Café Calidá

Cafe Calida is a bright spot in the community with a welcoming environment for everyone. You are greeted warmly upon entry, and then given a great selection of drinks and pastries. I am able to get some work done in the spacious dine-in area, which felt like my living room at home. If you haven’t come to Cafe Calida, what are you waiting for?

Café Calidá is it! I stopped in for a custom Vanilla Caramel Café con Leche and it was absolutely on point—smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. The coffee alone is worth the visit, but the food? Next level. I had the Chorizo + Egg and Lechón empanadas, and they were nothing short of perfection—crispy on the outside, flavorful and satisfying on the inside. The space is warm and welcoming, with great attention to detail and community. I love that they’re spotlighting Guatemalan coffee growers and ethically sourced beans. It’s not just a café—it’s a space that blends culture, quality, and care. Highly recommend if you're in the area and looking for a new favorite coffee spot. Can’t wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!

Whether I was just randomly stopping in or attending a special event, I’ve had nothing but great experiences with Cafe Calida, and I’m not even a coffee drinker (although I’ve heard nothing but great things). The donuts were absolutely amazing and the space itself is great - warm, welcoming, and versatile. What really sets it apart are the owners. They’re kind and genuine and make you feel like family the moment you meet them. The atmosphere makes it an easy place to recommend. Whether you’re stopping in for coffee, working or reading for a few hours, meeting with a group, or just wanting to enjoy a snack and good conversation, this is the place. I especially appreciate that they focus on the quality of their products and customer service, and the community, rather than just aesthetics for social media, which is rare these days. It’s a space that feels authentic, thoughtful, and designed for people to connect over their love of coffee, delicious pastries, culture, and other shared interests.

Visited Cafe Cálida today and you can feel the warmth that the owners have worked so hard to establish there. Walking in, the main counter area is SO bright with the natural sunlight. One of my favorite things about the shop is their community board. Most shops will have community boards with events that are more artsy- which is great. However, the posters that you see at Cafe Cálida are thought out- resources that help the community. Bottom line, amazing place. ❤️

Great coffee and even greater people. A neighborhood gem! Spacious, cozy seating area in the back for conversing with friends or for getting work done. The owner is kind and a pleasure to talk to.

Anton’s shop is such a great meeting place in our neighborhood. The coffee is delicious. The service is fast and friendly and helpful. There’s a nice little area to sit and relax and they’re always so kind to our young kids. They recently started selling empanadas and breakfast sandwiches in addition to the great donuts they’ve had for a while. We are lucky to have this place in walking distance.

We LOVE Cafe Calida and we're so excited when they opened a few years ago. My family and I live a couple blocks from the cafe and it is a true gem in our neighborhood. My son, who is 2 also knows the route to the shop as every Friday my husband and him go for delicious donuts. The owner, Anton, is so friendly and personable. Couldn't recommend it more!!

The coffee is stellar its small batch, super fresh, you can taste that it’s actually good quality, and it’s all fair trade which makes me feel even better. The owners really do take their time sourcing it and making sure they like it before offering it up to customers. What I really like, though, is how relaxed and welcoming it is. There’s no “minimum purchase” rule, nobody rushing you out if you’re just hanging with a book or getting work done. I’ve seen all kinds of folks in here: parents with kids for story time, people having group meetups, someone hosting a pop-up event, people just zoning out and getting work done. The desserts and pastries are all from other local businesses, which is cool and means there’s usually something new to try. If you want a place that just gets what community actually means, this is it. The people who work here and visit are always down to earth and if you get a chance to talk to them, it’s never just a “how are you” it’s a REAL conversation, even if it’s just for a minute. Every time I’m there, I walk out feeling like I actually belong in this neighborhood, even on the weird days. No attitude, no pretense just a genuinely good place to exist for a bit. If you’re looking for a place that feels like home but with way better coffee, this is it.

Gem of a coffee spot in the Humbolt Park area serving delicious Guatemalan coffee, specialty drinks, vegan donuts, empanadas and sandwiches . We arrived around 9:30 on a Thursday morning and it was fairly busy with customers coming in and out or choosing to sip on their coffees in house. We were greeted immediately and told about the specials and pastries. Our drinks were made quickly and tasted excellent. With ample seating in the front of the house or back, there's plenty of space to relax while the Latin music serenades you quietly in the background. You can also cozy up to the bar, surrounded by a variety of lovely plants, and watch your coffee creation be made.

This is a true hidden gem. The coffee here is fantastic! I had a specialty latte here that contained blueberry syrup which i generally dislike.Turns out I'm not a blueberry hater after all! Thanks for converting me Cafe Calida! The space itself is actually bigger than it appears. There's plenty of seating and I think bringing a laptop would be okay.

