Sawada Coffee

Sawada Coffee

Chill spot for creative & classic coffee drinks in cozy, rustic-chic digs with Ping-Pong.

Brendan Sodikoff already proved that he can serve great coffee and pastries (see: Doughnut Vault, C.C. Ferns); now, he’s teamed up with Japanese latte artist Hiroshi Sawada to open this new cafe within Green Street Smoked Meats. Enter off Green Street and you’ll find yourself in the front of the barbecue restaurant—that gives it an odd vibe, though the space is clearly delineated and really, you’re there for the coffee anyway.

The main attraction is the military latte, Sawada’s signature drink that’s visually stunning and quite strong. It’s roasty from espresso, slightly bitter from the green tea and warmed with gentle notes of white chocolate. Pair it with a camouflage doughnut from Doughnut Vault, which matches the latte with drizzles of chocolate and matcha. The rest of the offerings include straightforward espresso drinks, plus spiked options like shochu and iced coffee or Benedictine and chai. The cafe is open till 4pm, so consider it your evening starting point.

Chicago Multi-Entry Multi-Directional Visitors Guide © Simon Monika Newbound