Caffe Umbria

This morning I find myself on the southern edge of Chicago’s “Loop” at Cafe Umbria, one of the highest rated places in the city for a cappuccino. The cafe’s quaint, with a neighborhood feel which is inviting. My ritual order of a cappuccino, a bit dry, in a mug, was paired with an Americano, a Pan Au Chocolates and a ham & cheese pastry. Considering Umbrias ratings on Yelp and Google, perhaps I expected a bit more. Quite a bit. The cappuccino was presented without a degree of care I would have expected. Rather than “a bit dry”, the flavor was milk foam forward. However, the espresso underbelly was very enjoyable. The roast was smooth, yet bold. The Americano was more enjoyable as the roast wasn’t masked by the facade of foam. And, while I don’t make the trip for the pastry, the ham & cheese was served cold, and the Pan Au Chocolates that I typically enjoy wasn’t fresh. Chicago is a wonderful city, despite what you may read in the press. Alive with people, foods, colors, and aromas that make it a fantastic weekend escape. I just hope to find a cappuccino worthy of the city. Enjoy.

I had the Caffè al Peppe and my boyfriend got a caramel latte. Both were really good! I don’t remember the exact ingredients of the Caffè al Peppe, but it was milky, with foam similar to a latte, a hint of spice (like pepper), and a nice touch of espresso bitterness, really unique. The caramel latte was also great. It wasn’t on the menu, but my boyfriend wanted something sweet and the staff kindly offered to prepare it for him. Both girls behind the bar were kind and professional. The place is quite small, but we really enjoyed sitting at the bar by the window.

Pretty small cafe right next to the river. They have some high chairs inside and two or three more tables outside, but overall, this is a grab and go kind of cafe because they are very limited seats. Got the ice vanilla latte, and it was really good. I could tell that the coffee was really high-quality. They also have a lot of coffee on display that you can buy. Overall, a great spot to grab a quick coffee imo.

Nothing special at all. Coffee was ok but the waitress mixed up our orders so not ideal. Cookie was tasty. The girl at the cash had a bit of attitude like she wanted to close up and we just got there 5 min before (we didn’t). I gave 3 stars because for 5 i expected a nicer cup, milk design and little plate with a spoon - yes I’m picky. Not coming back

I do not recommend Umbría Café. The coffee tasted very unpleasant, and the lack of cleanliness made a bad impression from the start. The experience was so disappointing that I wouldn’t return even if it were free. They seriously need to improve both quality and hygiene if they want to attract and keep customers.

A small cute cafe, not many options except for coffee! Not enough space to stay in line and not enough chairs and tables to sit! Just to little table outside and a bar sitting inside which was not enough!

The coffee is made from freshly roasted beans. The cafe smells like coffee all over. They offer plenty of food options too. It has a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Best coffee I had during my 3 week trip to Chicago and that’s saying a lot!!! 11/10 recommended the honey oat latte. Staff was welcoming and environment had a European coffee shop feel to it.

This is the first place we stopped at when we arrived and also the last place we visited right before we left. The staff here are so sweet and caring and truly care about the quality of drinks we offer you. On our first visit, we ordered the honey oat milk latte (a perfect balance of sweet and nutty from the oat milk) and caffè al pepe (a fun twist on a typical latte because of the dash of black pepper). On our second visit, we bought a bag of beans and tried one of the barista's recommendations: lavender white mocha. This wasn't on the menu but it's a combination that worked surprisingly well together. There are a few seats up against the window but it's definitely more of a grab-and-go place rather than a sit-down-and-work or hangout place.

