Here in Chicago, it seems like more and more of the coffee scene is characterized by pop-ups. Whether we’re in the peak of the pop-up wave is up for debate. But one thing’s for sure, pop-ups are a fantastic springboard for new roasters to get a foot in the door. That was true of Luckycat back when they popped up at Boonie’s, a Filipino restaurant in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. But it’s still true now that Luckycat has opened a brick-and-mortar location in Lakeview East.
I had the fortune of sampling Luckycat’s coffee while dining at Boonies, so I was excited to visit them again at their own coffee shop. What made their product distinctive to me was its origin. All of their single-origin coffee is sourced from China. Historically, China has not been considered a premier hotspot for coffee production, at least here in the United States. But East Asian coffee in general is gaining representation in American specialty coffee. This gave me all the more reason to visit Luckycat’s new shop, which opened earlier this fall.
The Espresso
My first order was the house espresso. According to their menu, this was the Maomi Blend, a medium-roasted blend consisting of beans from China, Guatemala, and Mexico. I was delighted when the barista served the coffee in the classic demitasse cup & spoon with a serving of sparkling water on the side. I’ll never get tired of having espresso served this way.
The coffee was very nicely balanced between fruity and nutty flavors. I caught light notes of citrus alongside a sort of nutty caramel flavor, almost like a praline. I found the espresso pleasantly well-rounded. Not surprising given that this was a blend geared for espresso. While good by itself, I was excited to try it in latte form, as these sorts of blends tend to do very well when paired with milk.
Were I to order the espresso again, I would get the single-origin offering, which at the time of my visit was a Kaku Washed batch from Yunnan, China.
The Breakfast Sandwich
I followed the espresso with Luckycat’s breakfast sandwich. This sandwich had a relatively simple recipe of an egg patty with chives mixed in, gruyère, and hot honey chili crisp on a toasted brioche bun. They had an option to add thick-cut bacon for a little extra. But since I’m skewing vegetarian these days, I ordered it as is.
I found that the sandwich had a nice mix of sweet and savory flavor, with the hot honey chili crisp providing a counter-balance to the egg and cheese. The gruyère was melted and warm without being a gooey mess, and the egg patty had both a good thickness to give the sandwich heft and a crispy underside to add a bit of crunch. My only letdown was the brioche bun, which was only lightly treated and probably could have been toasted for longer. I imagine the bacon would add some toasted crispy texture, but I do appreciate that there was an option to keep the sandwich meatless.
All in all, I thought the sandwich was a tasty savory option for breakfast. Artisanal breakfast sandwiches are everywhere these days in Chicago coffee shops, so I couldn’t help but compare this sandwich others I’ve tried around the city. In that comparison, Luckycat’s breakfast sandwich doesn’t quite measure up to the best I’ve had. But considering the shop is still very young I expect that they will keep improving it.
The Signature
Luckycat offers a range of signature drinks, including a Miso Maple Latte and a Coconut Cloud Cold Brew. They also have a small selection of seasonal drinks, such as the Spiced Orange Latte. But, sucker that I am for mochas, I chose for my second drink the Málà Mocha, a seasonal beverage made with espresso, milk, cocoa, Sichuan spices, and sea salt.
Sea salt in mochas isn’t terribly uncommon, but the addition of Sichuan spices elevated this drink for me. This added a warm, gently spicy, almost-umami flavor to the drink that most specialty mochas simply don’t have. While I’m sure some would say that it could be spicier, my preference has always been for mild heat, so I didn’t mind the gentleness of the Sichuan spices. The cocoa level was delicately balanced, neither too sweet nor too hidden. I found this drink to be the perfect hot beverage for the cold season.
The Ethos
Luckycat describes itself as a coffee business with an Asian-American perspective, and that sense of origin is evident all over the shop. The name itself is a reference to small cat figurine that can be found displayed in many Asian-American businesses.
Aside from the Asian-sourced coffee, there’s the added emphasis on matcha and tea. One of the signature and one of the seasonal drinks are matcha-based, and you can find options for a “Matcha Neat,” “Matchacano,” and, of course, “Matcha Latte” in the tea menu. There’s even a “Matcha Granola + Yogurt” in the prepared food fridge. I’ll be sure to sample some of their matcha on my next visit.
Alongside the matcha, you can find on the menu houjicha, a roasted green tea of Japanese origin. You can order houjicha on its own or you can buy a “Houjicha White Chocolate Cookie,” among other sweets. Even the cold brew is made “Kyoto-style,” which refers to a slow-drip method. This is different from the hours-long immersion process that most cold brew is made with. Suffice to say that the whole food and drink menus have been designed with Asian origin in mind.
Conclusion
Luckycat is a delightful addition to the ever-evolving Chicago coffee scene. Though still in its infancy as a brick-and-mortar shop, it has already put a distinctively Asian-American perspective into their menu. Everything I sampled was tasty, especially the Málà Mocha, but I found myself eager to keep sampling. I will certainly be coming back to try their single-origin coffee, something from their tea selection, and more of their food items. If you’re in Chicago and looking for something new to try, Luckycat will have you covered.
If you’d like to read more about the Chicago coffee scene, check out our visits to Fat Miilk in Uptown, The Understudy in Andersonville, or Heritage Bikes & Coffee in Lakeview.