Magnifico Coffee Roasters is a small, Colombian-owned coffee company based in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood. Situated in a small storefront on Milwaukee Ave, Magnifico fits nearly all of its operations into one spot. Inside you can find an espresso bar, a roastery, a basic office, a DJ booth, and customer seating all in the same space. Art and knick-knacks line the walls, along with an evocative black wallpaper with outlines of owls and flowers. But the ultimate draw of Magnifico is their exceptional hospitality. Residents and tourists alike who enjoy the simple pleasures of the neighborhood coffee shop owe it to themselves to visit Magnifico.
The Café
According to one of the owners, Adam, who I spoke with on my visit, the ethos behind Magnifico is “small but mighty.” In other words, the business opts to grow organically from a small scale. Indeed, Magnifico utilizes their relatively little amount of space extremely well. The decorations range from a small art collection to tiny figurines of espresso machines. On the weekends you can find someone spinning vinyl at the DJ booth. And on Thursdays you can find a local musician playing in the same space. (In fact, an acoustic guitarist began playing while I was there.)
The Espresso
The espresso I tried was served in a black demitasse cup with a matching saucer and demitasse spoon. The barista kindly offered a side of sparkling water. Lots of coffee shops serve sparkling water automatically, which is great! But I appreciated that the barista left it as an option. I have to imagine there are some customers who take their espresso with no chaser. To each their own, of course! This small touch of hospitality is emblematic of what distinguishes Magnifico from other neighborhood cafés. The staff add an extra layer of thoughtfulness to the customer experience that others shops don’t quite reach.
The espresso itself was delicious. I first caught notes of tart fruit, confirmed by the flavor of blackberry and a little prune. Additional bread-y notes complemented the fruity profile. I found there was also a light nutty flavor, maybe pistachio, coming around on the finish. It was delightful espresso.
The Pastry
Magnifico offers a small but solid selection of baked goods, with some delicious-looking scones and muffins on display. In addition, they offer a handful of Colombian baked goods, which take their own space on the menu. Among these options are a savory cheese bread called pan de bono and a cassava cheese bread called almojabana. But when I asked the barista which of the pastries was her favorite, she pointed me to the churro donut filled with arequipe, which I instantly chose (and sadly forgot to take a picture of).
Thanks to a couple of minutes spent in the shop’s toaster oven, the donut was wonderfully warm and soft. The powdered sugar topping made the donut taste exactly like a churro. The arequipe, which is the Colombian term for dulce de leche, gave the donut an additional layer of sweetness. The arequipe also provided an almost creamy texture and caramel flavor that elevated the already tasty donut. I would absolutely recommend this treat to anyone looking for something a little more unusual for a coffee shop. I know that in future visits I’ll have to try the other Colombian baked goods on offer.
The Mocha
Contrary to most every coffee shop you walk into, Magnifico doesn’t advertise any siganture, specialty, or seasonal lattes. They keep it simple. You’ve got all the espresso basics plus six syrups: lavender, vanilla, mocha, caramel, salted caramel, and toasted marshmallow. This range of syrups, in my opinion, offers plenty of variety. Don’t get me wrong. It is always fun to try fun and creative lattes and specialty offerings. At the same time, there is nothing wrong with keeping the menu simple and straightforward. So it goes with Magnifico. For my second drink, I opted for the mocha.
The mocha was very tasty. I’m fairly certain the café uses commercial-brand syrups for all their flavors. As such, the mocha was solid if a tad unremarkable in its flavor. It reminded me of many other mochas I’ve tried. Velvety richness from the chocolate, plus a subtle bit of sweetness, all complemented by the espresso and milk. In my opinion, you really can’t go wrong ordering a mocha if you’re not sure what else you might like. Sure enough, mine was very nice a second beverage to try.
But if you’ve taken a good look at the photo above, then you know why I recommend you get a latte from Magnifico. I know that latte art is ultimately cosmetic, secondary to the flavor of the drink itself. But excellent latte art always feels like something special. I can truly say that I have never ordered a latte where the picture on the top was a freaking pegasus! Extra props to the baristas on staff for making such impressive and thoughtful latte art.
The Extra Step
What I enjoy so much about Magnifico is their commitment to exceptional hospitality. Yes, the coffee and the baked goods are delicious. But at each step, the staff added little touches to my experience that elevated it to a new level. Both of the baristas on bar were incredibly nice without being cloying. They talked to me with such natural conversational skill. They enhanced my enjoyment of the food and drink with simple flourishes. Many coffee shops have good baristas and make great coffee. I truly think, based on my visit, that Magnifico has some of the nicest baristas I’ve met in Chicago.
If you’re interested in visiting Magnifico, check out the links at the bottom of this page. And if you’re interested in reading more about Chicago’s coffee scene, you can read about Side Practice in Ravenswood along with other reports from cafés in the area.
Plan Your Visit to Magnifico
Address: 3063 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Hours: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Every Day
Website: https://magnificocoffee.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnifico_coffee_roasters