Wake up, shower, brush teeth, fix hair, get dressed, grab breakfast, GET COFFEE, go to work. With some tweaks here and there, the morning regimen is typically the same across Chicago. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, or on the way to your second job, there’s a very good chance that coffee is a big part of your day.

As for me however, coffee has become a bit of a problem as of late. It took a while for me to realize that my “coffee glands” were not being satisfied. I don’t mean “caffeine glands” (those are actually located a little farther down and to the left), I mean coffee taste. That “relax and breath deep with your head back” coffee taste that you miss out on because the main goal is to get a caffeine fix. It’s like I’m in a giant “coffee mall” with dozens and dozens of stores flashing bright lights and waving signs telling me “This is the best!”, no “America runs on this coffee!”, no wait “Drink this coffee and download a free song on Tuesdays!”, how about “Ba-da-ba-ba-ba! You’re lovin it! Caramel Frap-a-whatever”! And after all is said and done, I didn’t even really enjoy the coffee at all, but I needed it start my day so that I could get to this meeting, or get the kids to school, or do whatever in the world I needed to get done today before I run out and go buy another cup of “not so great” joe. UGH! And the cycle will continue tomorrow. Well not for me! Not anymore! My goal is to find a good cup of coffee and end this depressing cycle of taste bud torture.

My plan is to try a cup of coffee from different places in the city for the next two weeks in search of that “OMG” coffee. Now, I still consider myself new to Chicago, so I am hoping that there are places indigenous to the city that you all know of that I may not. If you feel that your morning coffee spot brings that “OMG” factor, please comment here and let me know. I’ll definitely try it out, and reply. If you’ve found yourself in the same “coffee mall” as I have and would like me to test out a coffee spot before you venture in yourself, let me know! I’ll scope the coffee out for you and let you know what I think.

With a few more hot sips and caffeine trips to come, I believe we’ll find that great cup of joe together! Here’s to you, happy sipping!

-Dionna Israel