Is it still possible to find a decent cup of coffee in the Chicago area for under a buck? Certainly not at Starbucks. Not at Dunkin' Donuts, White Hen or now even McDonald's.
Finding on in Logan Square, however, is a different story. There we found a few strong contenders, my favorama being the cafe Cubano at Cafeteria Marianao. This sweet, dark, carmelly brew with a creamy brown froth goes for a mere 75 cents. ...and served in a two ounce plastic cup, it's meant to be jauntily tossed back at the counter. Dilute it with a touch of hot milk, in a drink called a cortadito, and the price drops to 50 cents.