27 Best Coffee Shops in Champaign

“I love this place! My wife and I always come here before work! I wish we can customize our options further like adding more espresso to our drinks and such, but we just order additionally and add it ourselves!“

“super friendly and great coffee. do yourself a favor and check it out!“

“Amazing! Best coffee we have ever had!“

“I think it’s gotten a little better over the years, but this is just a very pretentious place even though they obviously benefit a lot from having “fun” drinks. I had a bad experience with the elitist baristas at this place years ago (2018ish) but recently decided to return, figuring that there’s no way the same bad vibe could still be there.

I ordered an iced cappuccino. Instead of telling me that he couldn’t make it, the barista told me he was charging me instead for an iced latte (which is more expensive), as they did not have a button on the cash register for it, but that he could make it. I didn’t mind paying the price of a latte, but he and the other barista started talking about it and he said to make a latte but call out cappuccino. It was kind of wild because I was waiting by the chalkboard, so literally right in front of them.

I went up to them to ask if it was a weird thing to order. He said no, but that it was basically a latte with foam. I said that that’s precisely why I had ordered it, because I wanted more foamed milk. He assumed he knew better and just made me a latte anyway, the cup said “cap” in quotation marks. He offered to remake it or add foam but I declined.

If you do find yourself there and like creamy chai lattes, it is genuinely very good. The matcha lattes are good and participating in matcha madness is expensive ($8.6 for a medium drink) but fun. The matchas are made from a concentrate they have in the fridge. The croissants are also very good but run out earlyish. No skim milk, high upcharge for the rest of the milks. Credit card upcharge implemented recently. Expensive compared to other CU coffee spots which is okay, since the drinks are good, but not if you’re going to be treated poorly…

The seating has gotten a lot better but the couch and cushions smelled bad the last time I went.“

“This 7brew location is the absolute best! I love to come and try new things and the baristas are always so helpful in choosing something I’d love.
Edit: I’m keeping the 5 stars, just wanted to add that I will continue to come back here! I LOVE the vibes here!“

“Good Drinks and Friendly People !“

“Stopped in on or way back from Chicago and had a great tasting espresso and coffee right off I-57. Thanks to Sarah for making good coffee and a tasty salad & sandwich for us! Friendly and helpful service!“

“The tarts were delicious and the service was a 10/10! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“I like coffee! I like this coffee most.“

“Delicious soup, scones and coffee.“

“It's primarily a take-out-only place with a few seats available. The interior was clean, and the service was quick. It also offers self-ordering kiosks. The coconut latte tasted great, and their default sweetness level is definitely much more subdued than that of some other chains.“

“Amazing coffee. amazing staff“

“Starbucks is always a wonderful choice for those who love a cozy atmosphere and high-quality coffee. From the rich flavor of every latte to the friendly service, everything comes together to create a memorable experience. It’s not just a place to enjoy drinks, but also a perfect spot to relax, work, and connect every day.“

“To all of you complaining about the drive-thru wait times, I have an idea: get out of your car and order INSIDE! Oftentimes, you can find 2-3 employees taking orders at the same time. You can see how many cars are in the drive-thru and figure that it's going to take a while to take each car's order, payment, make your drink &/or food, package your food, hand you your food, and then wait for the car to pull out! For those of you stewing at the drive-thru wait times, you may wish to think about just how unreasonable your expectations and demands are and make some changes to your thinking patterns & life! You CAN become a more patient and better person. I agree with the man who posted that this is the busiest Starbucks - both inside & the drive-thru! I also agree with him that it is the best-managed Starbucks (that I have ever been to) and that their employees are second to none in the industry! They work extremely hard & put in long hours, put up with rude people, have to make ridiculously complicated drinks for some people, and then if they have to close the store at night, have to thoroughly clean everything and vacuum & mop the floors before leaving! How many of you seemingly over-indulged & privileged people could do ALL THAT for the (most likely) $13-14/hour they earn??? I'm 65 years old and have been going to this Starbucks since they opened. I have been to Starbucks all over the U.S. and can state, without a doubt, that THIS Starbucks makes their drinks EXACTLY as Corporate requires! That is not true of every Starbucks I've ever visited. In closing, if you don't want to wait your turn, may I suggest you go to the Starbucks in Campustown.“

