Nothin’ Less

This was a very quaint and cute coffee shop. Few people were inside, making it a great atmosphere for working on your computer. They have a ScoutMob coupon/​Foursquare check-​in special for 50% off your order.
We chose this particular spot because they are displaying a friend of mine’s artwork until the middle of April. (
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I ordered a regular vanilla bean coffee, while the rest of the people ordered specialty drinks. They were all delicious and came in ceramic mugs or pint glasses which made you feel right at home. The only downfall was they closed early that night.

I really like this place, for a few reasons but the drawbacks can really be irritating. I have been going here for a couple of years now.
First of all, they have added a few new employees. None of them make good coffee and they have been rude. I much prefer Elena or Vigneus behind the counter. Just so you know, they are sort of… well Americans have a different communication style, so they might take a little getting used to, but I like them very much and they are so sweet, they even remember what Mr J usually orders if I am getting coffee for him!
Overall, I love the coffee and I drink the really outrageous coffees on the menu. That being said, I think they might benefit from narrowing down the rather elaborate menu so the drinks can be a little more consistent.
The sandwiches are delicious, so are the pastries, but sometimes they aren’t consistent. I have had them a little dry sometimes.
The seats are comfortable enough if not perfect, and they have lots of outlets available. A pretty decent place to sit and do some work or read.
Sometimes they have performers and they manage to keep the volume at a reasonable level.
It’s a nice contrast to New Wave (that I don’t patronize for a few reasons, not the least of which is their practice of limiting what the bakery next door to them can sell — what a great neighbor!!!) which is noiser and busier.
This and Café Moustache and my favorite local spots for coffee and a work friendly atmosphere where I feel comfortable socializing with freinds.

Came to Nothin’ Less today with a ScoutMob deal. Definitely not crazy about it.
The best thing this place has going for it is the ambience — very quiet and work-​friendly. However, that’s about where the positives end. The coffee is weak — my cuban barely woke me up. The croissant I had for breakfast was worse than the croissants at major chain coffeeshops; not remotely crispy on the outside, and not remotely flaky on the inside. The sandwich I am presently forcing myself to eat is just terrible — I went with the prosciutto, mozzarella, and tomato panini, which should be essentially impossible to screw up. Alas, what is advertised as «prosciutto» is actually marginally warmed up, raw bacon. It’s seriously not even edible.
To top it off, the one woman operating this place today speaks very little broken English; I feel bad for her, and ordinarily would never complain about this, but her English is so bad that I couldn’t even succeed in informing her what I want by pointing at it and saying what it was several times. One of the things I ordered was a coke. I had to help her do math to figure out how much my food cost (which I actually enjoy as a nerd, but this may piss others off). On top of this, it’s very slow; my espresso took 10 minutes to make, and the sandwich 20. The internet is also patchy at best.
Pricing is okay, I guess. I’m only withholding a one star review because my grandparents are immigrants, I work with immigrants, and I understand and sympathize with the difficulties imposed with being in a strange place and learning a new language. My second star is literally a pity star. I may come back to study in the future because it’s so quiet, but rest assured that I will order absolutely nothing that is prepared at this establishment.

Pros:
— Nice, open space
— Lots of items on the menu
Cons:
— Sandwiches consist essentially of bread and condiments
— All 4500 coffees they serve basically boil down to various ratios of sugar+cream
— Without said sugar/​cream, the coffee tastes like its imported from your neighborhood cubicle

My first visit this weekend … observations:
the place is small but spaced,
pleasant atmosphere,
poor high top seating,
non-​distracting music,
and a woman counter server who was unpleasant and non-​communicative. perhaps she was having a ‘bad day’ but i was shocked that she could be so unwelcoming to a new patron who ordered more than coffee.
will return in hopes of having a more pleasant staff interaction…

