Whether it’s the caffeine, the mood or the pastry pairings, coffee shops have proliferated across Chicago at an impressive rate, and with just over half of the city’s coffee shop stock comprised of large chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks and Peet’s, local establishments have managed to carve out a sizeable patronage of local support from coffee bean aficionados and ambiance seekers alike. But with so many Chicago-specific cups of coffee to choose from, which ones float to the top?

Hoodline filtered the numbers to find the top 20 coffee shops around Chicago, using both Yelp data and our own slow roast formula to produce a data-driven breakdown of where coffee drinkers go out of their way to get the city’s best cup(s) of coffee.

Not surprisingly, downtown Chicago, with its high foot traffic, is where the majority of the city’s standout coffee emporiums are located: nine of the top 20, to be exact. Chicago’s highest-ranking spot is Cafecito, which landed at #1 on our list with an impressive 4.5-star rating with 1,295 reviews.

What makes Cafecito special? The first thing that comes to mind is its infamous Cubano with its “homemade mojo” marinade, but Cafecito also serves up a killer cup of coffee. Menu favorites include Café con Leche, Cortadito and the classic Cuban espresso. As one Yelper put it, “I'm not a coffee drinker, but I would take a night of sleeplessness for a cup of their Cafe de Leche. It's creamy, rich and comforting.”

Second on our list is The Wormhole Coffee, with a 4.5-star rating with 922 reviews. The cafe’s eclectic ‘80s decor is blended with a bomb menu of caffeinated beverages including the ever popular Peanut Butter Koopa-Troopa (a peanut butter mousse and dark chocolate latte). The Wicker Park staple also brings in and showcases guest coffee roasters, infusing fresh roasts into its already well-received repertoire of beans.  

Coming at #3 is the Loop’s Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee, which has a 4.5-star average rating with 870 reviews. Most Chicagoans (and Americans) associate Do-Rite with its stellar donut selection—so much so that it landed at #25 on our list of America’s best donut joints. But alongside its renowned donuts, Do-Rite pours Chicago’s very own Dark Matter Coffee, affirming that a donuts best friend is a quality cup of coffee.

Curious to know where to grab the top-rated, most delectable cup of coffee in Chicago? Here's the rundown of the city’s top 20 coffee haunts to plan your next coffee break around:

1. Cafecito
2. The Wormhole Coffee
3. Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee
4. Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
5. Ispento
6. Two Hearted Queen
7. Metropolis Coffee Company
8. Star Lounge Coffee Bar
9. Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter
10. Beatrix Streeterville
11. Sip Coffee House & Garden
12. The Grind
13. Firecakes
14. Sawada Coffee
15. New York Delicatessen
16. Smack Dab POP UP
17. HERO Coffee Bar
18. Aje Cafe
19. First Slice Pie Cafe
20. Big Shoulders Coffee