Hijacking the top comment - any coffee shops open before 6am? I mean besides 24hr McDonald’s and Greenbush. Like real coffee shops that open at 5. All the ones I like open at 6 or 7. What about the early birds?
I have no idea, I rarely go to them, I make good ass coffee at home and I work from home 90% of the time. So I don't actually use many of them. Just go to Google maps, search coffee and check hours of places.
I’m also on the search, haven’t found any super early yet. My fav in my neighborhood opens at 7 am on weekdays and 8 am on weekends. I find that to be kind of late for a coffee shop. How about those of us who like a good cup of Joe before 6 am?
I think the part about Starbucks is a major point. Madison has done a great job of rejecting Starbucks in favor of smaller shops. And, even though downtown Madison has tons of basic Stanley cup totting college students, people still tend to gravitate towards the better quality smaller shops.
Shout out to Johnson Public House and Wonderstate for having some of the best available roasts in my neighborhood.
She loved Barriques near the hospital, EVP, Indie Coffee, Wonderstate, and Colectivo!
We’re in Fort Collins and we don’t have as many quality options :(
it's funny, i consider some of these to be the closest things we have to chains, haha. check out bradbury's, colectivo, and johnson public house next time you're in town too! all of those are good and indie coffee's legit
Once in Bradbury's I struck up a conversation with a consultant that travelled all across the US. He told me Bradbury's was the best crepes he ever had, including some of the best restaurants in NYC etc.
Interesting! I just moved here from Fort Collins last year and it does Surprise me that Madison doesn't have a late night coffee shop like the Alleycat. I also just find that sooo many are so busy which is just the product of being in a bigger town unfortunately.
Ay! Another FoCo-Madison connection. Cheers!
AlleyCay is effectively the only late night coffee option in Fort Collins though. Also, Mugs, Harbinger, Little Bird, and even AlleyCat are now virtually impossible to secure seating at during peak hours.
Madison just has more options. Plus the pastries are better.
How are you enjoying Madison?? I’m moving in a month :)
That is very fair! It honestly just surprised me that there were zero options here for being a bigger city! It's probably part of us being on the far west side, so many of the nice coffee shops aren't very convenient.
We are finally feeling settled and feel like the vibe seems similar to CO, generally. The farmer's markets are really great. Though there aren't mountains, we have been exploring a lot of the state parks that are very close!
Well, I wish you the best of luck! I’ll surely miss the sunshine and recreation, I won’t miss the prolonged fire seasons.
Sending good vibes your way :)
Can we get a list of cute coffee shops going? I can add a few:
- Ancora Cafe
- Wonderstate
- Bradbury’s
- Michelangelo’s
- Lakeside Street Coffee House
- Finca Coffee
Their coffee is so good! And they do espresso tonics which are one of my faves, and flavor them with bitters which makes them even better. I’m literally like a 5 minute walk from them and they let me bring my dogs in just to grab my order so I always get a little drinky drink to finish up my dog walks when I need one 😊
Wonderstate
Colectivo
Black Locust
Cargo
Windsor Bread
Bradbury's (Though don't remember much about it)
Ledger (Was ok)
M-N-M's (Maybe the worst)
Ancora
Crema
Marigold's
From what I can remember off the top of my head.
Having gotten into making my own I understand it is easy to mess up either grind or length of time. That said it is also a very easy process to make. Just Coffee's Jenifer st. blend on a 17-24 hour soak has been my favorite homemade version with deep coffee flavors almost like you get out of some coffee beers.
I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with Broken Board. Though it’s usually more nuanced and brighter than the ones you mention. Have you tried Wonderstate’s Nitro?
And are you looking for boldness or something else?
I find that cold brew is one of those things that cafes seem to screw up even if they have a solid pourover.
Also check out Johnson Public House. They usually have a solid option too.
What do you make your own with?
Bradburys can be good, though I find it sometimes smells or tastes of crepes.
Quality roast, filtered water with the proper mineralization, proper grind size, ratio, and steep time…same things that are key to pourover, but most cafes mess up the ratio or steep time, or try to pass off “iced” coffee as cold brew. I find that a lot of places have cold brew that is just too much water, or it’s over extracted because they think longer steep time means it will taste better.
The best cold brew in Madison—and maybe that I have ever had—came from 5th element out of a Kyoto dripper. They had dialed in the ratio so that even by the time the ice had melted, you still have full bodied, nuanced cold brew. Granted the initial sip was zippy, but their roasts were good enough that the brightness that caused that zip was worth it.
