Tala Coffee Roasters - Highwood Cafe

The coffee, tea and pastries are always very fresh and served promptly by the friendly & professional baristas.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

This place is great but the men’s room toilet is literally always clogged.

There’s a certain quiet magic in Tala Coffee, Highwood. The flavor here isn’t just good — it has depth, like a story unfolding with every sip. You can taste the attention, the patience, the care.

The space is soaked in soft, voluminous light that feels almost three-dimensional — it moves through the café like air, shaping shadows, warming wood, making everything glow just a little more than you’d expect.

And the atmosphere… calm but alive. Like a Sunday morning that forgot to end. A place where time slows down just enough to let you notice it.

Highly recommended — not just for coffee, but for the feeling it leaves behind.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I didn't discover good pour over coffee until I lived in Asia from 2015 to 2017. Since coming home, I'm always on the hunt for a well done pour over. This place now takes the cake for the absolute best pour over I've had in the last 8 years. I ordered a light roast and all the flavors came through, bright, brilliant, acidic, just the way it ought to be.

Also, the old fashioned donut was delicious 😋

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Gluten free friendly and the bone breaker latte is great!

Stop by little after 7AM on Saturday.
Great coffee & Friendly service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

LONG WAIT, BITTER DRINKS…Waited 15 minutes for a simple hot drink on a weekday-during a slower time with 3 people behind the counter. Drink was not hot and had bitter soapy aftertaste. (I guess it was bad that I asked after 13 minutes if my (counter) order got missed.) The odd taste made me wonder if something “extra” was added b/c I dared to ask. Tala employees responded “somebody must have taken your drink”. Maybe if they had written my name on the cup in the first place it wouldn’t have been taken? After waiting 15 minutes(next time I’ll tip after not before)I tossed the drink having taken only 2 sips. I understand it is challenging to find competent help. You’re better off having less ppl who do a great job than more ppl who are mediocre and ignorant. Next time I will drive 12 minutes to Hansa in Lake Bluff. Great service, professional baristas, proper made drinks and various bakery items.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 1

If you have ever lived in the city you probably know how hard it is to find a great coffee shop in the suburbs. Well, look no further because Tala Coffee Roasters is where it’s at! We found this coffee shop gem a little over a month ago and we make the 25 min drive from Wheeling almost every weekend just to get ourselves drinks. It’s located in an old Fire Station and the inside feels industrial modern. It’s definitely got plenty of space to sit down for a chat or to do some work. Their lattes are incredible - smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced every single time. It’s rare to find a place where the quality is this consistent, but Tala delivers with every visit. Whether it's your first time or your fiftieth, you know exactly what kind of delicious drink you’re going to get. Vibes are great and the baristas are friendly. I truly am what someone may consider a “coffee snob” and even I 10/10 would recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Coffee is lovely, but took a star off because the matcha color was too light fir my taste and wasn’t wisked well enough 😩 but for coffee specifically, its a nice spot

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Nice coffee

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 4

Tala is a great local spot with creative specialty drinks, but somehow we usually get our regular favorites - today iced matcha and a cappuccino

Everyone is warm and friendly and the aromas are wonderful

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Nice vibes, great coffee.
While I enjoy the coffee and atmosphere, the ventilation system needs serious improvement. During busy hours, the air becomes stuffy with a noticeable musty odor, which can make the space uncomfortable.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 5

Service: 5

I had perfectly balanced cappuccino twice, not bitter or watery. Good quality freshly roasted beans

Food: 5

Shop is in a re-purposed fire station. Pretty cool. Outdoor seating.
They roast their own beans at their store in Libertyville. Other locations in Highwood and Winnetka.
The lattes were creamy and delicious.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5