Ipsento
Where some coffee shops-as-community centers do the dusty book thing and forget about what’s in the cup, Ipsento delivers on the coffee every single time and, okay, has some dusty books (and sandwiches named after authors), too. You don’t come here for the cool factor—which can be refreshing these days. PRO TIP: You’ll barely notice the Chicago cold with an Ipsento latte in hand. Whole milk is swapped out for coconut milk, sugar is ditched in favor of honey, and a pinch of cayenne is added to bring the heat: This is your tropical island retreat in a glass. THE DETAILS: For all the early birds out there, Ipsento opens at 6 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. on weekends (and doesn’t close till 8 p.m. every night). That said, try not to show up at noon on a Saturday, unless you really love waiting in out-the-door lines.
