Counter Culture Coffee in Chicago

By Camille Izlar
Hapless Intern

Chicago’s coffee scene has become a little obsessive. Not only are the big boys like Intelligentsia and Metropolis roasting en masse, selling it from their own stores and shipping their beans elsewhere, a tight-knit ensemble of smaller guys – Gaslight, Asado and Big Shoulders – are roasting in small batches and starting to sell to other local shops. But now Counter Culture, a national coffee supplier, is hoping to break into Chicago’s competitive coffee scene. They believe coffee is not entirely a local business, no matter how you roast it. The company – with eight training centers around the country – stands out because of its sustainable practices with farmers and advanced training for baristas. We talked to some of the people behind the beans, and found out why at least one Chicago cafe prefers to buy from them.