BrewLab Coffee

A welcoming coffee spot with plenty of seating and a great setup for working or relaxing. The coffee was excellent across visits - the pour over had great clarity, the espresso tonic was refreshing, and the specialty lattes were flavorful and well balanced. Service was a bit uneven at times, as there was a long wait for the pour over, but overall it was a wonderful spot with quality drinks with a great atmosphere for studying.

I was in UIUC and ended up coming here three days in a row -- not because it tasted great, but simply because it was the only pour-over place I could find in town. 1. Pour-over coffee: Beans seem fresh (only one option Counter Culture), but the pour-over skill feels chaotic. The flavors are muddled, and it doesn’t feel like the store has developed a pour -over style that really suits the beans. I tried their pour-over on two different days with the same results. I’ve brewed Counter Culture beans myself before, and I don’t feel the beans are well treated here. 2. Other drinks: Espresso-based drinks are much better made. I also tried the Kyoto-style cold brew, but I wouldn’t recommend it-- it just tastes like a dense, sour drink with no clear flavor layers. (Probably some stirring with ice might help separate the layers.) It even gave me a headache at night. I’ve had this style before in Japan and Taiwan, and usually people don’t drink a full cup -- more like an espresso-sized portion. Typically, the barista should experiment with the ratio of ice cubes to cold brew to balance it out. 3. Environment: Plenty of seats and a restroom, but the space isn’t very pleasant. There’s a damp, basement-like smell (likely from the AC), and I noticed some unclean spots by the windows. Around noon it also gets noisy. Overall: An average coffee shop near campus. Staffs are nice. Good for students to gather and talk, but not really a place for well-crafted coffee.

4 of us visited and all enjoyed our drinks We had one of the staff favorites from the board, oatmeal cookie, matcha, and a coconut lavender coffee! Great espresso flavor and not overly sweet! Definitely have vegan options and their baked goods looked tasty, we didn’t get any. Vibe was cool and the outside seating was perfect! Barista was friendly and fun!

Delicious coffee with a fun menu, great vibes, and incredible service. Barista Hannah was very sweet and welcoming, even writing a sweet note on my drink when I said it was my last day on campus as a UIUC grad. Thank you, Hannah! :)

Coffee lovers will not be disappointed in the drip brew here. There is a large second connected room where you can work or study as you enjoy the atmosphere, excellent bakery choices, or coffee selection. I ended up using the convenient large marker board behind me after I struck up a conversation about data production and management of water treatment facilities with another patron next to me. Parking is what you expect in the campus town area.

A nice place for coffee. They also have quite an option for pastry here.

For a huge college campus there are very few serious coffee shops. This place nails it though. They’re able to satisfy grumpy coffee snobs like me or kids who want a specialty drink. Really solid baked goods too, love the cinnamon scones. Only issue is it’s small and can be tough to find a seat, but there’s a reason for that!

Insane prices for lackluster coffee. Atmosphere is cute for a study spot and they have cool flavors of food and drinks. I spent $7 on a small latte… which was not that good for the price. Would go somewhere else for coffee for cheaper.

Quick and friendly service. Delicious iced latte. They have a separate room with additional seating- perfect for meeting a friend or getting some work done. Outdoor seating as well.

I tried BrewLab for the first time this last Saturday and I loved this coffee shop! The inside was so cute and welcoming, and they had an extensive menu named after the employees! I got the Drew and my husband got the Alyssa. His was a flavored latter and it was arguably one of the best lattes I've ever had, I got a cold brew with cinnamon coconut cold foam! The cold foam was amazing as well, but the cold brew had this weird twang to it. I love cold brew, it's pretty much all I drink and I would not get the cold brew here again unfortunately. But I would definitely be open to try their other non-cold brew menu items!

The company that owns this still hasn't paid me for hours I worked for them, despite lots of follow up attempts on my part.

Stopped in for better coffee than what was offered in my hotel room. I opted for a large black sesame matcha and added two shots of espresso. The space is small and cozy and they have a few small tables outside for when the weather is nice. The menu is pretty extensive with seasonal offerings (one of which was the black sesame matcha) and fresh pastries. I really liked that they had a Staff Picks section that I assume is their staff's favorite drinks named after them. The chalkboard along the wall detailed each drink. I'll be back to try one of those next time!

This cute little cafe right off green street is a perfect study spot for in between classes. Both of our croissants were delicious and the perfect temperature. The dirty chai with vanilla was very very good, exceptionally godo! def a new go to order! I tried the strawberry cold brew with almond milk and it was actually delicious! It was not too bitter and also not too sweet! The strawberry flavor was a nice change from my regular vanilla latte. The service was perfect i barely had to wait and everyone was very kind. It is also super aesthetic there and there is enough seating to find your perfect spot!

Chill and casual vibe. Students studying on a Sunday morning. Vanilla Pistachio latte w heart art was good.

A great coffee shop for a West Coast transplant. One of the few places that feels like home for me. Yes, this makes me a pretentious coffee yuppie cafe hanger-outer :) They source Counter Culture beans which are awesome.

