Big Shoulders Coffee image

Big Shoulders Coffee

Cafe Coffee shop

Low-key cafe serving coffee (roasted on-site), tea & signature lattes in a contemporary space. People often mention coffee, order, service, airport, line, Coffee, asked,


Address

A (near, Midway International Airport Terminal, S Cicero Ave A14, Chicago, IL 60629, United States

Website

www.bigshoulderscoffee.com

Rating on Google Maps

2.60 (74 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 5 am to 2 pm
  • Saturday: 5 am to 2 pm
  • Sunday: 5 am to 2 pm
  • Monday: 5 am to 2 pm
  • Tuesday: 5 am to 2 pm
  • Wednesday: 5 am to 2 pm
  • Thursday: 5 am to 2 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: coffee (26) order (9) service (9) airport (9) line (7) Coffee (7) asked (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 James O. 1 year ago on Google
    At Midway- ordered a vanilla latte with light ice and didn’t get it. I asked for less ice so the server noisily dumped ice out and handed it back a quarter less full. I asked for more milk. She said no. I said for $6 I should be able to have it the way I want. She said, “That’s not how it works.” I pointed out that I ordered it that way and she said she wasn’t the one who took my order even though she was standing 2 feet from the register and we were the only ones at the counter. Very rude service. Overly sweet tasting even with all the ice. She didn’t know what she was doing. Pricey, bad service, lousy coffee
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Cynthia W. 11 months ago on Google
    It's in the airport so it's noisy. The food is over priced and just meh. Every other place was crowed so I opted for a 6 oz plastic cup filled with grapes. Be prepared....it cost $7.42!!!! I told the clerk, "I don't have anything else I'm buying!" He smiled and replied, "airport prices." Wow! Literally 20 grapes for almost 8 bucks. Not his fault, he sympathized. Price gouging alive and well at Midway Airport. Lesson learned.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Scott V. 11 months ago on Google
    Tried to get hot coffee. I was told by the woman at the counter that she was not able to make hot coffee, only iced. One of the coldest customer service interactions I’ve had in some time. I’d love to rate the coffee but I did t get any.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Hope H. 9 months ago on Google • 237 reviews
    I was very thankful for the nitro cold brew before my flight, and the staff member was really kind. The hours posted say 5am - 2pm, but the counter was still open for business later in the afternoon when I came through.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Erica C. 4 months ago on Google • 6 reviews
    GARBAGE!!! 4 PEOPLE STANDING AROUND DOING NOTHING, EVERYTHING IS DISGUSTINGLY DIRTY AND THEY ONLY HAD HOT COFFEE FOR $5!!! WHY ARE THEY EVEN OPEN?! TEAM MEMBERS UNPROFESSIONAL, CANT SPEAK UP AND ON THEIR PHONE. CLOSE THIS PLACE DOWN. SAVE YOUR $!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 E L. 1 year ago on Google • 331 reviews
    Decent coffee at a good location. They have the basics, but no chai for my visit. Service is fast and friendly. There are limited coffee options at MDW so I’ll have to come back.

  • 1/5 James Kel K. 1 year ago on Google
    Morning employees are incredibly rude, short tempered, and all around unpleasant. Advertised as opening at 5AM at every kiosk in the airport, as well as on Google. We approached the line at 5:05AM and the girl stocking the drink cooler barked at us for trying to wait in line (we were even willing to wait patiently, but weren't given the opportunity before essentially being yelled at). When I asked why they weren't open at the time advertised, she snarled something else at me. Not sure what, because after being treated so terribly first thing in the morning I stop listening when people are being nasty. Bottom line: don't expect to be able to get coffee anywhere in Midway airport before 6AM. Don't expect any employees to treat you like a person, but definitely DO expect to be treated like a nuisance and a bother.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Bill F. 4 months ago on Google • 214 reviews
    The worst service. No greeting or thank you. All but one employee was on their phone and they definitely didn't care about their job. I would avoid going here and make the extra walk to another vendor. Lack of sales will guarantee change and get the girls some home training.

  • 2/5 B. K. R. 4 months ago on Google • 196 reviews
    Coffee was okay for a non-brand coffee shop (the chai was particularly bad), and the service was garbage. Clearly, they didn’t want to be working because the three workers could barely end their “break” from their phones to take our order, and they couldn’t be bothered to let us know our order was ready. One of them had literally said, “break’s over, guys,” as we stood in front of the registers, like we couldn’t hear him say it rudely.

  • 5/5 Asian A. 1 year ago on Google • 109 reviews
    Absolutely shocked by this one. Possibly the best coffee I have ever had. I got a fast coffee and sat down and was treated to a coffee experience I have never had before. The coffee was just their standard brew, with a bit of milk, but it was incredible. They have a few locations around Chicago, as well as here in Midway Airport. Check out Big Shoulders if you get the chance, I'll be shocked if you are not satisfied.

