Like its name, Cups is quick and to the point: fair trade, organic coffee, tea and pastries perfect for people on the go—it's a stone's throw away from the Brown Line train tracks.

Try Cups' customer favorite Kedzie Stop, a classic cappuccino with a dash of vanilla and drizzled with caramel; or opt for the Train Conductor, a latte with two shots of amaretto syrup. Prices range from $2-$3 for small, medium and large sizes, and most of the drinks have cutesy transportation names, excluding the unwieldy, uninspired title of Ravenswood to the Loop. Teas are brewed in the Swiss Water Method, an all-natural decaffeination process that preserves the drink's taste and aroma, and pastries brought from American, Polish and Korean bakeries. Feast on paczki, Polish doughnuts filled with jam or marmalade, covered with powdered sugar, icing or bits of fried orange zest; or order up a Korean croquette-style pastry made with potatoes and cabbage. Pastries range from $1-$2.50.

If you're not among the hustling commuter crowd, hunker down among the miniature Zen rock gardens decorating most of the tables. Free wi-fi and early nineties rock filtering out the rumbling train noises will keep you busy and buzzing with delight.

Centerstage Reviewer: Anna Pulley