11 independent coffee shops around Milwaukee for studying or work
The coffee has to be good. Beyond that, what you’re looking for in a coffee shop depends on what you’re going to do there.
You might just need a jolt. Sometimes you’re looking for a quiet place to read. Other times you want a subtle buzz of energy around you. Nearly always, you want there to be an outlet nearby. Because you need to charge a phone, laptop and headphones. We don’t go anywhere without Wi-Fi.
The real goal with heading to a coffee shop to work or study is just to take a break from normal surroundings and distractions. I spent six years in this city as a college student, so I basically have a degree in working from Milwaukee coffee shops.
Here’s a guide to coffee shops around Milwaukee and near the city’s college campuses. We break down the best coffee shops by neighborhoods that include college campuses: downtown (close to Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design), the east side (near University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and on the west side (by Mount Mary University and the Medical College of Wisconsin).
Best coffee shops near downtown Milwaukee
If you want to study: Stone Creek Coffee - Factory Café, 422 N. 5th St.
The upper level at this Stone Creek is a hidden-from-sight favorite. Hunker down up here for hours. No distractions of seeing who’s coming and going from the shop and judging their orders. There’s a mix of tables and comfy chairs — you choose. You’ll also want to stop in here before boarding the Amtrak to Chicago for the weekend.
If you want to listen to live music: Anodyne Coffee Roasting, 224 W. Bruce St.
Anodyne’s stage setup makes it prime for an intimate show. It’ll also be cheaper than one of Milwaukee’s larger venues. During the day, it’s is a great place to spread out on its large tables (check the outlet situation before you unpack). The Walker’s Point roastery is a popular meeting space, so if you want to overhear wedding planning, this is your spot.
If you want to meet up: Canary Coffee Bar, 720 N. King Drive
Canary Coffee is just far enough away from campuses to feel like a break from student life, but is still walkable. The cafe has a minimalist aesthetic with an open floor plan that gives a social feel. It’s just one room so you can see everyone there as soon as you enter.
If you want a great coffee: Pilcrow Coffee, 416 W. Walnut St.
This is your motivation to get out of bed on a weekend morning. Pilcrow’s national award-winning cold brew is, well, the best in the country. Its espresso was voted best in the nation too. The tasting room is also serves up limited releases like a coffee shake made with vanilla ice cream and nitro cold brew. Often, they invite food carts like Hatched with its hand pies. The same people run Interval on the east side, so check that out too.
Best coffee shops on Milwaukee’s east side
If you want to sit outside: Stone Creek Coffee Downer Cafe and Kitchen, 2650 N. Downer Ave.
When the sun is shining and it’s nice enough in Wisconsin to skip a coat, everyone and their cousin will go to the Colectivo down on the lakefront. You can do that too. But that’s not the best environment if you’re trying to finish a paper or reading. Unless you’re “trying to finish a paper.” Head over to this Stone Creek instead. The indoor/outdoor seating lets you enjoy the weather without weeding through a crowd.
If you want to listen to live music: Colectivo Prospect, 2211 N. Prospect Ave.
Hear people before they hit it big and get closer to an up-and-coming artist than you ever will again in The Back Room at Colectivo. The coffee shop performance space hosts local and international touring artists. Arrive early enough before the show and take a seat at the long communal table with enough outlets to go around. But this is more of a pop-in Colectivo than a post-up spot.
If you want to get a unique coffee drink: The Roast, 2132 E. Locust St.
You can hunker down here and get into a flow with unique coffee drinks like a black honey latte. This place is steeped in Milwaukee with food items named for local artists like GGOOLLDD and Fever Marlene. They serve Anodyne Coffee, too. It’s a smaller shop filled with tables so don’t bring your O-chem book here.
If you want to meet up: Alderaan Coffee, 1560 N. Water St.
Alderaan has an industrial aesthetic contrasted with its smooth and creamy coffee drinks. This cafe tucked into an apartment building is the spot to catch up with a friend or meet up with a new acquaintance. The one-room spot is small but the tables aren’t stacked on top of each other so you can eavesdrop if you want but won’t be forced to.
Best coffee shops on Milwaukee’s west side
If you want to stay from day to night: Vennture Brew Co., 5519 W. North Ave.
Vennture doesn’t make you choose between coffee and beer in its bright spot off North Avenue with huge garage door windows. And both are good. But this is where it really shines for a broke-ish student: You can bring in your own food (they do have some small items to tide you over). That means you can hang out and buy drinks but then eat a peanut butter sandwich from home. If you need an outlet don’t sit at the bar.
If you want to meet up: Valentine Coffee Co., 5918 W. Vliet St.
The space is small and cozy. No "where are you sitting" text needed. The coffee is dependably good. The tables are pretty small, so this is a laptop or a book kind of place. Don’t try to have out both. This isn’t a library. Don’t be shy about having a conversation here.
If you want to sit outside: Colectivo Coffee Wauwatosa 68th St., 6745 W. Wells St.
This Colectivo has a large patio off the street with the chain’s classic brightly colored chairs. But it also has a large workroom with garage doors that open when the weather allows. Pick a seat: table, bar, couch and you’ll be set for hours. Here and the Stone Creek on W. Bluemound Road are the spots to meet future doctors from the medical college.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 11 independent coffee shops around Milwaukee for studying or work
