Stivers Coffee

Stivers Coffee is a Black-owned roastery on Chicago's South Side, working out of an industrial building at 2215 S Union Ave. This is not a sit-and-stay cafe. The business runs on mail-order shipping, repeat customers, and gift orders, and the reviews read accordingly: people praising the speed of delivery and circling back for another order of beans.

The lineup leans into flavored coffees, which is a category specialty roasters often skip but that has a real audience. Blueberry and hazelnut are the two flavored beans regulars name first. Sulawesi is the single origin to order if you want something unflavored and want it from this roaster. Custom roasts and blends are part of the offering for customers who want to dial something in for their own brewer at home.

Who it suits: home buyers shopping online for fresh-roasted beans, people sending coffee as a gift, and anyone specifically wanting to support a Black-owned Chicago roaster. The flavored side of the catalog also makes it a fit for customers who do not want to give up vanilla and hazelnut just because they want fresh-roasted beans from a small operation. Drop by the address expecting a cafe and you will be in the wrong place. Order online and the operation works on its terms.