A look inside October Cafe — a Chicago coffee shop where fall never ends

CHICAGO — Chicago is now home to a coffee shop where fall never ends and pumpkin spice never goes out of season.

October Cafe, located in the city’s Norwood Park neighborhood, opened its doors in late August. Owned by Audrey Borden, the cafe is a labor of love she shares with her fiancée, Michelle Gonzalez, and their family members.

The shop offers what regular coffee shops call “seasonal drinks” all year long. While big chains like to wrap up their pumpkin spice fun in late November, October Cafe keeps it flowing all year.

One way to try a little bit of everything is by getting their coffee flight called “We Fell In Love In October.” The flight includes the store’s four specialty drinks which are October Café’s take on the Pumpkin Spice Latte, Maple Forest, Cozy VP Chai Tea Latte and Cuddle Weather.

The October Cafe coffee flight includes the store’s four specialty drinks which are October Café’s take on the Pumpkin Spice Latte, Maple Forest, Cozy VP Chai Tea Latte and Cuddle Weather.

The flight is named after Borden’s and Gonzalez’s love story. They fell in love in October 2019 and will be tying the knot this coming October, with each drink representing a year of the love they have shared.

This was a much needed addition to Chicago. While the city is known for trendy spots and is a big hub for the horror community, it was missing a fall gem like October Cafe. Finding a coffee shop with a year-round autumn theme, especially within city limits, is a rare treat indeed.

The second I walked into the shop, I was greeted with a “Hello Pumpkin!” and smiles from the staff. I tried the flight and my favorite was their pumpkin chai. Much better than the Starbucks one that came out this year.

Take a look inside the shop: