Think back to your favorite cup of coffee. We would bet that beyond simply the coffee, you are also recalling the place you had it. To us, coffee is more than just a caffeine boost or even the taste and aroma of a particular cup. It’s contextualized, experienced, and then rooted as a memory tinged with sight, sound, taste, and feeling. In other words, it isn’t--or at least not always--about getting it into our system, but about the “where” of the experience.
Milwaukee offers a lot of good “wheres.”
Mapping in Milwaukee was what brought us (Saúl and Gabe) together over four years ago. As part of the Black and Latino/a Ecosystem and Support Transition (BLEST) Hub at Marquette University, we were working on locating and visualizing all the resources across the city for Black and Latinx youth. With the support of fellow graduate student Verónica Mancheno, the result was a map using Kumu software.
So, when we began this journey of sharing our favorite coffee places, cups, and stories across MKE, we naturally thought a map of the “wheres” felt appropriate. With this fourth post, we thought it was time for the big reveal. Now, under the Cafecito Map tab on our blog, you can find our Cafecito 414 map, including small annotations, comments, and some photos we have taken of spots around the city. For this opening post, we wanted to highlight a few of our favorites, and also say that we are always open to additions (check out the contact us box below)!
Pilcrow Coffee
Pilcrow Coffee is the modern-day equivalent of a smokey, dark bar where the real deals are made. While it is actually, light, open, and whimsical--its nitro flight will include options like “Dirt Cake” and “Stay Golden”--it is also a meeting spot for all sorts of folks in the Milwaukee world of non-profit organizations, education, and more. Near downtown on the southern edge of Halyard Park, it is definitely worth a stop, particularly if you enjoy fun flavors and running into friendly folks.
Wantable Cafe
One of the best spots for coffee and working in the city is Wantable Cafe, which is surprisingly quiet though surrounded by the food, fun, and many spots to hit up in eastern Walker’s Point. Wantable has all you could want for a productive work session: good space, easily moveable tables (high tops, four seaters, and more), reservable individual pod-rooms, open aired seating as an option, solid coffee, basic eats, and even electric car chargers if that’s your thing.
Stone Creek: Factory Location
Housed in a beautiful old factory building right next to the intermodal station, the Stone Creek roastery has a bit of everything. It hosts community classes (learn how to make your own latte art) and tours, has Stone Creek’s impressive array of flavors, a wall filled with the distinctive art of its designs and posters, and is a central spot where you can see a diverse array of Milwaukee citizens and visitors. Get there at the right time, and the bakery smells that will waft down from upstairs mix perfectly with the coffee aromas.
Fuel Cafe
If you’re looking to energize your work session, Fuel Cafe might be the place for you. Mostly known for its brunch and beer list, Fuel also boasts a work area above their coffee register. Its long table offers you natural light and a great space to work with friends. And if you need a break, you can always order some of its food, which goes beyond the typical coffee shop fare.
La Finca
We highlighted La Finca in an earlier post, but it’s worth the double nod. Located in a beautiful little house down in St. Francis, it is authentic to the core. The owners have crafted a cozy cafe with all the touches: from amazing food and special coffee drinks with a Mexican flair, to the sourcing from their family farm, to the earth mugs that are the perfect touch to an intimate chat with a lover, friend, or yourself. Worth the short trip outside the city limits.