Taste of Colombia, Inc.-TOC-Coffee Roaster and Shop

This place is so amazing. The people are so kind and friendly. The coffee is so delicious. They always have a different fresh brewed pot of coffee. My favorite is the guatemalan brew. Their pastries are so delicious. I especially love the ham and chorizo pastelito. Absolutely amazing. Me and the guys usually come here as a treat on those cold chicago days. If you haven't found this place yet. Get familiar. Definitely worth every penny.

For anyone wondering about whether they can stop here for a cup of coffee, it seems the cafe part of the business will be closed for a few more weeks. But stop in to buy some high quality roasted beans!

Edit: if you read the response by one of the owners, they are planning to reopen the cafe part. She had Covid and had to close it down out of the safety of her customers and because she had acquired a bad case. Hoping she feels better!

Excellent tasting coffee and pastries! Everything is done in house from roasting the beans to making the pastries. Try the Tortilla Espanola! 😋

Knowing that I love coffee and make coffee at home, this was a whole different experience for me. Very quaint. Inviting. To see the many ways of brewing coffee is like a dream. The aroma of coffee was intoxicating. Pastries I saw was the one I liked, guava with cheese. On a chilly Chicago day, to get that boost of caffeine, this is where I would go if I wanted a jolt of bliss... In a cup.

Stopped in today for some fresh roasted beans and met the owners Naima and Antonio. Really nice people who run a marvelous shop. The Cafe con leche was fantastic and the pastries were excellent. Spent quite
a while chatting with them about their various roasts and am looking forward to tomorrow for my morning cup.

I absolutely love this place!! From coffee (Indian mansion is my fav) to Vietnamese coffee or when I don't know what I want the owner will whip something out that I didn't even know I could love! They support local org and are not a business that will send a homeless man without a dollar or two! Empathy this family own business shows to their workers, customers and people over looked by many is a beautiful along with their coffee. Also, the owner has gift baskets for coffee lovers in your life for a really affordable price. My recommendation #ShopLocal #Eat&DrinkLocal

Such a cute coffee shop in the area! I’ve tried their hot drip coffee and cold brew- both delicious and you can taste the freshness. The sweets look tasty and I’m planning to try one when I visit next time!

All coffee orders are done to order; not just espresso drinks literally all. Waited about 10 minutes for the best Vietnamese I've coffee I've had and it lived up to the hype. The meat pastry was also dynamite and just the perfect savory breakfast I was looking for today.

Overview: (4/5 star experience)
Not long ago I was in a rush to get to work and jump on the Blue line when I almost missed this unique gem of a coffee shop. It’s far too easy to pass by and I was ecstatic to discover a new local option right in the Jefferson Park neighborhood. The location itself is a bit small and cramped but the employees are so warm, and inviting and the pastries/coffee delectable- you get over size limitations pretty quick. TOC serves a variety of handcrafted beverages ranging from standard coffee to Vietnamese Iced Coffee many of which include dairy-free options (soy, almond, etc); Lemonades, teas and more. Partner this with their one of a kind hot and flaky Cuban or Guava Cheese pastries… Oh yes, they melt in your mouth and bring me back on many a stressed work morning.

The Food: (Score 4/5)
I usually get a varying roast of their morning coffee (~$2.00) or a Vietnamese iced coffee (~$4.00) combined with a Guava Cheese pastry (~$2.00). The coffee is almost always fresh, and roasts alternate with a collection of Colombian based influences. Once in a rare blue moon the coffee hasn’t been fresh or the pastry sitting for a bit. However, in the recent past I’ve observed that the owners are aware of that and taking great strides to improve quality. They’ll offer to heat my travel mug on cold winter days with hot water or pull pastries fresh out of the oven. If this new location continues to learn from its experiences and keeps up the great efforts, I’ll certainly be a returning customer with little complaint.

The Service: (Score 5/5)
I believe the owners name is Naima: she, her partner, and staff are always at the counter smiling, engaging, and conversational. They go out of their way to connect with customers. They keep me in positive spirits on rushed work mornings. I feel bad that I’m usually having to rush on through. The only constructive critique I have is that staff should be mindful of balancing quality with speed. Sometimes handcrafted or more complex beverages can take a bit of time to prep. If you are getting something other than standard drip coffee expect to wait 5-10 minutes. The wait is worth it but isn’t whipped out like a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru. The owners have demonstrated over my repeated visits that they are learning as they go and every day improve the balance of both speed and quality. They’ve earned my loyalty.

The Location: (Score 3/5)
The worst aspect about this coffee locale is the size and that seating space is limited at best. Don’t expect to sit and chat or make progress on your laptop projects. The area does not have WI-FI and has approximately 4-5 seats in all. There isn’t a private parking lot although I’m sure customers could snag a spot alongside nearby residential streets. That isn’t to say that the interior doesn’t shine. The owners have gone out of their way to make the most out of the small space. Decorations grace the interior, and everything is spotless, clean, and cozy for your wait. They aren’t always open as late or as often as I like and I only wish they had the retail space so I could visit and enjoy my coffee and pastries while completing work late into the night.

Conclusion: (Final Score 4/5)
Overall it’s a joy to have Taste of Columbia here. I look forward to getting a unique flavor of coffee each morning combined with that melting guava cheese delight. It’s competitive with nearby coffee offerings while embodying its own unique flair. I’ll take this over Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts any day. The staff is a joy for conversation and they go out of their way to show they care about your experience. Small space aside they earn a solid high score in my book. If you haven’t checked this small local joint out grab a bag of their beans or munch on a pastry to give it a chance!

Iced Cafe con lecho is the bomb!
Cubanito super yummy
Have to come back and try the rest of the coffees they have available.