Bow Truss Coffee Roasters

I have been going to bow truss at least a few days a week now for over a year. I always drink a straight espresso. They offer a daily alternative and a regular espresso blend daily. I like the variety and appreciate the knowledge .I also go to Dark matter a few times a week and try to go to other spots in and around the area so I feel I know a little bit about what I am saying„ and have to say… Bow Truss is the best! F. ALL THE REST!!!

Am I the only one who hates that when you walk into a coffee shop where people are working and hanging out, that everyone has to stop what they’re doing and turn to stare at you? Am I the only person that happens to? It’s like I’m intruding in their space, like a stranger when they are regulars. Maybe that’s what it is, I don’t know.
Anyway, that doesn’t really have anything to do with my review of Bow Truss, even though it happened here, very obviously.
We cam in on a very cold Sunday to get a couple of coffees. We asked for triple shot Americanos. Sorry, can’t do triple shots. The shots only come in pairs. Okay… So, how about we buy 6 shots and split them between our 2 coffees? Nope, no splitting shots. Seriously? You can;t charge us for three double shot coffees and just put into two damn cups? Sheesh…
The coffee was good, and scorchingly hot. But the rigid customer service forces me to knock this down. Add to that that this is the most expensive coffee I have found in the area, and I can’t get too excited about Bow Truss. Sorry.

The staff was super helpful and they do indeed have wifi, so if this is a concern, don’t let it be any longer!

Hey guys, do me a favor — if my coffee order is $ 9.82 and you tell me it’s $ 9.82 and I swipe my card and sign my name for $ 9.82, then I see a giant bold $ 11.82 on my receipt, how bout you tell me instead of letting me read that you added a $ 2 tip on the card order. Let’s try that, okay? Just try it — you don’t have to like it, just try it. Also, call my name or tell me my coffee is ready instead of letting it sit on the counter next to your pretentious antique record players. Can we try that? Just two things I want you to try. Literally those two things. Coffees great though!

Great coffee for a reasonable price. Pretty empty on a Monday morning so no problem getting a seat. Cool music, not too loud. Baristas have long beards, so you know they know their beans
Also they have a standing desk. If you don’t want to sit for too long you can stand too

The space is hip, but still cozy. The espresso is top tier. And Jeffrey was the friendliest barista I’ve encountered in a long time: genuine, helpful, and knowledgable without pretense.

Ordered my usual coffee tester — the soy cappuccino here and yeah I was happy! Really earthy and slightyl nutty taste to the drink, which i find refreshing and unique in comparison to my sweeter soy cap from Starbucks.
The portions are also really cute here and I would definitely walk into another store to try some of their snacks with my coffee next time.
The ambiance is also super hipster and modern and is a neat place to just sit and sip your coffee or do some work and study :)

I’m a member of their coffee subscription program. So far, the customer service is disappointing. As in, they’ve stop sending beans, won’t respond to emails (over a couple weeks…), and no indication as to why. Orders disappear from the website, or otherwise just get stuck in «Pending,» hell.
While the beans are pretty good, the roasts seem inconsistent. I would suggest Blue Bottle instead; about the same price, higher quality, and responsive customer service. They can run behind at times too, but you will actually get your coffee.

When I googled «where should I get coffee in Chicago» which I recognize is more a question for Ask Jeeves, Google Jeeves told me to go to Bow Truss. I asked for an iced americano with almond milk because it was hotter than the sun, milk is the devil’s folly and I was in a suit. The barista asked which type of coffee I wanted which is a great question because I love coffee. She walked me through my ops (options) explaining the subtleties of each, and I decided on the Ethiopian blend, pretending that the blend spoke to my pallet but in reality she said it was her favorite. I wasn’t disappointed, the coffee was the best and I bought three different bags to take home and tell my friends about my new found Ethiopian coffee facts.

I was sitting at one of the tables while a woman wandered in and sat down at the end of the table, a little flustered, digging around for some money. A barista walked up and handed her a large coffee. She said she didn’t order anything yet and he said «nope but this is yours. And it’s on me today». And she was SO happy. The «coffee culture» needs more baristas that thoughtful. Not only did it make HER day but it made mine too!

