10 Best Coffee Spots in Milwaukee: Cute Local Cafes to Visit in Town

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I’ll probably go more in-depth about how in the world I got to Milwaukee whenever I get around to making a general travel guide about my trip, but if you’ve been following me for a while, YOU KNOWWW I always drink wayyy too many beverages when I travel. Am I overcompensating for the hole I feel in the bottom of my stomach? Unconfirmed. BUT, I do know that it’s helped me find some of the best coffee spots in Milwaukee!

Before you ask – yes. I went to all of these places in four days. In fact, I actually went to MORE places, that didn’t quite make the list of my favorite coffee spots in Milwaukee.

Before you ask – yes. I was BUZZEING the entire trip.

It’s how I roll.

Okay, without further ado (because who really needs that much backstory when you’re just looking for coffee spots in Milwaukee??), I’ll shut up and give ya the good stuff.

Colectivo Coffee

Hours: 7AM–6PM

I’ll start off with the most popular – or at least the one Milwaukee visitors are most likely to come across. Colectivo Coffee is a local chain that started in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and now has over ten locations in Milwaukee, three in Madison (Wisconsin), and even five in Chicago! So you’re probably within ten minutes of Colectivo wherever you are in the city. Convenient.

I went to the Lakefront location, and it seems to be one of the larger locations. The line also moved super fast. The greatest draw to Colectivo, at least at the Lakefront location, is the ample workspace. I visited in the late spring/early summer, and they already had a dozen tables set up outside under umbrellas. It was super nice. Paired with having one of the largest menus (drinks, food, AND pastries!), it definitely makes Colectivo one of the best coffee spots in Milwaukee if you’re trying to hunker down and get some work done.

Anodyne Coffee

Hours: M–F 6:30AM–8:00PM ; Sat 7AM–7PM ; Sun 7:30AM–6PM

Anodyne Coffee is another locally-owned chain that you’ll probably run across, with four locations around the city. That said, I visited the one at the Milwaukee Public Market. Super convenient, since you’ll probably already be there anyway doing touristy things. AND, if you like to get an early start to your day, Anodyne Coffee actually opens earlier than the Public Market.

The service (at the Milwaukee Public Market) is great, and they work surprisingly fast for being so busy; I visited a PEAK lunchtime. The other locations actually have space to sit down and set up, but if you’re just looking for a quick grab-and-go, hit up the Market. Another thing I didn’t know about the Bay View location – they have FOOD. Like, pizza. Really good sounding food. I can’t personally speak on the taste, but it sounds dope and what better way to wash down your drink than with pizza? Or…visa-versa. Whatever.

Rise & Grind Cafe

Hours: T–F 7AM–6PM ; Sat 9AM–3PM

My friend and local Milwaukee travel blogger Sojourner from Sojournies introduced me to Rise & Grind Cafe. Or rather, she introduced me to Sherman Phoenix, a hidden gem (to tourists anyway) of a shopping center and eatery. So ONE, check out Sojourner because I never would have found this spot without her! Two, get ready for one of the best coffee spots in Milwaukee!

The great thing about Rise & Grind is that it’s actually a breakfast spot, and they have great dishes that’ll fuel you up and get you ready to hit the day running. Like seriously, THEIR EGGSSSSSS. Will have you CLUCKING. That’s how good their breakfast is. But I digress, back to their bevvies. They don’t have the largest range of drink options, but if you like mocha, you’ll NEED to get one of their specialty drinks. They also have one of the best standard no-frills coffee as well, so they’ve got you covered no matter what end of the spectrum you’re on, as well as hot ciders, cocoas, and even smoothies (for a refreshing option!).

Nearby, another friend mentioned that Coffee Makes You Black is another one of the great coffee spots in Milwaukee, but alas, they were closed on the days I visited. So if you get a chance, check that one out for me too!

Canary Coffee Bar

Hours: 7AM–7PM

Canary Coffee is a great place to get work done, and by the looks of it when I visited, a popular spot for locals as well. There’s no free parking, but plenty of spots along the street and I enjoyed looked at all of the art deco (is that the word?) architecture on my short 1-block stroll to the cafe.

The space is super light, super bright, with tons of tables. I feel like the service was very casual, but I only noticed because I had only paid for like a quick 7 minute park soooo I was on the CLOCK, but the space itself is great. They serve up all the great usuals, but I ultimately what puts Canary as one of the best coffee spots in Milwaukee is the atmosphere. The aesthetics. The VIBE. While it’s not the fastest stop for a coffee run, if you have time to sit and relax with your drink, Canary will set the mooood right.

Sip & Purr

Hours: W–S 12PM–8PM ; Sun 12PM–6PM

Okay, if you’re not a cat person, this place probably won’t be for you. BUT UM HELLO??? A cat cafe where all the cats are adoptable???? I’m in.

It’s not one of the coffee spots in Milwaukee to drop in on an early morning…unless you wake up at noon. No judgement, by all means start your day here then! But it’s a great midday pick-up with a cuddly experience attached to it. Their drink menu is pretty simple, though the highlight is definitely their seasonal options. BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THE DRINKS (I say…on a post LITERALLY about drinks). Let’s talk cats.

