While Milwaukee’s “Cream City” nickname actually has to do with brick rather than dairy (I know, I was surprised too), Milwaukee is indeed known for several food and drink options. In addition to beer and cheese curds, there’s a vibrant craft coffee scene around the city; there are several Milwaukee coffee shops worth checking out.
Here’s a list of the current java spots in Milwaukee.
Colectivo Coffee
Milwaukee is home to Colectivo Coffee—a local chain with multiple locations across the city, with distinct charm and a cool, colorful, artistic vibe at each shop.
Colectivo roasts its beans in-house, which has earned a reputation for its fresh and robust flavor. Their pastries and food menu also tend to be popular options, and there are always creative flavor pairings among the drinks. My all-time favorite is the oat-chata cold brew, which goes best with warm summer days.
Each of the Colectivo spaces tend to burst with character. Some of my favorites: their Lakefront location is easily spotted thanks to its bright and colorful courtyard, the Riverwest shop has a cool view of its roastery in the back, and the Bay View spot has a cool double-story layout that’s great for laptop workdays.
Colectivo is a Milwaukee institution.
Bay View & Bakery
2301 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Foundry
170 S 1st St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204
Humboldt & Roastery
2999 N Humboldt Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Lakefront
1701 N Lincoln Memorial Dr Milwaukee, WI 53202
Prospect & The Back Room
2211 N Prospect Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Third Ward
223 E St Paul
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Shorewood
4500 N. Oakland Ave.
Shorewood, WI 53211
US Bank
777 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Stone Creek Coffee
One of my favorite Milwaukee coffee shops is Stone Creek Coffee. In addition to delicious coffee—I always go for a lavender latte—Stone Creek also has a great food menu and plenty of working space.
Stone Creek Coffee is popular among locals for their artisanal roasting techniques, ethically sourced beans, and an environment that’s warm and welcoming. Their storefronts are pretty simply aesthetically pleasing too—easily identified by their minimal white-and-black exterior.
Be prepared for many laptop users—students, digital nomads, inspiring novelists—groups, and friends to be utilizing the Stone Creek space. It can get crowded at popular times (weekend mornings especially), because the vibe is very much it. If you haven’t been to their 5th Street location, I highly recommend snagging a seat by the fire and asking for a “for here” cup.
Pro-tip: you can use their app to order ahead!
2650 N Downer Ave
Milwaukee, WI
422 N 5th St
Milwaukee, WI
4106 N Oakland Ave
Shorewood, WI
8340 W Bluemound Rd
Wauwatosa, WI
Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co.
Another of my favorite Milwaukee coffee shops is Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co., which I first discovered in the Milwaukee Public Market. They were the first spot I tried a honey bee latte, which was so delicious that it became an instant favorite.
The other spaces are interesting and each unique, embracing a vintage industrial vibe—the Walker’s Point cafe is spacious and is even a popular local wedding venue. In terms of the Anodyne products, they’re known for a great pour-over coffee, craft espresso drinks, and even pizza at their Bay View location.
Bay View
2920 S. Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Walker’s Point
224 W Bruce St
Milwaukee, WI 5320
MKE Public Market
400 N. Water St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Wauwatosa
7471 Harwood Ave
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Valentine Coffee Roasters
Out of all the Milwaukee coffee shops, Valentine Coffee Roasters is my favorite for one simple reason: they make a perfect lavender latte. And they have soy, too—an extra bonus for me.
Valentine Coffee is an upscale shop with several locations in and around Milwaukee. Valentine’s Third Ward location has become a staple in my own routine, as my extra special post-barre class treat—it can work as great motivation. Their coffee quality is second-to-none, and their farm-to-table bean sourcing approach is reflected in the taste.
It’s an added bonus that the interior of the Valentine Coffee shops are sleek, modern, and aesthetically pleasing—a very pleasant cafe to meet, work, or daydream in.
5918 W Vliet St
Milwaukee, WI
189 N Milwaukee St
Milwaukee, WI
5835 W National Ave
West Allis, WI
Interval Coffee
I say this with all the love in my heart: Interval was the first place I ever spent $8 on a too-small latte, and absolutely thought it was 100% worth it.
Interval is expensive, but worth every drop. I love going to this coffee shop—grabbing a lavender latte in a giant cup, and sitting in one of their funky booths upstairs. I’m a huge fan of their food, too, especially the olive oil bread (trust me, it’s worth trying!). The aesthetic is minimalist and sleek, with exposed bricks and an iconic storefront.
Interval is a popular choice for coffee enthusiasts in Milwaukee, and I can see why.
1600 N Jackson St
Milwaukee, WI 53202
MARN Art + Culture Hub
I recently discovered MARN, which stands for Milwaukee Artist Resource Network. It’s a three-in-one space: a gallery, marketplace, and coffee shop located in the Third Ward.
MARN has been in Milwaukee since 2002. The gallery is an exhibition hall that supports Milwaukee’s creative community, and the marketplace is a curated retail art market that supports MARN members with a consignment platform for small works and artisan goods.
The coffee shop is a nice touch—I love their lattes and that there’s art to explore while waiting for my drink. I highly recommend checking it out!
191 N Broadway Suite 102
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Alderaan Coffee
Alderaan Coffee is one of the first craft coffee places I tried out in Milwaukee. Intrigued by the Star Wars-themed name, the shop itself is pretty modern and sleek, with outdoor seating in the summer.
