Kickapoo Coffee Roasters I Third Ward - Milwaukee, WI

Address:  232 E Erie St, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Coffee roaster: Kickapoo Coffee Roasters

Sweet: In house - Citrus Ginger Scone

Website: kickapoocoffee.com

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Anytime we travel, we try to fit in as much as we can in what is usually a short amount of time. This last trip to Milwaukee was no exception. Within 24 hours we visited friends in Whitefish Bay, went to a beautiful wedding at the Pfister Hotel, stopped for a quick coffee at Colectivo before breakfast with other friends at Birtch + Butcher. That was all after our visit to Kickapoo Coffee Roasters in the Third Ward. 

This coffee shop is in a neighborhood that I absolutely love. The Third Ward consists of 70+ converted warehouses, all of which are tastefully restored, and on the National Register of Historic Places. The neighborhood is also the home of MIAD (Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design) which is directly across the street from this Kickapoo location.

While I instantly loved the building’s architecture, I equally loved the interior and learning what went into design the space. From Amish built tabletops to partnering with a local artist for interior metal work, the pride of the business is evident in every detail. Not only is it aesthetically impressive, their business model is not something to look past. Kickapoo’s story starts with a drive for great coffee paired with fairness to farmers. They accomplish this by working directly with farmers through COOP Coffees while also making sure the coffee that they source is of high quality.

Even though we only had 45 min to take-in the atmosphere, we enjoyed every minute of it. Our drinks were delicious, and it was clear that care was put into every drop by our barista, Caleb. It was an extra nice coffee shop visit as he immediately made us feel right at home and even gave us a latte on the house to photograph and enjoy.

After taking the last bite of our in-house made citrus ginger scone, we bought a bag of coffee to take back with us to Chicago. Looking forward to enjoying it this weekend!

Oromo Cafe I Lincoln Square - Chicago, IL

Address: 4703 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Coffee roaster: Deans Beans

B's brew: 12 oz latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 12 oz hazelnut horchata latte

Website: oromocafecgicago.com

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The list of coffee shops to visit in Chicago is endless. It took a while to settle on one after a two-year long break from our blog. We landed on Oromo Cafe in Lincoln Square due to convenience, and we're glad that we finally made it in.  

Oromo Cafe is named after the ethnic group that inhabits the Oromia region of Ethiopia which is known to be the birthplace of coffee culture. The Oromo tribesman were the first to use coffee as food. Their hunters who would leave on day long treks realized that consuming the plant provided energizing effects as well as the ability to suppress hunger. Today, coffee remains a central part of Ethiopia's culture. They even have a common phrase "Buna dabo naw" which translates to "coffee is our bread".

We went to Oromo around 9:30 on a Saturday morning. It wasn't too crowded, and we had a few seats to choose from. There was a good combination of community seating, high-top window seating and two-top tables toward the back. 

I ordered my usual whole milk latte which had a very mild flavor. Luckily, the pastry that we ordered enhanced the experience for me as the sweetness paired well with the mild taste. 

Charlie, on the other hand, was feeling more adventurous and ordered a hazelnut horchata latte. The recipe consists of house made rice milk, house made toasted hazelnut milk, coconut milk, vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup and Dean's Beans espresso. This is definitely suited for a sweet tooth but we enjoyed trying the tasty ingredient combination.

The Bachelor Farmer Cafe | North Loop - Minneapolis, MN

Address: 200 N 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Coffee roaster: Dogwood Coffee

B's brew: 12 oz latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 12 oz latte w/ whole milk

Sweet: In house - double chocolate brownie & fruit danish

Tunes played: The Cactus Blossoms - Queen of Them All album

Website: thebachelorfarmer.com/cafe/

We always love a trip to the Twin Cities!  This time around we were able to explore with family but also spend some time adventuring on our own.   Even though we only had 3 days away, we somehow made it to the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, the Mill City Museum, and the Walker Art Center.  The first night we were in town, we had an impromptu dinner with my cousin and his fiance at The Bachelor Farmer.  Our 3 hour dinner was nothing short of delicious, and we knew we had to try the adjoining cafe before we left town, which is exactly what we did.

The Bachelor Farmer Restaurant and Cafe are housed in a beautiful old brick and timber warehouse which was built in 1881. The owners of the building took great pride in transforming the space and kept as much of the original structure as possible.  Some things were bound to be lost during restoration, but they were able to replicate the windows, and use the area where there had previously been a loading dock for the main entrance of the restaurant.

The interior of the space is just as appealing, especially inside the cafe.  If you ever want tile inspiration, there is no shortage here!  The beautiful patterns that Murcury Mosaics designed for the space is impressive.  Aside from the aesthetic appeal, we were impressed by the kindness of the other patrons, the knowledge of the staff, and of course, the delicious coffee. Their daily drip is a product of Dogwood Coffee who created a special North Loop blend, named after the neighborhood where the cafe is situated. They are planning on rotating their beans for pour-overs every few months to keep a variety in the cafe, and also collaborate with the enormous coffee community that exists around the world.  When we were there, they were serving drinks made with beans from Portland based, Heart Roasters.

Not only were our lattes smooth, but our pastry was delicious which was exactly in line with everything the cafe had to offer.  I can only imagine The Bachelor Farmer Cafe will become a regular visit for us when we're in the Twin Cities. 

Cellar Door Provisions | Logan Square - Chicago, IL

Address: 3025 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Coffee roaster: Four Letter Word

B's brew: bottomless drip coffee

C's brew: bottomless drip coffee

Sweet: In house - Cannele

Tunes played: Bob Marley & The Wailers - Lively Up Yourself (Live) album

Website: cellardoorprovisions.com

Here we are again, after taking another little break from our blog.  Charlie and I have suffered an incredible amount of loss and change the past year and we've been trying to learn how to deal with the ebbs and flows of it all.  While listening to music the other day I heard JJ Grey sing, "I finally understand, it can't be understood".  I played the words over in my head and it gave me some clarity that I've been hoping for.  It's amazing how something simple like the lyrics of a song can do that.  I then started to realize how important this [self fulfilling] little project is to me and the relationships in my life whether it's with Charlie, a childhood friend, or a person I have yet to meet who will most likely inspire me in some way, like most people do.

I have a new weekly ritual with an old childhood friend, Lara.  We get together, eat food, drink coffee, and laugh like we used to when we were 10 years old.  Lara and I share in the same mindset of continuous ideas so she is a source of motivation for me.  Charlie had some designs to share for Lara's new business venture, so the three of us went to Cellar Door Provisions to brainstorm.  Lara frequents the spot and spoke highly of their pastries, so we thought we would give it a try.

It's hard to say what I liked best about Cellar Door.  Everything was on point.  The coffee.  The light.  The customer service.  The Pastries.  It's almost a given that my favorite spots end up being the ones where we converse with the staff, and in this case, one of the partners, Tony.  He went from telling us about The Plant where Four Letter Word brews their coffee, to getting an in depth description of how the butter is clarified in their amazingly delicious canneles.  We were also lucky to have a conversation with him regarding his take on the "masculinity" in the Chicago coffee brewing community.  If you are interested in speaking with a well versed, unpretentious, culinary connoisseur, I would give Tony a visit.  While you're there, be sure to order one of each pastry, enjoy them in-shop with a cup of bottomless drip coffee and then order the rest of the pastries to go.  They are that good. 

La Colombe Coffee Roasters | Andersonville - Chicago, IL

Address: 5158 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

Coffee roaster:  La Colombe Coffee Roasters

B's brew: 10oz latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 10oz latte w/ whole milk

Sweet: Blueberry Muffin - Dollop Bakeshop

Tunes played: Sylvan Esso

Website: lacolombe.com

After a delicious breakfast at Bongo Room in Andersonville, we were ready for a hot cup of coffee.  We decided on La Colombe since it was right down the street.

It makes sense that "La Colombe" means "The Dove" in French.  I have always wondered what the premise was behind their logo. I learned today that their name was inspired by The Colombe d’Or - a French hotel and restaurant.  The original owners of the hotel were art enthusiasts and eventually, the hotel became a famous lodging destination for artists. If you're curious, you can read about it here.  We love when our weekly coffee shop visits collide with anything creative, and we keep getting lucky in that department!

But, It's not about what's buried deep in meaning that makes La Colombe great.  It's actually what's on the surface.  The coffee, the pastries, the atmosphere, the baristas all play a part in their obvious success.  It was a never ending flow of customers throughout the time that we spent there but it did not interfere with our visit whatsoever.  It was quiet, but not still.  Alive, but not distracting.  I was entranced by the way in which the light came in from the beautiful windows.  It was relaxing and added an hour of ease to our somewhat chaotic lives.  These moments are the most important to me....exploring new neighborhoods, drinking good coffee, taking photos of beautiful spaces - all while spending time with the most important person in my life. I was thinking Yo el Rey was going to be a hard shop to follow, but La Colombe was right on point and we look forward to visiting their other locations!

Yo el Rey Roasting | Calistoga, CA

Address: 1217 Washington St, Calistoga, CA 94515

Coffee roaster:  Yo El Rey Roasting

B's brew: 12oz latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 12oz pour over Peruvian coffee

Sweet: Currant Scone - Model Bakery

Tunes played: FC Kahuna, Ministry of Sound

Website: yoelreyroasting.com

Our trip to California was planned around one of my best and oldest friend's wedding.  We spent 5 days in Napa Valley visiting family and friends, eating amazing food, and drinking an unlimited supply of wine. I was honored to be a part of the wedding at Calistoga Ranch which was nothing short of beautiful.  After all of the visits and celebrations, though, we knew we could not leave without the two of us spending time exploring by ourselves.  Lucky for us, Yo el Rey was a short walk from our hotel in Calistoga making it a perfect stop before heading to the airport.  Thanks to the bride and groom for the recommendation!

We knew nothing about Yo el Rey before walking there.  Within a few minutes of stepping foot in the door, we learned that they only roast certified, organic, small batch coffee.  We ordered our drinks and sat at a high top table which we later realized was made by a local craftsman/artist.  In fact, Yo el Rey utilizes their space as an ever changing exhibit for artists to showcase and sell their work.  The barista, Marley, who was working hard behind the counter, took some time to tell us all about the uniqueness of the shop. The owner not only has a passion for sustainable, organic, green, fair trade coffee, but also for art.  He constantly fills the walls with his own poetry, or with words that have inspired him.

We couldn't have picked a more perfect coffee shop. Our blog was built from the idea that Charlie and I wanted to explore more together by visiting different coffee shops in varying neighborhoods, but to also add more creativity to our lives.  Yo el Rey found a unique way to incorporate both coffee and creativity, which is essentially the basis for our blog.  We are so glad we took our extra time in Napa to bypass another winery and enjoy a delicious coffee drink!

Kavarna Coffeehouse | Downtown - Green Bay, WI

Address: 143 N Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54303

Coffee roaster:  Anodyne Coffee Roasting

B's brew: 12oz latte w/ 2% milk

C's brew: 12oz drip coffee

Sweet: In-house Bakery & Danielle Hilly - blueberry crumble

Tunes played: Chet Baker, Anita O'Day, Lucila Campos

Website: kavarna.com

Another trip to Wisconsin is in the books.  This time, it was Green Bay for one of Charlie's best friend's birthday.  After staying out late celebrating, we were in need of caffeine the next morning to help us get through our 3+ hour drive home. 

We did a quick Google search for coffee shops near our hotel.  We didn't know anything about Karvana aside from the fact that they served breakfast and coffee.  We decided to stop on our way out of town around 11am. 

