Coffeeshop Spotlight: The Brewed in Chicago
I went to Chicago this summer and found an incredible horror-themed coffee shop called The Brewed. I got into horror when I was 17 in my film studies high school class Society and Cinema. Before that class, they used to scare me, but after learning about the mirroring of horror with the fears of people through time, I was hooked. I even had a little horror movie double-feature birthday when I turned 18 (we watched The Strangers and 30 Days of Night). A horror coffee shop was something I have been searching for for ages, so I was so happy to find one this summer in Chicago!
Fun fact: The name The Brewed is inspired by director David Cronenberg's cult classic, The Brood(1979), and that sets the tone perfectly for what you’re in store for when you walk in because the film poster for The Brood is hanging right behind the front counter when you walk up to order.
Eric and I are simple folk when it comes to coffee. I used to love ordering anything with a million bells and whistles. If it had like… gold flecks and latte art with a twig of lavender, I would get it, mainly just for a cute instagram photo… but I’ve been burned too many times by a cute beverage(burned figuratively and also literally). I now stick to what will get me the most caffeine with minimal effort for the barista. That usually involves ordering just a simple coldbrew with oatmilk. Eric does the same, except he likes his coldbrew black.
We did a lap around the shop while the baristas made our drinks, and there’s so many little observational things that make the space unique. Its a cafe with little easter eggs and cool iconic images from horror spread throughout. If you’re sitting at a booth, you’re sitting next to a classic horror film poster. If you’re at a couch, there are books about horror waiting to be read.
Best Horror Moments and Homages in The Brewed (in my opinion):
The Halloween III jack-o-lantern glitching in and out on a classic 80s floor TV (unfortunately not pictured)
The back corner hall on the way to the bathroom was painted like the street art from the Chicago-based horror classic Candyman(1992). It was cool to see a Chicago-local coffee shop repping their local Chicago-based horror icon.
The Scrubdaddy horror sponges! I didn’t know Scrub daddy made horror-themed sponges of pumpkins, ghosts, and Frankenstein’s monster, so.I might have to order some off the deep web, because they were a limited run, and scrub daddy no longer makes them! (cries)
Anyway, along with the cool visual homages to horror throughout, they also have a few shelves of films on DVD And VHS for sale, and it’s cool to see something as niche and the horror community create their own third space to meet other horror friends in the flesh(keeping it spooky here). They also have merch and I bought a little tote bag to take back to Minneapolis with me, which I love!
the counter is painted purple and there are horror figurines everywhere. The Brewed is such a unique space and I love the almost ‘90s-like color palette. Imagine creepy-crawlies, goosebumps, and Halloween in the 90s.
If you’re looking for The Brewed Coffee next time you’re in Chicago, you can find them in the Logan Square neighborhood. I highly recommend it to coffee lovers and horror fans of all varieties! They are also connected to a record store called Bric-a-Brac Records! They have tons of collectibles and vintage throwback happymeal toys if records aren’t your cup of… coffee? In this case? Anyway, definitely check it out! It was absolutely sick, and I can’t stop thinking about going back to Chicago to drink a cold brew there again someday!
Here are some photos from inside Bric-a-Brac records, directly connected to The Brewed. I ended up buying a figurine of the Descendants’ Milo character for my brother there, and it was a great time.
Just sitting in the space gave me so much writing inspiration and ennui for the end of my trip. I love finding places that even my friends living in that city say, “I’ve been meaning to check that place out!” and this was one of those. I was pleasantly surprised, and I had to share it here on the blog.
Thanks again everyone for reading. ♡
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