The Libertyville Coffee Company

Brian started by dropping coffee samples on door flyers around Libertyville, Illinois. That's the entire origin story, and it tracks with how he runs the operation now: a small Main Street roaster who knows the regulars, an employee who delivers local orders by car, and beans roasted daily on-site. Walk in and Brian will ask what you like, what machine you brew on, and what you've been disappointed by lately. Then he'll point you at the bag he thinks fits.

The espresso beans get the most attention, including a solid decaf espresso, which is the kind of small thing that matters when you're a home espresso brewer and the chain options have failed you. The decaf side of the menu in general is stronger here than at most small roasters, who tend to treat decaf as an afterthought.

This isn't a sit-and-linger cafe. It's a buy-beans-and-talk-shop operation. Libertyville locals who want to take home a bag matched to their setup are the right customer. Out-of-towners looking for a couch and a laptop seat should keep going. The local-delivery option means you can order from the website and have a Libertyville employee drop the bag at your door, which beats waiting on a national shipping window when your hopper is empty by Wednesday morning.