An Instagram Trap? Coffee at Brü
Surprise, Surprise!
Does a mug of coffee need to be placed in an Instagram trap? Or can a place like this provide respite when walking around a city?
Although, I’m giving an instant ding for an umlaut out of context…
In this surprise-laden adventure
- We all know the drill by now… don’t we?
- The early morning road to nowhere (and Heathrow Terminal 3 first thing in the morning, with an equipment change shock)
- Morning Lounging at the Cathay Pacific and American Airlines Lounges
- AA87 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare – Main Cabin Extra
- Into the USA and The Crowne Plaza O’Hare
- Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Airplane Art Special from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Various nibbles around Chicago
- An Instagram Trap? Coffee at Brü
- Chicago Classics: Giordano’s Deep Dish Pizza
- Enjoying a Chicago River tour… in the rain
- Back to O’Hare and the British Airways lounge
- BA296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow – Club World (Club Suites)
- Racing across Heathrow… but where’s the coach?
- To onward surprises
I had a few reasons to be in Wicker Park – mainly there were a few stores I wanted to visit whilst in the Chicago area. It’s also part of the city I haven’t explored in much since I’ve been in and out of here – passing through in the Blue Line Train through to somewhere else, mainly.
As such a “new” neighbourhood is always fun to explore.
Exiting Damen station
Exiting the station, it’s much more of a city neighbourhood, rather than corporate press-stamped cities – or a place with a little character.
There’s a song about this waffle shop. Or is it about being blue? Hmmm.
That’s something to be welcome, with some of the big chains and corporates, but along with that, lots of independents, classic fashion and even the odd store to make an eyebrow rise a level or two.
On the way to my planned destination, there was. A coffee shop I saw – called Brü.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
I’m sure my German readers will be rolling their eyes pretty hard at this juncture.
I know mine were.
However, after doing what needed to be done in Wicker Park, I required a coffee to add awareness to my day – bear in mind all I had was a disappointing Keurig thing of coffee at the hotel.
Then again, Keruigs, Nespressos and so are the microwave meals of the coffee world – press a button and hot bean juice flows out, even if the taste is less than desirable.
And even I can only put up with Keruig coffee for so long before I need stuff that tastes like actually extracted bean juice.
The caffeine urge. We all know the one that hits us, and it’s time to consume a beverage. It’s not summer or even mildly “third spring”. Warm, comforting bean juice was the requirement
I went in and thought I had stepped into an Instagram trap.
Why? See for yourself.
Chandeliers? Check
Fancy Sofas and wooden benches.
I want to swing, from a chandelier, from a chandelier…
Obligatory High-Chairs, people with Macs, Beaninie. Check.
And low chairs.
If someone could explain why a chest of draws is here, I’ll wait. Honestly. I’ll wait.
Cages (no, not human-sized ones).
I can accept how it’s been done up (and it looks quite nice), but it does feel like this has been designed for Instagram, rather than coffee.
In terms of the menu, as well as coffee, there was the usual mixture of hot/iced drinks, smoothies, priorities shoes and Rice Crepes. To be honest, I wasn’t that peckish at that point in time.
Beverages were the order of the day.
I stuck with my soul-boring drink – A Black Americano. One year I will be different when it comes to drinks – it won’t be this time (mainly as I had one with Almond milk at a UK chain that made me rather nauseous after). Of course, the EPOS was tip-central.
Because this is America. And before anyone asks, the only people tend to I tip are my baristas and my barber at home.
Damn Inflation.
Basic is as basic does.
Here, it was… passable. Not overly watery, but in your mind, you know it’s a mug of coffee that needs an extra shot of espresso to bring it to life.
At least the wifi speeds were more than possible, even if hunting for a wall outlet was a lost cause. Thankfully, I stocked up on power banks before setting off for the USA. It’s one of those things that can make a difference when travelling, having a good power bank.
Even if it’s an Anker one. I’ll have a review of it soon
As I had more than a few things to do in downtown Chicago, my stay was short but sweet. I was Brü’d out.
Off we go
Back to Damien Station
Choose your adventure
Better get my backside in gear…
Ohh. New trains
Overall:
Maybe it’s an Instagram trap. Maybe it’s not and I have no taste in anything in life. It was a pleasant enough experience to spend 30 minutes sinking something that resembled coffee.
At least the coffee was drinkable and the internet fast – two good things for a coffee shop experience.
A must-visit stop on a Chicago trip? Hardly. But if you need a break and are in the Wicker Park area, there are plenty of worse options out there.
Next:
Deep dish pizza time, with a Chicago classic.
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