So finally I was able to review this wonderful artsy establishment. My friend Lupe invited me for lunch on day and glad she did.
I order 1/2 sandwich and soup but the main thing that knocked me down was the chocolate de abuelita! (Grandma's chocolate), oh wow, they serve it up in a 16 oz glass and it comes out hot. I absolutely am living for this "made at home" chocolate.
Granted it can get busy during lunch time, or for that matter it can get busy at any time of the day, but it is worth the stop for a nice danish or hot chocolate. Parking is sometimes a little bit exhausting but I have been very fortunate to find metered parking right in front. Â The place is artsy and I am sure you will love it.
Now, honestly. I am not a fan of the sandwiches, but the soups are awesome. I have had the tuna salad and mehhh, and I have had the corned beef and again mehhh, but the soup is wonderful and the chocolate. YES! Could be due to me being a sandwich snob, but everyone loves them. So let me not knock it down for that. I don't like to be told that my bread "has" to be toasted for warning up the corned beef. Sorry, I don't like heated or toasted on all sandwiches. But I give them a four star because I was knocked down from the chocolate. Yes, I know but don't judge me.
One of my favorite hidden gems in Chicago. The sandwiches and coffee are good, inexpensive and made fresh everyday. I would come here on lunch all the time when I was working at a local Pilsen law firm, and the staff started to get to know me. They were always extremely welcoming and would always ask about work and how things were going. Only downside is it gets extremely crowded around lunch time. We would go at 12 because otherwise it's impossible to find a table.
I miss going there so much that after I left my job, I have gone back a couple of times. The simple things on the menu such as the turkey sandwich is just so good. Highly recommend if you're in Pilsen and want a break from Mexican food.
Pilsen's morning coffee crowd was subdued last Sunday, around 9:00am. Â The low key tone and the view out on the heart of the 18th Street corridor, watching the neighborhood wake up, made for comfortable caffeination and reading time. Â The crowd was a mix of families released from church, students cramming, and dates breaking the ice. Â
They don't have wifi on the weekends, but they do have a bunch of board games. Â The staff was quick to serve the steady stream of customers, but they could have been a little friendlier (either tired or hungover, perhaps). Â On the bright side, the coconut donut was delicious and a great deal at $1.
Can't believe I never reviewed jumping bean... Stopped by there today to pick up a large Chocolate Mexicano and Molletes (black beans/melted cheese on french bread with a side of pico de gallo). Â Wow, I was a happy girl. Â The hot chocolate alone was worth the trip in this chilly weather - what a great reward!
The place itself is cozy with a few tables and a few seats at a counter. Â If sitting really close to your neighbor makes you uncomfortable, you may want to take your food to go. Â They have soups, sandwiches, some pastries, several types of drinks (coffees, hot chocolate, etc.). Â
I wouldn't feel comfortable lingering with friends or on my computer if jumping bean were packed, however, we've stopped by on occassion in the evening to grab a Chocolate Mexicano and a pastry and have stayed to chit chat if the place is empty. Â
I am definitely a fan and sorry that it took me so long to review this gem!
Atmosphere: A bit loud. Tables are a little cramped but cute window seating.
Service: Â Not that great. Every time I needed something I had to go to the counter....even though there's supposedly a waiting service...
Drink: Mexican hot chocolate. I read a recommendation on yelp and I couldn't be more grateful!!! Absolutely delicious at 239 calories or so. I really had to force myself to take my time and not devour it entirely in 30 seconds. Took me 2 minutes instead =/
Conclusion- I would make a special trip here JUST for the hot chocolate. It's that good.
I cannot believe I haven't written a review for Cafe Jumping Bean. I adore this place. We recently moved back to Pilsen after years of being in Bucktown. For me Ipsento was my go to place. They have a great vibe, baristas and coffee. However, Jumping Bean offers me a very similar experience. Sure they don't have a Dirty Chai here, but they do have an Iced Thai Coffee which is amazing. This place has been here for years even before coffee shops were "trendy". They have Mexican hot chocolate too. When I am too lazy to make my own Mexican Chocolate, I hop over to Jumping Bean and then stop at Happy Cafe to pick up some Mexican Bread. Love it here!!!
