Getting to Intelligentsia during layover in Chicago

[BurBunny]

Living in the espresso-challenged Denver area, am going to take the opportunity of an upcoming layover in Chicago to go visit Intelligentsia and taste Black Cat and Kid O's the way they're *supposed* to taste, not to mention watch their great baristas in action to see if I can pick up some tips.

Am looking for a bit of help and advise. From O'Hare, which shop would be the easiest to get to (whilst hauling carry-ons around). I'm guessing taking the El, probably the blue line? Or is a taxi a better option? It looks like about 30 minutes on the El from O'Hare each way? Since I know it makes a difference, would be heading out from O'Hare at about 2PM on a Sunday, and I'm trying to determine which flight after that I should book. Would a 5:45P flight be okay, or is 7P better? I'll be in route home from Europe, so will have already had a long day, so want a decent, but not too long time in Chicago.

What would you all who know Chicago suggest?

[another_jim]

Your best option is the Millenium store: via the blue line to downtown (Lake & State, I think). But it's quite a trek -- allow an hour and a half for travel each way, another hour and half to get back to the gate through security, and 45 minutes to actually have some espresso, and you looking at 5 to 5 1/2 hours to get it done.

Getting to the Broadway store from O'Hare is tough any day, and a nightmare on weekends when the purple line doesn't run.

[harris]

I am not sure it is worth the effort given the long day. Five hours plus sounds about right not leaving you much time for the seven o'clock flight. I am not sure where you are flying in from but I would try to find a connecting flight that stops in Rome

[ThaRiddla]

Hey BurBunny,

I got your email, sorry I haven't replied. Dan gave me a gentle nudge to post. (my side still hurts)

Jim is pretty spot on with his estimates, although you should get off at the Washington station, then head one block north to Randolph then 2 east to Wabash. You can ride the Red or the Brown from Downtown north (from the Clark & Lake stop) and get off at the Belmont for the Broadway store, heading east 3 blocks to Broadway, then 2 blocks south...that would add an additional 1-2 hours round trip.

[another_jim]

A faster, pricier alternative is to take a cab to the loop, and a hotel limo back out. This'll cut an hour and half from the time. The cab is around $60, $25 if you ride share. The Limo is around $30 to $35.

[BurBunny]

Hey BurBunny,

I got your email, sorry I haven't replied. Dan gave me a gentle nudge to post. (my side still hurts)

Jim is pretty spot on with his estimates, although you should get off at the Washington station, then head one block north to Randolph then 2 east to Wabash.

No worries, Matt. (Thank you, Dan, but don't bruise the sponsors!) Since you're excellent about communication, figured you'd been tied up and didn't want to pester. Normally wouldn't be an issue this far in advance, but there are some nice fare sales right now, and wanted to lock it in while I could.

A faster, pricier alternative is to take a cab to the loop, and a hotel limo back out. This'll cut an hour and half from the time. The cab is around $60, $25 if you ride share. The Limo is around $30 to $35.

Sometimes higher price is worth it, especially when lugging around carry-ons and after 10 hours or so on a flight with more to come.

So let's see, if I have the timing right, using taxi/hotel limo if my flight is on time at 1:30, I should be through customs and at the cab by say 2:30, to the Loop by 3? Figure an hour at the shop, back to the airport by 5ish? If the above is right - let me know if I'm being too generous in the schedule - a 5:45 flight might be a bit tight to get through security, but 6:57P would be no problem at all?

[another_jim]

Sometimes higher price is worth it, especially when lugging around carry-ons and after 10 hours or so on a flight with more to come.

So let's see, if I have the timing right, using taxi/hotel limo if my flight is on time at 1:30, I should be through customs and at the cab by say 2:30, to the Loop by 3? Figure an hour at the shop, back to the airport by 5ish? If the above is right - let me know if I'm being too generous in the schedule - a 5:45 flight might be a bit tight to get through security, but 6:57P would be no problem at all?

Figure 45 minutes for the cab, and and hour for the limo. But you'll need to check the schedules for those, since they usually run half hourly. The 6:57 may work for you. The caveat is customs in, I have no idea how O'Hare is doing on that.