横向对比依旧能打 只有少量座位的迷你分店 咖啡师技术过关 出品速度快 被写字楼包围 工作日基本都是上班族来打包续命水 HONEY OAT MIlK LATTE 小杯的分量更像是卡布奇诺 融合度很棒 中烘的浓缩 又香又顺口 点缀以微甜的蜂蜜 虽然Califia燕麦奶的质地偏稀 做成甜特调却展现出了较为清爽的风格 OAT MILK CORTADO 浓缩品质真好啊 醇厚且柔和 风味极其平衡 回甘持久

I really wonder why the good reviews! I am a coffee lover and I always make a point to try coffee shops every country I visit. Even in the States I have nearly visited 40 states and tried multiple coffee shops .... To my point, I know what is a good coffee. I have tried Umbria 3 times : cortado, cappuccino, drip coffee, cappuccino al cacao. Nothing stood out first time, that's why I tried for a second and third time. Unfriendly service! She automatically made the coffee to go instead of asking grrr Actually, quite racist personnel. My last visit I ordered a large cappuccino and the only cashier/Baptist at that time made sure my credit card went through in order to proceed to make coffee. Surely I am not returning and no, I do not recommend Umbria. There are better places in downtown Chicago

I came in on a Saturday for a cappuccino and was hoping to sit for a minute and enjoy my Joe. After ordering I asked where the rest rooms were located, and was surprised to hear that on the weekends the bathrooms are off limits. Huh? Did I hear that correctly? Yep, apparently I did. Not cool. The cappuccino was ok, but the lack of restrooms wasn't.

Had high expectations with the reputation this roaster has. Oddly enough, had not yet tried cafe. Ordered a cold brew and a light roast blend drip coffee. The drip, though light roast, tasted a bit dull and did not contain much in way of fruity notes or floralness that many light roast usually feature. Wife's cold brew was good. The roasts were largely medium to dark roasts, which also is simply not a preference i have. My review more so based on standard drip coffee which was underwhelming in comparison to many counterparts.

The honey latte is absolutely to die for - so so so good, we grabbed another before we left! Great spot too right near the water. 10/10

Came here for a pick me up and the latte was delicious. Their beans are top notch and I'm thinking of ordering some to be shipped over to the east coast!

Wow, can't believe I just now found out about this place! A small quaint coffee stop located in bustling River North, Caffe Umbria can be easy to miss while strolling along, so it's a true hidden gem. The interior is bright and welcoming, and the manager was very professional and friendly while helping customers. Upon walking in, you're greeted by an impressive pastry case with goods sourced from several of Chicago's best bakeries including Aya Pastry and Beacon Donuts. There are many super creative and great-looking coffee flavors as well, and the shop also sells their own beans if you can't get enough. I couldn't resist ordering the blueberry pancake donut this time- it was absolutely delicious and was accompanied perfectly by a plain coffee, which was flavorful and robust. 10/10 highly recommend, will be back soon!

This coffee shop is very small, but there's tons of seating in the building that's attached to it. Overall, the lavender latte was really good and I would come back to try it. Prices of coffee are skyrocketing and that's the only drawback of all of the nice local coffee shops.

Good coffee but a quite mediocre breakfast sandwich. I ordered the iced honey oat latte, which was a pleasant surprise having heard that there wasn't much great coffee in the area. The breakfast sandwich was a relatively big let down though - it was crispy to a point of being over cooked and was served with a sauce packet (inside the wrapper) hidden inside, which was a bit less than pleasant.

I recommend this coffee shop as daily morning coffee to start your day everything was wonderful! The coffee taste nice even the pastries!! Highly recommended

I enjoyed the cappuccino al cacao. I thought maybe it would be something special compared to a regular cappuccino but I'm pretty sure it was just your standard cappuccino. It was still good. There is pretty limited seating in the shop but there is a quaint little lobby with additional tables and seating. This was a nice place to stop into on a chilly day.

Stopped by here to pick up some coffee beans. The cafe is small, but packs a lot in the space. Besides the usual bar, they sell an assortment of coffee beans. I like how they provide useful descriptions for each variety and I ended up buying a bag of their signature and anniversary blends. At $15 a bag (iirc), it's reasonably priced. They also sell assorted baked goods like donuts and cookies. Friendly service too! Now to grind these beans...!