Review Source:Working in Little Village, where the options are Mexican and Subway, a colleague of mine who worked at Farragut and I would always venture here for solid food and coffee. The mix of customers are worth the visit. Corporate types with their endless excel sheets to the Pilsen hipster woman wearing acid washed diaper jean shorts. The place can feel a little cramped at times and the service can be slow, but the prices are cheap. This is probably not the place for those looking for that hip cafe ambiance, but it got the job done for me.
Review Source:I live in Pilsen and this is my favorite place to go for a cup of coffee/bagel in the morning. I usually bring my computer along, but, be warned, the internet goes down at 11:30am on the weekdays and there is absolutely no connection on the weekends. The cafe is small and personable and the employees are friendly, but the limited space can make finding a spot to sit difficult (especially at lunch time). Some of my favorites are: iced coffee, hummus sandwich, and sesame bagel. The menu is a good size and any of the coffee drinks can be made with soy milk. As for the food, it's mostly appropriate for lunch, and there are plenty of vegan/vegetarian options. Good for a solo and duo dining experiences.
Review Source:I walked in and asked if I wanted to order food/drink should I take a seat. Â The employee said yes so I did. Â Ended up sitting there for 10 minutes trying to flag someone down to take my order and even make the "I am hungry and need caffeine" eye contact to no avail.
I got up pissed and left, think because I was a white guy in a Benz they let me starve.
This place is awesome. It is very small as other reviewers have pointed out. I think in theory it was meant to be a neighborhood joint where people would come, have some coffee, and move on. It does not have a giant back room or a basement to put the sit-all-day coffee crew.
Ok, on to the cafe. This place is of the neighborhood of PIlsen. So you can expect a Mexican/ Chicano vibe, yet you can also expect to get all the typical coffee shop food and beverages here prepared quickly. I had a double espresso and found it to be quite good. We had a large party with kids and the servers were very friendly and accommodating.
Great espressos, cream sodas (yeah, there is cream in there), and hot cocoa to die for!
I am glad my sister got me a T-shirt. Very cool Mexican style print like a Posada.
Friendly note: Why are hipsters always whining like babies? Who knows? But, as others have pointed out, if you are looking for a place to chill for 8 hours riding a bottomless cup of coffee this is not the place, and they have curtailed the wifi so that the place can actually stay in business.  Of course, the UIC library and the Lozano branch of the Chicago public library have wifi. If the public library was good enough for Marx then it is good enough for hipsters! Hey, if you are actually writing a novel and not just saying that you are, you will be more productive at the library don't  you think?  If they had the second floor perhaps they could let those tables go to the wifi cruisers for hours, but they don't. Seems like a rational business decision to me. A cafe like this has to make money to survive. Help out by not hogging a table all day in a tiny cafe. Be cool, always be cool like Fonzie.
Been coming here since I was in high school. Â Got hooked on coffee thanks to the amazing "white satin mocha" with caramel and soy milk (drool!) Â Had caffeine withdrawal headaches after attempting to ween myself off this incredibly drink. Â So I moved on to various other drinks, but always come back to the Jumping Bean for the WSM. Â The "chocolate mexicano" with soy makes you warm all over.
I also like their black bean burger. Â Very delicious. Â I'm not a fan of the pasta, it lacks flavor. Â So, I always go for the bbq chips (Jay's brand :) Â They also sell Alternative Baking Co. vegan cookies!!! Â I was surprised that the owner actually took my suggestion and order the "Mac the Chip" flavor, much appreciated.
The clientele and atmosphere has changed drastically (THANK YOU gentrification). Â I miss going in and seeing a lot of brown faces laughing, talking, having a great time. Â Now it's mostly hipsters behind laptop screens about to eat you with their eyes if you dare to speak louder than a whisper. Â Hey! Â It's a cafe not a library. Â The public library is down the street! Â Geez!
The one thing that has remained relatively the same are the people behind the counter. Â I have my favorites and it's always nice to speak Spanish with a few of them.
Pilsen isn't Pilsen without the Jumping Bean.
The Cafe Jumping Bean is a small cafe-concept shop on 18th between Laflin and Blue Island. It is a small cafe, providing the corner shop cafe presence that it literally is. The coffee and other products are all mediocre, price is good, service is very good, ambiance is average.
