Chicago November Saturdays call for coffee and more coffee especially after the Thanksgiving holiday where it was nonstop commotion and running around for my mini family. So Saturday morning on our car ride back into the city I suggested we pit stop at Star Lounge!
Star Lounge is where Dark Matter coffee was born. Chicago native Jesse Diaz started as just a coffee slinger working at Star Lounge when three years later the own planned to sell the cafe. Diaz borrowed money from a friend and bought out the coffee shop. Boom the birth of Star Lounge and the Dark Matter craze.
Until visiting Star Lounge I actually had not realized this was where it all began, around the corner is the Dark Matter Mothership, so to me that was where it all began but it actually started right around the corner at Star Lounge. Sad it has taken me this lounge to get out here but with Osmium just a few blocks from my house this is where I’ll walk for my Dark Matter fix.
I also recently discovered Two Zero Three now serves Dark Matter.
It was ever so slightly out of our way, but worth the trip! First thing I noticed about Star Lounge was it had a very similar look and feel to Osmium. Very narrow inside with a long coffee bar to sit at and a few tables at the bar of the building, it then opens up to a huge back patio with six picnic tables. Unfortunately it’s no longer the season for sitting outside but this has to be a huge hit in the warmer months. We also discovered these cafes are dog friendly! Such a huge plus for us now with our little fur monther. Granted we didn’t go get him for this trip since we were just trying to get him home. He is NOT a fan of the car right now.
But I love this set up! Now knowing they are dog friendly patios I know where I’ll be spending my summer with Duncan, we will both be well caffeinated now.
Considering it was still so early in the morning I knew I needed something strong to wake me up and keep me going this morning. I asked the barista which of their beans is used for the cortado; which is basically a shot of espresso with just a little steamed milk added to help cut the acidic taste.
They use Unicorn Blood beans! Which happens to be my all time favorite bean from them. It’s a dark espresso bean with notes of peanut butter, could have named this bean after me, Blonde Bean Head. I was super pumped to give it a try, the last cortado I had was at Next Door Cafe and that was flavored with fig, vanilla and orange zest. This time I was really looking forward to tasting the espresso and seeing if I could pick up on hints of the peanut butter.
My only gripe with cortados is I always want more, I tend to drink them too fast and always wish I had another waiting for me, should learn to drink slower but I can’t stand when coffee gets cold. But check out how cute this little drink is and literally so delicious! The absolute best cortado, I liked the flavored one but this was better cause I actually got to taste the espresso!
And it was delicious, could have absolutely enjoyed a second. Though I did not pick up on much of the peanut butter flavor like I was hoping it was so delicious and I liked it better than having all the added flavor. Now that I know this I might become a regular Two Zero Three to get more cortados, but I’ll try for a double shot with still the same small splash of milk.
Will let you all know how that tastes once I try it, possibly this coming week?
There are a few more Dark Matter coffee shops I need to get to; the Meddler (this one is the newest, didn’t even realize they opened this location) and The Mothership. Close to hitting them all.
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