rbh1515 Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 1,154 Location: Milwaukee Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: LM GS3 Grinder: Mazzer Vac Pot: have one Drip: no Roaster: never use it
Posted Fri Jun 12, 2009, 8:41am Subject: Re: Madison and Milwaukee coffee shop recommendations
My recommendation for the best place in the Milwaukee area is Anodyne. They have one location on S Kinnickinnic Ave. They have a Synesso espresso machine, and they have excellent baristas. Roast uses their beans I'm pretty sure. Rob
Posted Sun Jun 21, 2009, 6:00am Subject: Re: Madison and Milwaukee coffee shop recommendations
When in Milwaukee and needing a coffee, I usually end up going to Fuel Cafe. (I used to hang out with a rougher crowd than I do now; Fuel was definitely their scene. I can't comment on their espresso, I think I just got those giant mugs of drip.) Friends who live in Milwaukee swear by Alterra.
In Madison, I'll typically hit up bradbury's if I need something on my way to work. EVP on East Wash can be good, depending on who's pulling the shots (sorry, I don't know which baristas to seek out, and I have no experience with their other locations). Some of their roasts are too light for my taste. Williamson Street Co-op does ok for takeout coffee and hippie watching.
I go to Barriques from time to time - they're the nearest coffee shop to the office. Other people around the office swear by Ancora.
Jo's Tazzina bears mentioning, because her first coffee shop (Cuppa Jo, now renamed and not her shop anymore) really opened my eyes to good coffee. I have not been to Jo's Tazzina, but I expect that her quality standards have gone up, not down.
I have no affiliation with any of those shops, and it's certainly easy to do worse than any I've listed.
If you find someplace that rates "best place" in Madison, I'm eager to hear it.
stevekessler Senior Member Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Milwaukee, WI Expertise: Professional
Vac Pot: Yama Drip: Chemex, Glass Syphon, Pour...
Posted Sun Jun 28, 2009, 12:57pm Subject: Re: Madison and Milwaukee coffee shop recommendations
Don't know if you've already passed through town or not, so this post might be a little late coming. I would love to have you stop by Anodyne, but also would recommend Alterra (Humboldt location), Roast Coffee Co, and The National Cafe. The National does a great job with pulling shots with Metropolis Redline Espresso. We post some of our cupping notes on the blog if you want to find out more about us.
rbh1515 Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 1,154 Location: Milwaukee Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: LM GS3 Grinder: Mazzer Vac Pot: have one Drip: no Roaster: never use it
Posted Wed Jul 1, 2009, 8:16am Subject: Re: Madison and Milwaukee coffee shop recommendations
stevekessler Said:
Don't know if you've already passed through town or not, so this post might be a little late coming. I would love to have you stop by Anodyne, but also would recommend Alterra (Humboldt location), Roast Coffee Co, and The National Cafe. The National does a great job with pulling shots with Metropolis Redline Espresso. We post some of our cupping notes on the blog if you want to find out more about us.
Steve, Will have to check out The National--had not heard of it before. Too bad they don't use a Synesso like you guys at Anodyne. I always enjoy your espresso. Rob
mikemiller34 Senior Member Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Milwaukee, WI USA Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sun Aug 9, 2009, 9:21pm Subject: Re: Madison and Milwaukee coffee shop recommendations
Hi,
I concur with most of what's been written until now, but the owner of Roast is named Ryan (Eric is the name of the guy who owns the chain that, interestingly, was not mentioned by anyone in this thread). Also, I've actually had better experiences with the Alterra on Prospect rather than Humboldt, especially for espresso. The only bum drink I can remember ever having had at any Alterra was a double espresso on Humboldt. (There may have actually been two separate incidents there.) As of a year or so ago, champion barista Scott Lucey was working the bar during the opening shift on Saturdays on Prospect. Not sure if he still does.
A can't-miss place not mentioned by others is The Java House in Cedarburg (for those who don't know, about 15 miles NW of Milwaukee).
May I steer you to my humble blog? It has extensive coverage of Milwaukee and southern Ozaukee Counties and, to a limited extent, Madison.
Posted Mon Aug 10, 2009, 3:06am Subject: Re: Madison and Milwaukee coffee shop recommendations
mikemiller34 Said:
Hi,
I concur with most of what's been written until now, but the owner of Roast is named Ryan (Eric is the name of the guy who owns the chain that, interestingly, was not mentioned by anyone in this thread). . .
Posted Mon Aug 10, 2009, 3:10am Subject: Re: Madison and Milwaukee coffee shop recommendations
stevekessler Said:
Don't know if you've already passed through town or not, so this post might be a little late coming. . . We post some of our cupping notes on the blog if you want to find out more about us.
Posted Sat Sep 26, 2009, 9:51pm Subject: Re: Madison and Milwaukee coffee shop recommendations
I live in Madison and rarely go out expecting anything above decent. I did goto mermaid cafe on winnebago st a while back and had the best macchiato i ever had. ever... i've had decent coffee at EVP, and last I heard, jo's tazzina is looking for a replacement owner, so i cant say much for it...Michelangelos and espresso royale on state street are pretty good... if you're downtown, ancora on king street has a clover machine that's worth checking out... I live on the north side and theres a newer cafe that has really good food and pretty good coffee; called manna cafe. they take pride in their food and their coffee, they serve johnson brothers coffee...
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