A new coffee shop just opened up in Oakbrook and coffee lovers are excited to have a new go-to drink stop and study spot. The Oakbrook Center, in the suburbs of Chicago, opened a new cafe on May 15 called Blue Bottle.
Blue Bottle has become very popular in the media especially among younger audiences like the students at Hinsdale Central. This cafe offers New Orleans-styled coffee, pour-over coffees, and espresso beverages. The brand gives off a clean aesthetic and a trendy reputation as it has games popularity online.
“I have been waiting all year for Blue Bottle to open, I had it once in California and the coffee is so good,” said Zayna Asbahi, senior. “Whenever I’m at the mall, I am going. The cafe is small but I think it makes it cute and it has nice outdoor seating to do work at while drinking my coffee.”
The opening day was a popular attraction at the mall, hundreds of people showed up to try a variety of drinks and pastries the cafe offers. Blue Bottle offers all types of coffees, teas, matcha, and pastries and bakery items. Its’ most famous drink is the New Orleans-style coffee, also known as the “NOLA” drink and its’ most famous food item is the almond croissants, reviewers say they are warm and moist.
“I got an ice chai latte and a blueberry scone and it was amazing, the staff was so sweet and accommodating considering opening day was insanely packed,” said Sherine Nehme, senior.
In the past few months, new staff has been training to learn how to quickly and properly prepare drinks and pastries for the customers. Blue Bottle is a perfect place to grab drinks and food to-go, the cafe offers pre-made yogurt and granola, sandwiches, and overnight oats.
This Blue Bottle location is located in the center of the Oakbrook Mall, across from Hollister and Swatch, other retail stores within the mall. It is expected to boost the malls’ popularity greatly as people around the Chicago area drive out to see what the online hype is about. It is open on weekdays from 10am to 8pm and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“I think the location of Blue Bottle is perfect; it is in the middle of the mall so you can grab a drink and walk around with it while shopping,” said Ellie Roberts, junior. “I just hope that the lines aren’t so long in the winter time because the line goes out the door because of how small the cafe is.”
Some locals have spoken in the media about how upset they are with the cafe’s small size and long lines but most reviews say that the wait is worth it, even in the cold.
Blue Bottle is expected to grow in demand over the next few months. The shop is currently hiring and adapting to the Oakbrook Center’s environment. Students at Hinsdale Central are excited to visit frequently and try the multitude of drinks and treats the cafe offers.