We were in shock at how big and cool the space was!  The large painting on the wall caught our eye right away along with the wood walls, unique tables, warm light, and tall ceilings which were completely unexpected and inviting.  We sat at a table overlooking the first floor space and our food, which we ordered at the counter, was served to us by one of the barista's, Amber.  She was so sweet and went out of her way to apologize for running out of coffee mugs for my latte. The space is so big that we didn't even realize how many people were enjoying their coffee there that morning! 

Typically, we won't combine our coffee shop visit with breakfast, but we made an exception this time since the menu looked so good.  The food turned out to be delicious and our drinks were no exception.  We were happy to see they were serving Anodyne coffee as it's been on our Milwaukee coffee shop list for a while.  Both of our drinks were the perfect dose of caffeine to help us make it back to Chicago. 

Ipsento | Bucktown - Chicago, IL

Address: 2035 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Coffee roaster:  Ipsento Coffee

B's brew: 16oz iced Ipsento latte

C's brew: 16oz iced Ipsento latte

Sweet: In-house bakery at their 606 location: 3 mini donuts; berry, lemon zest, Ipsento

Tunes played: Tame Impala, TV On The Radio, Still Corners

Website: ipsento.com

Well, this post is long overdue.  Life has taken some unexpected turns.  I've been catching myself saying "positive" a lot lately;  "I'm trying to stay positive", "let's look at the positive",  "let's remember to be positive".  What does this have to do with Ipsento?  Our experience there was nothing short of positive making it a perfect coffee shop visit a few weeks ago.

Our initial plan was to go to Ipsento's new location, Ipsento 606.  When we got there, every seat was occupied.  Most people had their laptops, so we knew it would be a long wait until we were able to sit down.  We decided to leave, and instead we went to their original location, which was only a short drive away.  From the second we walked in, we could tell this location was much more our pace. 

We were instantly greeted by one of the barista's, Aaron.  He answered all of our questions about the menu, and steered us towards ordering their signature latte over ice.  It couldn't have been a better choice.  The combination of flavors from the espresso beans, the cayenne pepper, and the honey were all perfectly matched.  The drink was creamy, smooth, and spicy, and was served in a mason jar.  It's now on my top 5 list of favorite lattes. 

We have a hard time turning down sweets and baked goods, so we ordered three mini (and I mean mini) donuts with our lattes.  The donuts, which are made at Ipsento's 606 location, added a perfect balance of sweet to our spicy lattes. 

Aaron introduced us to two other baristas, Mallory and Tracy. The three of them were genuinely excited and interested in our blog....Aaron even pulled it up on his iPad while we were there. I know I've mentioned this before, but It's always so nice to meet new people who share in our enthusiasm for exploring.  With all of the craziness going on in the world today, we cherish the positive moments together and feel grateful for when kindness surrounds us.  Thanks for such a great break in our day, Ipsento! 

BomboBar | West Loop - Chicago, IL

Address: 832 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

Coffee roaster: Lavazza

B's brew: 16oz iced latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 16oz iced latte w/ 2% milk

Sweet: In-house bakery - Mixed berry bomboloni

Website: www.barsiena.com/bombobar/

BomboBar is located in the heart of the West Loop.  It's a walk up window with a small patio connected to Bar Sienna - a large, rustic, two story restaurant.  If you were wondering where the name BomboBar came from, "bomboloni" is the Italian word for hole-less filled doughnut.  That makes sense since the creation of BomboBar was due to the popularity of doughnuts at their sister property, Sienna Tavern.

We've been waiting for the right opportunity to bring our puppy, Olive, along to our weekly coffee adventure.  We thought, "how hard could it be"?  We decided on BomboBar for a few reasons.  First, dogs are allowed on their patio.  Second, our dog trainer suggested it.  Third, It's small, so we figured it would be a short visit.  I have to say, bringing her along was not "a walk in the park".  Taking photos, drinking coffee, eating a doughnut all while trying to keep a 5.5 month old puppy from pulling, barking and eating everything on the ground was a challenge.  We got through it though, with the help of our delicious iced cold lattes and an even more delicious mixed berry filled doughnut.  An added bonus was the free dog biscuit they gave to Olive.  It was a replica of a frosting and sprinkle coated doughnut. Not sure how we would have survived our visit without it! 

