Here in Chicago, the coffee shop scene is constantly evolving. New cafés and concepts are popping up seemingly all of the time. The city has its fair share of storied specialty companies: Intelligentsia, Dark Matter, Big Shoulders, to name a few. It also hosts more specialized franchises like Blue Bottle and Dayglow. (See our review of Dayglow here.) But just as exciting than these, if not more, is the scene of small, independent shops offering something new and unique.
One such shop is The Understudy Coffee and Books, located in the Andersonville neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side. Opened in March 2023 by owners Danny Fender and Adam Crawford, The Understudy is half coffee shop, half theater bookstore. And I mean that quite literally. When you walk through the front doors, you will see an espresso bar with seating on your right and a bookstore on your left.
Thankfully, far from being jarring or kitschy, The Understudy utilizes its hybrid space well. Whether you’re looking for a quality cup of coffee, a nice cup of tea, or looking to browse the stacks, this small shop has something to offer you.
The Espresso
On one side, the Understudy boasts an espresso bar stocked with the classics. All of their coffee is roasted by Metric Coffee Co., a successful B-Corp certified roaster also based in Chicago. For my first drink, I tried a simple espresso. In addition to its pleasant body, I found notes of citrus and dried fruit, as well as a slight nuttiness. It reminded me of a lemon tea in the best way. Their espresso drinks, should you order them to stay, come in delightful ceramics that match perfectly with the design of the interior. I was already a fan of Metric’s product. To see The Understudy utilize it well was a real treat.
The Specialty
But The Understudy’s menu doesn’t stop at the basics. In addition to its coffee, the shop offers a variety of teas from Spirit Tea. They also rotate through seasonal specials, which they name after popular plays and musicals. Going off of the barista’s recommendation, I tried one of their summer specials, the “Hunter’s Fabulous Adventure.” This was a half-cold brew, half-lemonade concoction, sweetened with a blackberry cordial syrup. I am a huge fan of cold brew shandys, especially as a summer drink. (Don’t knock it ’til you try it!) This one was delightful, a wonderfully balanced mix of tangy acidity and nutty depth. The blackberry gave the whole drink an extra pop of sweetness.
Finally, The Understudy boasts a small selection of local craft beers and wine, as well as a to-go fridge stocked with water, tea, and spritzers for folks on the move. Their pastry case is stocked with baked goods from local bakeries, including a totally gluten-free bakery called Defloured.
One thing to note about the coffee menu: you may notice a lack of pour-over options. For those who are looking for that sort of thing, you may wind up disappointed. But I always appreciate a café that focuses on doing fewer things well than doing more things just okay. The espresso is delicious, and it’s clear that the staff have a real knack for creative drinks. If you’re looking for a classic espresso drink, The Understudy will have you covered. But their seasonal specialties received just as much attention and are just as delicious.
The Books
On the other side of the shop, you’ll find stacks and shelves of books, many of which relate in some way to theater. The selection is small, befitting of the space. One entire wall is just rows and rows of plays. For theater fans and practitioners who need a copy of their local production’s play, or anyone who’s into collecting, this would be a haven.
Opposite the play wall are shelves consisting of a mix of fiction and non-fiction, with a smattering of poetry. There’s even one section dedicated to “Creativity/Wellness/Justice.” Additionally, three tables in the middle of the bookstore half are dedicated to new released, curated selections, and Understudy merch. Be sure to check the shelves underneath these displays for more theater books. You will spot titles on acting, directing, scene design, and more.
Despite only taking up a small space, the bookstore half of The Understudy packs a lot of titles into its shelves without appearing overstuffed. And you certainly don’t have to be a theater kid – or theater kid at heart – to find something on the shelves worth picking up.
Towards the back of the bookstore, you will find a comfortable sofa as well as two elegant chairs as additional seating options. There’s also, no joke, an old piano nestled next to the bookshelves. Patrons are even welcome to sit down and play for a short time!
A Communal Space for Creatives
In addition to its café and bookstore, The Understudy acts as a communal space for events related to theater and creativity. These include play readings, book clubs, and even drag shows, as well as the occasional latte art throwdown. Many of these events are hosted by baristas. For example, when I visited, they had an ongoing meeting series for folks reading through The Artist’s Way. For anyone who loves coffee and is looking for a community of creatives to join, The Understudy could easily become a new home.
Our Recommendation
The Understudy is a truly unique coffee shop, one that manages to balance the multiple uses of its hybrid space. The coffee and tea selections are delicious, and these would be enough to recommend the café. But you can just as easily spend time perusing the shelves, looking for something new to pick up.
If there is anything I would critique about the shop, it’s the café seating. Although the café has a variety of options to choose from, all of which marry nicely with the design of the interior, some of the seats are quite small. The bar seating on the window will not offer much room for yourself or your things, and the couch-like seating that borders the wall separating the café from the bookstore might also be a tight squeeze.
But still, when it comes to the burgeoning independent coffee scene in Chicago, The Understudy is a must-visit. It is a holistically designed space doing all of its components well. According to Adam Crawford, one of the founders, “I’ve been saying it’s not like we’re 50 percent bookstore and 50 percent coffee shop. We’re 100 percent coffee shop and 100 percent bookstore.” [source]
Plan Your Visit to The Understudy
Address: 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
Website: https://www.theunderstudy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunderstudychi/#