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09/10/2026
My coffee journey started in 2006, when I fell completely in love with roasting (and smelling) coffee. I spent hours at the original Metropolis cafe, reading, writing and watching them roast. Eventually, with their guidance and others’, I learned how to do it myself. I started roasting at home for friends and family, then renting time on other cafes’ roasters whenever I could. I basically launched a pre-e-commerce subscription business.
Then, in 2008, I got laid off. Around that same time, I met a guy on a similar path and somehow we stumbled onto Ipsento Cafe, a little coffee shop drowning in debt and about to close. We figured out a way to take it over, installed a little red roaster and basically built the whole thing ourselves. I wrote my first cafe breakfast menu. Friends scavenged furniture and equipment from alleys. Baristas traded roasting lessons for shifts. We were broke, scrappy and figuring it out as we went. Somehow, it worked.
Fast forward almost twenty years. Last year, I stumbled across a little red Diedrich roaster on Facebook marketplace that looked strangely familiar. The markings were in exactly the places I remembered. I was pretty sure it was our first coffee roaster. So I tracked down the woman who had it in storage and started tracing its history. Sure enough, it was the same roaster.
So I took out a small loan and bought it. Coffee roasting wasn’t originally in the plan, but it felt like destiny and I had to grasp it.
For about a year now, we’ve quietly shifted to roasting our own coffee for Bagel Miller. As of this week we are 100% switched. Today, I roasted 100 pounds while writing this story.
And that’s the origin of Moonbow Coffee Co. .
A moonbow is a rainbow that happens at night. You don’t always see it. You have to be looking.
Our slogan is “capturing the rare & radiant.” It applies to sourcing and roasting coffee, but we also kind of think it applies to living a happy life.
Keep your eyes peeled as Moonbow Coffee Co. becomes something magical. 🌙🌈
09/08/2026
WE’RE BACK, BETCHES.
We just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary, and somehow both of our kids are finally in school. At the SAME school. On the SAME schedule. 🙌
Ten years ago when we decided to start a family, we had no idea how much it would change our careers and our business. Like so many parents, we had to figure out the impossible math of work, childcare and how much of our kids’ lives we were willing to miss to keep pushing our careers forward. We chose the kids (and being a bit poorer than we’d like.)
We took turns being at the restaurant, worked more ON the business than IN it, and said no to a lot along the way. A book. TV opportunities. Partnerships with national brands. A partnership in a pizza business that went on to become pretty famous. Lots of media opportunities. Starbucks wanted to sell our stuff? And approximately one billion opportunities to open another Bagel Miller. 😂 Some of those things probably would have been amazing, but they didn’t fit our life.
Nine years later, we are very happy and confident we made the right choice. Maybe we lost some career momentum and a little relevance, but we got to be there for our kids and raise good humans together. We wouldn’t trade that. We watched as others passed us by, but we believed we’d make up for lost time when the moment was right. And if you’re on the fence, wondering if it’s worth making a choice like this yes, it absolutely is.
And now, we get to be a team at work again too. You’re going to see a lot more of both of us at Bagel Miller, working with our team, dialing in what we already do and figuring out what comes next.
We have LOTS of ideas. More events? New offerings? A dinner concept? A festival?Collaborations? Another Bagel Miller? But we’ve always considered this a community business too, so we want to hear from you. What do you want to see from us next?
And if you have an opportunity, collaboration, media idea or something weird you think we’d be perfect for, send it our way. We spent a lot of years saying no because it wasn’t the right season.
We’re ready to start saying yes again. Not to everything. The kids still win. 💕
08/29/2026
Bagels are pretty much the whole point around here.
Big sandwiches. Good coffee. A patio when Chicago decides to cooperate.
No VC money. No big bank behind us. Just a family from your neighborhood, serving you.
Thanks for spending part of your weekend with us. 🥯
08/16/2026
We will resume normal hours 8/18
07/30/2026
Day 1 has begun!
So far we’re loving the vibes, the music and the folks lining up for Matchas & Draft Boba Teas!
Are you here?
Come by and say hi!
07/28/2026
Well… we’re closed today and will reopen Wednesday.
Yesterday’s storm knocked out half our power, and somewhere along the way one of our team members accidentally turned off the other half. Cue several hours of, “Why isn’t this working?” while we crawled around the bakery trying to solve what felt like the world’s most expensive escape room.
Running a small business is funny like that. One minute you’re losing ingredients on top of a day of sales and wondering how this happened. The next you’re reminding yourself that good people make honest mistakes.
Honestly, it’s kind of like parenting. You can be frustrated, laugh about it, and love them anyway… sometimes all in the same five minutes.
See you Wednesday. ❤️🥯
07/16/2026
See ya at Lolla. 🌈🥯
July 30 - August 2 we’ll be serving:
🧋 Boba Teas
🍵 Iced Matchas
🥯 Rip & Dip Bagels
🥬 Chickpea Kale Caesar Wraps
🦃 Turkey Kale Caesar Wraps
Year two, baby. Come find us when your feet hurt and you need carbs or cold drinks.
Boba FestivalFood
07/16/2026
Explain yourselves.
Yesterday we were down. Today we can’t stop making sandwiches.
It’s 90°, the air quality is questionable, and somehow THIS is the day everyone decided to get bagels?
Fine by us. We even scheduled an extra person tomorrow because apparently this is the secret sauce?
Why are we busy?
07/14/2026
Do you have a patio?
Yes, we have two. This one in the front and a quiet garden patio in the back!
06/08/2026
With WBEZ – I just got recognized as one of their top fans!
06/04/2026
The weather report says: cold brew tonic on the patio. Who are we to argue with science?
Address
4655 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
60625
To get to the location on N Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, there are several options for transportation.
For those taking public transit, you can take the Brown Line train to Diversey Station and then transfer to the 76 Diversey Bus going Eastbound. Get off at N Ashland Avenue and walk about three blocks north to reach the destination.
If driving, take Lake Shore Drive north and exit at Belmont Avenue. Turn left onto Belmont Ave and continue until you reach Ashland Ave. Turn right onto Ashland Ave and continue for about one mile until you reach N Lincoln Avenue. Turn right onto Lincoln Ave and look for parking along the street or find a nearby paid parking lot.
Note: These directions are generalized and could apply to any business located in that area.
Opening Hours
| Monday |
8am - 3pm |
| Thursday |
8am - 3pm |
| Friday |
8am - 3pm |
| Saturday |
8am - 3pm |
| Sunday |
8am - 3pm |
Alerts
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What people say
Baker Miller is a must-visit all-day cafe and diner located on N Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. This bakery prides itself on using house-milled grains to create bold and beautiful food that is sure to satisfy any craving. Despite facing some setbacks due to staffing issues, Baker Miller has continued to impress its customers with its delicious offerings. From their mouth-watering cinnamon rolls to their hearty soups, everything is made fresh and with love. The staff at Baker Miller are friendly and welcoming, making every visit a delightful experience. Whether you're stopping by for a quick coffee or settling in for a full meal, Baker Miller is the perfect spot for any occasion. Don't miss out on this gem of a bakery in Chicago!