I tried a latte with whole milk, and I have mixed feelings about it. While I found the flavor of the coffee to be okay overall, I must admit that I wasn't overly impressed. However, I found the overall quality of the coffee to be rather mediocre. It didn't have that "wow" factor that I was hoping for. It lacked that extra touch of excellence that separates a good coffee from an exceptional one. The baristas at this coffee place were friendly and helpful. In conclusion, my experience with the latte at this coffee place was a 3/5. The friendly baristas, enticing menu, and convenient bar seating make it a good choice for a quick pick-me-up, but if you're seeking an exceptional coffee experience, you might want to explore other options.

High quality coffee, efficient service, and pleasant vibe. Finally a place that understands what a good coffee drink is about. The cappuccino was perfect and just the right size. The Marocchino was absolutely delicious, it was my first time trying this Italian concoction. To top off the great experience, the coffee for in-store consumption is actually served in glass rather than paper cup.

solid coffee, but priced very high for espresso and the espresso was just ok (they have an extensive drip menu - should've gone with that). but at 7.50 for an iced latte with oat milk, it just wasn't worth that for me.

Awesome coffee shop! I don't think they have pour overs and only coffee shops with pour overs get a 5/5 for me. They have nice coffee, lattes, and more. I don't think there is anything special with their beans, but they make unique lattes and specialty drinks. You can get some pre made cocktail drinks too (non alcoholic) and kombuchas as well to go. It's also in a terrific location near the river!

Came here on a Thursday morning as a party of two. The line was long, however those baristas were shipping out drinks left and right! Everyone was pleasant and of course the service was fast. The cafe itself had typical product placement, white, wood, tan, kitchen painted tile on the "edit my drink" counter. Nothing out of the ordinary. The bar in the front was getting blasted by sun. The tables in the lobby were all full. We were able to snag a seat though. We ordered an iced honey vanilla oat latte and an iced lavender matcha. The cashier at the time asked if I wanted my matcha powder sweetened or unsweetened, the perfect question for a matcha lover! The lavender matcha was perfect. The barista whisked it in a bowl, and it was not too sweet even with the lavender syrup. I definitely would recommend stopping here for some caffeine. It's conveniently placed next to the Riverwalk too!

Ordered a med iced caramel latte. $7.25 Coffee is obviously great but they dumped the caramel at the bottom. Couldn't even taste it. Which was an up charge that they failed to mention.

Cozy coffee shop right by the river! Great tasting coffee. The croissant was also really good. Line was long but went by fast.

Was walking around the city hoping to find a lavender latte and Umbria had exactly what I was looking for! Friendly staff, a perfect lavender latte, and a delicious bacon breakfast sandwich. I highly recommend stopping in for your morning caffeine and a quick bite!

This is a very cute spot for a nice summer coffee. I went with a friend and we both got iced matcha lattes! I got mine sweetened. Service was super quick. They have two types of seating - inside which I felt was a little dim and outside was cute patio seating! Definitely going again sometime.

We were at Chicago last weekend and stayed at Kinzie Hotel. This cafe is walking distance from our hotel. They have great coffee here! Strong and aromatic. I tried the cold brew paloma on their spring menu. It was refreshing and taste like coffee with tonic water! Sort of like a coffee soda!

There are so many reasons to love this cafe! 1. The pastries - we tried three. One that had some sort of honey sweet crystallized something on top (our favorite). The blueberry muffin, great. And ham and cheese filled croissant (pro tip, ask for it to be warmed up!) - all of the pastries were to die for 2. Staff - so friendly and helpful! And didn't make me feel like the odd man out since I'm not super educated about coffee 3. The Cafe el Pepe - just try it. It was so unique and wonderful tasting. I don't like my latte's/cappuccino's too sweet - I mentioned that to the cashier and she said they could make it less sweet - it was the perfect flavor to my liking! We came at 9:30 on a Thursday and they were packed but the line moved pretty seamlessly. Overall, I highly recommend this cafe!

