Dark Cloud

I am disappointed that Dark Cloud is now closed :(We walked past on 7÷31÷11 and everything was gone from the inside. I enjoyed the coffee here. It was flavorful and showed the level of care and craft that goes into brewing a special cup of coffee. I hope Dark Cloud can re-​open elsewhere.

Warning — I believe this place is now CLOSED, so call before you go! The last two times I’ve tried to go there it hasn’t been opened. I love/​loved this great coffee shop in Lincoln Park — it is/​was a great place for meetings. The atmosphere is fun and hip, the mocha is good (I’m not a coffee drinker), there are a few places to plug in your computer and there is room to spread out.
What I think might have killed this place was the huge rent for such a big space in Lincoln Park and trying to compete with Starbucks that was just down the street. It’s not a place to go for a quick cup of coffee — they take several minutes to make a fun design at the top — which also may have eliminated this place as an option for those just wanting to grab a drink and go.

I love this concept. Each cup of coffee is hand made. It is filter/​drip coffee, though I’m fairly certain they have espresso drinks as well.
My biggest concern is whether these guys will survive. They have a huge space (two adjacent storefronts) and they require a little time to make each coffee by hand, so they can’t push droves of customers through to cover what must be a huge rent.
Prices are quite reasonable, comparable to other coffee shops in the neighborhood, but with a superior product. The place is a little spartan, and looks like it should feel a bit cold, but doesn’t. Its actually quite comfortable once you sit down.

Best cup of coffee I have ever had. Each cup is individually brewed, so this is not a place to grab a quick drink on the run, but the wait is worth it.
Some of the staff members are friendlier than others, but I don’t really care about that. Space is a little stark as opposed to cozy, but boy that coffee is good.

I’m no coffee expert, but I know what I like, and I like their coffee. The staff are all very friendly and willing to talk to you about the differences in their coffees and brewing methods. I haven’t had the food, but this is a great place to come and relax and enjoy some very good coffee.

what a weird place. I was basically looking for something to warm me up while walking by on a cold afternoon. It took them like 15 mins to make my coffee. they were probably doing some weird press /​coffee extraction thing but i just wanted my coffee damnit. then i couldn’t find the milk.
I guess if i had known this was a coffee snob bar place, i would have just avoided it, but i didn’t know any better. so, be prepared to wait but the coffee is pretty good.

This was the least bitter coffee I have ever had. It was so smooth, it was borderline tea-​like! Kinda odd I know… BTW: student discounts offered at the cash register.
They’re not the friendliest of the bunch, but I would come back for a coffee.

EDIT: Dark Cloud is officially closed. Apparently there were a few financial issues and the owner is in the process of trying to sell it (as of mid-​june). This is according to the employee we chatted with after they closed.
Dex at dark cloud was a huge help. He pulled me a shot of Brazilian from the slayer which was chocolaty and sweet with underplaying tones of ash. Had my mouth watering the rest of the day. I’m typically a coffee girl but he may have just switched me to espresso (only from here, of course).
They focus on the brewing and have it perfected. Shots are pulled by weight and there is care taken to make you the perfect cup. It is nice to find a place that understands, cares and demonstrates the importance of the bean, its flavors and variation.
I also love that they feature coffee from multiple roasters, on a rotating basis. I’ve been able to try a few roasters that I might never had know of.
The space is a bit modern and slightly ‘hip’. It’s not the best interior (but I respect that they were tying for an atypical coffee house interior.) but the coffee and baristas make up for it and there is plenty of seating and table to relax with your caffeine.

sparse, trendy décor.
focus on perfect brewing
LP’s best coffee
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In other words, come here for the experience of coffee, come here to learn about the bean/​berry from farm to cup, come here to take in coffee as a drink with richness and variation as you might expect from a wine bar/​tasting, or just come here to have a fine tasty beverage/​snack. From someone who has been a barista and loves the rich, dark drink with nostalgia and passion each day, this ‘coffee lab’ treats coffee with respect and will maybe even leave you wondering what you’ve been doing wrong at home all these years.
Not super cheap (a fine 6oz cap = $ 3.00 US)
The place could be more cozy, but that’s just for my taste. Otherwise people seemed to be quite comfortable reading/​studying/​chatting the day away on the many seating arrangements.