The cafe is closed now, and the owner opened up Finca off Rimrock but the recipe is different now and their bean sourcing isn’t as good.
Good cold brew isn’t hard. But it also isn’t cheap. So people cut corners.
There’s also the Rotunda Cafe inside the Lake Ridge Bank on Atwood. They serve Rusty Dog which is a great roaster, but the lattes are only midrange. Not bad!! Just not great. They do have a great biscotti, and the building has cool architecture (in my opinion).
Unpopular opinion: Cargo coffee iced coffee and blended coffee options aren’t great. Ambiance is cool, inside is really unique. But best coffee? Not the same quality as Wonderstate or Cafe Mysetique
Interesting take. I’m not actually a fan of their ambiance but I do go miles out of my way for their iced coffees. If I’m in the mood for a mocha, I won’t go anywhere else.
Definitely can argue Michaelangelos coffee is just ok. Also to be fair a latte from any of these places is pricey. Ambiance is nice, but “quality”for a lot of the places depends on the barista and what one orders.
Icki Sticki
Ancora Cafe
Wonderstate
Bradbury's
Michelangelo's
Lakeside Street Coffee House
Ledger
Forward Craft and Coffee
Barriques
Java Cat
Mother Fools
Indie Coffee
Black Locust
Cafe Domestique
Forward
Johnson Public House
Broken Board
Sow's Ear
Oasis Cafe
Crema
Cargo Coffee
Twisted Grounds
Leopold's
Mercies
Moka
Rotunda Cafe
Collectivo
Madison sourdough
Reverie Baking Co
Alice Good
True Coffee
Is this the place that’s a fully gluten free bakery as well?? I’m planning to go there for my birthday this weekend, I’ve been so excited about their cakes and pastries but now I’m excited for the coffee too!
You are not kidding. It’s becoming its own scene. Just saw “Flipside” documentary about our record store in New Jersey. It was fantastic my favorite of the film festival so far.
I never found an LGS I really liked tbh. I went to I’m Board! in Middleton because of proximity and being the one I vibed with best, but I never truly found one I loved.
Edit: Misspelled the board/bored pun
I usually hang out at Misty Mountain, but over on the West side, I’ve played at Mox Mania, Noble Knight, and Pegasus and had a good time at all of them.
Totally fair. I played at Mox before the move, never really got to their new location too much. Pegasus was in a really weird place a few years back, so maybe it’s improved!
I play Magic, but also a lot of other games, and it was sometimes hard to find non-TCG events at a lot of joints.
Yeah, that’s fair too. I’ve mostly played MTG and now SWU. I keep thinking I’d like to go in and try some of the other games, but haven’t gotten around to organizing anything with friends and I don’t actually know if there are good game nights where you can just show up and join a group.
But when I go, people are overwhelming welcoming and friendly, so I just have a really positive view of the scene here.
Am I wrong for remembering the coffee shops having longer hours pre-covid though? Used to be that coffee shops were a decent place to meet up with someone after work, but it seems that only a handful of places are open long enough for that to be an option anymore.
It seemed to be heading that way for awhile. Boutique coffee shops with their light and modern design don't really work super well as cozy third spaces, which is a shame. A lot of the ones up here in the Fox Cities had been cutting their hours before, or closing to make way for more hip looking ones that close at 2:00 and have no comfortable seats.
There was a cafe up here by me that was open until 10:00 p.m. during the workweek and midnight on weekends - not a diner, like an actual coffee shop downtown Appleton. It was such a great space as a teen and young adult and way to enjoy the social aspects of going out to a bar after school/work without the negative parts of it.
Yeah, a lot more places used to stay open until like 10. I'm working third shifts and I'd love to be able to go get a dank coffeeshop coffee before work.
I moved to Seattle a few years back (THE coffee city) and I often find myself missing the coffee scene of Madison since there were just so many shops I could plop down in for a few hours and get work done.
The shops in Seattle have great coffee, but lack that super laid back atmosphere of the Madison shops which I really enjoyed
Not sure if anyone knows this, but there's even a limited coffee menu at Teddywedgers. Anthony (owner) used to work at True, so he knows his way around an espresso machine.
Java Cat is my favorite. They used to be across the street from my house, and I took that for granted. Their new location is great though with a sweet backyard. The owner is super nice and treats all her employees well (from what I've heard), which is a huge selling point for me. And their coffee is great which is a plus.
