coffee, and that could be a fatal flaw to growing the business. Finally, a bit selfishly, I again wish the windows were floor length - not being able to constantly see our unlocked bikes (coming from a training ride)and the room to small to bring them in makes Asado not very bike friendly.
This place belongs on the "Hot on Yelp" top 5. Fantastically amazing house-roasted coffee for $2. The location is on a bleak looking stretch of Irving Park, but step inside and your transported to a vaguely Latin American decorated little shop. Very chill. I've only had their regular coffee -- I think I like it a bit more than Intelligentsia, and head and shoulders above Dunkin or Starbucks.
I don't know what's going on with this once vacant and all-too-culinarily flaccid strip of Irving Park, but I like it. First Urban Cafe and now Asado Coffee Co. This area might have some redemption, after all!
Let's get it out of the way; their coffee is killer. Roasted on-site. No, not just on-site, but a few feet away from you! The beautiful roaster takes center-stage, as it's really the main attraction of the joint. Each cup of coffee is lovingly tended to as the Barista grinds and hand-pours each cup into a ceramic filter. Leaving a tip for my barista never felt so well deserved. Anyone who's anyone knows that this is one of the BEST ways to truly enjoy a cup of coffee, along with the French press. The cafe solo I had was dark, brooding, somewhat smoky and downright delicious.
The interior is simple and clean and really reminds me of a cafe you'd stumble across in a local neighborhood in Barcelona or Madrid. I was delighted to see they even had the beloved 'Cortado,' which is strangely hard to find on a cafe menu these days. If they had Bocadillos de Tortilla Espanol, Pan con tomate, and chocolate croissants, i'd be there every day, for real.
Support this cafe!!! It's the real deal and these guys aren't messing around. Chicago needs more independent coffee roasters like this and i'm delighted to have discovered them. These guys are off to a great start.
People thought this was:
I was with some friends waiting to get a tattoo from Deluxe and decided to walk around and we ran into Asado Coffee Company.
The place is clean and nicely decorated, definitely a South American theme. Very inviting and relaxing but not a whole lot of seating (or standing) space.
They roast their own beans inside the store (the huge roasting... machine thing is right there) and each cup of coffee is individually brewed on this cool looking brew stand (so you'll have to wait a few minutes for a cup but it's well worth it).
I also tried their hot chocolate, it was delicious.
If I lived closer I'd go here all the time.
People thought this was:
This is the best cup of coffee I've had. The muffin wasn't as good as those served by Lovely. But I don't care. The coffee ! oh the coffee.
Simply the most pure and freshest cup of coffee I've ever had!
Great coffee for conisseurs. Was looking for some high quality coffee in this neighborhood and definitely found it.
If you are a coffee lover go to Asado Coffee immediately- the smoothest, most delicious coffee you will find- this place is so good...best coffee in Chicago!
People thought this was:
the most over the top passionately made cup of coffee you will ever have in your time on this earth
People thought this was:
I have a love affair with green tea lattes, chai…
