Milwaukee Specialty Food and Coffee

Bay View Breezes: Photos: Anodyne Coffee Roasters

Bay View Breezes: Snapshots: Stone Creek Coffee

Today, I had the pleasure of being treated to a French press of Stone Creek Coffee's Market Day blend at their Bay View location. Apparently, the press pot is an off-menu item--just how far off, I'm not sure. I selected the Market Day because I'd actually been hoping to try the Organic Ethiopian, now featured at Grace Lutheran Church's Grace Place (more on that later). For whatever reason, the Ethiopian has not hit their retail stores (yet). The Market Day features a strong Ethiopian component. The French press took four minutes or so to brew; the barista attached a little timer to it. Best of all, she brought it to my table and left it there. I appreciate the vote of confidence that I've graduated from kindergarten (see this post from January). When I took my first sip, I let out a little noise that was kind of half laugh, half O-face. I can't get around using the phrase "night and day" when I look back on the last Stone Creek brewed drip I had last week (though granted, that was a different variety). Suddenly, I'm having the best cup of non-espresso coffeehouse coffee I've had in Milwaukee--and after harping about Stone Creek's drip for two years. So, um...time to rethink the brewing method? I can vouch for the fact that French press is worthy of a home on the Stone Creek menu.

Bay View Breezes: Snapshot: Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co.

I'm having a great time as usual at Anodyne. My usual drip coffee/double espresso combo is doing great things for me.  In a very nice touch, the espresso was accompanied by a pint glass of ice water.

Bay View Breezes: Snapshot: Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co.

Am I the only computer user who freezes up when his/her laptop battery has 15 min. left and there's no other power source available?

Double Espresso: one of the best, double or triple ristretto, barista with English or Australian accent.

Brazilian drip coffee:  I don't much care for Brazils as a rule, so making a good one is tough.  Kudos for doing just that.

Airport: Snapshots: Alterra at the Airport

I'm kind of hitting all points south tonight, so I stopped at Alterra's Mitchell Airport location.  I parked in the surface parking lot, where parking is free for half an hour or less (I believe this is the case for the structure also, but the surface lot is more convenient for this purpose).  All you have to do is cross the driveway and go up the stairs at the southern end of the terminal, and you walk smack dab into Alterra.  I was amazed from first sight to see that the kiosk was impossible to distinguish from any other location--signage, equipment, product mix, uniforms etc. are all the same.  Prices are maybe 15% higher, more reasonable than I'd expected.

I ordered a double espresso, which I believe was $2.15 plus tax.  I was amazed to find it nearly as good as at one of the company's East Side cafes.  When Alterra first announced plans to open airport locations, I figured it would be a disaster.  In fact, I was falsely extrapolating from Starbucks' failure to retain quality and brand control when licensing their name.  (Difficult to understand, as Big Green would presumably have a stronger hand.)  It seems that every time Alterra's owners are interviewed, they say things like, "Aw, shucks, we don't know nothin' 'bout business..."  I'll have you know I don't believe it for a second!

I've always liked Mitchell Airport, and now it's even better.  Additional score: a de facto Alterra location in southern Milwaukee County, conveniently accessible by Interstate.

Bay View Breezes: Snapshot: Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co.

The past couple days have seen me do a lot of driving.  None of the trips turned to be quite as worthwhile as this one.  Anodyne is now pulling away as my favorite coffeehouse.  You should see the spread I have going here, for a grand total of six bucks: a small mug of drip coffee--which I consider to be Milwaukee's authoritative drip--at the wallet-friendly price of $1.20; a soy latte in a pint glass; and a day-old banana muffin, which I've already devoured ($1.25).  The soy latte must have cost about $3.50, which is a great deal for that particular drink in this size.  Its taste, too, is authoritative.  It's the best of both worlds: tell your spouse/accountant that you're trading down, and tell your palate that you're trading up! 