I love trying new cafes and the pursuit to finding the best coffee in town. I liked the ambiance here - lots of beautiful plants in the front, open space and a good amount of varied seating. The owner was very friendly and helpful in providing options and explanations. I ordered a macchiato today and it was nice and smooth. I look forward to coming back to try another coffee beverage. I love supporting local businesses!

So happy to have a great cafe in the area! The owner is super super friendly and the staff are all wonderful. Love the offerings and the atmosphere and definitely recommend it to anyone looking to try a new cafe.

We ordered a matcha latte and a bunch of donuts. Everything was tasty. The couch seating was comfortable, and the guy behind the counter was friendly.

Fantastic Black-owned coffee shop in Humboldt Park just a short walk from the 606 Trail's Drake Ave. exit. I visited for the first time this morning and was warmly greeted by Anton, a super knowledgable barista who I found out used to be a Chicago tour guide! I ordered the Smore's Latte and an Oreo Old Fashioned donut (which they carry from Lincoln Park's Beacon Donuts). The latte was both flavorful and very affordable. The space isn't super bright but very quiet, two attributes I appreciate for when I need to get some serious work done. They recently celebrated 2 years in business, which is no small feat for a local business operating in the city. Do yourself a favor: Ditch the Dunkin Donuts a few doors down and support this true neighborhood staple.

Easy to miss from the outside, but don't skip it! Super bright and airy on the inside with a few tables right in the sunny front room as well as a bunch of working space in the back. Well made coffee drinks, sweet and savory treats, and friendly service.

No food. Ambiance is whatever fine. Drive was fine/ overpriced. Maybe find for morning commuters who don't want Sbucks. Server was really nice.

The drinks are delicious, service is personable, the ambiance is chill vibes, with music at a comfortable level so you can work or study with focus. Wi-Fi available with open seating. Highly recommend this place.

Warm and inviting cafe in Humboldt Park with excellent coffee and bomb vegan donuts! We live in the neighborhood and were excited to check out Café Calidá. There's nothing like it in the neighborhood, our options are either very expensive drip coffee or Dunkin Donuts so this cafe is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. The prices are very reasonable especially for the quality of the coffee. When you walk in there's the coffee bar and then a large open space in back with plenty of seating for hanging out or working. I tried the cafe con leche and it was the perfect amount of sweetness. The ube donut was also SO GOOD and vegan! Even if you're not vegan, it was better than a regular donut. They also had a lot of other flavors like maple, horchata and chocolate. If you're not a coffee lover they also have matcha and chai lattes! Definitely worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood!

The service here is excellent. Very knowledgeable about catering to your needs on the various selections. Beautiful and very peaceful environment. The music is amazing, they have books, board games, and very beautiful art here. I will definitely come back very soon. Lastly but not least i tried the Cafe Con Leche which was very flavorful. I can't wait to come back and try the other flavors. If you have a minute or two get here before 2pm you won't be disappointed.

What a wonderful addition to our neighborhood! Came here on opening day and this spot just keeps getting better. I'm new to Chicago and the quality of espresso at Café Calidá is the best I've found so far on the west side. The baristas are extremely well-versed and the drink selection has been growing ever since they opened. The vegan donuts are delicious -- the right weight and texture, which is so hard to accomplish with a vegan pastry. The space is also beautiful inside. The front area is encased in floor-to-ceiling glass block windows, so you feel tucked away but still get to enjoy all of the bright sunlight. The back area is way bigger than you'd expect from the street and has plenty of comfortable seating to work, read or catch up with friends. Cafe con leche is my go-to, but the dirty chai is also a winner. I'd come here every day if I could!

Really good and sweet coffee and pastries!! The staff was really nice too. Wish they had more food options tho!! But grateful nonetheless

Cafe Calida is dope! Love that me and the fam can walk here. They serve Passion House coffee and have pastries as well, which is a must with coffee obviously. Great seating options and the block windows up front are great with all the natural light they let in. The folks here are dope and so welcoming. Y'all need to come through and enjoy this place now! The person in the picture is Tracedyn and he used to be a barista and so if he's here you can be assured this place is worthy of your presence.

I've never lived walking distance to a third-wave coffee shop before so naturally I was ecstatic when Café Calidá opened. This place has such a great neighborhood vibe and you can tell they are community-oriented. I had to visit on their one-year anniversary to celebrate. Even though they were giving out free coffee, it seemed like everyone in the neighborhood was throwing down for something extra. I can't wait to be there for the ten year party. Truly no complaints: coffee, pastries, and music are all fire. I only really see Anton behind the bar these days and he is such a great dude to chat with--and I hate small talk usually. Support this local business and your coffee addiction!