They should change their name to «NOTHIN’ MORE» than mediocre coffee and extremely rude customer service.
After I ordered a turtle something or other (they didn’t have the ingredients for the tiramisu latte I originally ordered), I told her that I’d come back to pay as soon as I used the bathroom. That was quick because the bathroom had no toilet paper. I informed the woman up front and she said she’d put some in a s soon as I paid, which I did — no «thank you» even after I thanked her. …10 minutes later, still no toilet paper so I went back. She didn’t apologize or anything of the sort but did instruct the man who works there (her equally rude hubby?) to put some in. About another 5 – 10 mins later, I see a woman walk out of the women’s bathroom, go into the men’s, and come back with some loose pieces of toilet paper. I went back and asked AGAIN for them to put some toilet paper in and AGAIN instead of apologizing she just told the man to go put some in.
I ended up using the men’s bathroom (which is quite dirty) and when I went to wash my hands, surprise!, no soap. So I went up to the counter and told her I’d like my money back (because on top of the bathroom issues there were no seats) and she said she would not give me my money back because now there was toilet paper sitting outside of the bathroom, plus, she felt that I should have used the men’s bathroom instead of bothering her for toilet paper; apparently after waiting around for 20 minutes I should still be patiently waiting around and grateful that they’ve finally left a roll outside of the bathroom and next time, I should stop being a brat and just sit not he piss covered seat in the men’s bathroom. She also informed me that she wasn’t required to provide me with a bathroom because it doesn’t say anywhere on the department of health guidelines that she has to! Wow, really? It’s a coffee shop — drinks = needing to pee. I spent $ 4 on coffee that I am pretty positive didn’t contain any actual coffee; at least when you go to an overpriced Starbucks, the baristas don’t sit their lazy asses behind the counter telling customers they don’t *HAVE* to provide them with anything. I will never return to «Nothin’ More Than Rude Customer Service».
By the way, what’s the deal with the old garden furniture?

Visiting from Kansas City, I needed a place to grab a cup o’ Joe and catch up on my eMail before an afternoon meeting. Reading what my fellow Unilocalies thought of the joint, I hopped on the Blue Line and headed straight for Nuthin’ Less. The name’s clever, and I like that it implies visiting any other coffee shop would be settling.
Décor: Great lighting with plants and gorgeous exposed brick walls make for a very urban center atmosphere. I dug it.
Seating: Plenty of couches and chairs, as well as a few tables for those not looking to sit around a chat with friends over coffee.
WiFi: Unrestricted access, locked down with a WPA Personal password.
Staff: Quite friendly and accommodating. My request for something made without dairy or honey was met with a smile rather than confusion.
Selection: Holy bean, Batman! There’s so much coffee here. I’m used to my usual spots in KC with maybe 15 – 20 drinks, but at Nuthin’ Less they saw that average number, laughed, sped up and hit damn near 80.
Taste: I ordered the Peanut Butter Mocha, which was light on the PB and heavy on the mocha. This was a let down, but I still approved as just having a PB-​based drink on the menu sets them well ahead of most coffee joints I’ve encountered in my travels. I also ordered a veggie Panini, and that was a different story. Hardly anything inside the sammich and it was served with some gross greasy chips. I would have much preferred the choice of an apple or a small salad (if this is possible it wasn’t made clear by the clerk nor was there signage indicating I had the option) rather than feeling like I shoved my face into a Big Mac wrapper.
Bathrooms: Separate for men and women, spacious and fairly clean. Men’s room was out of soap though. Given that the joint was staffed by two ladies, this says more about their clientele than the staff to me, as the first thing I’d mention to the barista after recycling my coffee is «hey, I need to wash my hands. Got soap?“and I wouldn’t expect them to be dashing into the Men’s room all the time to check up on that.
In a nutshell, Nuthin’ Less isn’t knock-​my-​socks-​off amazing, but I wasn’t let down either. If they add some substance to their sandwiches (I don’t need a double-​decker, but more than one leaf of spinach would be nice — especially on a vegetarian offering) and amp up the secondary flavors in their speciality drinks they’re onto something.

What is a girl to do on a Sunday? Crosswords! Being the geek I am Sundays are strictly reserved for crosswords and puzzles. I was looking for a café that wasn’t crowded with a million of hipsters, loud, overpriced and isn’t Starbucks. Lo and behold! Came across this gem right off the Logan Square el.
The staff is friendly, the prices are reasonable, super chill, free wifi and best of all it is not crowded! Yay! Not going to lie they do make a mean pumpkin pie latte! Its nice to find a café that doesn’t cater to a certain demographic and ordering a coffee sounds as if you are speaking another language.