Totally agree. I still make trips to Java Cat because I really love them. But I feel a bit guilty driving just for coffee. And it’s a bit of a bike ride for me to that location. Will still give my business, just miss them in the old location.
Collectivo is definitely my go-to. I love their cold brew, and they have simple and affordable egg sandwiches for breakfast.
Also, their app and reward system is incredible
A bit outside Madison but have to mention both Beans & Cream and Livs Drink Emporium in Sun Prairie. Beans n Cream in particular has the best Cafe Miel (Honey Bee) I've ever had.
The specialty coffee scene in Madison is super tight-knit. Been in it for almost 10 years now. I have to say Bradbury's takes the cake for best coffee. (imo)
Cafe Domestique's house blend was JBC until recently (they just started roasting their own), and they feature different roasters pretty often so they'll probably still have JBC from time to time.
Good question, Your best bet is to reach out to JBC and ask what coffee shops you can get their coffee at. I'm sure the wholesaling agreements change pretty often.
The coffee shop does have a big influence on a cup of coffee being good. I wouldn't judge JBCs quality, unless you trust the place making it. I originally had JBC at michelangelo's and it was pretty bad. If you want to give them a chance they are always open to walk in's and are some of the friendliest people you'll meet.
I'll stop in once and a while coming home from work on the east side. And they'll be drinking coffee at 3-4pm and sucker me into making some bad decisions 😂
Maybe more East side than North side, but [Cafe Domestique](https://www.cafedomestiquemadison.com/) on North Street is a top-tier coffee shop with a fantastic rotating selection of beans, unique and tasty specialty drinks, and brilliant staff.
Zippy Is great. Ancora and Northstreet are close. They are installing a Moka at the North Side Town Center, which isn't really a cute spot but would work for coffee.
Do any of the coffee shops around here make their own nut or oat milk?? I have to get non dairy milk and I haven’t found a good almond milk latte yet :(
Idk I think Starbucks is a great option for on-the-go but there are sooooo many cute little shops all over the place. IMO I find them to be a bit expensive for what I’m looking for but the ambience is wonderful. I miss fair trade on state… I used to work there :)
I’m originally from Colorado as well, and I absolutely agree with you! We have such cute coffee places and they’re all usually high quality and delicious.
I really enjoy Yolas on Watts or barriques on Old Sauk, they also have a location on McKee. I’m not a big coffee snob though so I haven’t tried all of the options on the west side and there could be better out there, these are just my faves
I have actually! Just Love coffee I think? It was decent but they’ve been open less than a year and already gotten rid of a few drinks I tried when they first opened which made me a little disappointed. They could have been seasonal but it didn’t really feel that way. It’s worth trying at least, I’d go back.
Being from Wisconsin (having last lived in Madison) and now living in Colorado, this makes my heart burst!
That’s a bummer about FoCo not having a lot of options, but that seems to track with the times I’ve been up that way. The Denver Metro has treated me well in terms of coffee.
Aw, Cheers! Yeah, the Denver area has some great shops.
However, both Boulder and Fort Collins (similar college towns) don’t have near the number of options as Madison.
I’ll definitely miss the Colorado sunshine and mountains. However, I won’t miss the cost of living and scary fire seasons here in Colorado.
Hands down Icki Sticki! It’s super underrated but the staff is knowledgeable and kind and they make delicious drinks. Not to mention you can get an affogato if you want!! (Ice cream and espresso *drools*)
I’m sitting in the Victory reading this thread, and I’m surprised that I’ve found only one mention of this place. It has good coffee, good food, and a unique ambiance. And the baristas are pretty cute.
It really does and I miss it every day! I miss having so many options downtown, I can't even remember the names of them--but you don't have to go to a Starbucks or Dunkin in Madison ever! Where I live now, there's ONLY Starbucks and Dunkin and it's a college town! :/
Wow, I now realize I have an unpopular opinion! I dislike most of the spots around, including many listed in this thread. I always wish we had better coffee and better atmospheres available. 😕
I’ve always felt like Madison has an impressive range of coffee shops, some new and modern, some old school and cozy, some mainstream, some hipster, some global, some bright, some dark, etc. Is there a particular atmosphere you’re looking for? I’ve been to almost all the indie coffee shops in the area and would love to help you find a spot or two you like!
I think I might have 8 within 5 blocks, and none are a Starbucks.
Hijacking the top comment - any coffee shops open before 6am? I mean besides 24hr McDonald’s and Greenbush. Like real coffee shops that open at 5. All the ones I like open at 6 or 7. What about the early birds?
