Sometimes it can feel like Evanston has a coffee shop on nearly every corner, but the recent closure of two South Evanston Starbucks locations has left local residents searching for a new, go-to coffee stop. For those looking to try someplace new, Main Street offers three lesser-known standout specialty shops ready to fill the void.
Dandelion Coffee Bar
Dandelion Coffee Bar is the newest shop on the block–technically not on Main Street proper, but located at 844 Custer Ave. Open since June 2025, the cafe serves coffee and pastries mainly catering to the weekend crowd as they slowly establish the business. The owners of Dandelion are Harry Millan and Alex Milne, who opened the joint coffee bar because of their love for the craft of coffee making.
In the months since they began operating, they have been slowly expanding their days of the week that they are open. First the shop branched out to Friday, then Thursday and are now planning to open up on Wednesdays once the weather is better.
Dandelion has a limited specialty drink menu, including the delicious sunflower latte with smoked salt. But the real highlight are the pastries, in particular the chaussons, which means slipper in French. They come in sweet and savory options, including strawberries and cream, ham and cheese, apple, etc. These pastries are made with care by chef Michele Millan, mother of co-owner Harry, every morning.
Dandelion has seen an increase in customers since the closure of the Main Street Starbucks in September of 2025.
“It is a different customer base, but we have seen some uptick, because people need their coffee and then they come in to see what we have to offer, which is homemade pastries with high quality ingredients” Michele Millan said.
The inside of Dandelion is cozy with a few high-top tables and bar seating. During the spring and summer they offer additional outdoor seating.
“In the environment we are in, people want to support local businesses,” Millan said.
Reprise Coffee Roasters
Reprise is a specialty coffee roaster located on 710 Main Street with two cafes in Evanston (Main Street and on Northwestern’s campus) and one in Chicago. Their coffee menu is more extensive than Dandelion’s, and includes typical coffee house drinks made with high-grade, unique beans along with their specialty offering: A rosemary sea salt and caramel latte.
For matcha lovers, the shop also has several flavors as well as hand blended teas and multiple lemonade varieties.
In the cafe, pastries on display include croissants, donuts, scones, cinnamon rolls and muffins. On the weekend, they have breakfast tacos available starting at 9 AM.
Freshman Desi Green has been going to Reprise for years. “I really like the vibe there. I always get the blueberry muffin and the lemonade is good, too.”
And Green is not alone. Reprise is renowned for their coffee, having won four medals at the 2024 Golden Bean Awards, a national coffee shop contest. Customers can buy beans at the store or on the store’s website, which has countless different coffee varieties available.
The shop is owned by Kati Paiz and Adam Paronto who source coffee directly from farmers to help provide sustainable wages and fight poverty. They source most of their coffee beans from a coffee farm collective, Gold Mountain Coffee Growers, in Nicaragua.
“It’s been exciting to welcome new customers and introduce more people in Evanston to specialty coffee since the Starbucks on Main Street closed,” Paiz said. “It’s a reminder that there’s strong demand for locally owned businesses in Evanston.”
Brothers K Coffeehouse
Brothers K Coffeehouse has a long history within the Evanston community. John and Brian Kim (the “K” brothers) bought the cafe in September 2005 when there was a specialty coffee trend in Chicago. The shop was originally named “Cafe Express,” but in 2006, it was renamed to Brothers K.
Brothers K serves Backlot Coffee, which Evanstonians will recognize from the coffee shop on Central Street also co-owned by John Kim. In fact, many of the pastries are similar to those served at Backlot such as Do-Rite Donuts, coffee cake, muffins and scones. For more savory options, they serve mini quiches and other brunch foods.
The shop’s extensive menu includes exclusive drinks such as a seasonal peppermint mocha. The cozy shop is a local favorite and is typically packed with students and neighbors. Located on the corner of Main Street and Hinman, the coffee shop is filled with light pouring in from the windows.
“I go there all the time since Starbucks closed,” senior Sasha Hammond said. “It’s a great way to start my day.”
Grabbing a coffee at Dandelion, Reprise and Brothers K is a great alternative to Starbucks and a way to support local businesses. Starbucks is consistent and offers convenience at times and the loss in the Evanston community will be felt. However, local coffee businesses offer a higher quality, ethically-sourced, and more personal experience that keeps the Evanston community connected.
