Jinachandran H J3 weeks ago
Amazing atmosphere and top-tier drinks!
We stopped by Sawada Coffee in the Fulton Market District on a Wednesday morning, and the place was already lively and buzzing with great energy. The rustic, industrial interior—with its unique string lights and sticker-covered pillars—gives the entire space a fantastic, distinct vibe. It’s quite spacious and a wonderful spot to hang out and relax.
We ordered three different drinks, and all of them tasted excellent:
Black Camo Latte (Hojicha): A beautiful, rich, roasted flavor with incredible, dark latte art. A must-try!
Matcha Latte: Smooth, perfectly balanced, and expertly prepared.
Vanilla Latte: Creamy, delicious, and comforting.
The presentation across all of our drinks was top-notch. It is a wonderful place to visit when you are exploring the neighborhood and looking for a refreshing, high-quality coffee experience. Highly recommended!
The environment was very friendly and such a cozy place shared with other business. The military matcha with a shot of espresso was delicious! Parking can be a bit challenging, like any other place in Chicago. Would love to visit again next time I am in Chicago.
Hoosieronthemove5 months ago
When the line is going out the door on a 15 degree day, you know the coffee is good and worth the wait. I met up here with a coworker the other day and we were not disappointed. He had a military latte and I had a white mocha cold brew, and we both had the blueberry muffins, which were incredible. Great spot to hang out at and chill for a few hours, and now I know next time I’m back in the area to stop in here!
I have mixed feelings about the drinks, but I can say overall that this place is great for one reason: the espresso tastes amazing.
I first ordered what everyone and their mama tells you to order: the Military Matcha Latte, and was very underwhelmed. but to fair, I've never had a dirty matcha that I've enjoyed, and this didn't change my mind. if you love dirty matchas, you might love this, but I guess it's not for me. but, really enjoying the taste of the espresso, I ordered a flat white, and it was DIVINE. one of the best flat whites I've had, as the flavor the espresso is just so so good and perfect to my liking.
the espresso is so good that I think adding it to matcha or Hojicha or whatever just takes away from it, but hey if you're into that, you gotta try this place (but also, try a standard espresso coffee drink too!)
Zayoodi Anthony7 months ago
Walking up to Sawada Coffee, the line was already out the door. It’s a lowkey spot tucked behind a door in Fulton Market, but once you step inside, the atmosphere is vibrant and bustling with people. The line took about 20–30 minutes, so I’d definitely recommend ordering online if you’re in a hurry.
I ordered the Camo Latte with no sugar. If you’re someone who doesn’t like sugary drinks, be warned — without sweetness, the flavor balance isn’t great. The matcha and espresso combination didn’t quite come together for me. That’s partly on me for ordering it that way, but it just didn’t taste good plain.
One odd thing: I ordered mine warm online, but when my friend tried to order it warm in person, they were told it couldn’t be made that way — which was confusing.
The prices are on the premium side, and I have to be honest — the extra charge for “ceremonial matcha” feels misleading. In Japan, “ceremonial” isn’t a special category; it’s more of a Western marketing term. Charging a few extra dollars for that seems unnecessary. It’s fine to make money, but transparency matters.
Overall, great vibe, long wait, and overpriced for what you get. Worth checking out once for the atmosphere, but I’d temper expectations on the coffee itself.