I’m not a coffee drinker.
The last time I went to Starbucks I asked for a «small» which they translated to «tall,» and even by the late afternoon my carotid artery was pulsing so forcefully that I feared my carotid artery would burst and spray blood across the room… not a good thing if you work in an office environment with white walls and coworkers wearing expensive suits.
Nothin’ Less isn’t really about coffee, and doesn’t cater to a specific demographic… It’s about trying new things from around the world, and connecting to the local community. If you’re open-​minded and adventurous, you’ll probably love this place. If you’re picky, you’ll still find something you’ll like. Visiting Nothin’ Less is like traveling along the length of a fractal– there are endless options to try.
What first won me over were the sandwiches, which creatively apply the fresh bread from La Boulangerie to a variety of surprising and interesting combinations mixing sweet and savory… At first I ate about ten Hawaiian sandwiches (ham and pineapple), until the owner cut me off and threatened to throw me out on the street if I didn’t try something different. So I moved on to the turkey (w/​cranberries!), wild chicken (grapes and celery), tuna (black olives), and the snake (spicy prosciutto and red bell peppers). The coffee drinks are also interesting and internationally-​themed… such as the Indonesian coffee flavored with avocado, and the Deutschland Black Forest with cherry.
The space itself is a beautiful open room with wall-​length windows and a hardwood floor. It’s a perfect setting for live music, dance, and art, and the venue makes the most of it with art openings every second Saturday, themed events and fundraisers, folk musicians, traveling indie bands, and world music.

If you are looking for a coffee shop with a pragmatic state of mind, Nuthin’ Less is tailor made for you. This isn’t a see and be seen place, but an opportunity to get work done — it has a quiet uncrowded environment. The coffee is rich and flavorful and the sandwiches are tasty, but somehow not quite filling, despite the size. I had the snake sandwich (sadly, it does not have rattlesnake in it, you’ll have to head north to Hot Doug’s for that), and while it was quite tasty, it had very little meat and cheese — I needed to eat another sandwich immediately after leaving the shop.
Despite that quibble, this is my go to stop for getting work done in the neighborhood. Don’t spoil it for me!

Let’s get to the point: Coffee is not the best I’ve had, but Nothin Less is super cozy.
GIve me some more sweet options that don’t have any dairy & I’ll be a happy camper.
Lastly, the barista could be a tad friendlier.

I live nearby and Nothin’ Less has become my regular stop — as opposed to New Wave which was in rotation for quite awhile — especially on the weekends.
It’s much less crowded and more enjoyable when out running errands. When I want a quick coffee, I don’t like to wait in line for 15 minutes (frankly, New Wave needs a better ordering system. I’ve mistakenly grabbed the wrong drink and have had mine grabbed as well; they take names for sandwiches, maybe they should for coffee?).
Lots of interesting coffee drinks, with international flair and flavors.
Now that the market has started back up, New Wave will be even harder to navigate on Sundays, so please put Nothin’ Less on your radar for visit!

Free wifi
Nice staff
good coffee
Specials
Closer than new wave
Yay!

Another new coffee shop in the neighborhood is always a good thing. Nothin’ Less is owned and operated by a young couple who always seems to be there.
There are some glass café tables and wicker couches, which can accomodate any size group. But there’s more space than seating. Then again the shop is never busy no matter when we go. There’s always a seat. I hope that changes in the near future.
In addition to the usual caffienated and unleaded drinks, there’s a great selection of slightly greasy pastries. Greasy but good: these are of the savory variety and offer a delicious complement to a stiff coffee. They also hit the spot: one spinach and feta will give you the equivalent of a filling lunch.
Prices are low and wifi is free. We didn’t have a problem finding an outlet on the couches and tables near the walls, but bring your long Mac cord just in case.

