15 Best Coffee Shops In Milwaukee, Wisconsin

By:

JP

Last Updated:

Coffee shops are a crucial part of everyday life, whether we simply want to enter and exit for our caffeine fix or we are setting up a temporary office for a few hours.

Milwaukee is fortunate to have many excellent local roasters who meticulously take the time to blend and source their beans with high standards.

Best Coffee Shops In Milwaukee
Contents show

The Best Milwaukee Coffee Shops

We’ve been on a journey to find the best coffee shops and cafés in Milwaukee. Read our list of 15 best to find your next cup of Joe.

1. Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co.

Coffee, pizza, and wine; what more could you ask for?

This neighborhood roaster has five locations, but the one in Bay View is the best since it has a massive Italian wood-firing pizza oven that produces Neapolitan-style pizza with a liquor license.

If you’re looking for a snack, you can find five different types of crostini for a reasonable price, as well as everything from traditional Margherita pizza to one topped with multicolored potato slices, garlic, and rosemary.

But coffee will always be Anodyne’s first passion, and at their Walker’s Point site, they roast their beans in small batches.

2. Canary Coffee Bar

The cafe’s friendly and welcoming atmosphere creates the perfect setting for coffee lovers to relax, enjoy conversations, and savor their favorite beverages.

With a team of knowledgeable and skilled baristas, they take pride in crafting customized cups of coffee that cater to individual tastes.

Alongside their delicious and rich lattes, Canary Coffee Bar also offers a variety of mouthwatering treats, such as fresh and flavorful muffins. Experience top-notch customer service and a satisfying coffee journey at Canary Coffee Bar.

3. Coffee Makes You Black

Coffee Makes You Black, a diner-style coffee business on Milwaukee’s north side, attracts patrons from all walks of life.

Since it first opened in 2001, it has truly integrated into the neighborhood. When business revenue sharply declined last year due to ongoing road work, the community stepped up to help the company in its hour of need.

It helps that the menu features hearty favorites like pancakes, chicken and waffles, and biscuits and gravy. The ambiance is relaxed and pleasant.

4. Colectivo Coffee Lakefront

The locally owned coffee shop in Milwaukee has developed into a small business with many sites in the local area and others in Madison and Chicago.

The Lakefront Colectivo is a particularly unique location, with its 1888 River Flushing Station structure and its big, crowded patio where dogs and live music are welcome.

Since you’re only a few steps from the water, you’ll always enjoy the lake wind as you sip a cortado and munch a salmon sandwich.

Visit The Back Room, a music venue on Prospect Avenue, for a genuine concert experience.

5. Dryhootch

Dryhootch is a nonprofit organization devoted to assisting veterans with a smooth transition back to civilian life and is arguably the most underappreciated coffee shop in the city.

The Cafés, owned and operated by veterans, are places veterans may go for support, employment, outreach, and whatever else they need.

Here, you’ll meet civilians and veterans from all walks of life who are connected by a shared commitment to serving our nation and helping our veterans.

6. Fairgrounds Coffee And Tea

Sometimes you want more than simply a cup of coffee; you want to relax in a Café.

That’s where Chicago-based Fairgrounds, a small company, comes in. It recently launched its first location in Milwaukee.

A wide variety of drinks is available here, from matcha and kombucha on tap to those stunning, creamy cocktails in rainbow colors that beg to be posted on Instagram. Yes, there is also a lot of coffee.

However, unlike most local establishments, it offers a wide selection of brands from around the nation, including Portland’s Stumptown. The food menu is sizable, and the area is sunny and cheerful.

7. Hawthorne Coffee Roasters

Hawthorne started up a simple, no-frills coffee shop in an area that desperately needed one. Hawthorne was primarily a local provider of espresso and single-blend coffees to companies.

Thanks to its open layout and shabby chic furniture and decor, it immediately became a meeting place for locals.

The main attraction is pour-over coffee, but whiskey and mixed drinks are also offered.

In addition, The Foxfire food truck, which is constantly parked outside and serves some of the greatest chicken tenders, chicken and waffles, hot fried chicken sandwiches, and burgers in the city, is always available.