Oh my-​lanta, I have witnessed performance art and my afternoon treat all rolled into one.
Coming from the coffee shop capital of the US (Seatown baby), I figured I knew a thing or to about the process but I’ve never witnessed a siphon at work. I stopped in for a chai and was awestruck by the brewing process these guys use. So cool!
Downside is it is a bit pricey, but hell you’re witnessing art, so why not treat yourself every now and again?
I’m definitely coming back for a cupping and or brewing class because I’d like to learn about about this siphon process.
Also love that they’re open much later than the lame-​o shops closer to home! Thanks DarkCloud :)

Lincoln Park coffee culture is not where its at.
The space was cool, with graffiti walls and all, but it was lacking the warmth that crave in a coffee shop. But maybe I am just used to more hipster type energy when I sit around a coffee place.
So perhaps this is great for the LP crowd but not a west sider.
Coffee was coffee-​ish ;) I refuse to get all dumb about nuances and junk of coffee. As long as it doesn’t taste like obviously nasty Sanka or somethin, I’m fine.

Came here for a coffee cupping. Fun! The guys there were really enthusiastic about coffee and teaching us about it, and it was cool to be able to notice differences in the ways the coffees smelled and tasted (acidic, bitter, etc).
Nice space too. very open and mellow. The coffee is brewed as you order it in cool bong-​like vacuum brewers. Will totally be back!

I have tried to drink coffee black my whole life. Can’t do it. The drink is too bitter without cream or milk to cut through and provide an acceptable drinking experience for me.
Except here, at Dark Cloud. The first lovely cup of steaming hot Costa Rican coffee unencumbered by dairy products. No bitterness, no horrific aftertaste. I was half way through the cup before I stopped being amazed how delicious it was.
Oh yes, I will be back for more — you can bet on it!

I fear that I am addicted and will never sleep again.
Darkcloud has an unpretentious cool atmosphere, and the employees have an obvious passion for serving up a great (and I mean great!) cup o’ joe. Although the different types of coffees may seem intimidating at first, the baristas are there to offer advice and each type is described in detail at the front counter.
Making a cup of coffee becomes a process there, and it is interesting watching all of the different steps that they take to concoct the perfect cup.
Even though a basic cup is a little pricey, it is definitely worth not having to chug down a burnt cup of some other nearby competitor’s garbage or listen to soccer mom’s yap at a nearby table about their youngest child’s latest bowel movement (I won’t name names).
So, Darkcloud, I am yours. Even if it means buying Simply Sleep in bulk from now on.

Almost $ 5 for a cup of coffee…
…and I’m still giving it 4 stars! Here’s a place that truly cares about their coffee. I mean, they are basically coffee scientists, concocting these amazing aromas and flavors and it’s all amazing… you have to try it.
If you are a coffee connoisseur, or are looking for a Lincoln Park coffee shop that isn’t Starbucks, try DarkCloud.

I’ve only stopped by here once, so I can’t write a huge review, but here are some basics:
1. Really good cappuccino — no seriously, one of the best I’ve had in a while.
2. Good service — they brought out the drinks after we’d sat down.
3. They insisted on us leaving the cups by the table — they cleaned up after us.
That being said, that usually makes for a most excellent review. However, this was just one visit, so I’m still not 100% on this place yet. The thing about it is that this place has a very unique décor, very spacious and very spartan. There’s little in this place that is totally welcoming for an extended hang-​out. I almost felt like the drinks should have been to go. Don’t get me wrong, the place is well kept, clean and all that, but cozy it just ain’t.
Still, in the interest of both fairness, and caffeine fixes, I’ll be around again, and I’ll review it again then.

Stopped in for tea. I had already far surpassed my caffeine intake for the day.
It is no doubt that these guys take brewing seriously. Loose leaf teas are packed in filters to order and served with suggested brewing times. Pour over coffees are weighed and timed. Other crazy looking implements are used for brewing… Coffee cards are posted with origins, tasting notes and food pairings.
A small side bar provides sugar, honey, cream and other mix-​ins for those who dare. (me being one of them… i couldn’t resist some honey in my Oolong).
The décor is museum-​esque. The graffiti art and colors are awesome, but the chairs and tables don’t ask me to stay long. Not some where i’d want to hang out long, but would return for a coffee togo.

I look at all new businesses (of any kind) like this: if you have the balls and guts to invest and open a new business in this economy, and during the holidays, you have my respect and patronage.
Dark Cloud has GREAT coffee. I stopped in to warm up and was so pleasantly surprised. The people who work here are knowledgeable, and décor is fun. There are so many different choices, there is no question I will be back.
My cup of coffee was markedly better than anything I’ve ever had at Lavazza, Intelligentsia or eeeek, no surprise: …Starbucks).
Congratulations, and I hope you folks prosper.