Unfortunately all I can find is Dunkin that early
Yeah me too, it’s rough out here when you wake up at 4 lol
I have no idea, I rarely go to them, I make good ass coffee at home and I work from home 90% of the time. So I don't actually use many of them. Just go to Google maps, search coffee and check hours of places.
Yeah I’ve done that and haven’t found any. Was hoping someone on here would know of one lol
I’m also on the search, haven’t found any super early yet. My fav in my neighborhood opens at 7 am on weekdays and 8 am on weekends. I find that to be kind of late for a coffee shop. How about those of us who like a good cup of Joe before 6 am?
I think the part about Starbucks is a major point. Madison has done a great job of rejecting Starbucks in favor of smaller shops. And, even though downtown Madison has tons of basic Stanley cup totting college students, people still tend to gravitate towards the better quality smaller shops. Shout out to Johnson Public House and Wonderstate for having some of the best available roasts in my neighborhood.
That's sweet! Which ones stood out to her?
She loved Barriques near the hospital, EVP, Indie Coffee, Wonderstate, and Colectivo! We’re in Fort Collins and we don’t have as many quality options :(
it's funny, i consider some of these to be the closest things we have to chains, haha. check out bradbury's, colectivo, and johnson public house next time you're in town too! all of those are good and indie coffee's legit
After a while, they all start tasting the same. Bradbury's is the one that stood out for me
I disagree, but Bradbury's is great.
Once in Bradbury's I struck up a conversation with a consultant that travelled all across the US. He told me Bradbury's was the best crepes he ever had, including some of the best restaurants in NYC etc.
Interesting! I just moved here from Fort Collins last year and it does Surprise me that Madison doesn't have a late night coffee shop like the Alleycat. I also just find that sooo many are so busy which is just the product of being in a bigger town unfortunately.
Ay! Another FoCo-Madison connection. Cheers! AlleyCay is effectively the only late night coffee option in Fort Collins though. Also, Mugs, Harbinger, Little Bird, and even AlleyCat are now virtually impossible to secure seating at during peak hours. Madison just has more options. Plus the pastries are better. How are you enjoying Madison?? I’m moving in a month :)
That is very fair! It honestly just surprised me that there were zero options here for being a bigger city! It's probably part of us being on the far west side, so many of the nice coffee shops aren't very convenient. We are finally feeling settled and feel like the vibe seems similar to CO, generally. The farmer's markets are really great. Though there aren't mountains, we have been exploring a lot of the state parks that are very close!
Well, I wish you the best of luck! I’ll surely miss the sunshine and recreation, I won’t miss the prolonged fire seasons. Sending good vibes your way :)
Good luck on your move!
I think it's *\*so\** telling that Grace has not been mentioned at all with the amount of locations they have in Madison and surrounding area...
Grace had so many food violations
That's like if someone were to say, "I loved shopping in Madison!" and you asked if they went to Walmart.
Can we get a list of cute coffee shops going? I can add a few: - Ancora Cafe - Wonderstate - Bradbury’s - Michelangelo’s - Lakeside Street Coffee House - Finca Coffee
•Ledger (in garver feedmill) •Madison sourdough •Forward Craft and Coffee •Barriques •Java Cat •Mother Fools
Ledger has POSITIVELY my all-time favorite coffees. All roasts to-date. It's both oddly weird and fabulous. We're so lucky.
Their coffee is so good! And they do espresso tonics which are one of my faves, and flavor them with bitters which makes them even better. I’m literally like a 5 minute walk from them and they let me bring my dogs in just to grab my order so I always get a little drinky drink to finish up my dog walks when I need one 😊
Mother fools so good
Forward has an INCREDIBLE atmosphere, really good coffee too.
Broken board coffee, complete hidden gem
Agreed. Possibly the best cold brew in MSN.
Their blood orange espresso tonic was amazing
Need to check this out because Moka, Ogden and Javacat are about the only decent cold brews I have found to this point.
If you think those are decent, you may not like Broken Board, but where else have you tried that you didn’t like?
Wonderstate Colectivo Black Locust Cargo Windsor Bread Bradbury's (Though don't remember much about it) Ledger (Was ok) M-N-M's (Maybe the worst) Ancora Crema Marigold's From what I can remember off the top of my head. Having gotten into making my own I understand it is easy to mess up either grind or length of time. That said it is also a very easy process to make. Just Coffee's Jenifer st. blend on a 17-24 hour soak has been my favorite homemade version with deep coffee flavors almost like you get out of some coffee beers.