The cafe has a small raised area with a few tables on the window side facing 18th Street. On the other side of the cafe entrance, there are another few tables along the wall (perpendicular to 18th Street). Both seating areas, in this "L" shape, with the entrance in the nook of the "L", wrap around the barista station / register in the heart of the store.
Coffee and other products of the Jumping Bean are all mediocre quality. The service is very good. Good service makes the Jumping Bean an inviting place to enter and return to. Pricing is appropriate.
The cafe is a bit too small to have ambiance be a dominant factor. The Jumping Bean feels like a cafe for about the 1/2 hour that it takes you to order and drink your coffee. Then it's time to go elsewhere. It is too small a space to hang out. It's hard not to feel self-conscious about reading a book or working on a laptop after your coffee is gone. The cafe is just too small. Speaking of laptops, the cafe is so small that you would feel guilty using the WiFi for more than 1/2 hour anyway. The cafe is not a bad place to meet a friend or go with a friend, so long as there is enough table space for you the two of you to sit when you are there.
Also, it is definitely not a coffee and pastry cafe. It would never cross our minds to go to Jumping Bean after eating dinner at Nuevo Leon. There might be poetry readings and music performances at the cafe, but I can't visualize where the audience would sit.
As for location, the Jumping Bean is the neighborhood place. Forget about parking --- the Jumping Bean's customers don't drive there because they live in Pilsen. (And, it is not worth driving to the cafe as a destination of its own.) The cafe is right in the heart of Pilsen. It is well placed for a short break from the library. Anybody walking to the Pink Line station in the morning can pick up a drink here on the way.
In summary, the Cafe Jumping Bean is a neighborhood coffee shop that is a bit too small to qualify as a cafe. Its products are about average in quality, pricing is decent, and service is very good. The cafe would be nicer if it were a bit bigger.
Good little spot, can get crowded though, and hotter than hells furnace in the summer.
I like:
Garden Burger: not heavy or expensive and comes with a nice side of noodles. Always spot on.
Iced Velvet: POW! in your face. It is goooood.
Mexican hot chocolate: This is good everywhere I go in the city south of Roosevelt road. Especially like the one at Taco Bueno. This one is good too.
Iced Coffee: Its cold and caffeinated, what more do you want gringo?
Pretty small food menu but a solid joint, just don't trip over anyone's fixie bike on the way out. I really like that the tables are made from old advertising signs.
Cute cute cute place.
Local artist's photography on the walls, huge menu, quality coffee, and soo sooo sooo affordable. They let you sit and enjoy your coffee and meal, and then you pay after. such a nice treat. Creative color, design, and use of space in every corner. Had the frozen mocha which was so dessert like, and perfect on a hot summer night. Highly recommend this cute place.
Note: no wifi use on the weekends, so dont bring your laptop and expect to work.
I'm hooked on Focaccia bread thanks to the Jumping Bean.
Cozy little cafe with a half a dozen tables and some bar-style seating. Have been three times and always had a place to sit. Surprising because this place is so delicious. One of the best tomato bisque soups I have ever had. Just wish the served it everyday.
The waitstaff is friendly and your food arrives quickly. They were out of bagels the first time I dined but the discovery of their delicious focaccia sandwiches and pizzas quickly soothed my disappointment.
I am always suprised how small my bill is. Truly wholesome food at what seems to be family-pricing. Definitely worth the trip up from Bridgeport.
The Jumping Bean is the best cafe in the city, hands down. Â
But that's not what I'm here to talk about.
I'm here to talk about their iced coffee.
Its summer-ish-esque-kinda again....and that means....
Oh Jumping Bean Iced Coffee, how I love thee, let me count the ways....
It could be the fact it comes in a giant ice-laden cup,
It could be the fact it tastes like a coffee milkshake of goodness,
It could be the fact that I've ordered it so many times it is anticipated by the staff.
But mainly its all the above and more bundled up in a giant glass of caffeine laden goodness that will jump start your day, make an afternoon perfect, or just get one in the correct frame of mind to go bartend to the drunken hordes of a saturday night.
Go. Â Try one (get the really big one in the to-go cup). Â
Hear me now, and thank me later.