Finally a coffee enthusiast AND foodie’s dream come true! The first way to explain DarkCloud in Chicago Unilocal terms is an iCream’s master chemist hooks up with Austrian Julius Meinl. With that said, I would deem that there is now such a thing as a gastrocafe! I heard about DarkCloud on Urban Daddy and knew I had to get my caffeine fix and check it out.
I met up with one of my past bosses (V) and a coworker (M) for a light lunch and loved DC’s idea of coffee food pairings (under $ 10 total). We each found our match:
I had the Finca Bu Honduran coffee served with two mini turkey salad pita sandwiches made of apple, cranberries, and chunks of chipotle cheddar cheese. The coffee was stroooong but seemed to lack a bit of flavor. I has happy, however, that it wasn’t ‘burnt’ as at Starbucks. The mini sandwiches were delish and would make the perfect healthy snack.
V had the La Candelilla Geisha from Costa Rica with pancetta, date, and brie tostadas (or you could choose the spinach, artichoke, and pistachio fillo cups). Per my fellow Unilocaler, it was very enjoyable and her coffee was super tasty! With that said, not only is the process of brewing this magical geisha complex and scientific (taking about 5 – 10 minutes), but the flavor evolves from the serving piping hot temperature, to warm, to room temperature. Not to mention that it gives you quite the caffeinated lift.
M had the Ethiopian Dama accompanied by a chorizo, queso fresco, and calabaza Squash pastry puff. The pastry looked similar to an empanada and could have used a zap in the microwave – for sure. She got all fancy on us and had her coffee served as a latte; beautiful with a frothy heart smiley up at her.
It’s truly exciting to know that each week they have a unique menu from the week prior. The interior of the café is urban, modern, and cold, which fir the winter weather… perhaps so the customer would buy more warm beverages. Being that I’m a rebound DePaul student, I will definitely check out their free Friday Cupping events (picture wine tasting but switch out the wine with coffee).

I really like this place since I always like trying out new coffee shops in the area. The employees were really nice and definitely knew what they were talking about. A chef even does food pairings for the coffee! Nice.
The pour-​over method of brewing coffee is something I have always liked about Intelligentsia and Dark Cloud definitely chose the right brewing technique.
The place does feel kind of sterile like a lab which is cool, but not as inviting as other coffee shops (this is what would make me give them 4.5 stars if it was an option). I would suggest more tables and maybe dim the lighting a little bit so its not so bright. Liked the funky music they were playing though. Improve the atmosphere just a little bit and the place will be awesome!
It was a little dead when I went in and they told me they just opened this past week. It’s definitely hard opening during the holidays so I hope the biz picks up after the holidays and the new year.

In a word; fanfreakintastic.
This place is brand new but already it feels like what’s been missing from the Chicago coffee scene. Everything about the experience was great.
I stopped by on the way to do some errands, the staff immediately greeted me. Very cool, very down to earth (some of the guys there are super-​cute!!) they weren’t obnoxious or overbearing.
They knew EVERYTHING about the coffee they were serving, from the texture of the flavor, the region it came from, to the name, yes the name, of the farmer who had sent it to them. This is responsible coffee at its finest.
The guy with the ponytail (I forget his name) made my coffee on a siphon (a bunsen burner looking gizmo which he explained), and though it took a little longer than I expected, the results were worth waiting for. It wasn’t rushed, burnt or half-​assed– just really great coffee with kind of a dark chocolatey taste. My friend got a latte and, not that it’s important, but they made a perfect flower in the pour– which is impressive but I’ve never seen it anywhere else.
Even when they weren’t immediately helping a customer, they were constantly experimenting, taste-​testing, comparing methods– it really does have the feel of a lab.
It wasn’t just this cliché of some apathetic hipster serving generic Intelli. «So what can you tell me about this coffee» «I dunno… it’s from Ethiopia.» This was unpretentious, helpful, delicious.
If there’s one thing I could say to improve, it would be more décor on the walls! Except for some artistic graffiti the place is a little sterile (it really is like a lab), but hey it’s brand new. Also, I didn’t stick around but it seems like they could have more tables.
Northsiders are lucky to have DarkCloud. I live in Wicker Park, where the nearest place is Wormhole. Ugh.