No Need For Depresso: Midway Has Great Coffee!

July 10, 2017

Travelers have long been frustrated and disappointed with coffee options at Midway Airport. This is partially because Midway has always had limited options, but also, its best coffee has always been hard to find. Follow the biggest and brightest sign and you’ll end up at a place with mediocre coffee at best. Do your due diligence and great coffee has always been available.

There was a recent shakeup in the Midway Airport dining scene and, with that, some great new coffee options exist. So, don’t panic! We’ll get to them just after we visit some of the complaints of the past that dominate the Twittersphere.

can someone please explain why Midway Airport in Chicago has no standalone coffee shop?
— stuart brainerd (@stuartbrainerd) March 3, 2015

I hate midway airport. No Starbucks. No coffee places.
— Coffee And Cupcakes (@C0ffeeNCupcakes) May 25, 2015

in chicago midway airport. can't find coffee. send help.
— gwyn the ghost girl (@gwynethbridget) September 8, 2015

Wait. How can Midway Airport not have a coffee place?
— Eamon Caddigan🌹 (@EamonCaddigan) September 9, 2015

In desperate search of Starbucks in Midway airport…. Well any decent coffee at this point
— Gabrielle (@Gabri_elleMusic) January 18, 2016

Dear Midway airport. Why do you hate coffee? Please add some coffee shops. #Starbucks please help.
— CraigStumpf (@CraigStumpf) September 10, 2016

If you're in the Chicago-Midway airport and you're looking for a good cup of coffee… keep looking.
— Grace Woodman (@grace_woodman) November 8, 2016

But it wasn’t as despair as travelers made it out to be. Unknown to many was:

Was on the hunt for good coffee at Chicago Midway Airport and found an @Intelligentsia counter, God BLESS pic.twitter.com/1PaDBaFhr9
— vmz (@veronicazutic) January 9, 2017

Best thing about flying outta Midway: Intelligentsia coffee 🙌
— Anna Longworth (@annajolongworth) January 10, 2017

Yes, Intelligentsia, Chicago’s longstanding favorite local coffee roaster had a kiosk serving up its best stuff.

But things changed in a huge way at Midway Airport on May 20th of 2017… all but 4 of the food and beverage vendors changed over. And, the Intelligentsia kiosk was replaced by a… God forbid… Dunkin’ Donuts.

Passengers quickly jumped into problem-solving mode:

@Starbucks any plans on opening a spot in Midway airport??? What the heck! Nasty coffee everywhere 😕
— Candace Yvette (@CandyRam) March 15, 2017

Next time u go to Midway & get mad they replaced the Intelligentsia stand w a Dunkin Donuts there's a Big Shoulders coffee by the chapel.
— Ashleigh (@AshleighFHill) May 27, 2017

And, the brands began to respond:

Not to worry! There is a spot in TheHudson Bookstore @ Midway that serves our Coffee ☕️
— Intelligentsia (@Intelligentsia) June 5, 2017

Airport management jumped into the conversation:

We do have great lattes – Big Shoulders @ Café Espresso & Intelligentsia @ Euro Café.
— Midway Intl. Airport (@fly2midway) June 7, 2017

It is good that airport management had a clear understanding that Dunkin Donuts is not worthy of being listed as a purveyor of “great” lattes.

No Starbucks, but who needs corporate coffee when we have two of Chicago’s best roasters available to give you the jitters!

HERE IS A COMPLETE GUIDE TO COFFEE OPTIONS IN MIDWAY AIRPORT:

Midway Triangle Food Court (just after security):

Dunkin Donuts
Cafe Espresso (run by the folks at & serving Big Shoulders Coffee)
Euro Cafe @ Hudson News (selling Intelligentsia Coffee– soy milk available)

Concourse A:

Dunkin’ Donuts

Concourse C:

Cafe Espresso (run by the folks at & serving Big Shoulders Coffee)

Baggage Claim:

Dunkin’ Donuts (reported- but not yet seen)

See the latest Midway Concessions Map here.

NOTE: Despite its city locations, Cafe L’Appetito does not offer coffee drinks beyond drip coffee using the airport’s standard brand, whatever that means.