“I can't stop myself from dropping in at Avionics for espresso when in town to hang out at Pour Bros. Craft Taproom Champaign. Always have to pick up a bag of beans from Page Roasting Company. IMO, best coffee on earth! Yes, I live near Seattle and have been to Italy, but Guatemala from Page Roasting is my favorite.“

“staff super friendly and knowledgeable. Great selection of coffee, tea, candy. something for everyone! Staff in masks, items are covid "safe".“

“They are convenient for a quick coffee run, but like all coffee shops like Starbucks they can be expensive.“

“My review is a reflection mainly of the food here. The service is absolutely lovely, and I have been treated with nothing but kindness by the staff at La Peep. I have brought even family members from out of town here. This was my go-to breakfast spot with my partner before we explored other options in town.
While the service is very good, I cannot unfortunately say the same about the food (especially after trying other restaurants within the same price points).
While I've tried to stick to the same thing eating here (their yogurt fruit parfait), their pancakes here have nearly a burnt taste to them which makes them less than savory. Both my father and I were not a fan of their pancakes. A lot of their menu items have just been a huge miss unfortunately, and while we still might return, it's just not the best place in town.“

“Decent place to study and grab a quick bite. Got an acai bowl which was a little expensive but suppose that's the standard for fresh fruit. Wifi wasn't slow but blocked access to some standard academic sites (GitHub, PubMed, etc.) so be wary about that if you're doing work.“

“I'm a regular customer I mean there in the morning for my icecoffee and my kids love the pink strawberry sprinkle donuts and of course I stop on my way home from work best coffee and good prices“

“well, they are the only coffee shop in the mall, so there is literally no competition. but I believe they would stand up next to another place if there was one.“

“I visited Espresso Royale Cafe Campustown near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus and had a solid, relaxed experience.

The café has a calm, well-designed interior with plenty of seating options, including tables and counter seating. It’s a fairly large space, with an extended seating area that seems especially convenient for nearby residents and students. It was very slow on a Sunday morning when we visited, which made for a quiet and laid-back atmosphere, though there was a bit of background noise from a system running.

We ordered the Oatchata and the Pandan Latte, both 16 oz and around $7 each after tax. Pricing felt fair, especially considering the use of oat milk and quality ingredients, and comparable to other cafés. The pandan latte stood out with a subtle, nutty flavor, while the Oatchata was more straightforward—cinnamon-forward and a good option if you like simpler flavor profiles. I also appreciated that they didn’t overfill the cups with ice.

Service was quick due to the slower pace, and the staff were friendly and helpful, though not particularly warm. The space was generally clean. Option to order on a kiosk. They also seem to take a more sustainable approach, which is a nice added touch.

They offer a decent menu without being overwhelming, along with pre-made snacks and light meal options. There wasn’t a visible food menu, so unsure about those options. There is a microwave and toaster available if you want to warm something up.

Wi-Fi is available, and the environment is very student-friendly. It’s a great spot for solo work or small group study sessions.

Parking is a bit of a downside—there’s no free parking nearby, and metered street parking appears to be enforced even on weekends. However, it’s very walkable if you’re already in the campus area.

Overall, this is a solid café that’s especially well-suited for students looking for a comfortable place to work or relax, with unique drink options and a calm atmosphere.“

“Everyone was so nice and friendly even while being super busy on opening day! So excited to have Starbucks here in Urbana!“

“Every time I come to this café, I leave feeling happy and satisfied. The coffee has a rich flavor, and the shop has a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere. The team here always treats customers with kindness and respect. It’s the perfect place to relax, enjoy a drink, and spend quality time.“

“Loved the available board games.“

“Great location and very kind staff. Unfortunately, they’ve been giving me American cheese most of the time when I customized it to cheddar and it’s getting a bit annoying. It didn’t happen much before but the last 6mos it happens most of the time. Coffees became inconsistent around the same time, as well. Ratios just aren’t consistent like they were.“

“We stopped by as we were traveling through. All 4 of us got a different sandwich and each was fantastic! Staff very friendly and helpful. True hidden Gem stop!“