  • 2/5 Y W. 4 months ago on Google • 43 reviews
    The drip coffee at this location is disappointingly weak and watered down. I've had drip coffee made with Big Shoulders Coffee beans at other shops, that was properly made, so it's not a problem with the beans.

  • 1/5 David S. 3 months ago on Google • 26 reviews New
    For almost $7 for a mocha and it was horrible. About 6 employees just standing around and maybe 1 was working while line grew in size. Never again. No wonder there wasn't much of a line when I arrived. Everyone must have know about how bad it was and were in the other coffee shop lines

  • 1/5 John G. 4 months ago on Google • 4 reviews
    Coffee is as terrible as the service. The employees were more interested in their phones then anything else. All they wanted to do was tell people they couldn't make anything but want you to pay 5 dollars to serve the coffee yourself. Close this place and make room for good coffee company's.

  • 4/5 Matt M. 1 year ago on Google
    Quick and friendly service. Coffee was unfortunately mediocre and not very strong. Prices are also quite high for the value you are getting.

  • 1/5 Patrick L. 6 months ago on Google • 3 reviews
    Probably the rudest staff outside of NY. Saw the same worker berate a handful of people in a short time. Airport restaurants are not an easy place to work but the attitude was over the top. Amazing how one individual can treat those that pay her salary. Coffee is incredibly weak to boot!

  • 1/5 Leonard S. 10 months ago on Google
    At midway airport 9am and this place sells coffee and breakfast sandwiches...however they're out of breakfast sandwiches!!!REALLY? Hint Hint..people are lined up to give you money for your overpriced product at an airport because they're a captive crowd with limited options and this place can't even deliver with these circumstances.FAILURE!

  • 3/5 Jennifer P. 10 months ago on Google
    Not overly impressed. Employees appeared to be less than content with their jobs. Didn't have available the Nitro Brew I ordered from the menu. Prices are comparable to Starbucks, but not the same quality for sure.

  • 5/5 Mary O. 1 year ago on Google
    This coffee shop was excellent!! The iced vanilla latte was one of the best I have ever gotten—especially for airport. No Starbucks at midway? No worries-this will cover you with the basics. Price was around $6 but honestly not bad for airport prices. Would recommend and will return.

  • 1/5 Katie L. 1 year ago on Google
    Rude service. The server told me to wait to take my order so she could finish texting and rolled her eyes at me when I asked for soy milk. She had attitude and did not care.

  • 1/5 Monica M. 1 year ago on Google
    Very RUDE customer service from the three employers. Order hot chocolate and it tasted watered down the employee proceeded to tell me it’s made with milk and the other employee told me I would have to pay .66 for additional chocolate and they couldn’t correct without payment. Wasted money

  • 5/5 Evan C. 1 year ago on Google
    I gotta say the folks at Big Shoulders Coffee made our drinks perfectly today. Thank you for the great lattes. 5/5 stars.

  • 3/5 Scott S. 1 year ago on Google
    Great coffee and I try to support local roasters, however it is a LONG walk to the bowels of (interminable) terminal A to find the sole Big Shoulders Coffee. That would be just fine if the people "working" there were doing more than glancing at the growing line of potential customers.

  • 4/5 Rabe' Elias A. 4 years ago on Google
    Good coffe.

  • 1/5 Kristen A. 1 year ago on Google
    Showed up at 1:20 pm, they were already closed. Signs and website says it closes at 2. Airport is super busy too. Literally the only place in A to get espresso, can’t even stay open til they’re supposed to.

  • 5/5 Bridget G. 2 years ago on Google
    Big Shoulders has some of the best craft coffee in Chicago! I always love when I can grab a latte like this on the run in Midway! Staff today was quick and cleaning in between! A+

  • 1/5 Dave C. 1 year ago on Google
    "Sometimes bad is bad!!" - Huey Lewis and the news. I bought a double espresso and I couldn't finish a single!! Their coffee/espresso beans are so bad...so, to paraphrase HL&tN " I paid $3.50 for all I could drink, but $1.00 was all I could stand!

  • 4/5 Todd A R. 1 year ago on Google
    The latte had a nice flavor. It was a little slow, but they were quite busy with limited staff…seems like this should be expected nowadays everywhere.

  • 2/5 Lindsay V. 1 year ago on Google
    Not a great experience. People go there because they're literally the only option for a coffee other than Einstein's, which had a very long line. They were out of several items and not very helpful when trying to understand what substitutions were. The wait time was seemingly long for a simple coffee order.

  • 1/5 Elizabeth K. 1 year ago on Google
    Order taker at Midway airport location gave me a hard time after I asked the barista to change out my cup that the order taken had written on. When asked why I explained that the order taker had put her fingers INSIDE MY CUP while she wrote on it. This was beyond gross! Also since the order taker was using her hands to work the register and handle credit cards and coin and stroke her hair. It is remarkable that the order taker was clueless about her behavior. Good baristas at good coffee shops are instructed properly. Again, just beyond disgusting. The coffee was OK, but would advise you watch very carefully as your drink is made.


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Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Credit cards
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Quick bite
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Breakfast
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway

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