Heaven forbid you ask what kind of roast their drip coffee is. I got no hello and no response to either of my thank yous from the frigid young woman working the counter last week. As frigid as the interior of this place. P.S. darker roasts are a thing -- a delicious thing. Ask the rest of the coffee drinking world if they like bean water as much as hipsters do 🌎.

Went here for a quick Saturday morning breakfast. Such a chill vibe and friendly staff. We ordered two of the seasonal “Autumn, My Dear” lattes with oat milk. The flavor was perfectly spiced, not overly sweet. We got an apple cheddar scone, a campfire cookie, and a breakfast sandwich with avocado added. The breakfast sandwich is a masterpiece of simple, flavorful, well executed components: a toasted buttery brioche bun, thick toothsome bacon, a fluffy steaming egg square topped with melting cheddar, and a miracle mayo sauce that just cuts through each bite with a zesty acidity. Highly recommend. We loved the campfire cookie so much we got another to take home and *still* wished we’d order one (or two, or the whole display tray) more.

Located in the former location of the beloved Atomix Cafe rises the quaint, bright, clean lines of Prequel. Walking in you take a whiff of its unique smell and are greeted warmly by the staff. There are plants in the corners and others draping off the ceiling. They contrast sharply with the white walls and minimalist art. The decor is every bit what I call "Modern Dental". Clean white surfaces, sharp lines, and overall airy and bright. The menu is small, but each drink is high quality and tasty. They have the full range of espresso drinks, coffee, cold brew, and kombucha. Their baked goods taste fresh and are worth a purchase. The sit down experience is on par with other coffee shops in the area. If you get a drip coffee they offer refills and the wifi is reliable and fast. One aspect that is missing at the time of this review is seating diversity. Your options are a table. And that's it. Yes there is bar space, but it is not clear if customers can sit there. It looking like they are expanding the seating but I'm not sure. The seats though are quite comfortable and it is a nice space to work or meet someone. The biggest negative of prequel is the noise. It is an echo chamber in the literal sense of the word. Noise bounces off every hard edge and corner of the building. It definitely can throw off a "chill vibe" but the place is still new every time I come they are adding new things, so it could be temporary. Overall though, Prequel adds tremendous value to the neighborhood. The coffee is good and the staff are nice. I love going here and the experience gets better and better every time! Edit: I have changed my review to 5 stars. They have added a lot and this place is awesome now!

I ordered the breakfast sandwich and a brown sugar cardamom latte. My total was $17. I wouldn’t order the sandwich again. It just wasn’t flavorful. The latte was nice. Service was cool. The space is beautiful, light, bright, & upbeat. Not a ton of seating. Someone was nice enough to share their table with me. Overall I had a good experience and I would come back for a beverage if I was ever in the area.

Amazing coffee and pastries that are thoughtfully made and curated! Cafe design is exquisite- a bright, open space to do some much needed chilling. New owners are delightful as well :)

Got a cortado and their seasonal scone option. Both was really great. It is nice to get latte art from professionals, and not a sad foamy blob. These folks seem like they pay attention to detail, and shows in the warm atmosphere they provide. Great place to chill and relax, or get some remote work done.

We were visiting Chicago for work a few months ago and after seeing the crazy line for Kasama, we decided to walk over to Prequel for coffee and breakfast. I can’t remember our servers name, but he was super friendly and provided excellent customer service. The avocado toast was the most Californian thing we could’ve ordered, but a taste of home was comforting and also nice and light. The lattes were delicious and hot. I would go back to Prequel for sure.

Super cute coffee shop! Some sitting, but leans toward a to-go environment feel. The quiche is great. I’ve had the Honey Almond and the Brown Sugar Cardamom Latte’s and both were incredible!

Cute café with some really tasty lattes and mochas. We took our orders to go, but loved the interior décor and space inside the shop. the mango/raspberry poptart piqued our interest and was delicious. We'll be coming back and maybe bring a book next time to sit and relax!

A charming coffee shop with a colorful and aesthetic interior design. They offer a great selection of specialty lattes, and I was pleased with the quality of the pour-over I ordered. There are plenty of tables and bar seating available which make for a great spot for laptop working/studying.

Typical hipster cafe with overpriced drink/food and service that’s only nice to you if you look a certain way. You’re better off going to Starbucks.

