Located right near the Francisco Brown Line, this coffee shop attracts plenty of regulars and caters its home-style cooking.

Neighborhood regulars rave about the ginger-peach Italian soda and $3 "momma's lunch bag," a simple salami and cheese sandwich. But if it's coffee you seek, you'll find specialty drinks like the caramel cream latte and Almond Joy mocha alongside espresso basics.

Grab a cup of coffee and a chair and sink your teeth into mouth-watering Hong-Kong style pastries with fresh ingredients.

Vintage coffeepots and percolators get you in the mood for the main event—a cuppa joe, priced at $1.50 for a small. Thanks to MoJoe's passion for promoting the arts, you'll get an unplugged side of music with your drink on many a night.

The South Side coffee shop offers gourmet eats (try the Clear Moon sandwich, with roasted red bell peppers, provolone and seasoned olive oil on your choice of bread), coffees, teas, veggie platters and even a heated garden.

What could be better than a shop that roasts its own coffee? How about toasted sandwiches, baked goods, plenty of loose-leaf tea and free wi-fi? Sunday afternoons feature live music.

Though it's surrounded by empty storefronts, this Bronzeville coffee shop is a lively spot that values coffee and community. Live comedy and jazz performances spices things up a few times a month, but you can pull up a chair anytime and order the popular Caramel Royal, a latte made with fresh caramel and caramel syrup and topped with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle.

Located on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus, this alumni-owned, student-run shop is indie to the max. Beverage choices include 20 varieties of tea, Arabica coffee, specialty mochas, classic milkshakes and smoothies; grilled paninis will give you plenty of strength to keep your nose in those books.

"Barista" is code for "artist" and the latte you ordered is considered a work of art at this picture-perfect shop. Truly valuing the importance of a good espresso pull, you'll find tuxedo mochas, Italian-style cappuccinos and Americanos on the hot drinks menu. Made-to-order paninis, homemade pastries and gelato make this a smart stop for a breakfast or lunch date. Weekly live music and an outdoor deck add to the personalized appeal.

Since the 1960s, this student-run shop has found a home in the basement of Cobb Hall at the University of Chicago. Funky green walls and indie music provide the backdrop; the mismatched collection of mugs and coffee for less than a buck serves as the main event. Unsurprisingly, you can load up on eclectic eats like pizza, salads and even a bevy of candy bars.

Come in for the coffee but stay for lunch. Kopi's eclectic setting includes tables for two and a raised front area filled with pillows and floor-level tables. The sandwiches that stand out on this mostly vegetarian menu (tuna is as meaty as it gets). Standards include the tempeh burger, a tofu "turkey" sandwich on challah and a variety of cheese and vegetable combos. The carrot cake is divine.

Rated one of America's 14 top coffee bars by Food and Wine magazine in 2006, Metropolis takes great pains to make sure its coffee (and your experience drinking it) is of the highest quality. Specializing in small-batch roasted coffees, you can take your pick of organic, fair-trade beans to go or bring your laptop, take advantage of free wi-fi, and grab a steaming mocha and a scone.

This gay-friendly shop invites unaccompanied lounging, though it's also a great destination for Sunday morning coffee runs with friends. Several iMac computers, complete with high-speed Internet access, make catching up on things a breeze. "Pause' with a pastry and a cup of Intelligentsia coffee—or better yet, a crème brulee latte—and a good book for a relaxing time.

This Humboldt Park coffee shop doubles as a pizza place, but you can take the java/wi-fi route if that's your pleasure. Serving brownies, muffins and the occasional cake from nearby TipsyCake, you may find it hardest to resist the pie of the day.

Tired of your ho-hum surroundings? Inspired by the coffee-rich tradition of the Istrian peninsula (parts of what is now Italy, Croatia and Slovenia), this locally-owned and operated shop whisks you eastward. In addition to locally-roasted coffee, you'll find pastries, paninis and 12 freshly-made gelatos.

Though buttery croissants emerge as the main event (with classic versions sided by ones filled with everything from spinach and feta to chocolate), breads, muffins and pies turn this Hyde Park bakery into a mecca for sweets. Pair your choice with a cup of fair trade coffee and enjoy a casual breakfast at one of the four petite tables.

The unlikely combination of Thai eats, American sandwiches and espresso drinks proves a good one at Java Thai. The no-fuss cafe serves everything from vanilla lattes to Thai iced coffee…with a side of pad Thai, should you be in the mood.

Try this coffee shop's namesake beverage, topped with a cap of coffee-foam, or go super-sweet with a fresh-baked cookie, milkshake or slice of chocolate mousse cake. Whatever your choice, Frappe serves it late, should you want to trade a night with Jay Leno for a decaf coffee and a good book.

In addition to a vast selection of tobacco flavors, this joint offers Lavazza brand coffee drinks and wireless Internet.

Located a short walk southwest of the Belmont Red Line stop, this spot is a jackpot, with lots of table space, intensely caffeinated drinks and later-than-most hours.

A major supplier of its fresh-roasted beans to other coffeehouses and restaurants throughout the city, Intelligentsia is part of Chicago's coffee elite. But step into this Lakeview shop and you'll feel right at home. Couches and tables provide plenty of seats (though they get snatched quickly) and the amazingly tasty espresso drinks come topped with "latte art." Its soy lattes are downright dreamy.

