Perkolator

What a great spot, Portage Park is lucky to have a place like this. Not just a mere coffee shop, they serve food and have a record store and bookstore adjacent to the café as well. They clearly serve a niche as there were all walks of life here, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Cops, toddlers, seniors, families, etc.
The coffee and pastries are great, and I’ll be back to try a sandwich or breakfast burrito next time. The décor is unique and eclectic, with local art on the walls and even a play space for kids. A great community-​oriented business that you should support.

Reasonable prices, friendly staff, good food options, and wifi. It has a fun and cozy atmosphere. It’s a great place to get a cup of coffee and hang out.

I stop here for coffee all the time and i’m so glad to have this place in the neighborhood. The service is always good and I don’t have to wait too long. It has a laid back atmosphere where you can come and study or just read a book. I have also had the paninis from here which are very tasty. My favoritite is the one with pesto.
I will definately keep coming back.

Good and funky. I’d like to go back and browse the record section one of these days, too. I only had a coffee as I’d already had lunch. The food menu looked fun and quirky. I will make a point to try some lunch there.

Great atmosphere. Came here a very times with friends to chat over coffee, can be crowded sometimes, but not too bad. Comfy spots to sit as well as tables and chairs. Their dark chocolate mocha is amazing, and they have many many drink options. Have tried a few of their bakery treats, which I enjoyed… most recently had the blueberry scone, which was very good. Great neighborhood spot!

Joe and the crew are top notch. I always enjoy coming here alone or with my family. Being a teacher, you get a discount, too. Too bad they’re not open later for those late night grading sessions, but maybe if the Patio theater gets going on a regular business, they’d open later. Wishful thinking! :-)

The kids have run amok on this place. Coming here on a Sunday afternoon for a nice relaxing coffee is not an easy task. The shorties are all over the place, books and toys are loitering all over the floor, parents are scolding their kids for being crazy, daddy’s coffee just spilled on the floor because little Johnny thinks he is Darth Vader and his older brother apparently stands in his way of universal domination. In spite of all the madness, Perkolator could not be a better neighborhood coffee shop. In fact it’s quite impressive for the local hood.
The coffee has a nice range of options. You can go hardcore with an Americano, Sweet cold drinks like the Mocha Perk, or a satisfying Hot Chocolate or Caramel Latte. The latter order was mine which was quite lovely. In addition they have several bakery items including a blueberry scone. A little bit of crunch and not too sweet, much like a typical European treat.
The décor really stands out. Colorful walls littered with paintings from local artists. The paintings ranged from very mundane black and white to vicious explosions of color that reminded me of graffiti. This month It appears to be a feature of Polish American artists.
Their is an adjoining room to the shop that is a record store. It’s not very big but a nice collection of records, books, and comics populate this room. In the back Is another seating area for enjoying a book and coffee. The record shop idea seems to be a winner as I saw multiple people buying several items.
Overall it might be hard to get some quiet time and get some work done here because of the «family» environment. But if you live in the hood and especially have a family you should feel right at home. Despite my lack of a family, I love what they are trying to do and am proud it is in the neighborhood! Peace!

The coffee is good and the atmosphere of the joint is unique! However, I was served a very dry dessert that was a day old… don’t do that.

A very colorful, cozy, cheap, no attitude spot for coffee, tea, etc. The baristas were very polite. There are wonderful loose leaf teas to choose from including some delicious herbal concoctions. I had a roasted almond tea with a splash of macadamia nut milk — yes — macadamia nut milk. It’s the only coffee place I have ever been to that serves not just soy and almond milk but also macadamia and hemp milk. My husband had a cortado which he said was delicious though a bit larger than normal — more like a very good, extremely strong latté.
There’s also breakfast and lunch with homemade soups. I’d definitely return when I’m in the vicinity.

