Category Archives: Coffee & Tea

Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery & Coffee Shop

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***** (5 stars)

This is one of four bakeries in Solvang where we purchased tubs of butter cookies for a taste off. They were among the best, but the real standout here were the pastries. The macaroon was the best I’ve ever had, with a perfect crispy crust and chewy but not soggy interior. The cinnamon pastry, a sort of palmier with a cinnamon crust was amazing. We nursed it for breakfast three days in a row, and it was still just as good!

Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery & Coffee Shop
1529 Mission Dr
Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 688-6314
http://www.yelp.com/biz/olsens-danish-village-bakery-and-coffee-shop-solvang

Coffee Lab

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***** (5 stars)

In a world filled with nasty, weedy Starbucks coffee that has to be diluted with milk and sugar just to make it potable, it’s easy to forget what coffee can and should be. Coffee Lab reminds us of just how great an experience a superb cup of unadulterated coffee can be.

The pour over coffee made here extracts exactly the optimum brew from the beans, with no bitterness, no matter how strong the coffee. It’s a time-consuming process, so don’t go if you’re in a hurry. As with anything, to do it right takes care and attention to detail. But if you think coffee needs to be “fixed” with cream and sugar, you owe it to yourself to experience the real thing at least once.

Coffee Lab
922 Noyes St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 868-8033
http://www.yelp.com/biz/coffee-lab-evanston-2

Other Brother Coffeehouse

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***** (5 stars)

This is my favorite coffee house in Evanston. They are so friendly, and there is considerable artistry to the way they assemble the drinks.

Macchiatos are made the authentic way, and nicely decorated.

The base coffee is much less bitter than Starbuck’s so pretty much any variant turns out better.

There is also a small assortment of packaged salads by The Growling Rabbit, which are quite good.  I particularly like the Quinoa Salad.

Other Brother Coffeehouse
1549 Sherman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-5399
http://www.yelp.com/biz/other-brother-coffeehouse-evanston

Delbe’s Corner

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***** (5 stars)

Wow, I’d eat here even if the food wasn’t good. This was a fantastic service experience, the kind that is rare these days. It’s not that anything exceptional occurred. That’s what was so fantastic. It’s just that I can anticipate the same exact level of service on my next visit, because it’s clear that the culture here is to hire nice people who are engaged in what they do, and serving their customers.

I was greeted when I walked in, chatted with as I ordered, met with a friendly smile when my food was delivered, and thanked for my business when I left. And none of it was because the young man behind the counter had been told he had to do that. It’s because he wanted to make sure he had happy customers. This sounds basic, but it happens so rarely, in such an honest fashion, that it really stands out.

Oh, and yes, the sunrise breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel was delicious. Pretty good coffee, too.

Delbe’s Corner
1100 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 424-1006
http://www.yelp.com/biz/delbes-corner-evanston

Kafein

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**** (4 stars)

Dumpy old furniture, cave-like ambiance, everything you expect in a college-oriented coffee house. I love it. The food, whcih takes awhile since there’s often not much staff, is surprisingly good, the coffee drinks are Starbucks-killers, and the wifi is free. My favorite coffee house in Evanston.

Kafein
1621 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 491-1621
http://www.yelp.com/biz/kafein-evanston