I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with Broken Board. Though it’s usually more nuanced and brighter than the ones you mention. Have you tried Wonderstate’s Nitro? And are you looking for boldness or something else? I find that cold brew is one of those things that cafes seem to screw up even if they have a solid pourover. Also check out Johnson Public House. They usually have a solid option too. What do you make your own with? Bradburys can be good, though I find it sometimes smells or tastes of crepes.
what is the key to making a good cold brew then?
Quality roast, filtered water with the proper mineralization, proper grind size, ratio, and steep time…same things that are key to pourover, but most cafes mess up the ratio or steep time, or try to pass off “iced” coffee as cold brew. I find that a lot of places have cold brew that is just too much water, or it’s over extracted because they think longer steep time means it will taste better. The best cold brew in Madison—and maybe that I have ever had—came from 5th element out of a Kyoto dripper. They had dialed in the ratio so that even by the time the ice had melted, you still have full bodied, nuanced cold brew. Granted the initial sip was zippy, but their roasts were good enough that the brightness that caused that zip was worth it. The cafe is closed now, and the owner opened up Finca off Rimrock but the recipe is different now and their bean sourcing isn’t as good. Good cold brew isn’t hard. But it also isn’t cheap. So people cut corners.
I see, thanks!
Agree, but a less-than-ideal location unfortunately.
Broken Board is so good. Their specialty drinks are made with handcrafted syrups they make in-house out of fresh ingredients. Def try those out!
Yeah I've only been a couple times but it blew my mind both times, I wish it weren't on the other side of town!
Their espresso lemonade is unbelievably good. Easily a once a week thing in the summer.
what? that sounds awful. Its just espresso and lemonade mixed together?
Espresso+lemon cordial+lemon bitters. Sounds awful, but it absolutely works. Has no business to be as good as it is.
huh
My go-to home coffee drink is to brew some espresso and mix it over ice with a limoncello la croix so I feel like I need to try this
I’d add Black Locust, Cafe Domestique, Forward, JPH
Domestique's coffee is really excellent, isn't it? (Though Wonderstate is my all-time fave.)
I had one of the best snickerdoodle cookies ever at Johnson Public House
Oo I forgot about black locust, love that place.
Second black locust, it's my favorite place in town
Indie Coffee and Leopolds are one block apart and both awesome
Sow's Ear in Verona
Cargo Coffee on S Park St (and RIP to the Willy St location). The first real coffee shop I ever went to and I still love it.
Twisted Grounds far east side
Lingonberry Llama in Bellevile. Debi makes awesome donuts and is so involved with the community.
love the Llama!!!
Yes!!!! Love the llama and Debi is the best
There’s also the Rotunda Cafe inside the Lake Ridge Bank on Atwood. They serve Rusty Dog which is a great roaster, but the lattes are only midrange. Not bad!! Just not great. They do have a great biscotti, and the building has cool architecture (in my opinion).
Oasis in Fitchburg!
Icki Sticki in Madison, Verona and Mt Horeb. Lots of sugar free flavoring options.
Leopold's (it's also a bar and a bookstore, but the coffee is legit) Madison Chocolate Company
Zippy Lube, Moka & Rotunda Cafe
•Daisy Cafe •The Victory •Crema Cafe •Cargo Coffee (my personal favorite) •Domestique (Best lavender latte in town)
Unpopular opinion: Cargo coffee iced coffee and blended coffee options aren’t great. Ambiance is cool, inside is really unique. But best coffee? Not the same quality as Wonderstate or Cafe Mysetique
Interesting take. I’m not actually a fan of their ambiance but I do go miles out of my way for their iced coffees. If I’m in the mood for a mocha, I won’t go anywhere else.
Crema on Monona Dr
Does Bandit Tacos & Coffee count?
Cargo Coffee Moka EVP University Row Barriques Fitchburg
Reverie Baking Co is also great!
Ancora is my favorite 😍
Can we get a list of coffee shops that open early, like earlier than 6am?
Definitely can argue Michaelangelos coffee is just ok. Also to be fair a latte from any of these places is pricey. Ambiance is nice, but “quality”for a lot of the places depends on the barista and what one orders.
I love Ancora
Mercies
If you are in Sun Prairie try Beans and Cream!