Coffee is always good, especially the cappuccino. Bakery items were nice Wish the chairs were more comfortable

So this is a small place with just a few seats inside. It has a small counter and the line moves slow. But. It has great coffee. Not cheap coffee but quality coffee. Got a cafe latte and really enjoyed it. It was smooth yet had a good flavor. It was warm without burning my tongue. The chocolate croissant was also quite good though ultimately didn't feel all that special. It was a nice treat overall and as long as you just want coffee it's the place to go.

The coffee here is pretty good. I'm not much of a coffee guy but I really like my honey oatmilk latte. It was perfectly balanced. The service here is great. If there isn't a long line you'll get your coffee pretty quickly. What I don't like about this place is that it's pretty small so there is very limited seating. Additionally it can be a little price for the size cup that your getting.

Mocha is great! Definitely a cool spot in river north. .

Small cute coffee stop with some outdoor seating. The Service was quick and coffee seemed to be more on the lighter side. Matcha was lightly sweet but still good! You can sit on the side of the building as well

I am so picky about coffee but I got an iced hazelnut espresso shakerato with a little whole milk and it is probably in my top 2 favorite coffee drinks ever. Good flavor, not too sweet, not too milky. Literally perfect. And the workers were nice! Super cute inside too

Great Coffee shop serving up traditional Italian coffee. Love their lattes. Quick Service and Extremely friendly staff. The seating in the actual cafe is limited but there is some more dimly lit seating in the adjacent lobby. They also have some lovely patio seating outside. Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible cafe and restrooms. The staff always offers to help me carry my latte to the table (I'm a wheelchair user) which I appreciate. Non-dairy milk is available. They also support the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation along with some other organizations so with every strong cup of coffee you're also supporting some great organizations too.

Such a cute little cafe! One of my favorite drinks is their seasonal cardamom maple oat milk latte -- so smooth and perfectly sweetened! Paired with a scrumptious and flaky almond croissant (or any of their fresh pastries), it is the perfect combo. The staff was also very friendly!

Cant get enough of this cafe. Been stopping by every morning. Their honey soy latte hits different! Its so delicious and not too sweet. I also really loved their matcha latte - it tastes more on the green tea side but I didn't mind! Their pastries are also very fresh, moist, and pairs perfectly with their drinks. Staff is incredibly friendly, haven't met a staff who wasn't yet! Highly recommend!

Cute little coffee shop with amazing matcha coffee. The service is great, very friendly baristas! There's seating outside on the patio area (3 tables- good for small groups) and there are tables inside between the cafe and Protein bar. The croissant was super buttery and delicious!

A very busy coffee shop on Saturday with a line to get coffee. Some outdoor sitting and more tables and chairs behind the door at the side of the building. The staff are very friendly and patient. The coffee is ok - not the best latte that we've tried. Just felt our lavender latte and honey oat milk latte are both pretty bland to taste.

Cozy interior, lovely almond croissant, and great coffee! The seating is abundant and is a lovely place to work on your laptop. Baristas are experienced and knowledgable. Will be back soon!

Coffee was good and definitely on the stronger side which we liked. Three sizes to choose from. The staff were nice and our drinks were prepared quickly!

Since moving to Chicago I've been hunting down the best iced latte in the city. This one is a contender. The Oatmilk Honey latte is so damn good. The honey and oat milk are blended together so you're not getting chunks of cold honey, rather a luscious, sweet latte that balanced by a dark espresso that has some dark chocolate notes to it. A perfect combo. I think two sips in I decided I'd be back here once a week, even though it's a bit of a trek from where I live. The shop has a little bit of seating outdoors and a small ledge inside, but that's it. Not a great place to come and post up while working remotely, or to hangout with friends (unless you can snag one of the tables outside). Grab and go works for me, and I will be back soon!