Another amazing thing about this place is the fact that they really push ceramic plates and mugs.  I've even seen a couple of the ubiquitous kid's hot chocolates served in little ceramic mugs.  (Usually, an ersatz "sippy cup" is crafted by sticking a straw through the hole of a small paper cup lid.)  

Bay View Breezes: Snapshot: Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co.

I'm a foul-weather friend of Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co.  The last time I was here, it was on a Sunday afternoon when it was too hot to walk.  Now it's too cold. . .though, strangely, sunny and bright.  I'm sitting at one of the high tables along the west wall.  The sun is shining directly on me, and the heater is working overtime, so I really have to say that this is a most cozy little perch.  I also have to award kudos for "Most Tasteful Christmas Music".  The barista is one of the most knowledgeable I've seen, explaining the ins and outs of various coffees to patrons.   

UPDATE: Wish I'd brought a power adapter; I might have made an afternoon of it.  Brilliant!  (Regular readers will know that I usually get squirmy and/or find something unbearably annoying after about 45 min.  Not here!)

UPDATE #2: Did I just here the barista say "Can I make that for here?"  I think I'm about to have a heart attack...

East Side/Riverwest: Snapshots: Alterra Humboldt

For the first time in a while, I'm back at Alterra on Humboldt.  It's a rainy night, and there's parking at this location.  Probably explains why almost every seat in the place is taken.  I don't know whether Alterra owns the N. Prospect Ave. building, but if they want to get much use out of it, they really ought to help do something about the parking situation in the area.  (Though I guess they have the future UWM dorm and expanded Columbia/St. Mary's facility working in their favor.)  It's very rare that I can get a parking space within one or two blocks of Alterra Prospect.  Now that gas is cheap again, I'm driving around more, and I'm here to tell you that there's some really sucky places out there which, I'm convinced, survive because of the ease of quick in/out access. 

Bay View Breezes: Anodyne Coffee

I'm at Anodyne Coffee in Bay View.  I love their products and thought I'd found a new hangout, but it has been insanely loud and here, and the acoustics are absolutely unforgiving of noise.  Speaking of which, they have a childrens' play area that is currently in use.  Though I probably have well over an hour left on my 2-hour free WebBeams Wi-Fi pass, I'll have to write more about this place from someplace quieter.  Also, it's becoming clear to me that if I start hanging out in coffeehouses for more than an hour at a time, I'll have to carry cushions around with me.  About fifteen minutes on one of these hard wooden chairs, and I'm in pain.

Bay View Breezes: Sven's

this post will be a first: little or no capitalization.  i'm at sven's european cafe in bay view using one of the public computers.  i face a stark choice between dealing with the mostly dead shift key or sparing my blood pressure.  i think i'll spare my blood pressure.  i'm mostly here because i'm between computers at the moment and computer use here is free with a two dollar minimum purchase. (i think this the kind of public computer where you don't want to be doing financial stuff, entering credit card info or anything else mission critical.  i don't think there's any physical or IT maintenance being carried out on these boxes.)  i'm drinking a large nicaraguan.  the cafe draws an older crowd and is currently in the midst of its lunch rush.  i've noticed that south of downtown, no one seems to order food without customizing it, usually specifying three or more variations.  seems people on the east side/north shore do that much less.

it's a little humorous to overhear owner steve goretzko—who's been here at least two of the (i think) three times i've been here—order the baristas around.  he operates a little leaner than the others—customers outnumber employees, what a concept.  He seems gruff, though not really abusive.  i have to admit that my first impression when this opened (2005?) was that this place seemed like a train wreck.  i was more than a little reminded of the ciao cafe. now, it's clear that that judgment was incorrect. ok, only the train wreck part was incorrect. this totally reminds me of the ciao cafe! the owner is walking around asking people how their food is. also, from the snippets of dialogue i'm overhearing, i'm guessing none of the employees have worked here more than a week; again, shades of ciao.