Smoke-Free Coffee Shops in Milwaukee: The Five Best
1. Mocha: The Milwaukee restaurant mogul known as “Mo” has worked his name into another specialty establishment: the smoke-free coffee bistro. Occupying a high-visibility corner downtown, Mocha offers several permutations of its signature beverage. Make no mistake: the mocha at Mocha may be the best you’ve ever had, thanks to the use of rich flavoured milk and high-end chocolate. For those preferring regular drip coffee, the barista will offer you a choice of “strong” or “mild” brews. Also, be sure to try a pile of the small chocolate chip cookies. Outside of Node (a 24-hour place), Mocha has the most extensive hours, currently open until 3 am everyday. Free wireless internet, ample outlets, a broad range of comfortable seating, and relative proximity to Marquette University make this a student favourite. Books aren’t the only thing to study, though, as you’ll find yourself watching the city bustle from the giant windows. You’ll see all walks of life at Mocha. From accountants having a business meeting to homeless persons who have garnered enough change for a coffee, this is the quintessential downtown coffee destination, attractive to both tourists and residents. Downside: the staff is so huge that you’ll wonder whether they hire people daily or only allow baristas to work a handful of hours a week. Don’t expect anyone to learn your name or your drink of choice.
124 West Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53203
414-27-MOCHA
www.mosmocha.com
Accessible from most downtown MCTS bus routes. The 10 and 30 buses both stop in front of the coffee bistro.
2. Roast,Inc.: Located at the intersection of Maryland and Locust, just a few blocks south of the UWM campus, Roast is a bright, smoke-free nugget for the East Side resident. Not only will the menu expose you to some interesting combinations (Apple Chaider = Apple Cider mixed with Chai), but the barista-driven music selection is noticeably diverse. You may hear anything from African chants to brooding guitars to acid jazz, and while the music can sometimes be loud, it also makes a small coffeehouse feel vibrant. The staff takes some time to warm up, but they recognize regulars and provide a genuine earthiness absent in pressed-apron coffeeshops. The clientele is mostly UWM students, yet they tend to be the quieter and more brooding lot. You won’t feel unwelcome if you’re not part of the university. Wireless service is available through a national network for a fee, making Roast more of a reading spot than a computing haven. Local art fills the walls tastefully while the lights cast a yellow-orange glow. The attractive dÃ?©cor is visually consistent yet offbeat enough to look independent.
2132 East Locust Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
414-963-6363
Accessible from MCTS bus routes 30 and 22, which stop just outside.
3. Stone Creek Coffee (Bayview location): For those who do not mind a somewhat “corporate” smoke-free coffee shop experience, Stone Creek offers Milwaukee’s local alternative to Starbucks. Roasted at a factory downtown, the beans are transported to almost ten different stores in the Milwaukee metro area. Each store is uniformly appointed with simple dÃ?©cor in woody tones and a pleasing olive green. The layout and size of each location differs greatly, but the Bayview neighborhood store at the rehabbed KK-Lincoln intersection is exemplary for its roominess and outdoor seating. The chairs indoors are also notable for their flexible backs, a small but significant detail for anyone who spends time with a laptop. One benefit of the local chain’s size is its totally free wireless internet service, which is also very reliable. When it comes to coffee itself, the baristas are competent and knowledgeable about their beans; they can offer you four different organic fair trade coffees and tell you all about their roasting factory.
2266 South Kinnickinnic Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207
414-48-4215
www.stonecreekcoffee.com
Accessible from MCTS bus routes 11, 15, and 53, which stop across the street.
4. Alterra Coffee Roasters Cafe (lakefront location): In addition to providing coffee for commerical establishments throughout Milwaukee, Alterra has its own notable smoke-free location on Lincoln Memorial Drive in a revamped flushing station. Though you might question the appropriateness of such an idea, one look at the interior of this cream city brick building will make you forget the site’s sewer-related history. The place is at once cozy and cavernous, rustic and resonant. Featuring three levels of seating as well as an expansive outdoor terrace, Alterra is a place to see and be seen – especially during the summer months. If you’re an urban dweller, the scene can be a little disheartening, as suburbanites linger at the lake and leave the place feeling devoid of neighborhood sensibility. Still, the unique setting and the quality coffee make Alterra worth visiting. If you want a sweet treat from the goodie case, you simply must try a blueberry scone. Service at Alterra is fast and friendly, due to the high volume location. Though there is no free wireless access, there are enough people coming in and out to keep a visitor entertained.
1701 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-223-4551
www.alterracoffee.com
The nearest MCTS bus service is route 30, which stops at the corner of Prospect and Lafayette (Northbound) and Farwell and Lafayette (Southbound). The coffeehouse is a short walk eastward to the bottom of Lafayette Hill Road.
5. Bella Caffe: Probably the best thing about Bella Caffe is the dessert. Offering an array of cheesecakes, tortes, and other treats, Bella’s overflowing dessert case provides something for everyone. The flan goes well with a caramel-flavoured coffee, and the grasshopper cheesecake is a welcome complement for a mocha. In general, there are more food options because the establishment considers itself a cafÃ?©, and this makes it a reasonable lunchtime destination among Third Ward denizens needing a break from their loft offices and galleries. A potential visitor should know that this cafÃ?© caters to a business and post-theatre crowd and fancies itself more refined than its peers. It’s not the kind of place where patrons write term papers or spend hours people-watching with friends, but it makes an excellent place to debrief after a dinner downtown. Although the baristas attempt to be friendly, they also tend to be distracted, providing mediocre and typically slow service. The coffee is furnished through a relationship with Alterra Coffee Roasters.
189 N Milwaukee Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-273-5620
www.bellacaffe.com
Accessible from MCTS bus route 14 on Milwaukee Street. Routes 15 and 11 are just west on Water Street.