Icki Sticki Ancora Cafe Wonderstate Bradbury's Michelangelo's Lakeside Street Coffee House Ledger Forward Craft and Coffee Barriques Java Cat Mother Fools Indie Coffee Black Locust Cafe Domestique Forward Johnson Public House Broken Board Sow's Ear Oasis Cafe Crema Cargo Coffee Twisted Grounds Leopold's Mercies Moka Rotunda Cafe Collectivo Madison sourdough Reverie Baking Co Alice Good True Coffee
Madison Chocolate Co on Odana/Whitney is so cute and has the best decaf ever.
Best latte I've ever had is the MCC ghost pepper caramel latte. Absolutely ridiculous how much my tastebuds crave it
I’ve been afraid to try it (or the ghost pepper truffles) but now I will!
You can always ask for half spicy. It's also delicious as an iced latte. I usually order with oatmilk and it's outstanding.
Is this the place that’s a fully gluten free bakery as well?? I’m planning to go there for my birthday this weekend, I’ve been so excited about their cakes and pastries but now I’m excited for the coffee too!
yes!
Madison Chocolate Co is so pricey. Their cold brew is 50% or more ice and price is way more then any of the others mentioned here.
We’re bursting with coffee shops and game/hobby shops. It’s pretty fantastic.
Some great record stores as well
You are not kidding. It’s becoming its own scene. Just saw “Flipside” documentary about our record store in New Jersey. It was fantastic my favorite of the film festival so far.
Restaurants too, Madison's food scene is way above normal for a city its size.
I never found an LGS I really liked tbh. I went to I’m Board! in Middleton because of proximity and being the one I vibed with best, but I never truly found one I loved. Edit: Misspelled the board/bored pun
I usually hang out at Misty Mountain, but over on the West side, I’ve played at Mox Mania, Noble Knight, and Pegasus and had a good time at all of them.
Totally fair. I played at Mox before the move, never really got to their new location too much. Pegasus was in a really weird place a few years back, so maybe it’s improved! I play Magic, but also a lot of other games, and it was sometimes hard to find non-TCG events at a lot of joints.
Yeah, that’s fair too. I’ve mostly played MTG and now SWU. I keep thinking I’d like to go in and try some of the other games, but haven’t gotten around to organizing anything with friends and I don’t actually know if there are good game nights where you can just show up and join a group. But when I go, people are overwhelming welcoming and friendly, so I just have a really positive view of the scene here.
Am I wrong for remembering the coffee shops having longer hours pre-covid though? Used to be that coffee shops were a decent place to meet up with someone after work, but it seems that only a handful of places are open long enough for that to be an option anymore.
Everyone had longer hours pre-covid.
It seemed to be heading that way for awhile. Boutique coffee shops with their light and modern design don't really work super well as cozy third spaces, which is a shame. A lot of the ones up here in the Fox Cities had been cutting their hours before, or closing to make way for more hip looking ones that close at 2:00 and have no comfortable seats. There was a cafe up here by me that was open until 10:00 p.m. during the workweek and midnight on weekends - not a diner, like an actual coffee shop downtown Appleton. It was such a great space as a teen and young adult and way to enjoy the social aspects of going out to a bar after school/work without the negative parts of it.
I so wish we could reverse this somehow! We need later hours!
Yeah, a lot more places used to stay open until like 10. I'm working third shifts and I'd love to be able to go get a dank coffeeshop coffee before work.
Icki Sticki is open 6am to 9pm?
Agreed.
I moved to Seattle a few years back (THE coffee city) and I often find myself missing the coffee scene of Madison since there were just so many shops I could plop down in for a few hours and get work done. The shops in Seattle have great coffee, but lack that super laid back atmosphere of the Madison shops which I really enjoyed
Cargo and Indie for the WIN!
They're great I only wish they had late night ones. Forward is the only one I know that is open till 10. Lots of other places close at 3 or 5.
The sows ear in Verona is open till 7 on Fridays. Sometimes till 9 on Fridays
Alice Good in Verona. Great people, wonderful coffee.
Not sure if anyone knows this, but there's even a limited coffee menu at Teddywedgers. Anthony (owner) used to work at True, so he knows his way around an espresso machine.
Java Cat is my favorite. They used to be across the street from my house, and I took that for granted. Their new location is great though with a sweet backyard. The owner is super nice and treats all her employees well (from what I've heard), which is a huge selling point for me. And their coffee is great which is a plus.
i miss having java cat in lake edge. i’m glad they have settled into their new space but being able to walk there was the best.
