As we mentioned in last week’s review of The Understudy, more and more of Chicago’s independent coffee shops serve as hybrid spaces. Lots of cafés do the coffee thing and do it well. But we always love seeing coffee shops broaden their horizons and incorporate new ideas. In the case of The Understudy, the shop doubled as a café and a theater bookstore. In the case of Heritage Bikes & Coffee Co., the café sits alongside, you guessed it, a bicycle shop. Here is our review of Heritage Bikes, specifically the location in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.
The Interior & Decor
The interior feels rustic, very much like an old antique shop that’s gone untouched as the buildings around it have modernized. The seating matches, with a few square wooden tables and one long wooden bench. There are a small number of wooden chairs and bar seats. The shop wisely does not overcrowd the space with seating, though you will certainly find more comfortable seating elsewhere.
As you enter, the espresso bar is to your left, and the kitchen is at the back. There is also a small display for retail beans and merch on the right, as well as a fridge for canned and bottled drinks.
The most unique accents to the space are the bicycles. Two are displayed on high shelves along the walls, and at least two others are visible in the back area. And of course, there’s the second half, which is a fully-functioning bicycle shop, where even more bikes and parts on display. There is also more seating in the second half for for coffee shop patrons. (Apologies for not grabbing our own photos of this section.)
The Sandwich
I (Sam) decided to start my visit to Heritage with a sandwich from their lunch menu. I selected the Turkey BLT, which, along with the main ingredients, came served with onion, sprouts, cheddar cheese, and garlic aioli on freshly baked French bread. The sandwich came with a side of Metro Deli potato chips. There was also a small condiment station that included a homemade hot sauce.
The sandwich was very tasty. It was just the right size for a deli-type sandwich, large enough to be filling but still carefully stacked so that it didn’t appear sloppy. I’m pretty sure the hot sauce contains giardiniera in it, which is something of a Chicago spice staple. However, I neglected to ask the chef if he could confirm its presence. Regardless, I enjoyed it on the side with my sandwich. It was a zesty hot sauce with a moderate spice level.
In addition to the lunch menu, the back kitchen also has other deli purchases for sale, including roast beef, turkey breast, salami, bacon, tomatoes, avocado, and eggs. Although I did not partake of this menu, I liked that the kitchen offered additional items for purchase. I could see myself ordering from this menu in the future.
The Espresso
For my first drink, I ordered an espresso. I was pleased to learn that Heritage’s coffee is roasted by Onyx Coffee Lab, a specialty coffee company from Northwest Arkansas that has become a premier roaster over the last decade. My espresso was Onyx’s Monarch blend, a somewhat surprising choice considering the dark roast profile. Granted, most espresso blends in cafés these days are roasted something like medium-dark. But still, a true dark roast was a little unexpected.
However, I really enjoyed my espresso. I got some very pleasant tasting notes of caramel, baker’s chocolate, and prune on first sip. As the espresso rested for the next couple of minutes and its temperature dropped, I also began detecting a juicy, berry-like finish. Sure enough, the official tasting notes for Onyx’s Monarch blend are dark chocolate, molasses, red wine, and dried berries. I did not get as much of a thick and syrupy texture like the one Onyx advertises. But I enjoyed my espresso all the same.
Also, a coffee shop always gets bonus points if it puts some intention into the presentation of espresso. The red ceramic cup, saucer, and demitasse spoon I received were all nice touches.
The Specialty
For my second beverage, I went with a seasonal specialty, the Blueberry Jasmine Matcha Latte, iced. Of the two summer specialties they had listed, only this one was available when I visited. Noticing that Heritage carries macadamia milk, I decided to order it with my matcha. (Macadamia milk is a terrific and, in our opinion, underrated alternative milk in the coffee scene.)
My preference for matcha lattes is already cold with sweetener, so I expected to enjoy it. Sure enough, the drink was delicious. The blueberry was sweet without being overpowering. The jasmine offered a nice floral finish. With four ingredients (including the milk) all potentially vying for dominance, I was glad that the Blueberry Jasmine Matcha Latte ended up so balanced. I also found that it paired quite well with macadamia milk. If you’re curious enough to try it, I do recommend ordering it with macadamia.
The Merch
The merchandise that was not directly bicycle-related was mostly stationed at the front on the right side wall. Even some of these items are clearly geared for the outdoors. Note the branded water bottles, for instance. Heritage also carries a small selection of Onyx’s lineup, including the Monarch blend. For anyone looking to try some of Onyx’s beans, I would also recommend the Southern Weather, an excellent medium-roasted blend that tasted good on just about any brewing method.
There was also a second merch display to the left of the kitchen that had more to do with the bike shop. Not being a cyclist myself, I did not spend as much time perusing this part of the store. But for any cyclists in the Chicago area, I imagine there is a lot of stuff here to keep you interested.
Conclusion
I enjoyed my visit to Heritage Bikes & Coffee Co. Despite some nitpicks I had about the comfort level of the seating, the food, espresso, and specialty drink I tried were all scrumptious. In the current landscape of hybrid cafés in Chicago, Heritage has made its mark as a destination for coffee lovers and bicycle enthusiasts alike. If either of these descriptions fits you, I recommend a visit. And if you happen to fall into both categories, I find it difficult to imagine a better spot to check out.
Plan Your Visit to Heritage Bikes
Address: 2959 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Website: www.heritagebikesandcoffee.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heritagebikesandcoffee/?hl=en