I spend a whole work day here catching up on my paperwork. The staff are all super friendly and helpful. The americano was delicious and freshly prepared, and they had almost every conceivable nut milk available, including macadamia nut. The breakfast burrito was decent enough on its own, but they also have a bewildering variety of hot sauce is available to spice things up. Anywhere that has both Cholula and Sriracha available is amazing in my book.
There is a fair amount of seating, though not so many electrical outlets. Music throughout the day was enjoyable and eclectic, and they also have a record store attached to the café. Definitely worth coming back.

My Husband & I tried this place once & that was enough. Over priced & the food/​bakery is not fresh. Also 1 of the owners was cooking & serving food with a long uncovered beard. This was some time ago so hopefully they are more sanitary. The service was not friendly either.

You’ve probably walked or driven past it countless times, but the next time you pass by you’ve gotta stop in! I find it amazing that they are hand making the breakfast sandwiches and burritos as you order them. Eggs freshly cracked and perfectly crafted. The coffee is great, the Frozen Perk even better. I always roll my eyes at reviews that talk about the «ambiance» but I’ve gotta say this place has a great ambiance too. You honestly can’t go wrong, and I highly suggest it.

It’s happened. I’m officially a hipster; can hipsters be plus size? Do they usually surround themselves in this much color? Can they be dorky and clumsy? I’m not sure, but in any case, those are all me, and yet I feel like a hipster (in the best way) in this artsy coffee shop/​café. Perkolator is like my version of hipster heaven. Or maybe espresso nirvana?
So yes, atmosphere is everything. First off, great tunes played over a great sound system or speakers. I love the vividly colored & wallpapered walls adorned with local artists’ work for sale, and the bright, open feel of the dining area, and the creaky wood floors. I love that there are games and toys for kids to play with and board games for adults (sorry, no adult toys, this ain’t that kind of place). I love the friendly and patient baristas and staff as well, always inviting. And before I get into the menu, if all that wasn’t enough atmosphere, this just put Perkaltor over the top for me: they’ve opened an adjoining (dare I say Sci-​fi) retro lounge area in the space next door filled with vinyl records and books to peruse! If playing with old clunky typewriters, turntables and telephones are your thing, you will most certainly appreciate the décor and retro lighting. Oh, did I mention the Ray-​gun? There’s a ray-​gun, people! And Star Trek posters, and a huge spaceman Martian and spaceship painted on one wall. If they had comic books, I’m quite certain the Big Bang Theory characters would hang out here. I may be mixing genres, but I just don’t care.
Enough– on to the menu. Think breakfast sandwiches (which recently got a nod on Chicagoist, check it out), pastries and also bistro lunch options such as soups, greens, grilled cheese, paninis, and so on. Btw, these are some of the best scones ever. I suggest you seriously check out the pastry case.
As for coffee drinks, I believe they have their own Perkolator brand in a variety of blends, in addition to sometimes featuring guest roasters (past ones have been Intelligentsia, Dark Matter, Metropolis, etc). Can we talk about dairy & non dairy options for a minute? They have got them all. Does your local barista offer HEMP milk? No? Well they should. I’m all about options and that’s one you don’t often see. (P.S. I tried it in my latte and enjoyed it.) They have all the usual suspects of dairy, plus, soy, almond, macadamia, coconut and hemp milk. This makes me happy. Not into coffee? There’s also cold and hot teas, Italian sodas, milk, and possibly regular soda (I’ve never noticed)?
Trust me when I say, this little place is a winner. Quaint, charming, retro, roomy, interesting, tasty. What more do you need? Wi-​fi, maybe? Shut up, hipster. Duh, they have that, too.

I’m getting familiar with, soon-​to-​be, my new neighborhood. I found Perkolator when visiting «Thrift & Thrive,» the thrift store across the street. I’ve heard that these two (2) stores are owned by the same people. Well, they have two (2) stellar businesses under their belt.
According Daddy J.‘s comment, they serve awesome Americano, which is also reasonably priced ($ 3 for a 20oz. cup, as of 09/​24/​2015). I’m not brave enough to imbibe great quantities of Americano like Daddy J. does, so I went with their «Mocha Perk,» similar to frappuccino, except I could taste the coffee (unlike the frappé from the mystic green-​Statue of Liberty brand). That mocha perk was, in my opinion, decently-​priced ($ 4 for a medium size, as of 09/​24/​2015).
Daddy J. likes the place because he was able to find newspapers to read! It’s also kids-​, mothers-​, and students-​friendly. There’s a toddler’s corner by the front door, so children can entertain themselves while moms are munching their sammies and sipping their drinks.
Perkolator is located near Chicago Public Library-​Dunning branch, near Irving Park and Austin.

