Coffee in the NW Burbs

I have recently gooten a job in Rolling Meadows on Golf Rd., and while I have been enjoying the proximity to Mitsuwa for lunch and Valli to pick up fruit in the morning, I am hurting for a good coffee fix. There are Starbucks all over the place and a Caribou close by, but I am looking for some good independent coffee. if they were to happen to serve Intelligensia or Metropolis all the better.
I am normally coming West on Palatine and turning south at either Mt. Prospect Rd. or Arlington Heights.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't been to any of the following places but did find them after a search; perhaps others can give first-hand feedback.

Biggby Coffee - 21 S Dunton, Arlington Hts
A smaller chain. Think it used to be called Beaner's Coffee.

That Coffee Place - 28 E Northwest Hwy, Arlington Hts

X Press-O - 195 W Rand, Mt Prospect (near Rand & Elmhurst intersection)

Gale's Coffee Bar - 601 N Milwaukee, Wheeling

The two roasters I know if in the NW burbs are Conscious Cup in Crystal Lake (full cafe) and The Expresso Shoppe in Bensenville (limited hours tasting room). Conscious Cup is out of your way but worth a stop if ever in the neighborhood. I just found out about The Expresso Shoppe so don't have any info on them other than what's on their website.

HTH.

Wow, there's a Biggby in the Chicago market? They're all over Michigan, and yes, they used to be called Beaners (presumably until someone informed them of the racial overtones of that name). You'll still occasionally see a Beaners billboard around central Michigan.

I will have to try Bigby's out. Thank you for the info.

jpreiser wrote:Gale's Coffee Bar - 601 N Milwaukee, Wheeling

This was the Gale Gand shop in the Westin North Shore. It's closed.

Thank you to the original poster for posting this thread. Ever since I came back from college (Univ. of Illinois - Champaign, Urbana)....I have been aching for a good coffee shop! They're so plentiful around college towns but not around the burbs of Chicago (at least in my experience). Thanks for the suggestions!

jpreiser wrote:X Press-O - 195 W Rand, Mt Prospect (near Rand & Elmhurst intersection)

I just realized this is the little drive-up coffee hut in a parking lot on the west side of Rand northwest of 83. They serve good Italian coffee, cheaper than Starbucks, but it isn't a place you can go to hang out.

X Press-O International
195 W. Rand Road
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
(847) 342-9696