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Milwaukee area coffee shops
With coffee's position as the beverage of choice of all
ages these days, coffee shops and cafes have proliferated
in the Milwaukee area. Here is a little guide to some of
them.
Afterwords, 2710 N. Murray Ave., is nice little
place in a gay & lesbian bookstore on a quiet east side
street. Although cramped, Afterwords is easy going and relaxing.
 Alterra,
2211 N. Prospect Ave. and in Bayshore and Mayfair Malls,
is the city's premier coffee roasting company and its café
on Prospect Ave., with the great mural painted by Scott
Darrow, is possibly the best place to sip and be seen.
Bay Cafe, 2532 E. Oklahoma Ave., replaced the Wagner's
Café and "bookshop" on the corner of Delaware and
Oklahoma in the heart of Bay View. A selection of sandwiches
and other noshables enhances the experiences.
Bella Cafe, 189 N. Milwaukee St., is a lovely addition
to the Third Ward in the ground floor of a beautiful recently
restored, historic building at the locus of Milwaukee and
Chicago Sts. The standard coffee and espresso options are
augmented with a range of bakery, salads and desserts. Bella
also offers an extremely relaxing environment with high
ceilings, big windows and a range of seating choices: a
bar, low tables, tall bar-style tables and inviting padded
window benches.
Borders Books & Music, 8705 N. Port Washington
Rd., is a chain bookshop, but the café on the lower
level has a good feel, especially during the day when it
isn't terribly crowded.
Brew Bayou, located in the Marquette Union, 14th
& Wisconsin, is a great hang out for students and those
that just missing looking at college gals or guys, depending
on your preference.
Brewed Awakenings, 1208 E. Brady St., is bright
and quiet and a perfect place for reading, studying, intimate
conversation or a date. The clientele is young, the coffee
is tasty and the staff friendly.
Cafe 735, 735 N. Water St., is in the lobby of one
of downtown's oldest office buildings and serves the needs
of building workers and passersby. Outdoor seating, in season.
Cafe Cafe, 7214 W. North Ave., pours java for the
Wauwatosa set.
Cedarburg Coffee Roastery, W62 N603 Washington Ave.,
Cedarburg, offers coffee, tea, espressos, chai and Italian
sodas.
Coffee with a Conscience, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.,
is located in the central library and the coffee is augmented
by a great selection of used books.
Comet, 1947 N. Farwell Ave., is a cool coffee house
with great food and a hip vibe. Vegetarians will rejoice
at Comet's great sandwiches. Non-smokers may run screaming,
especially in the evenings.
Cosmic Coffee House, 5900 W. National Ave., offers
a comfy vibe for casual conversation and reading the paper.
Cream City Cafe, 514 N. Water St., is set in a carefully
restored cream city brick storefront and the owners did
most of the work themselves, including restoring the antique
furniture throughout. A warm, welcoming place with sandwiches,
salads, great loose teas and coffee.
Farwell Coffee Bar, 2010 N. Farwell Ave., roasts
its own coffee on the spot and has a deli packed with typical
salads and untypical East African specialties. A great atmosphere
and friendly staff.
Fiddleheads, 192 S. Main St., Thiensville, is one
of the few places serving the north shore.
Flowers & Coffee, 1019 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee.
What a concept, coffee and flowers. Owners Mari and Brian
help get your morning off on the right foot.
Fuel, 818 E. Center St., is THE coffee spot in Riverwest.
The staff goes head to head with the clientele in the hipper
than thou sweepstakes. The Fuel bumper sticker and t-shirt
have become de rigeur items for cool cats nationwide. Owned
by the same folks as Comet.
Hi-Fi, S. Kinnickinnic Ave., is an much-needed oasis
in northwestern Bay View and the neighborhood's cool folk
are all regulars as are the more progressive Bay View High
School students. Great food and coffee and one of the best
jukeboxes in the city. Alas, the service has its ups and
downs.
Jitterzz, 7607 W. State St., Wauwatosa. Across from
the Chancery. Jitterzz is a café with an east side
feel, in the heart of downtown Tosa. Outdoor seating offers
great people watching, in season.
Midwest Espresso has coffee carts in the lobbies
of 411 E. Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Center and the small
staff is on a first name basis with most of the customers,
who usually work in those buildings.
 Milwaukee
Coffee, 5010 W. Vliet St., is best known to many as
the coffee shop with the big cup out front. The same one
that Jerry "Beaver" Mathers inaugurated when the place opened.
The Original Coffee Company, 5635 S. Broad St.,
Greendale, is located in the quaint downtown of Greendale
and is often packed with regulars of all ages. The staff
is friendly and the coffee hot and tasty.
Que Pasa Coffee & Books, 611 W. National Ave., pours
top coffee and has Walker's Point's best selection of children's
books.
The Quick Cup, 1801 E. North Ave., is a wee bothy
on the corner of Oakland and North that caters to car-bound
caffeine hounds. Open only during the morning drive time,
The Quick Cup gets you your mocha and gets you on your way
in a hurry.
Rochambo, 1317 E. Brady St., has a nice rag-tag
vibe with music playing, either on the stereo or live on
stage and dim lighting. The java and the staff are both
ace. With its lively atmosphere, Rochambo is more suited
to conversation or game-playing rather than quiet contemplation
and reading. Sit outside and watch the Brady St. parade
pass by.
 Schwartz
Bookshops, 4093 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood and 10976
N. Port Washington Rd., Mequon, are cafes in local independent
bookshops, with drastically different vibes. Shorewood is
lively and full of neighborhood regulars while Mequon is
quiet and orderly.
Starbucks, 2559 N. Downer Ave., 1677 N. Farwell
Ave., 1620 W. Wisconsin Ave., 12345 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield,
17000 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield, 302 E. Silver Spring
Dr., Whitefish Bay. These chain shops need no introduction.
They have comfy chairs and great cinnamon scones, but your
money is being siphoned off to Seattle. It's an individual
decision I'll leave you to make.
Steamer's, 624 N. Water St., is one of downtown's
oldest coffee shops and now has a selection of sandwiches
augmenting its great coffee and modern interior.
Stone Creek, 215 E. Wisconsin Ave., 601 E. Silver
Spring Dr., Whitefish Bay, 4106 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood,
8340 W. Bluemound Rd., 1043 Summit Ave. (at Hwy 67), Oconomowoc.
A local roaster, Stone Creek offers yummy specialty coffee
drinks, coffee, tea, juices, pastries, bakery and whole
bean coffee.
Sweet Black Coffee, 722 E. Burleigh St., offers
cool jazz and hot coffee, along with poetry readi ngs, open
mic nights and more.
That Coffee Place, 2205 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield,
is one of a few places in the western suburbs -- besides
the chains -- that serve up tasty joe.
If tea is more your cup of...
Bits of Britain, 294 W. Main St., Waukesha, has
been an area institution for years serving English-style
teas and treats.
Devonshire Victorian Tea Shoppe, 1835 N. Martin
Luther King Dr., has tea, sandwiches, scones and gifts.
Village Vitality Center Tea House, 1201 E. Russell
Ave., is a Bay View mecca for natural teas and other beverages
as well as herbs and related items.
Watts Tea Shop, 761 N. Jefferson St., located on
the second floor of George Watts' historic china shop is
a perfect spot for an urbane tea-fueled breakfast or lunch.
Of course, this is just a sampling of the places in town
where you can get a satisfying bean brew. Use the comments
feature below to add your favorite if it's missing.
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