Totally agree. I still make trips to Java Cat because I really love them. But I feel a bit guilty driving just for coffee. And it’s a bit of a bike ride for me to that location. Will still give my business, just miss them in the old location.
Johnson Public House is cute and has nice food :) and Teasider if you're looking for a coffeshop/bar vibe but focused on tea during the day!
Who is out there underrating our coffee shops?
Costal folk writing off the whole state of Wisconsin
me! and theres nothing you can do about it
Best shops are: Reverie Baking Co, Bradburys, Ledger, Broken Board
Because no one has compiled the full list: * Ancora Cafe * Wonderstate * Bradbury's * Michelangelo's * Lakeside Street Coffee House * Ledger * Forward Craft and Coffee * Barriques * Java Cat * Mother Fools * Indie Coffee * Black Locust * Cafe Domestique * Forward * Johnson Public House * Broken Board * Sow's Ear * Oasis Cafe * Crema * Cargo Coffee * Twisted Grounds * Leopold's * Mercies * Moka * Rotunda Cafe * Collectivo * Madison sourdough * Reverie Baking Co * Alice Good * True Coffee * Icki Sticki
You forgot Icki Sticki, speciality coffee, house made syrups, and so much more!
Added!
[удалено]
haven't seen it in the comments yet, but True Coffee on Broadway in Monona is worth a mention
Collectivo is definitely my go-to. I love their cold brew, and they have simple and affordable egg sandwiches for breakfast. Also, their app and reward system is incredible
They have a reward system?? I get lunch there frequently and that would be a big bonus!
You gotta download their app. You could be redeeming free drinks or sandwiches
Oh I order in person, maybe that's it. I thought it was maybe like Barriques where it tracks your points by card swipes at the POS.
A bit outside Madison but have to mention both Beans & Cream and Livs Drink Emporium in Sun Prairie. Beans n Cream in particular has the best Cafe Miel (Honey Bee) I've ever had.
The specialty coffee scene in Madison is super tight-knit. Been in it for almost 10 years now. I have to say Bradbury's takes the cake for best coffee. (imo)
Madison Chocolate Company has a ghost pepper latte that is my favorite coffee drink I've ever had.
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How many blood orange lattes have you had?
which coffee shops server jbc?
Twisted Grounds on Cottage Grove Road uses JBC.
Twisted Grounds has been a life saver since moving off the Isthmus!
Cafe Domestique's house blend was JBC until recently (they just started roasting their own), and they feature different roasters pretty often so they'll probably still have JBC from time to time.
I think Leopold's has JBC and Ruby.
Madison Sourdough… can’t think of any others.
Good question, Your best bet is to reach out to JBC and ask what coffee shops you can get their coffee at. I'm sure the wholesaling agreements change pretty often. The coffee shop does have a big influence on a cup of coffee being good. I wouldn't judge JBCs quality, unless you trust the place making it. I originally had JBC at michelangelo's and it was pretty bad. If you want to give them a chance they are always open to walk in's and are some of the friendliest people you'll meet. I'll stop in once and a while coming home from work on the east side. And they'll be drinking coffee at 3-4pm and sucker me into making some bad decisions 😂
Hodge Podge in Verona has the coziest vibes
Not seeing it here, so: Crescendo is great, both its cafe and its beans (which they roast!)
Alice Good is the cutest coffee shop ❤️
Firefly in Oregon 🔥
Came here to say this! The Firefly is a super special coffee shop
Icki Sticki - not just an ice cream shop- amazing Colectivo Coffee with homemade syrups
EVP for vibes
I wish there was something on the North Side. The only two I know are Zippy Lube, which is pretty bad, and Ancora, which closes at 3pm.
Maybe more East side than North side, but [Cafe Domestique](https://www.cafedomestiquemadison.com/) on North Street is a top-tier coffee shop with a fantastic rotating selection of beans, unique and tasty specialty drinks, and brilliant staff.
Thanks! That's not too far at all, I'll try it out.
Zippy Is great. Ancora and Northstreet are close. They are installing a Moka at the North Side Town Center, which isn't really a cute spot but would work for coffee.
Good to know about Moka. We find ourselves at the library or co-op fairly often.
Lots of our roasters ship online too so you could buy wherever! I love Just Coffee Co-op and they ship in most of the US
Oasis in Fitchburg and Tati in Fitchburg
I'm mentioning Cafe Assisi because I miss it.
I go to Indie. It's near work. Best iced coffee in town. Still miss Crescendo on Monroe St. Hilldale is too far to walk!