Quest to the perfect coffee shop, take #284.
Nothin’ Less is SO MUCH MORE than New Wave a few houses away. Smaller, yes, but comfortable, elegant, classy and not busy.
If you want to work away on your computer without being distracted by the latest fashion trends in Hipsterville, the cries of the children or rodeos of squirrels come here.
You won’t regret it.
Sitting options include regular chairs and tables, high-​tops and wicker couches.
I didn’t notice the coffee menu but after reading about it — I cannot wait to come back to peruse it. I am not exactly a ‘coffee snob’ but I like my options and I support the small guys. And a master of its trade always gains my respect and my business.

The coffee was good enough, a couple steps above undrinkable and for under two bucks, that’s fine. However, when I’ve been in the shop less than one minute and am already aware that I know more about coffee than the barista… not good.
Me: «what kind of beans do you use?»
Dude: «Italian beans»
Me: «no, I mean like… who roasts them? Metropolis, Intelligentsia, is it a Chica — «
Dude: «no»
so I just ordered a plain medium coffee for a dollar and some change to drink while I waited for the bus. It was fine. A bit weak and not as hot as it could have been. A couple steps below dunkin donuts coffee.
After the coffee question I didn’t dare ask who made their pastries but I’m guessing nothing was vegan, ha. I’ve lived two seconds away from this place since it opened a year ago and never even knew it was there… I see why. People who think Starbucks is the standard for good coffee will like this place.

sorry, nothin’ less, but i am not impressed. perhaps if i had read the reviews about all the international coffees i would have been, but your hot coffee tasted like it was from a holiday inn complimentary breakfast.
pros:
nice, relaxing music — unlike other coffee shop directly by the square
cheap — $ 1.98 for a medium coffee
soy milk and raw sugar available
cons:
no iced coffee until march — really? i know it’s february but making an iced coffee isn’t difficult.
décor is just. weird. couches look comfy but otherwise odd.
barista was not exactly friendly — she only thanked me for getting a coffee after i thanked her for it.
maybe i am being a bit too picky now, but the sugar area was a mess with hardly any sugar left and broken stirrers all over.
to be honest, i’d probably come here if i wanted a place to relax at in logan square. for some good coffee to go, i’d just stop by lula.

So, this places is cool with me because my boyfriend is from Serbia and they have some type of Serbian Frap that want to try.
Ok – but seriously, I stop in here almost every morning on my way to work for just plain coffee with cream (no sugar, please) and it is now part of my routine. The coffee is tasty, there is no drama to getting my coffee (read pretense) and the coffee is delicious (and I know because I don’t put sugar in it).
I had a nice time tooling around on my laptop in this place over the summer. It was relaxing with nice music and chill vibe– an oasis of calm.

I take my coffee just like my men… every morning over the kitchen table. But some days I venture out for coffee and was happy to see a new coffee shop open up in Logan Square.
Nothin’ Less is to coffee what Violet Hour is to cocktails. There are at least 100 varieties of delicious caffeinated drinks to choose from. While I normally like my coffee black, occasionally I mix it up with a little spice and flavor. I can’t remember the name of my favorite, because there are so many, but it was a Mediterranean style coffee with cardamom and orange zest. Mmmmm… comforting…
I spent many afternoons while I was unemployed curled up on their comfy wicker couches and chairs reading a book and sipping a delicious bevvie. Nothin’ Less is quiet and spacious with very clean restrooms.
The service is always friendly and prompt, although at times you can’t get what you order because they may not have an item. That’s understandable. I mean, they have 100 different drinks and can’t possibly stock the ingredients for all of them every day.
Notin’ Less is a nice little coffee oasis and a much better alternative to New Wave.

Hidden away on the wrong side of Kedzie, amongst dollar store/​jewelery store row, is a very good coffee place.
Nothin’ Less has many different coffee selections from all over the world. The best part is that each cup is made fresh when it is ordered. If you drank an entire bottle of Jewel brand vodka the night before, you may want to order the Red Eye or the Black Eye. These seem to contain some sort of jet fuel in addition to caffeine.
There is plenty of room to sit down, but few choose to, which is very different from New Wave Coffee a couple of blocks down on Milwaukee avenue, where people seemingly spend their whole day.