The short version
About Bean Working
Bean Working ranks Chicago coffee shops by how good they are for getting work done. Every shop in the rankings was visited in person, laptop open, and scored on what matters when you work there: getting a seat, wifi you can trust, outlets, noise and the coffee.
66 shops vetted in person11 neighborhoods120+ shops on the list
Why I started it
I work remotely in Chicago, and one day I found myself at a coffee shop that made working frustrating. The wifi was spotty and outlets were hard to come by, so I had to leave. Other days I tried two places and couldn't get a comfortable seat at either.
Google and the existing sites don't get into the weeds on what makes a coffee shop productive for people trying to settle in and work, whether that's a deep focus session or a day of calls. So a few friends and I started keeping notes and exploring cafes around the city. It turned into a treasure hunt of sorts for the best places to hunker down, and this site is the result.
I'm Steve. A few friends and I visit and score every shop ourselves. No shop pays to be listed or ranked.
How the Bean Score works
Each shop gets a Bean Score out of 10, built from six parts. The receipt on every shop page shows its exact breakdown.
THE BEAN SCORE
- WORKING FRIENDLY
- 25%
- SEAT AVAILABILITY
- 25%
- COFFEE & FOOD
- 20%
- HOURS
- 10%
- VIBES
- 15%
- PRICE
- 5%
Wifi you can trust, outlets, noise, laptop rules, and whether you can take a call
Can you actually get a table, especially at busy times
Is it worth ordering a second round
Long weekday hours, early opens and late closes score higher
Is it a room you want to spend a few hours in
What a drink and a snack run you
TOTALOUT OF 10
What "vetted" means
A shop is vetted once I've worked there and scored its seats, its work setup and its coffee. Shops on the list that I haven't visited yet show up as "Not vetted yet" and don't get a rank.
Hours come from each shop and are checked by hand. A shop counts as open late if it stays open until 6:30 PM or later on most weekdays.
Your take counts too
Anyone who has worked from a shop can rate it. Those ratings make up the community score, shown next to the Bean Score but never mixed into it. Written takes appear on the shop page once they're approved.
Questions people ask
What is the best coffee shop to work from in Chicago?
Right now it is Ipsento in Bucktown, with a Bean Score of 8.8, followed by Bru in Wicker Park (8.7) and Oud in Wicker Park (8.6). Bru and Oud are our mainstays in Wicker Park, but the rankings change as new shops are scored, so check the full rankings for the latest order.
Which Chicago neighborhood is best for working from coffee shops?
We know Wicker Park and Logan Square best, so they have the most vetted work spots, but we're always exploring new ones. Each neighborhood page ranks its shops and picks the best for calls, coffee and staying all day.
How is the Bean Score calculated?
It is a weighted score out of 10: working friendly 25%, seat availability 25%, coffee and food 20%, hours 10%, vibes 15% and price 5%. Every input comes from an in-person visit.
What does "open late" mean on Bean Working?
A shop is marked open late when it stays open until 6:30 PM or later on most weekdays.
How is the community score different from the Bean Score?
The Bean Score comes from my visits. The community score is the average of ratings from people who worked there and shared their take. The two are always shown separately and never blended.
Can I suggest a coffee shop?
Yes. Use Suggest a Shop. New suggestions go on the list along with your rating, and I score them after a visit.
Last updated October 2026. Scores reflect in-person visits and can change after a revisit.