Alderaan is a multi-roaster espresso and pour-over coffee bar with house-made lavender, vanilla, and salted caramel syrups. They also serve up a great lavender latte, which is my go-to whenever I see it on a menu!
It’s conveniently located on a cool corner overlooking Water Street, and it’s a cool spot for high-end drinks, and I love that they have a punch card for repeat customers.
1560 N Water St
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Likewise Coffee
Likewise is a Third Ward coffee shop, located nearby the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. The space is light and open and artistic itself—a minimalist setting that feels upscale and modern. The menu has a range of high-quality coffee and teas, plus lighter bites.
Likewise’s coffee is made from fair-trade, organic espresso beans and the shop is especially known for their craft pour-overs, pastries, and other small-scale bakery items. It’s a very popular working space as well, with plenty of expansive windows and seating available.
If there was ever a coffee shop adjacent to an art school that somehow seems tied to the campus itself, it’d be Likewise. It fits, without question.
232 E Erie St
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Grace Coffee Co.
One of the newest additions to Milwaukee’s Third Ward coffee scene, Grace Coffee Co. is a stylish and Instagram-worthy spot for upscale drinks and small bites. The cafe is originally based out of Madison, and they’re known for their aesthetics and their array of drinks, loose leaf teas, food options, and cute merch.
For me, I always love when a coffee shop has soy on the menu as a dairy alternative. Grace does, makes for a delicious and nutty vanilla latte treat, especially if you catch yourself heading out of a Spire Fitness cycling class.
I’ve spent a morning working on my laptop from a cozy Grace couch and I was impressed by the ambiance, room to spread out, and the large-serving mug (complete with latte art on top.) It’s a comfortable spot to hang out in, and the drinks—while on the pricier end—do satisfy a coffee lover’s standards.
232 E Erie St
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea
Nestled in Milwaukee’s Yankee Hill neighborhood, Fairgrounds Coffee is an Instagram-worthy coffee shop that offers all the essentials: latte and espresso drinks, tea, nitro cold brew on tap, a mix of cafe food options, and more.
The interior of Fairgrounds is a major highlight, from the eclectic tiles to the swings hanging by the bar. It’s a detail-oriented space that’s warm and welcoming. (In fact, this was where we went after our chilly April 5k race, and it was the perfect place to recover.)
Fairgrounds stands out with their nontraditional drink menu items. I’m impressed by their “Espresso and Matcha Bar,” lengthy menu of teas, and the selection of “elixirs,” which appear to be craft mixed coffee and tea drinks that are novel, original, and delicious. They’re worth checking out!
916 E State St
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Pilcrow Coffee
Pilcrow has created a name for itself as a one-of-a-kind Milwaukee coffee shop, known especially for a boutique espresso experience. Coffee lovers—purists and casual drinkers alike—all come together over their love of Pilcrow’s novelty and charm.
At the top of my coffee bucket list is Pilcrow’s flight of cold brews. With these, Pilcrow has earned a reputation for as one of Milwaukee’s most unique coffee experiences, and I can’t wait to try it for myself.
Pilcrow’s space itself is expansive and hip, and their interior is marked with its iconic signature design. Across the board, Pilcrow comes highly recommended in Milwaukee as worth the stop.
416 W Walnut St
Milwaukee, WI 53212
The Daily Bird Cafe
Nestled in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, The Daily Bird Cafe is a sunny and vibrant spot to grab both coffee and food.
The Daily Bird Cafe is non-pretentious, and truly feels like a neighborhood cafe; if you’re a regular, chances are high that someone will learn your name. Additionally, the atmosphere is cozy and eclectic, the coffee is good, and the menu of food is delicious; I’ve met a couple of friends here and it’s always a great place for chatting and hanging out.
The Daily Bird embraces its customers with a simple motto that rings true: “Good coffee, good people, good vibes.”
818 E Center St
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Canary Coffee
While I haven’t yet been to Canary Coffee, it’s high on my list of shops to check out! It’s located in a chic spot in downtown Milwaukee, on MLK Drive—conveniently close to hot spots like the Third Street Market Hall and the Fiserv Forum. The interior appears to have sharp mid-century modern touches in an industrial space with cute pops of color.
Canary Coffee’s reviews are pretty consistently rated high, for both their menu of tasty coffee drinks and pastries.
720 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Rochambo Coffee and Tea House
A mainstay on Milwaukee’s Brady Street, Rochambo Coffee and Tea House has been located on the East Side of Milwaukee for over 20 years. It’s a cozy community spot that is well-known for its sustainable beverages and products and is very much people-oriented from top to bottom.
It’s a funky space—definitely historic, converted-house vibes—that doubles as a fun hangout, with locally roasted organic beans and loose-leaf teas. Chad especially enjoys their selection of tea drinks, and I’ve ordered a great latte. Rochambo also serves juices, snacks, boozy drinks, always with extra friendly service and conversation.
1317 E Brady St
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Interested in more Milwaukee spots? Check out my breweries list and casual dining recommendations!
Established in 2018, Sunshine with Savannah is a catch-all blog with an emphasis on weekend travel, millennial-style marriage and fun, reflection-based musings, outdoor adventure, home design, and all things lifestyle.
Though the content is diverse and varied, the heart of this space stays true to a single, guiding principle: a simple pursuit to find sunshine, wherever I go.
johnrieber says
Love the look at your local spots!
Sunshine with Savannah says
Thank you – there are some gems here!
Wowza – there are so many delightful ones to choose from!!!
So lucky to have such variety!