I’m updating this from one star because after I left my bad review, a manager contacted me to attempt to rectify the situation. I haven’t been back yet but I appreciate the good customer service I received from the manager. Perhaps I will give it another try.

This coffee house is perfect for people who enjoy a tailored scene. It has what is commonly referred to as a «hipster» vibe. It is a great place for a customer to do some serious thinking, too, if they want to sit alone and get their «philosophy» on.
The coffee and tea is good, the setting laid back, and the barista staff knowledgeable, yet unpretentious.
Every visit of my own has been memorable and the staff seemed happy to see me.
It’s great for reading the paper and relaxing.
Seating is limited, however, so getting a seat on a holiday or weekend can be difficult at times. It’s biggest drawback, it seems to me is its limited hours.
It always looks closed. In addition, and this may only be a concern for some patrons, the lighting is on the dim side. For people who prefer brightly lit interiors to ones illuminated with natural light, this might influence their experience negatively. in addition: a better variety of food wouldn’t go unappreciated. Every time I get there what is left has a rather picked over look.
Overall it is worth the trouble.

I could not ask for a better place to do homework, job search & feel more welcome then this local coffee shop. From the most personal lattes that have me aching to want more to the old records playing the background that sooth over you to make your experience more relaxing other then the not wifi I could not ask for a better place to call my neighborhood coffee roaster that can make me the most perfect cup of joe for my aching coffee soul.

Excellent service. Baristas were very friendly and helpful. Ordered a latte and realized I am a latte person. They roast their own beans so it can’t get any more fresh than this

This location has been my go-​to coffee spot for the past two years and is one of the main reasons I love living in the neighborhood. Staff are consistently friendly, but most importantly, the coffee is delicious, likely because it is roasted in-​house. Bow Truss rotates through a slew of beans from all over the world, so you are bound to try lots of different styles and flavors on each visit. So far, all have impressed.
Another perk is the baked goods table that pops up inside the shop each weekend. Local bakers sling their wares, from croissants and tarts to cookies and breads. Typically pretty tasty and a nice gesture to local the community.
Tip: If you want an espresso-​based drink, order one of the smaller sizes. Each drink at Bow Truss gets a full extraction of espresso (essentially two shots) regardless of the size. So a large latte or americano is basically just a more diluted version of the smaller size. And trust me, the beans at this place are so good you will want to taste them fully.

BOW TRUSS IS SO DELICIOUS.
In recent years I’ve become more and more of a coffee snob. Bow Truss delivers. It’s hard to beat a coffee shop that roasts on-​site.
As far as ambiance, it’s not a super cozy atmosphere and it’s definitely small. But! I went on a Tinder date here and it’s went super well… so there’s also that!
If you haven’t been here… You’re missing out on a little piece of heaven.

No idea why this place has less than 4.5 stars. The coffee is stellar, service is great, and it’s rarely a long wait. Some people complained about wait times, but if that’s your concern, go to Starbucks or Peet’s (nothing wrong with that). Buy if you care about the coffee, this is one of the top roasters in Chicago.

This place is pretty cool.
Their process for making coffee is pretty unique (they make each cup individually). It takes a bit longer, but it’s so good.
I got a latte here and it was one of the best I’ve ever had.
The only negative is that there are not a lot of places to sit (just two long tables) and people kind of spread out taking up a lot of space.

I hope you like The Talking Heads, because Bow Truss always seems to be playing their albums on Saturday mornings. But this is fine by me.
The menu selection doesn’t stray from traditional coffee drinks, but I’ve tried their pour over coffee, Americano, cappuccino and alternate macchiato, and they’re all good. What Bow Truss lacks in variety, it makes up for in quality.
What I like best about Bow Truss, however, is the company’s partnerships with other local food shops like Glazed & Infused doughnuts, Rustic Tart and Hilary’s Cookies. These partnerships allow Bow Truss to focus on what it does best while still bringing something more than coffee to the table.
Seating is limited, and there are no bathrooms or wi-​fi, so this isn’t the place to park for hours while you work. It is, however, a great place to grab a cup of coffee.

No thank you!
The coffee is drinkable– nothing spectacular. The baristas are cold and pretentious– no surprise. But the kicker is that they have no wi-​fi and no bathroom. What!!! That’s too crazy.