The coffee was delicious - strong and flavorful. Service was efficient. Nice set up - vibe. Would go back !

Excellent drinks and a good amount of seating. This place fills up when the students are around. While their drinks are great, their prices are well above average in terms of coffee shops.

The Atmosphere is great and college vibes. The parking was reasonable for 75cents an hour. Surrounded with good seating areas and on the college strip close enough to grab coffee and go get brunch.

SF Bay resident here. Outstanding coffee with fresh pastries. Great small lounge with a couple couches, about 10 tables. Metered parking nearby. Fast, nice service.

This place is super cute! Found this gem while I was searching for a coffee shop in the area to meet my little sister at. The cold brew was great and the croissant was amazing, but the location and set up was to die for. If i lived in the area, I would set up shop here everyday with books and computer. Love how spacious it is and the ambiance. I'm all about an inclusive place, and they do a great job with that message. Highly recommend stopping by for an awesome experience!

As i'm writing this i've been waiting in line for over 15 min. I order a latte. There are two people making the drinks who keep yapping to each other rather than making it. Update: I finally got it to which the barista made a sarcastic comment about my "politeness". Do better. Some people have places to be. Also, mine and my friends coffee sucked. We had to sit in the alley because all the seating was full.

Love this place. Great coffee, delicious baked goods, cheerful service. My favorite coffee shop in town.

The kind soul working at the counter needs a raise!! We walked in with a party of 7 and he was extremely kind, energetic, and patient taking our orders. On top of the amazing service, the drinks were FANTASTIC!! Would 100% recommend the crème brûlée matcha and oatmeal cookie latte!

Love brewlab! The espresso is good and the atmosphere is a fun vibe. It's connected to Neutral Cycle, the bike shop that always has super helpful and friendly faces, and has plenty of tables - great for meetings or studying. I've been here for plenty of work meetings, and highly recommend!

Good coffee, decent space, but not worth the price - which is likely why they don't have the prices on their menu! Wanted to buy a bag of coffee, and discovered when I got to the register that it was $25 for a 12 oz bag.

Latte and cappucino good. Pastries old - nothing to brag about. Full of college students.

If you're visiting campus, do yourself a favor and visit this amazing coffee shop. The iced oat milk latte with lavender is delicious! Their baked goods are wonderful - try their almond croissant! Plus their staff is super friendly. Highly recommended!

I had an outstanding coffee here. Cinco de Junio. One of the best cups I have ever had.

Proper Italian cappuccino joint to fix up the caffeine addiction. Simple menu, basic inside space, a few fun options I need to get back n try like Affogato, and great mocktail mixes. I loved the hibiscus!

bummer. barista was really rude, two days in a row, and then made 2 really bad drinks. expensive and after my first two exchanges with her, I wasn't about to interact again to ask her to remake them. The guy making drinks couple days before was awesome, welcoming, and really skilled.

LOVE this place. It has a really cute patio with cool vibes. The interior could be bigger, but there 6 tables to seat 3,4 people each. Coffee is great but mega expensive for a college town. I like their latte, cortado and Ethiopian pour-over. Their donuts are super yum too! Good place to study/hangout.

Quite crowded during weekends, coffee are amazing! Caramel Macchiato are strongly recommended

Cool little place full of energy and great service. We stumbled upon this gem while I was on a work assignment. I was thrilled they have lots of options and take great pride in their appearance. The shop worker was constantly cleaning and straightening things up inside and outside. When we are back in the area, we will most certainly be back for some more delicious BrewLab.

coffee is really good, never tastes dead or too bitter. cute atmosphere. iced oat milk latte is amazing! baristas are usually nice, I had to pay twice because they got my order wrong once but not a huge deal

Ordered my go to at pretty much any coffee shop (iced oat milk latte with lavender). It was a great latte. The coffee shop itself was cute and the staff was friendly.

BrewLab has the best coffee!! Even their drip coffee is great. I haven't had a drink here that I didn't like. The coffee shop is connected to a bike shop and you can choose to sit in the bike shop if you want a quieter environment to study. My favorite thing is when the weather is nice and you can sit outside! I'll be coming back again and again!

Never had an issue before today. The drinks and service are usually great. I've ordered an iced cappuccino here various times, but today the barista gave me a half empty drink. When I inquired why this drink was half empty, she acted as though that was normal and offered to top it with milk. This has never happened to me anywhere else, this is ridiculous. Will not be back.

I believe I had the Ethiopia pour over coffee if I remembered correctly. I honestly don't get what's so special about the coffee but I guess it's still worth a try to drink something unique and unusual. Ample amount of spaces inside to study and there's free WiFi if you ask for the password. Parking can be a hassle so I walked 30 mins here for the exercise during prime time around 2-3pm.

Love the space and the coffee was great! Hidden just off the main strip on Green St. We will definitely be back.

New favorite coffee shop on campus! Service was great, and the interior is gorgeous. It has a clean, modern vibe and feels like a creative space, especially with the white board walls that are already filled with tons of quotes and drawings. My friend got the mocha, which had the perfect amount of chocolate. I got the Ethiopian pour over, which had a really nice fruity taste. I cannot wait to try all of their pour over options, and I think they switch up the options regularly. Also everything was really reasonably priced!

