This is part two is a long series of Rockford workspace reviews. You can check here for more reviews.

Type - Coffee House

Coffee - $1.39/sm, $1.69/lg, $2.50/bottomless. Katie’s Cup has several different blends at all times. I’ve sampled 3 or 4 of these blends over time, and found them all to be fantastic (@shawnmk of wallblank fame recommends the Ethiopian Harrar). The huge plus of Katie’s Cup is that the coffee is always available in self-serve air-pots, which means no waiting for a Barista to fill an empty cup.

Atmosphere - Very inviting, with a large open area. There is a couch facing a warm fireplace with makes for a wonderful work environment. Another great Katie’s Cup feature is a large conference table that can be reserved ahead of time for large parties. However, the music selection is generally a little odd, but nothing to be concerned with.

Internet - Free & Fast - 6.89/Mb Down, 1.47/Mb Up - One of my favorite internet connections in Rockford. Very stable, never had a connection issue. There are plenty of outlets, even by the couches and the fireplace.

Food - Only offers light food selection. Ham/Turkey/Chicken Salad sandwiches for lunch & bagels and muffins for breakfast. A Soup and Sandwich combo is just $5.99, with a different soup every day.

Location - 502 7th Street, Rockford, IL 61104

Hours - Monday - Friday: 7am - 9pm, Saturday: 8am - 3pm

Website

This is the first part in a series I’m putting together about places to work in Rockford. We’re starting with Octane, of which I’m the mayor.

Type - Coffee House/Bar/Restaurant - Full Service

Coffee* - Delicious and Bottomless. Usually pretty strong, but varies greatly from day to day. Medium bodied, low acidity. $2.00sm/$2.50lg

Atmosphere - Warm & Cozy but bathroom is outside-temperature dependent. If it’s cold outside, it’s cold in the bathroom, etc. Lots of seating, including a couch. It’s usually pretty busy in here, so conversation noise is high. Seats are comfortable.

Internet - Free - 2.50/Mb Down, 2.91/Mb Up. I’ve never had a connection issue. Severe lack of outlets though, only one at the bar, and a few scattered along one wall.

Food - Excellent. Some of the best food in Rockford, however, it’s fairly pricey & breakfast is limited to bagels. Expect $12-$15 per person. Least expensive option is $7.49. Octane has daily specials, but no dedicated lunch menu. They also have a great selection of appetizers and light foods available after 5pm.

Location - Downtown. 124 North Main Street, Rockford, Il 61101

Hours - Monday: 8am - 2pm, Tuesday - Friday: 8am - Midnight, Saturday: Noon - 2am

Website - Facebook

* For the time being, I’m only going to be reviewing the black house coffee.