In Bucktown, just a quick 20-minute train ride from campus, lies a whole new world of coffee that everyone needs to experience. Oromo Café is a woman-owned coffee shop that takes your average latte in the stratosphere by breaking down the boarders of countries to your cup. The quaint shop sits directly underneath the train stop and welcomes visitors with a rustic and organic feel. The menu is extensive and offers completely unique items, like their Turkish coffees and affogatos. Oromo prides itself on having a global menu that introduces people to completely new experiences.
Luckily, I was able to try some of their menu items! Their imported baklava is crunchy with a beautiful delicious little bite of honey, I could genuinely have twenty and never get bored. Just as their baklava, their imported Pomegranate Turkish Delights was like nothing I’ve ever had-- Chewey, sweet, and flowery. Their in-house vegan and gluten free cookies lacked no flavor, all whilst having a great oat-y texture. However, the showstopper for me was the Feta Kale Turkish Croissant. It had a great warm buttery flavor that melted in your mouth plus the savory kick of the feta and kale—it was just amazing. Although I didn’t get a chance to try any of their fuller meal items, I can say with confidence I know they will be just as great as everything I tried.
If you find yourself thinking that Starbuck’s weak brews aren’t kicking it for you anymore, you need to try Oromo. While the coffee may be too rich and dark for some, I had no problem with my cup filling my craving for caffeine. I had the pleasure of trying their Dark Chocolate Mocha and Horchata Latte, each equally delicious. The mocha packed a strong punch of bitterness but calmed itself down with the sweet richness of dark chocolate flavor. The coffee was prepared to perfection with a nice cream on top to smooth the flavor out. The horchata latte did not disappoint, either. It had notes of nuttiness, but it didn’t overwhelm itself-- creating a perfect balance of flavors in your mouth. If you think you might be intimidated by the boldness of Oromo employees suggest the Coconut Caramel Latte as an introduction to this new world of coffee exploration.
Overall, Oromo Café is not only a great coffee spot, but also an important coffee spot. I encourage you to leave the Americanized bubble and explore the boundless taste that other cultures have mastered beyond our westernized comprehension of coffee. Oromo’s culture-conscious coffee is unlike anything you’ve ever had and it’s going to be hard for you to ever go back.