A favorite of DePaul students, this cozy nook of a coffee shop serves up great sandwiches with literary names like the Catcher in the Rye (a stacked reuben) and the Secret Garden (a veggie-riffic mix of cream cheese, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and sprouts). Grab a seat outdoors in the summertime.

This Japanese-style tea lounge offers espresso drinks along with loose-leaf tea (of course) and edibles from nearby Sweets and Savories.

Looking for a more European experience? This sleek spot offers Illy espresso; drinks in micro, meso and mega sizes; and buckwheat and Nutella crepes along with free wi-fi.

The cafe's sizeable menu of egg sandwiches, bagels with pesto and goat cheese, and bowls of soup are sure to keep you satisfied while you surf the web. Cupcakes, milkshakes and "The Best Carrot Cake Ever!" are sure to make your stop a sweet one. Pop in before catching a movie at the across-the-street Davis Theater.

Airy and well-suited for reading, working or pounding away at that novel, and with egg croissants, salads, specialty sandwiches (like the monumental Monument, a half-pound of corned beef on rye) and wraps, you'll have no problem settling in for a long day. Note: NY transplants will love the straight-from-the-East-Coast black and white cookies.

A major supplier of its fresh-roasted beans to other coffeehouses and restaurants throughout the city, Intelligentsia is part of Chicago's coffee elite. This Loop location carries on the tradition of creating amazingly tasty espresso drinks.

This bi-level space, outfitted in bold purples and oranges, serves equally bold coffee. Brazilian, Ethiopian and Indonesian roasts are just a sampling of its eclectic brews. The dressed-up menu includes gourmet sandwiches (like smoked salmon with ginger chive cream cheese and tomatoes), Belgium chocolate mousse and tarts.

Free wi-fi accompanies sweet Guadalajaran treats, no-nonsense java and a BYOB policy (take that, Starbucks!) at this Pilsen coffeehouse.

This Czech cafe offers magazines, coffee (feel free to upgrade to a latte or cappuccino) and free wi-fi.

Located quite close to Metra, this coffeehouse is filled with friendly locals enjoying muffins and sandwiches before catching a train.

Forget the 24-hour Starbucks. This open-til-the-wee-hours cafe serves up whatever espresso beverage you need to keep your eyes open...and more. But if you don't want to pair a mocha with your gourmet cheese plate, go ahead and order a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Looking for a less schmancy experience? Never fear: Bagels and coffee abound.

In addition to basic coffee (though you might want to try the eponymous au lait!), this place offers sandwiches (paninis included) and pastries.

Intelligentsia coffee makes for a great cup, but it's the supreme attention paid to steaming the milk to the perfect temperature that give these lattes their stellar reputation. Pair yours with a cilantro-lime chicken wrap or slice of spinach quiche.

This coffee shop in the West Loop gallery district offers up some seriously colorful environs as well as a hearty selection of eats. In addition to the full spectrum of espresso beverages, you can start you day with a hearty bowl of oatmeal, topped with anything from almonds to chocolate chips.

A pretty popular neighborhood spot for those looking to study or just get a caffeine jolt, Red Eyes offers free wi-fi and serves Intelligentsia coffee.

This off-the-beaten-path gem uses third-generation recipes that originated in Germany's Bavarian Hills for its excellent cakes and pastries. Grab a cup of coffee and some cherry strudel and you'll be set.

One part coffeehouse, one part collection of all kinds of knickknacks, you'll find loose leaf teas, espresso and outdoor seating at this unusual spot.

With an eye on the little things, Charmers' staff swirls designs into its lattes and mochas, though those who would rather take the unadorned route can order a cup of Metropolis coffee, served pre-brewed or in your very own French press. Walk down the hall to sister-restaurant Dagel and Beli for a steamed bagel treat.

Bedecked in as many religious icons as you'd find in a cathedral, this sunny Little Village cafe will make you feel like you're sipping away in Italy. Top your coffee with whipped cream, order an Espresso Cubano or savor an order of lime and sugar crepes.

Collapse into a couch with a good book and beverage in hand and you'll be set for the afternoon. As for those drinks, you'll find coffeehouse faves like hazelnut mochas, hot chocolate and Italian sodas.

As the name suggests, this coffee and tea bar serves bubble teas in almost any flavor imaginable (avocado, honeydew and lychee, to name a few). If that's not your, well, cup of tea, try any number of coffeehouse standards, like a vanilla latte or white chocolate mocha.

Pick up your cup of Intelligentsia coffee and just-baked cupcake or cookie before heading to Alliance's adjacent space for free wi-fi and silent studying. On your way out, pop back into the main bakery for a loaf of bread, the perfect dinner accompaniment.

They're few and far between, but when you find a coffeehouse/bar that's open late, has tasty food, and can sate your cappuccino and gin-and-tonic craving in one fell swoop, you know it's a keeper. This European coffeehouse and lounge, bedecked with wooden tables and burnt orange and golden walls, is the perfect place to grab two cups of coffee and split a Nutella, walnut and cinnamon crepe with a friend for an afternoon treat.

Do you like to spell while you sip? Get your fill of Scrabble from 1-6 p.m. on Sundays (the winner can present his scorecard for a free drink). And when it comes to that beverage, take your pick from fair-trade coffee, yerba mate lattes, chai and Ineeka teas. Homemade baked goods often include mini-scones and muffins, while caprese sandwiches sate bigger appetites.