I really enjoyed this cafe...it's very small and inviting! Â A little hidden gem in pilsen. Â I don't tend to venture out of my usually haunts, but I went here yesterday with some co-workers and it was totally worth it!! Â
My lunch was good and cheap.  I walked out paying under $6.  What did I eat you ask?  Well, I had a half chicken salad sandwich--it had swiss cheese and green & red peppers on top with toasted bread  (The toasted bread was key.)  and a cup of soup.  The soup was soooo yummy.  I do not know the exact name of the soup but it is called something like Mediterrean Lemon Chicken soup....i devoured my cup and wish I would have went for a bowl.
Would I visit this place again? Â Yes
Would I drive from Lincoln Park to visit? Â Probably not
I've been living either next door or within a block of this place for the last 10 years & Dude has maintained the same legit vibe in there all along.
   Despite the very limited space, he manages to employ a bunch of great kids & adults from around the 'hood & sling great food & coffee & showcase lots of incredible artwork from within the community. All this without being the least bit pretentious or patronizing. Â
   Here's my only complaint:
  One time, a disgusting yuppie woman started blasting the owner about not having quite enough hot water in her tea cup or some shit, and he just took it from her....I understand the "fear of Yelp" & all, but you don't have to take that shit! Thousands of people will always have your back.
Landmark status in Pilsen. A neighborhood staple that continues to deliver.
Chocolate silk. Mexican hot chocolate. That is all you need to know about Jumping bean.
Oh wait, and they have cool windows on the second floor.
Trends come and go but Jumping bean is forever....last time I was here the featured art was rock and roll photography. Stunning quality for a coffee shop.
I love this place. I've been here in the evenings to study during the semester and it's usually semicrowded with some college students, TAs, few academic professionals, artsy Pilsen people, etc. They've got free WiFi!
Servers are nice and the atmosphere is cozy/quiet/artsy. My favorite is the White Satin Mocha and my friend always gets the Mocha Almond Delight.
I've never had trouble finding parking. It's all meters anyways. I've heard some complaints about this neighborhood (crime rates) but I haven't had any issues. I don't mess with anyone and they don't mess with me. I'm just happy that Pilsen's got some great coffee places!
"Back In Five Minutes" according to the sign on the door, eh Knee Deep? Ok, I'll be back in Americano minutes and see you then!
Cold and snowy outside, warm and cozy inside. Once my glasses unfogged, I looked up and saw my medium Americano listed on the menu board for a mere $2.30, same as stupid Starbucks but hopefully a whole lot tastier.
Not the most flavorful thing ever, but the buzz I caught made it worth my while. Fueled for shopping and the trip back from Pilsen, this feeding of the monkey brought to you by Jumping Bean. Success.
I miss Cafe Jumping Bean! Â When I lived in Pilsen (3 months ago) this was usually where I got my semi-lazy day meals. Â They have a great turkey focaccia sandwich, and I love the noodle salad that comes with their sandwiches. Â They also have good shakes and great coffee. Â It's pretty reasonably priced, and there's also free wifi. Â I love the atmosphere of this coffee shop and the servers/baristas offer some quality service. Â
As others have mentioned, it's pretty small. Â However, I wonder if they could still offer such great service if the location were bigger. Â The whole time I lived in Pilsen, there were two guys I mainly noticed working the floor and the coffee bar every day. Â They were super friendly, and seemed like they'd been there forever, but who knows. Â I personally like the size, and have for some reason never had a problem finding somewhere to sit. Â Maybe luck?
Cafe Jumping Bean, I miss you and I'll be back soon!
Solid neighborhood coffee joint in Pilsen. Good food, good drinks, reasonable prices, accepts credit cards, nice atmosphere.
They could, however, use a little more space. I love a coffee shop with an intimate vibe, but the layout here is not the most inviting. Somehow I found an open seat, crammed in between two people working on their laptops at the counter. While I had hoped to stay and get some reading done, I couldn't get comfortable in such close quarters, so I didn't stay as long as I would have liked.
So if you're thinking of stopping by during a busy time, you might consider taking your drinks to go.
Bike parking right out front, perfect!