Delicious cold brew, extremely friendly and helpful service! The vibe is chill and the space is open and sunny. If I lived closer, this would be a regular stop.

Roasted: this coffee shop is on North Ave with easy access. It's a newer coffee shop. It's a nice cafe with a bright open seating area. I like how the seating area is separate from the barista area so it's quiet and a good place to sit. They use passion house for their espresso and a roaster out of Georgia for their drip coffee. They do offer a few sugar free flavors as well as syrups with natural sugars in general. Super friendly and really knew the coffee well when I asked questions. We were able to get our lattes in mugs which was nice to have. The latte was a little hot but overall was good. I'm not the biggest passion house fan but the quality was good other than the temperature of the milk. The barista brought our lattes out to us rather than just calling it out. Service was great here. Would definitely recommend checking this coffee shop out. Unroasted: located on north avenue this coffee shop can be easy to miss but there is plenty of parking in the front. Walking in to the shop you are greeted with home vibes. I love the use of the space. Very spacious with plenty of tables and seating. The bar is located in the middle of the space with few pastries as well. The barista was super friendly and greeted us as we walked in. They carry sugar free flavors wishing is a plus. Ordered the usual and sat down to which she brought us our drinks in mugs! Finally a coffee shop giving out mugs. My latte was very green as it comes from passion house. I did order sugar free vanilla and not sure if I got it. Don't get me wrong it still quite tasty. I still enjoyed my experience here and would try it again.

Visited Cafe Calida for the first time this morning and it was such a delightful experience for myself and my pals. The coffee was fresh and hot. The donuts were to die for. The atmosphere was so pleasant. Lastly the staff was so stupid nice that I just wanted to move in and let them take care of me forever. Location is great! There's bike racks right out front to lock up to. The seating was spread out to sit comfortably while sipping without being on top of another diner. Prices are also on point. I feel like this place is a gem. Go on and get ya some coffee and a donut. You won't regret it.

genuinely the sweetest and most engaging people ever you can tell the owners love what they do. amazing quality coffee (i recommend the cafe con miel). i'm not from chicago, but i always stop by when i'm in town!

Fantastic little place! Cute little store with a nice back area that's removed from the counter and the street. The iced mocha I got was soooo much better than the same item I got from *bucks the day before, and partner loved her chai. The guy at the counter (I think he was the owner?) was super friendly and chatted with everybody about whatever. I love that they use their space for story time too.

What a wonderful shop! I wish I lived in this neighborhood so I could come here regularly! Anton and Karla were patient and kind explaining their epic breakfast buns (Texas style kolaches) and so intentionally making me a tea drink. Go check this place out! I recommend the Colora-dough for the bun!

Super excited to have such a great cafe within walking distance. The latte and dirty chai were some of the best I've had. A lot of places have the dirty chai over spiced, but this was perfectly balanced. The concha was fantastic and a great morning treat. Can't wait to go back!

This is a lovely new locally-owned coffee shop! Their espresso drinks are delicious (so far my favorite is the brown sugar spice latte), the inside is cozy and sunny with plenty of seating, and the owners are wonderful. Highly recommend!

I've wanted to check out Café Calidá since it opened in Humboldt Park, and my first visit was everything I hoped it would be! The barista was incredibly warm from the moment we walked in, and was patient and helpful as we were deciding on our orders. The space itself is really wonderful: An inviting and spacious lounge area looks perfect to spend some time talking over a latte with a friend, or to throw on some headphones and read a book. We got the matcha latte and the cardamom rose latte, a monthly special, and both were delightful. Smooth, high-quality, and delicately balanced, both drinks. So thrilled to have this addition to the area, and I can't wait to return and try their pastries!

Love this husband and wife owned cafe! Excellent friendly service. Great coffee, iced tea, hot chocolate, pastries. Just a cool place to spend time. It's good for my soul.

Love the coffee... The calm atmosphere. I love this location!! The staff is always very kind and friendly. My order is always correct and great!! I appreciate the effort they make to connect with their customers. If you make many trips to purchase coffee and converse with the barista they will help you get it made just to your own personal liking! I appreciate that when I am paying that much for a coffee. The dim jazzy music soothes me after a good day of work while reading a book. Great place to unwind the day. Their stores are always clean and that is great during this pandemic! I will definitely continue to come here!

Yay! Morning coffee in West Humboldt Park! Friendly staff, ample seating in front, and in a nice open back room to hang out and warm up before resuming my morning walk.

Excellent cafe with great coffee and awesome humans. Plenty of space to hunker down and get work done.

my favorite coffee shop near the house!! great owners and employees, nothing but positive things to say about this place!!

It's great to have a coffee shop so close! Good coffee, good donuts, good prices, and friendly staff. I have always been able to find a seat too.