If it’s true good things come in threes, then here at Caffe Streets in Chicago those things are the wooden ceiling, the overhead counter lighting and the backlit barista bar metal perforated panelling.

Norsman architects went to town with marbled bamboo plywood here, crafting sleek and interesting tables and seating and cladding the walls and pillars. However, as is so often the case these days, the most interesting things are going on over one’s head; the wood continues into an ear-like layered structure above which would have us craning our necks and spilling coffee all over the place.

The barista bar lighting boats two stand-out features, the first being authentic Chicagoan street-lights which jut from the rear wall like Wolverine has just punched it from next door. Below on the counter front a backlit metal mesh echoes the percolating process nicely. Speaking of percolating, caffeine junkies among you will appreciate that Caffe Streets has a top-notch Synesso Hydra espresso machine to deliver a perfectly brewed jolt if the surroundings haven’t already done the job.

And Caffe Streets is not the only venue featured today that thinks three is the magic number – three of a different kind albeit.