Milwaukee Specialty Food and Coffee

Glendale/Whitefish Bay: Snapshots: Alterra Bayshore

I just stopped at Alterra's Bayshore location, where I enjoyed a medium cappuccino (cappu-latte?).  As usual, it had latte art--which, incidentally, was beautifully poured--and relatively little foam, but I wasn't about to be bothered by that.  In fact, I wasn't about to be bothered by the uncomfortable chairs inside the cafe.  I guess that's testimony to the beautful sunset I admired while walking around the Town Center, as well as to my capacity for self-talk ("I won't be bothered by this. . .I won't be bothered by that. . .").  Seriously, even if it was category-bending, the drink was darn good, and at $3.12 or so, I felt like I'd gotten a bargain.  And I should mention that there was enough foam to be able to spoon out the rest of it after I finished the drink, a source of childlike fun for me.  It's also nice to be aware of yet another talented barista out there--this gentleman has been behind the counter in some capacity almost every time I've been there, but this was the first time I can recall having a drink crafted by him.

Glendale/Whitefish Bay: Snapshots: Alterra Bayshore

I'm at Alterra's Bayshore location enjoying a mug of the current coffee of the week, the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe.  I wonder if this will be offered as single-origin espresso at the three participating cafes (Humboldt, Prospect and Foundry); I've just asked on the official Alterra blog whether this is the case.  As I wrote last year, this place has a peculiar way of becoming very, very loud in summer.

The coffee more than makes up for this distraction.  It almost seems a waste to drink it hot.  I've already become convinced that the Ethiopian is the perfect iced coffee.  The Yirgacheffe has a lemon tinge that is absolutely wonderful.

Wow, blast from the past!  I just saw one of my old colleagues from the Barnes & Noble cafe, circa 1995.  She's since moved on to more glamorous jobs, but always here at the mall.

Photos: Kopp's Frozen Custard

They didn't have fancy flavors like Pomegranate back when I worked there!

Glendale/Whitefish Bay: Snapshots: Caribou Coffee

I'm at Caribou Coffee in Glendale, soaking in the air conditioning.  They have really good coffee--occasionally crazy good, such as the Guatemala El Paraiso--but the food items are often crazy bad.

This scone was far and away the worst food item I've ever had in a coffeehouse.  I advise you strongly to steer clear.

Glendale/Whitefish Bay: Snapshots: Stone Creek Coffee in Glendale

Yesterday, I felt better than I had in weeks, and with my workload down to a trickle and my boss heading out on Lake Michigan, there was nothing other to do than to take a long walk.  I made my way from the UWM area to northern Glendale with nothing in my pockets but two or three loose keys, driver’s license, blank check, cell phone. (Perfection, though sunscreen should have been in the mix somewhere.)  I planned to stop at Stone Creek Coffee in Glendale.  I would have been content with an experience that didn't kill the buzz, but it ended up being much more than that. 

It happened that my favorite barista was working.  Not only does he make a mean espresso drink, he exhibits remarkable attention to detail--handing me a pen to fill out my check before I had to ask, and even watering the plants in the cafe!  Some baristas would be unperturbed by plants growing out of half-empty latte mugs left on a table for a month.  I posted a week ago about owning one's workspace, and this barista is exemplary.

I made a point to spend some time sitting in the comfy chair, as if to spite Alterra a little bit by letting my bourgeois, non-fist-raising self luxuriate in seating comfort.  What's up with a coffeehouse not having comfy chairs, anyway?  They must figure it will help them skew young.

Glendale/Whitefish Bay: Snapshots: Alterra Bayshore

I’m soaking in some air conditioning at Alterra Bayshore.  It’s so nice that I’m hanging out for a second cup, even though my laptop is unable to connect to the Internet for some reason.  ( This weather is a good fifteen degrees too hot for me in the afternoon.)  On Humboldt last night, I’d noticed an “Espresso of the Week” advertised, the Peacemaker Espresso.  Unfortunately, I’m told that it isn’t available at this location, but at the Prospect and Humboldt locations only.  (I assume the single-origin espressos also count under this rule.)   I need to start carrying a little pillow or cushion for Alterra chairs.  I have little or no body fat in my back, so the vertical, um, thingies (I’ll resist my impulse as a translator to spend half and hour searching for the correct tech term) dig in between my bones.  Yee-ouch!

Contributing Author Suzanne Kreuziger: Kletzsch Perk

Suzanne writes:
"The Kletzsch Perk coffee shop, in this repurposed gas station building, closed quite a while ago and the building has yet to be sold.  It was a cute idea.  Sherman Perk, its sister coffee shop, seems to still be open; I used to make a point to stop there when I was on Roosevelt Drive, which is a route I don't take anymore.  This 3/50 project is making me think of local businesses that I like but seem to have a tenuous existence."

Perhaps someone knows exactly when the brief window was in which the shop was open in an otherwise long-vacant building.  (To give you an idea, I'm pretty sure the service station had already closed when I passed this corner every day on the way to and from Glen Hills Middle School.  That would have been 1986!)

Glendale/Whitefish Bay: Snapshot: Alterra Bayshore

I'm enjoying my second mug of one of my favorite Alterra coffees, the Nicaragua Don Zeledon Organic Fair Trade.  I can attest that the numerous politically correct modifiers are matched by great taste--and this week, an equally great price!  It's so great in milk, I really want to try it as shots for a latte or cappuccino.  The price might not be so great if I end up buying a home barista setup for that purpose :-/ 

Glendale/Whitefish Bay: Snapshots: Bruegger's (E. Silver Spring Dr.)

For the second time this week, I'm at Bruegger's.  I've come to really like this place, preferring it to Panera.  One word: BOGO.  Like dogs (and Superman) hearing super-high frequencies, I can hear the word "BOGO" from miles away.  What's more, the offer applies to something that's already a great deal: half a dozen last night's bagels for $2.49.  Does that sound tacky?  How old do you suppose Starbucks bagels are?  (The term "carbon dating" comes to mind.)

Glendale/Whitefish Bay: Snapshots: Caribou Coffee Glendale

I'm at Caribou Coffee on W. Silver Spring Dr. in Glendale.  Another thing that there should be a sniglet for is when the staff is cleaning the coffeehouse and you, as a customer, no longer feel welcome (mind you, the person at the counter gave me a friendly reception--he's new and undergoing training).  I'm a night person, so it's tough for me to make use of the hours after 10 p.m. in Glendale.  I should also specify that I don't really drink much.  In any event, I stopped at my parents' to pick up a one-pound bag of Peet's House Blend that my Dad brought back for me from Arizona.  I look forward to cupping it and sampling it as drip coffee in the morning.

Also, thanks to my Aunt Lynne, I have good pants on.  I find that in life, it's hard to overestimate the important of good pants.