OVERALL CHAMPION

2024 GOLDEN BEAN

WORLD SERIES

Small Chain/Franchise

Coffee Reviews

Coffee Review was founded by Kenneth Davids and Ron Walters. Together, they introduced the first-ever 100 point, wine-style coffee reviews to the specialty coffee industry. Their mission is to help consumers identify and purchase superior quality coffees and, in the process, help drive demand and increase prices to reward farmers and roasters who invest time, passion, and capital in producing high quality coffee beans.

Ken Davids is editor and chief writer. He has been involved with coffee since the early 1970s and has published three books on coffee. His workshops and seminars on coffee sourcing, evaluation and communication have been featured at professional coffee meetings on six continents. In 1996 he was awarded a Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to Coffee Literature by the Specialty Coffee Association of America.

  • “...impressively balanced, sweetly nut-toned Colombia."

    Colombia Supremo

    2016

  • "Tropical aromatherapy! This experimentally processed Geisha is characterized by tropical fruit and herb notes, rich-toned and uniquely composed, with a complex, lyrically sweet cup."

    Wilton Benitez Thermal Shock Geisha

    Ranked #13 out of 30 in

    2023

  • "An enigmatic, multi-layered, tart-leaning Colombia Red Bourbon with impressively complex aromatics."

    Wilton Benitez Thermal Shock Red Bourbon

    2023

  • "A deep, rich, balanced and inviting cold brew, especially sweet and caramelly in the milk shot ... The coffee tied for the second-highest rating in a tasting of ready-to-drink black coffees for Coffee Review’s July 2021 tasting report."

    Cold Brew

    2021

  • "A superb, nectar-like natural-processed Ethiopia displaying intense candy- and floral-toned aromatics."

    Ethiopia Super Wush

    2021

  • "Richly sweet, delicately tart. Tamarind, dried mango, cocoa nib, marjoram, cedar in aroma and cup. Briskly sweet, gentle acidity; full, syrupy smooth mouthfeel. Crisp, sweetly tart finish."

    Guatemala Natural Caturra

    2024

Full List of Reviews

Awards & Accolades

#1 INDEPENDENT COFFEE SHOP IN THE U.S.

USA TODAY, 2023

“With multiple locations in the Chicago area, Big Shoulders Coffee is a must-stop for no-nonsense artisan beans, roasted to perfection.”

-10best.usatoday.com

GOLDEN BEAN NORTH AMERICA 2022

NORTH AMERICAN FRANCHISE/CHAIN WINNER

Best Coffee in Every State, Illinois Winner

Food & Wine, 2019

““There are few roasters in this town capable of showcasing their own coffees quite so brilliantly—some of the most exciting moments from this year’s survey involved paper cups of batch-brewed black coffee, served at the pleasant-enough Big Shoulders shop on Lake Street with zero pleasantries whatsoever, cups of coffee that practically set our hair on fire with their precision. (2018’s Kenya Kirinyaga, you were particularly special.) In case you ever wondered, or if anyone ever asks you, where do you go in Chicago, for a really good, no-bull cup of coffee, look no further.”