The place was packed when my fiancée and I walked in, I don't think there was a table open even if we wanted to stay. Even through the place was busy it still had a rather low key vibe. The people working were very friendly and greeted us with a smile. I ordered an iced coffee and my lovely lady who had enough coffee already that day went with an iced chai. They didn't have a sign up or anything but I think they use Intelligentsia Coffee. A good coffee joint in Pilsen and it's perfect if you live in the area but not something to go out of the way for.
My bf and I were walking through the neighborhood looking for something to snack on. This place was packed but got a table. Great atmosphere to just sit down and chat. They have sandwiches, salads and pastries. As well as plenty of espresso drinks.
We ordered some sandwiches, carrot cake and a Satin Mocha. Our food came quick and it was good. I don't know what to say about a sandwich. Lol. It wasnt bad. The carrot cake was yummy!!! Pretty big slice. My drink was a little weak. Meh. Really nice chill out place. I'll definitely be back.
Came back with my guy and best friend. Definitely a nice cafe place to sit and talk and have a nice little meal. The waitress was nice and friendly.
My guy just had the house coffee.
My friend had the Iced Satin Mocha and Chocolate Chip Cookie. She liked both.
I had the Iced Thai Coffee and it was good. I asked the waitress for a recommendation between 2 drinks and she said the Iced Thai Coffee. I was a bit skeptical from getting it here, but gave it a try and I'm glad I did. The chicken sandwich was good, but I'll have to disagree about the side of pasta. To me it was basically just pasta with olive oil mixed with it. Not much flavor.
Definitely be back to try other items on the menu.
I love the place. Great atmosphere, good, basic food, excellent cheesecake, good service, interesting art. Wish I got here more often. Could use more vegetarian options, but that's a small ding. I'm not really vegetarian myself.
It seems to attract a little more of a white crowd just lately... fewer educated latinos talking about la revolucion or whatever, more whitebread laptop jockeys like myself. But so goes the neighborhood.
When I interned in Pilsen, I stopped in here all the time for lunch. While most people come here for the coffee (makes sense, it is a coffee house), I was more of a fan of their focaccia sandwiches (especially pepperoni). The coffee is good, but the food there is even better. Their side dish of pasta was a nice complement for the sandwiches, too.
My only complaint here is that it can get very packed during peak hours. I never had a problem finding a seat, but that was because I would take a late lunch every day. Even when it was busy, the service remained great. The staff is friendly and will get to know you if you are a regular customer.
Highly recommended for lunch or an early-morning coffee.
This coffee shop has really great and inexpensive lunch food items and delicious coffee drinks. If you order a lunch item that has a choice of sides, try the pasta salad, because its delicious. The chairs and tables are conducive to getting work done, but they're not cozy to just relax in. The shop is a pretty small space, so it would be hard to go with a group of more than four people.
You pay for your coffee, etc after eating, so don't forget to take care of that. Once I accidentally left and didn't realize that I'd forgotten to pay until a couple hours later. The staff was totally nice about it (as they always are) and just joked that they posted a wanted poster up with my photo on it.
Another place my book club has met, we were lucky to be able to push a few tables together. The place is not entirely comfortable or cozy - its small and always seems to be the wrong temperature. They make a mean Mexican hot chocolate, reasonably priced.
Its a nice place to stop in for a little while, but I wouldn't stay long.
I spent four hours occupying choice real estate at CJB one Saturday and had a chance to take in the hipster population of Pilsen one tattoo at a time.
It wasn't nearly as horrific as I would have guessed. Yes, there was a salt-and-pepper smattering of skinny guys in skinny jeans with razor-cut hair, but there were also college kids with scrabble boards, older neighborhood folk noshing on soups and bagels, and self-conscious and underemployed young women exchanging tales of their latest tryst. But it didn't have the feel that Lula Cafe in Logan Square can have on a mid-morning weekend day in the summer, all attitude, slickness, and too-kool-for-skool, with a hefty aroma of "fuck you". It was pleasant and welcoming.
Service was very friendly and helpful and not at all pushy. They didn't care that over the four hours we were there we ordered only a couple drinks and a bagel plate (but tipped well! I swear). My coffee was good, not great, but I didn't have high expectations and was not disappointed. They did, however, properly prepare my cappuccino, which was a pleasant surprise.
Oh yeah. And there's Wi-Fi.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