Best cold brew I’ve ever had hands down. Super flavorful and refreshing. Quiche was very tasty. Everything was very affordable especially considering how fashionable the place is. Very friendly staff and all around positive vibes. Definitely will be coming back here a lot as I am new to the neighborhood.

After an early morning walk, my friend and I popped in for coffee. great environment, attentive and fast service, great selection of breakfast coffee…we will come here often

I'm glad that I discovered this local coffee shop, it's great! Their matcha latte is killer. They feature a cardamom brown sugar latte that I look forward to trying. Their prices are amazing and they have two nice, clean restrooms. This place is a gem in Ukrainian Village. I had a chocolate croissant and I will be back for another. The gentleman sitting next to me had a quiche and it smelled delicious, it looks like they rotate through flavors. Definitely worth a visit.

Great place with delicious well made coffee. Perfect for work, reading and quiet conversations.

Favorite coffee shop in West Town/Ukrainian Village neighborhood. The baristas are super stats and also serve high quality drinks and breakfast items.

This place was so cool! Definitely worth a stop. They just started allowing people to sit inside again, with a mask if you are unvaccinated of course. Their coffee menu is simple, but has every thing you need, cold brew, nitro, I had an amazing vanilla latte! The staff is friendly, the location makes it easy to get in and out, the pastries are AMAZING!

I enjoy the quality of this cafe. Not just with their menu, but with their customer service. They have a very personable, down to earth attitude that makes you feel comfortable when you are in their establishment. Besides the fact that I only live a couple of blocks away, the hipster feel also draws me in. Gives me a bit of a Wes Anderson movie vibe, but that's just me. Their wifi is speedy, they keep the bathrooms very clean, the music is relaxing, and they're one of the few places that exemplifies ''power in simplicity''. I would definitely recommend giving this cafe a try.

The “Brown Sugar Cardamon Latte” is absolutely delicious. I would definitely recommend it if you are like me and like the spice taste in your coffee. Although I didn’t try the pastries, they looked amazing. It just looks like they were under staffed today and got a little busy. Overall, great place for a Sunday morning coffee! I will definitely go back and try other options from their menu!

I love Prequel! Their coffee is delicious and their baked goods that are made in-house are wonderful. The rotating quiche is delicious every time, and their apple pop tart + pecan sticky bun are what dreams are made of. Staff is incredibly kind and always perk up my morning!

This is the cardamom brown sugar latte with oat milk. It was average and you couldn't taste the cardamom. That makes it not worth the price. There were no straws. Not even the sad paper ones. I went to subway across the street to kindly allow me one. Easy-ish to find but it's street parking on a busy street. Probably would not come back. Okay vibes inside but didn't keep up on the bathrooms.

Great new coffee spot! Fresh baked pastries as well! Delicious

Small assortment of coffees, good atmosphere, little loud if the place is half full. Coffee is 👍

Great coffee. That should always be the priority of a good coffee shop. Pastries looked decent, but only got a cortado to go. Very flavorful and the right temperature. Look forward to trying more at this place.

Really cute new coffee shop in Ukrainian Village brewing 4LW coffees. Love the vibe and having a place that can pull decent espresso drinks in the neighborhood. Excited to see when they are fully open for grabbing a coffee to stay.

Good coffee and pastries. Kind of stark inside. Went twice, and service was better by far with the ladies.

This cafe is extremely clean, cute, and well decorated. Their drinks are phenomenal and their food is pretty good. I had a breakfast sandwich that was reasonably priced and was a great lunch option. Not to mention the staff who are extremely friendly and you can tell love the community that comes into the place. Sad to be leaving this neighborhood so I can’t enjoy the café anymore!

This place is soooo cute! I got a slice of banana bread, and i didn't regret it. They make most of their pastries in house. They cold brew was pretty solid also!

A beautiful representation of one of the best roasters in Chicago [4LW] paired delicately with their own unique pastry program. Cannot wait to see the future of this shop. But even with its minimalist energy it doesn't lack in any aspect. The staff is extremely kind as well!

beyond excited to have them in the neighborhood! really great coffee and friendly people. excited to try all the in-house baked pastries!

Their Coffee is great, but the baked goods knock it out of the park, scones are the best I’ve ever had. A+

Sunny, clean, and tasty! I meet my coworker here twice a week before we head out to see customers together. I look forward to each visit! Danielle makes outrageous, creative pastries so come hungry!