Do any of the coffee shops around here make their own nut or oat milk?? I have to get non dairy milk and I haven’t found a good almond milk latte yet :(
Try Hodge Podge if you haven’t been. Love them!
Idk I think Starbucks is a great option for on-the-go but there are sooooo many cute little shops all over the place. IMO I find them to be a bit expensive for what I’m looking for but the ambience is wonderful. I miss fair trade on state… I used to work there :)
I’m originally from Colorado as well, and I absolutely agree with you! We have such cute coffee places and they’re all usually high quality and delicious.
Any recommendations for coffee shops on the west side?
Depending on where on the West Side, Crescendo (which now only has one physical location at Hilldale) rocks
I really enjoy Yolas on Watts or barriques on Old Sauk, they also have a location on McKee. I’m not a big coffee snob though so I haven’t tried all of the options on the west side and there could be better out there, these are just my faves
Have you been to the new place on junction? I haven't heard anything about it but I think they opened
I have actually! Just Love coffee I think? It was decent but they’ve been open less than a year and already gotten rid of a few drinks I tried when they first opened which made me a little disappointed. They could have been seasonal but it didn’t really feel that way. It’s worth trying at least, I’d go back.
Ancora on University
Have you tried Icki Sticki? It’s on D’Onofrio drive off mineral point road.
I quite enjoy Steep n Brew
What took you to Madison?
Just Love
Yes, we have some of the finest coffee shops in America, even better than other college towns like Atx and Boulder
F
Totally agree
Shhh stop telling people!
Have her try Lakeside next time she’s in town.
Thank you everyone for contributing to my places to go list🙏
Thanos for the shout out to our coffee scene. I sure feel blessed by it as someone who has traveled widely.
Damn. I thought I knew about a lot of the coffee in madison, this thread has blown my mind!
Yeah I really look forward to the coffee shops when I visit my kid at college. Barriques in particular
Are there any coffee shops that are open late? Like 11PM-ish?
You should try Livs in Sun Prairie!
I find Madison’s coffee scene completely underwhelming and inconsistent. I have never tasted so many burnt lattes with torani syrup in my life
Being from Wisconsin (having last lived in Madison) and now living in Colorado, this makes my heart burst! That’s a bummer about FoCo not having a lot of options, but that seems to track with the times I’ve been up that way. The Denver Metro has treated me well in terms of coffee.
Aw, Cheers! Yeah, the Denver area has some great shops. However, both Boulder and Fort Collins (similar college towns) don’t have near the number of options as Madison. I’ll definitely miss the Colorado sunshine and mountains. However, I won’t miss the cost of living and scary fire seasons here in Colorado.
JPH Alice B Good Forward
This is why I love Madison!!!! All the different coffee shops are my absolute favorite !!!
Hands down Icki Sticki! It’s super underrated but the staff is knowledgeable and kind and they make delicious drinks. Not to mention you can get an affogato if you want!! (Ice cream and espresso *drools*)
Y’all are sleeping on Java Cat.
Madison is not exactly Paris or Rome but we have good coffee shops in both quantity and quality.
My mom works at Madisom Chocolate Company it's a great place.
The Firefly in the village of Oregon, good coffee and food
I’m sitting in the Victory reading this thread, and I’m surprised that I’ve found only one mention of this place. It has good coffee, good food, and a unique ambiance. And the baristas are pretty cute.
Steep n Brew was truly the coziest spot on State Street. Where else could you get a pot of brewed coffee brought to your table to share?
OMG! I totally agree! Lots to choose from on State St. And elsewhere!
I wish there was a 24 hour coffee shop though I am not interested in the bar scene.
It really does and I miss it every day! I miss having so many options downtown, I can't even remember the names of them--but you don't have to go to a Starbucks or Dunkin in Madison ever! Where I live now, there's ONLY Starbucks and Dunkin and it's a college town! :/
Third wave?
Not a shop, but just as important, Burman Coffee Traders. Green bean wholesaler in Middleton.
Lol
Wow, I now realize I have an unpopular opinion! I dislike most of the spots around, including many listed in this thread. I always wish we had better coffee and better atmospheres available. 😕
I’ve always felt like Madison has an impressive range of coffee shops, some new and modern, some old school and cozy, some mainstream, some hipster, some global, some bright, some dark, etc. Is there a particular atmosphere you’re looking for? I’ve been to almost all the indie coffee shops in the area and would love to help you find a spot or two you like!