This is definitely my favorite coffee shop on the NW side. It is cute and cozy and a great asset to the neighborhood. I also love that they showcase artwork from local artists.
The coffee is strong and delicious. It is much stronger than at chain coffee shops. I particularly liked the caramelocha (caramel and mocha). All of their coffees are available hot and iced and they offer cold brew as well.
Unlike most coffee shops, Perkolator offers sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch. The bacon/​nutella/​banana sandwich is to die for.

This place is so good! Incredible service. Very personable staff and fantastic prices. I had a turkey wrap and watermelon flavored iced tea. It was so delicious! The turkey wrap came with the best cole slaw I’ve ever had.
Seriously you gotta try this place!

Sometimes you stumble across a place in your new neighborhood that makes you glad you moved there. That’s how I feel about Perkolator.
I went in for the first time and said under my breath «what a little peach!»
Incredible coffee. Knowledgeable and catering staff. Delicious eats. Cool and chill space.
What more do you want?
I’m gonna peel through the menu and try everything… so far my recco is the Mochanut! Mocha and Coconut … together … as one. Heaven called and it wants its espresso drink back.

I had a 2% milk latte (medium comes with two shots of espresso) and it was very drinkable (I add no sugar or flavoring). While it’s not a latte to rave about, the atmosphere was truly enjoyable. Great place to sit and enjoy a conversation with a good friend. So my four stars represents that I would definitely return here regularly, but I wouldn’t tell anyone it’s the best latte I’ve ever had.
I also had the red pepper, provolone, and egg sandwich. It’s served on a buttered, toasted, brioche bun. It was served very hot – I actually let it sit for a bit before I could eat it. Multiple Tabasco varieties are available – I love that Chipotle flavor. My sandwich was simple and tasty. Loved the melted cheese. The red peppers were roasted and probably from a can or jar, which is ok. It’s still better than fast food.
My friend got the egg, sausage and cheese and upgraded to a croissant (instead of bun) for $ 1 and I would say it’s worth it. The croissant is huge, flaky, and fits the sandwich innards more comfortably than my bun. He also enjoyed his drip coffee.
Cute/​convenient bonus: lending library shelf with adult and children’s books. A cute kids’ table mixed in with comfy chairs (for adults). The bathroom also has a solid wood changing table with a cloth mat. All in all, a very kid-​friendly place, especially for a coffee shop.

Wished I had one of this closer to home! Awesome place to grab a nice warm tea, coffee or chocolate and relax, read a book or magazine, stare at nothing, chat with friends, etc. couches and ottoman to feel like at home! They offer vegetable milk such as almond and soy. As a recommendation if the owner reads this, I would also make rice milk available. They have yummy brownies and I also saw muffins. I think they also offer lunch snacks, such a sandwich or panninis. Anyway, we will be back soon!

I like ‘em. I like ‘em a lot.
The fabulous coffee and cozy atmosphere are honestly just the icing on the cake compared to the welcoming and friendly customer service! The staff at the Perkolator are absolutely darling.
Tis the season for a pumpkin spiced latte, so a pumpkin spiced latte is what I enjoyed! What can I say? It’s my go-​to in October/​November. After I placed my order I sat down at a table to set up my computer and connect to WiFi while my beverage was being prepared. I was expecting to hear my name or order called out, but instead the barista brought my latte right over to where I was sitting — what service!
That immediately set the tone for my couple hour stay. Such a great atmosphere to hang out and get a little peace and quiet. Or in my case, pop open my computer and get some work done.
Regardless, great local caffeine fix! Plus, free wifi :)