8. Pilcrow Coffee

Pilcrow is the place to go if you’re serious about quality coffee. Their espresso has won twice, and their cold brew won America’s Best Cold Brew Competition in 2017.

Their specialty is a cold brew with a creamy flavor and a head that resembles beer by adding nitrogen gas.

The point is the coffee, so it doesn’t matter if the warehouse site on the north side is minimal.

Visit the Pilcrow-owned Interval on the East side for a more conventional, tranquil café experience. It has a lovely, homey, nostalgic atmosphere.

9. Rochambo Coffee & Tea House

If you asked a hippie to create a new-age, French-inspired arthouse café, the result would be Rochambo.

It fits in wonderfully on Brady Street, where creativity and individual expression are encouraged.

Here, Valentine’s coffee, made with a special blend, is available. The highlight is the alcohol, though there are other teas, juices, and items to purchase, like “healing balm” and local kombucha.

There are many other coffee and alcoholic beverage combinations, but the Irish coffee with Tully Dew and freshly whipped cream is legendary. That is a good way to start the day.

10. Stone Creek

Many people are unaware that this particular chain is local. They began here in Milwaukee, but because of how well-designed and polished their brand is, it has the appearance and feel of a large chain.

This makes it ideal if you want to support local businesses but can’t give up your Starbucks habit.

The city’s spacious, two-story factory café location has several peaceful nooks and diverse seating options, including giant tables resembling desks where you can spread out documents and plush couches next to a fireplace above.

11. Story Hill BKC

Head to Story Hill BKC for a great Milwaukee brunch spot with top-notch coffee.

It offers the best choices in town, including brunch burgers with bacon, eggs, jalapeño mayo, and shakshuka (baked eggs in tomato sauce) topped with goat’s cheese.

With a few unique blends to try, Valentine Coffee Roasters roasts coffee nearby. Try the Mexican mocha with chocolate syrup and custom-blended spices for a sweet kick.

12. Interval

Interval is a charming and inviting cafe that serves as a hub for the community to gather, unwind, and connect. Focusing on locally sourced ingredients, their menu showcases a delightful array of Scandinavian-inspired dishes and homemade pastries.

As you step into this lovely and clean cafe, you’ll be greeted by a warm ambience and friendly staff, who will make you feel right at home.

Be sure to indulge in their ever-changing selection of coffees and specialty drinks crafted with care by a local coffee roaster.

13. Valentine Coffee Roasters

It’s not surprising that Valentine Coffee Roasters’ two founders term the little café affixed to their roastery “the tasting room,” just like a winery would.

Like sommeliers investigate wine, they examine their beans and roasts to find the ideal combination.

This is a terrific place for coffee lovers because it offers many single-source, small-batch varieties from around the globe.

There are accessible traditional Italian coffee drinks like the macchiato, but try a straightforward pour-over to appreciate the variations in their blends properly.

14. Sprocket Cafe

Sprocket Café is a haven for coffee enthusiasts, a hidden gem in the heart of Milwaukee. With a blend of carefully sourced beans from Guatemala, Sumatra, and Brazil, their drinks boast a robust and full-bodied flavor that embodies the essence of the city.

The café’s rustic bicycle-themed decor, adorned with bookshelves and board games, creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

With an excellent cold brew, a delightful bagel and a warm and friendly staff, Sprocket Café is an ideal spot to unwind and savor the taste of Milwaukee.

15. Vennture Brew Co.

Beer and coffee are the two types of brewing done at Vennture. It’s typical to see someone at the bar working their way through a beer flight while sipping an espresso using Tanzanian coffee beans.

The straightforward layout successfully combines a warm coffee bar and brewery tasting room with a collection of board games.

There is a quick honor coffee bar where you can pay electronically if you’re in a hurry. Check out the community cup wall, where you may pay it forward and purchase a future cup for anyone who needs it to get a sense of the community here.

Final Word

You need to visit some amazing Milwaukee coffee shops and cafés, and these are just a few of the best! Give them a try and find your next favorite place to grab that all-important cup of coffee.

Check out the best coffee shops in Wisconsin in the other places we cover in the state.

 Take advantage of the chance to explore our wide range of coffee shops in Madison as well.

What to see in Milwaukee

Latest Posts