Had an absolutely delicious cortado this morning! Service with a smile as well! I'll be back tmrw!

Excellent place to come and study and drink amazing coffee! I appreciate their excellent service and great conductive environment. The ambiance was great for studying and having conversations with friends. I got the blend pourover and dont regret it! The pourover had great taste and the price covers two cups! Definitely will be coming back.

Good pour-overs. Was in town for business and was looking for one. Service was a little slow because the barista was by herself, and they may have had issue with the a/c because it was a bit stifling inside, but the coffee was solid.

Finally a coffee place on green street. After green street cafe was closed we got a star bucks, as an espresso drinker that was a not a good trade. Now I finally have a place to go for espresso after lunch. Love the atmosphere, love the coffee. The barista was knowledgable and knew what she was doing. Highly recommended.

First time here. Impressed. Good coffee (cold brew.) Nice atmosphere (nice patio.) Great service (felt appreciated.) looking forward to future visits!

Tasty americano! Not picky with coffee- dunkin is great. Coffee here is good and barista seems to know what she's doing. Like the reviews said, not pretentious at all and pretty comfortable environment. Looking at 2 big tables with 6 seats and about 2 smaller tables for 2-3 ppl. About 15-20 bar seats along the walls. Good addition to the neighborhood. Have a croissant while you're there.

College kids on bikes getting coffee. Great urban vibe with great staff and great coffee. Great value as well.

So yummy! I had a tea last time and just got my first coffee drink here. I don't usually drink lattes cause I just like Americanos but I decided to try it out! Me and my bae had the Pumpkin Spice latte with almond milk. It was so good! It wasn't sweet at all and actually tasted like real pumpkin. The sauce does have evaporated milk so it's a little hard on my stomach but it was worth it. Next time I will try an Americano here :)

Best coffee in town by far! We moved from Portland, Oregon where the coffee scene is competitive. This little shop could definitely keep up! They are true coffee purists so you are not going to get the extra sugar syrupy tastes that you get at other places. This is a must see in Champaign-Urbana! Besides the taste, the staff is so friendly and welcoming and the vibe is lots of fun. They also have all of the Homer Sodas on display so kiddos love it too!

Bit pricey but definitely worth it. Staff were extremely friendly & helpful and unpretentious (where I'm from, there are a lot of coffee snobs) especially for someone not from the U.S. In the month that I've been travelling, this is probably the best coffee I've had so far. I ordered a latte (I believe it was the espresso with 10oz of milk?) and got an extra shot on top. The beans had a breadth of flavour and really shone through! I then got an espresso with 2oz of milk? Something between a macchiato and a piccolo - it had just the right amount bitterness and sour, definitely not too overpowering. Cute spot to just relax and chill out, the wifi is good and there are plenty of powerpoints! If you're a a student and you like coffee, make sure to sign up to their rewards program!

The atmosphere and coffee is wonderful but the barista that served me each time I visited was extremely rude. He is condescending and tries to be a coffee snob to the customers. He tried to tell me how wrong I was about my orders, on each individual visit. He tried to tell me cold brew and iced coffee are the same thing, and they are not. While the coffee is good it is not worth being berated to get my drink. I will not visit again. If you don't mind getting scolded like a child then this is the coffee place for you!

If you've been waiting for great coffee near UIUC campus, this is it. Get the Ethiopian pour-over if you want something tasty and interesting. Get Honduras if you want something more like normal coffee. Also, the place is owned by a design company and definitely lives up to expectation in that regard.

If you want a relaxed study location: look no further! Friendly & enthusiastic baristas making tasty coffee and pastries paired with an enjoyable mix of music & unique seating arrangements turns this place into a gem off green street & 5th.

Slow as heck. We put in an order, and it took more than 10 min to fill. Just 2 coffees. And we were the first customers of the day. I'm not expecting magic, but when we walked in, the guy said that he wasn't expecting us so soon. So, seems like he hadn't even started after 10 minutes. Cripes! To top it off, the coffee was not that great at all. And it was surprisingly expensive. More that Starbucks. Come on man! This is a student town. Service and cost really don't seem in line with the college vibe.

Experience was pleasant but the matcha latte is small, barely mediocre, and highly overpriced. Location: very easy to find and has very neat decorations inside. A good spot to sit and study or do work at when things clear up. Service: the barista was very nice and patient with my order. Product: Ordered a matcha latte and it was quite pricy for a small cup ($4 for a really small paper cup and 80 something more cents for soy milk replacement) and the taste was passingly bland. It was 10/10 not worth the money. Would avoid ordering this drink next time, if there were to be one.

Best coffeeshop around campus. Really good tasting coffee and nice sociable baristas. The space is good for hanging out in or for studying and the songs they play are bops.

Very cute study place, kinda pricey, simple but true menu, only downfall is that I think the espresso they make is pretty gross... the taste is kinda off to me and very sour. Mixed with the ice cream for affogato and it's okay; other than that I would avoid it until they improve it.