Easily my favorite small business cafe in Chicago. It's a small cafe and when you enter, you won't see any seating and would be confused, but there's an alley connected to this cafe with tons of seating. Their coffees are great! My favorite is the Cafe Al Pepe. It's a spicy coffee beverage and is very interesting. I also love the pesto flaky pastry they have. It's mostly out of stock as it is high in demand and they restock the food everyday. The ambience is casual. The alley seating makes you think like you are in Europe. There is no service as such as you have to place an order at the counter and collect the coffee and food back at the counter once they call your name. The baristas are friendly and will help you out with your orders.

What a great little spot I found. I was staying at Freehand Chicago for a job interview at a salon, and before, decided to get a coffee. I wandered around for a while before stumbling upon Caffe Umbria. The service was wonderful--my baristas were kind, and when I didn't know what to get, I just asked for something with lavender in it and got a lovely iced vanilla lavender latte with oat milk. Service was prompt, the cafe was clean and well maintained, and the coffee was lovely. Thank you to Bailey, the barista who helped me out! You're a gem!

Came in on a Friday morning at around 8am, and it was PACKED! Definitely plan ahead to wait in line for around 15 mins since there is only one (v talented) barista and cashier. I ordered an Americano and a super flaky pastry with spinach and mushroom. Super tasty and great stop on the way to work. Interior is small but cozy. The Loop location is much smaller than the Bucktown location, but quality is the same. Highly recommended!

Awesome coffee shop for espresso based drinks and pastries. Very hip and friendly - always warm friendly staff and great coffee! Also a nice small front patio to enjoy your coffee and beverage at to people watch in busy downtown Chicago. A great place for a cup of coffee or espresso.

We were craving coffee while strolling through Chicago and found a review of this place. So glad we gave it a try. It's a very clean environment with a straightforward menu and perfectly crafted drinks. My caffè mocha with oat milk was simply delicious.

Good stop for coffee with unique options and flavors. My iced coffee was good! It's a small coffee shop with limited seating

I was in town from California on Wednesday and needed a cup of coffee before I started work. Walked over to Caffee Umbria and their POS credit card reader was down. I didn't have any cash and also offered to pay via Venmo if they had one. They didn't but the nice gentleman working insisted I still order coffee. I ordered the lavender latte and it was delicious. Thank you so much kind sir for the cup! It was really appreciated as I had a long day of work then traveling back home that evening to CA. When I'm in Chicago again, I will pay a visit!

Really enjoyed the coffee I got here! Ordered the iced honey oat milk latte and it was delicious. Not overly sweet and the espresso was nicely balanced. There was no bitter taste at all which I found to be very enjoyable. I will say this location is SMALL. If you come when there's greater than a 7-8 person line, you'll be standing outside waiting to get in. Very tight spot so it's definitely more of a to-go spot! There are a few tables in the hotel lobby next door but I found the echo in the hall to be very distracting.

The Lavender latte was delicious! Rich flavor! Customer service was super quick and friendly.

Quaint coffee shop in the middle of River North. I was recently in town for work and I discovered it in between my hotel and the Merch Mart. I went on a weekday morning and while they were busy with a line, they moved through it fast. I loved that they had a seasonal menu and a few bites to munch on if you're hungry. I went with a latte with oat milk and I really loved it. Additional thing to note, they do have a cute little patio out front. It was a beautiful morning when I visited and it was filled with folks reading the paper and hanging out. I recommend!

Caffe Umbria is a little ass place for a coffee. It seems pretty basic if you ask me. Meaning it gives you what you need. As in coffee, and good. They also have a few treats. Basically it's a go in and get out cafe. It has typical coffee drinks. The best I've had is the Caffe Latte. It's $4 a cup. Yes that's a lot but it's top notch coffee though. It has a kind of limited menu. Of course it's not surprising when you see how small this place is. They don't have much food so don't expect any bagels and muffins. Has a few non dairy milk choices. Included are coconut and oat. The cookies and treats look good but it appears all are made with eggs and animal products.