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Cups Coffee and Tea - CLOSED

4.5 star rating
based on 11 reviews

Category: Coffee & Tea  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Albany Park
4645 N Kedzie Ave
(at Eastwood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 539-2917
  • Nearest Transit:

    Kedzie (Brown)

  • Hours:
    Mon-Fri 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
    Sat 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
    Sun 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
  • Price Range: $
  • Accepts Credit Cards: No
  • Parking: Street
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: No
  • Wi-Fi: Free
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11 Reviews for Cups Coffee and Tea

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Photo of Paul W.

 

6

36

Paul W.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
01/15/2008

Bad news -- Cups is no more. The store has been shuttered since Christmas, and I hear that Gloria and Abbatt are selling the business. It's sad because I really enjoyed stopping by for the Fair Trade coffee and a quick chat on the way to the train. They also made good panini and smoothies. I wish the cool couple all the best and much success in their future endeavours!

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Photo of Joseph M.

 

4

8

Joseph M.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
09/25/2007

Good coffee, good food, very nice people, books and board games, free wi-fi, cozy atmosphere, art!  This place knows how to do things.  It was a pleasant surprise finding it near my house, after a few less than par experiences with Schlegel's on Foster.

This place is great.  Highly recommended.

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Photo of Melissa M.

 

5

33

Melissa M.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
05/30/2007

Coffee drinks and tea are wonderful, pastries and bagels are yummy, (especially the different cheesy croissants!!!) and owners are awesome :) Beautiful art too, rare in a coffee shop these days ;)

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Photo of Tari F.

 

0

19

Tari F.

IL

5 star rating
10/10/2007

I used to be a coffee-holic, but have since rolled back to being only an occasional drinker.  Less volume means I can actually splurge on the good stuff, though, and Cups is a great place to get it.  I recently took home both the pumpkin spice and the Highlander Grogg flavored coffees and am enjoying both immensely!  The fact that all their coffee is both fair trade and organic helps, too - no worries that child slaves are choking on pesticides to grow my coffee!

I will admit being biased because I sometimes play music here, but honestly, the location is so convenient, the drinks are amazing, the food is great, and the people are not only nicer, but also more interesting than the corporate drones at that Other Coffee Shop down the street.  I recommend stopping in to pick up a cup, hang out with your laptop and the wi-fi, check out the great art from local artists, and maybe even hear a local musician.

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Photo of Emblem P.

 

8

9

Emblem P.

IL

5 star rating
01/01/2007

Sips makes me feel right at home, and it's not just Gloria and Abbatt (they're expecting a baby soon), but also the clientele, who are friendly and welcoming. Come often enough, and you'll know everybody's name.

Prices are very low for such top-notch quality. The house blend is one of the better standard cups of coffee in the city, and Sips also makes some superb specialties made with liquors and other delights, all named for the moods inspired by our favorite elevated train. The pastries are all locally made, and you can just ask if you want them to carry something special.

It's worth waking up 15 minutes early so I can stop here on my way to life's humdrum. Coffee, bagel, and friends, all just outside the Brown Line stop. What more can one ask of from a coffee shop?

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Photo of Abbatt S.

 

0

1

Abbatt S.

IL

5 star rating
02/16/2007

This is mine and my wife's business and I want to thank everyone that has written a review and that will write one in the future. We have had such a warm welcome to the community and I love that we can provide such quality products and services to our new neighbors...
Thank you again and please continue to give us feedback so that we may provide everyone with the up most in experiences...

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Photo of Dave O.

 

2

30

Dave O.

Chicago, IL

1 star rating
01/15/2008

Phone number is disconnected an dcouldn't find the place.

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Photo of Tom M.

Elite '08

273

958

Tom M.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
03/15/2007

SIPS is it's curent name....

Yummy, hot coffee - across the street from the Kedzie Brown Line stop, no less!

Small shop, with a cool vibe. Nice service. Great having them in the 'hood, and I am sure they are glad the Kedzie stop is open again!

Formerly known as "Cups."

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Photo of choong l.

 

6

61

choong l.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
02/24/2007

You sit here for a few  hours during a lazy Saturday afternoon, and you'll see a steady flow of regulars stopping by to say hello, pick up a cup of joe, then continue their way, whether they were just walking about in the neighborhood, cycling to work, or getting ready to hop on the Brown Line at Kedzie stop.  Some stay to park themselves at the sofa and bury themselves in a novel, others to rediscover the simple delight of playing checkers or Connect Four with their girlfriend/boyfriend, and some, just to enjoy a friendly chat with Abbatt or Gloria.  Every now and then, there's the ding-ding-ding of the railroad stop as it is lowered and raised, the rumbling of the Brown Line train and the fading clanking on the tracks... there's only a single brick wall adorned with local artists' art works that separates the cafe from the Brown Line tracks.

Given its location just a stone throw away from the Kedzie stop, I'm sure that the commuter rush hours are when Gloria and Abbatt are kept their busiest, hustling and busting about in the tiny cafe bar to brew up endless cups of coffee for the impatient commuters keeping an eye out for the approaching Loop-bound train.  No matter how busy things get, there's no doubt that the customers will not only be sent on their way with a great cup of (organic, free trade) coffee in their hands, but also with a little smile on their lips -- no commuter taking the Brown Line from Kedzie stop should get on the train without those.

They have a good assortment of baked goods to take along or nibble while you enjoy your reading, a solid set of board games if you're up for a little competition with your friends, art work from local artists and school kids, and good jazzy/blues music on rotation on the stereo.    

In short, this is the quinessential neighborhood coffee shop.  It's not a destination, but if were in the neighborhood,  you'll be remiss if you didn't stop by.  Some neighborhoods have Starbucks that serves this function -- Albany Park is much blessed for having Sips instead.

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Photo of Michael M.

 

11

30

Michael M.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
04/03/2007

While it may lack the dysfunctional charm of its predecessor Coffee Chicago, this new cafe is a rather nice local hang out. The management is friendly, in sharp contrast to the psycho-stalker appeal of the former owner who created a vibe so strange and creepy it actually became oddly comfortable. The new place has good coffee, offers refills, and makes regulars feel comfy; it's a welcome alternative for the anti-Starbucks set and a nice addition to the AP neighborhood.

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Photo of Bella E.

Elite '08

71

122

Bella E.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
10/02/2006

This place just opened it's doors last week, and I have nothing but good things to say about it so far. The owners (Abbott and Gloria) are a cute, young, hip couple that make you feel right at home.
The prices are great, and they seem to always have specials (they have a lunchbox special that rocks!)
My husband and I have been here 3times since last week, and we love the atmosphere. There is FREE WIFI, games to play, and they also have very nice art for sale by local artists. It's nice to see this place in Albany Park. Down with Starbucks!! CUPS is for the people!!!

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