If you’ve never been to a cat cafe, you can definitely just walk up to the counter and order your drink to-go and be on your way. But the real pleasure of Sip & Purr, and what rocketed it into one of the best coffee spots in Milwaukee, is the cat interactions. You MUST make a reservation for a specific time slot to sit in the cat room, along with filling out a few waivers and whatnot. Then…you get to enjoy your beverage and snacks in the company of super cute adoptable cats from local shelters! Especially during a stressful day, a quick thirty minutes in here can reset your mood. Also the drinks are great.

Wonderstate Coffee

Hours: F–Sun 7AM–4PM ; M–Th 7AM–2:30PM

Wonderstate Coffee was actually the FIRST of many coffee spots in Milwaukee that I would check out on my trip, and honestly it’s just amazing that taste-wise – it was one of the BEST. Hands down, you go to Wonderstate for the excellent, unique, and interesting flavor. On top of that, and unknown to me at the time, Wonderstate is farmer-focused with an emphasis on sustainability and ethical sourcing.

That explains why it tastes so freaking GOOD.

But unlike similarly branded “green” cafes, the atmosphere wasn’t snobby or better-than-thou. The staff was humble, approachable, and very down to Earth. They have a pretty open and bright space as well, so you can pull up a chair and enjoy your delicious drink in a nice lil corner by some pretty plants, buuuut…it was my first HOUR in the city and I was on the move. Until next time Wonderstate. Until next time.

Interval

Hours: M–F 7AM–2PM ; Sat–Sun 7AM–4PM

I want to start off with saying I do really like Interval, but they don’t have any chai lattes or many options for non-coffee drinks. Which is usually an issue for me. BUT – in the spirit of trying to be non-biased, Interval is one of the best coffee spots in Milwaukee for COFFEE.

I’d personally recommend Interval as a quick breakfast spot (think toasts, sandwiches, buns, croissants, etc), with really good coffee, especially their seasonal creations. The staff was all super personable and friendly, and it seemed like a favorite for the locals in the neighborhood. It has a very cozy, comfortable, inviting atmosphere. That said, they’re also pretty fast at making drinks in general, so it’s an easy pitstop while you’re out and about.

DryHootch

Hours: M–F 9AM–5PM

Ahh…I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for DryHootch. Not only is this one of the best coffee spots in Milwaukee based on their drinks alone, but it is also a nonprofit! Specifically, DryHootch was started by Veterans to help reintegrate new Veterans into civilian life. The word hootch is military jargon for a hut or safe place to sleep during combat. The “dry” is referencing that the space is completely alcohol-free. My mother is a (physically) disabled Veteran who had a hard time readjusting (putting it lightly lol), this place really touched me.

Aside from all the incredible work they do supporting Veterans, their families, and providing a space for them in the community, they have bomb coffee and caffeinated drinks as well. Lots of seating as well, though when I visited they were preparing for a fundraiser so they had a lot of donations inside. They really come through for the community. Plus, they have one of the BEST locations of all the coffee spots in Milwaukee, right on Brady St.

– Coffee Spots in Milwaukee: Shortlisted –

Okay, we’ve covered some pretty dope coffee spots in Milwaukee, buuuut if you really want more bevvies, I have two more caffeinated recommendations for ya. These don’t really fall under the umbrella of coffee spots in Milwaukee, but if you have time (and transportation), I’d highly suggest you quench your thirst there!

SereniTea

Hours: 11AM–6PM

Y’all KNOW I had to get me some boba while I was in Milwaukee. Also known as bubble tea for you non-Californians. See, the thing I noticed about Milwaukee though…well, there just didn’t seem to be a large Asian community. Like…at all. At least not to my untrained tourist eye. Which is very unusual for me, coming from the west coast. So I guess it made sense that there also weren’t that many boba places, BUT I did stumble upon one over by the university.

It’s super cute inside, with a ton of drink options. Their tapioca was spot on as well! 10/10 would drink again!

La Finca Coffeehouse

Hours: Tues–Sun 7AM–3PM

It’s technicallyyyyyy just outside of Milwaukee, but I had to still include it because it’s that good. If y’all saw any of my posts about Oaxaca, Mexico, you already know the reason I loved Oaxaca so much was because of their incredible cafe culture. Seriously, I wrote a whole best cafes in Oaxaca blog post. La Finca Coffeehouse is a sister-owned business that was birth after the pair went to visit their family in Mexico for the first time. Aside from the classic bevvies, they have incredibleee house creations like cafe tres leches, latte horchata, coquito latte, and agua frescas! Get you some!

Coffee Spots in Milwaukee: Conclusion

Weeelp, that’s it folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed my lil round-up of cafes and maybe found one or two that you would like to check out during your Milwaukee trip! I obviously haven’t been to every single spot that orders coffee, but I like to think I had a pretty good selection going! If you’re a local, let me know some of your favorites in the comments below, because I’m definitely coming back!

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