Stone Creek Coffee | Walker's Point - Milwaukee, WI

Address: 158 S Barclay St, Milwaukee, WI 53204

Coffee roaster:  Stone Creek Coffee

B's brew: 12oz latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 12oz cardamom spice latte w/ lavendar, rosemary, honey & vanilla bean

Sweet: In-house bakery - Pecan coffee cake

Tunes played: Notorious BIG, The Black Keys, Atmosphere, Sylvan Esso

Website: stonecreekcoffee.com

Stone Creek was a great first stop on our day trip up to Milwaukee! The shop is housed in a revamped warehouse building in historic Walkers Point, which is one of our favorite neighborhoods to explore. It is mostly an industrial neighborhood with pockets of condos, bars, restaurants and shops.  It is also the home to 88Nine Milwaukee, which shares the same building as Stone Creek.

We arrived around 11:30am and had no trouble finding parking.  It was a quick drive from Chicago, but we were still anxious to get out of the car and drink our daily dose of caffeine.  One great thing I learned about Stone Creek was that they are passionate about buying their coffee directly from the coffee farms.  They only serve "farm to cup" coffee, and want to share all of their knowledge with tours of their factory, a podcast, and a newsletter with up to date info on the latest farm.  These are the types of establishments that I feel good about supporting!

Charlie changed it up this time around and ordered a Cardamom Spice Latte.  It was a combination of lavender, rosemary, honey and vanilla bean. It was seriously delicious.  I played it safe by ordering my usual latte, which was anything but ordinary.  This is one reason I've enjoyed ordering the same drink at every coffee shop.  Each one is unique in their aromas, flavors and aftertastes and it's interesting to compare week to week. 

My favorite part about the interior of Stone Creek was, surprise surprise, the windows.  There were so. many. windows.  The natural light that flooded the very large space was so welcoming that it was hard to leave!  We enjoyed our hour long coffee stop before heading to Cafe Hollander for lunch and then spent the rest of our time visiting friends!  Milwaukee, we'll be back!

Heritage Outpost | Uptown - Chicago, IL

Address: 1020 W Lawrence Ave #1, Chicago, IL 60640

Coffee roaster: Heritage

B's brew: 12oz latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 16oz iced latte w/ 2% milk

Sweet: Dollop  - Fruit danish

Tunes played: Anderson .Paak - Malibu and Venice album

Website: heritagebicycles.com

Have you ever been to Heritage General Store in Lakeview?  No?  Well, you should go.  Ever since they became our neighbor in 2012 they have been our go-to coffee shop.  It's an extra special place to us since it's where we had our engagement party two years ago!  We eventually plan on blogging about their Lakeview location, but in the meantime, we went to their very new Uptown location to get a fresh perspective on an old favorite of ours.

We had high expectations before stepping foot into the coffee shop, and it did not disappoint!  We were greeted by a laid back barista, Adam.  He welcomed my camera, shared in our interest of the decor and architecture of the building, and even steered us to the lobby of Lawrence House which he envisions being "the place" to hang this winter.

The coffee shop itself is small but definitely does not lack in charm and the menu is pleasingly straight forward.  Once we had our coffee in hand, we walked a few feet to the lobby.  We took a seat at the enormous wood community table and we were immediately drawn in by the low light, the vintage sofas, the woods, the stained glass and the artwork.  Aside from the aesthetic appeal, our latte's were just as satisfying. We knew that our time there was not going to be short lived.

Lawrence house is a project developed by the FLAT's crew.  They've done an amazing job revitalizing run down yet beautiful buildings in Edgewater and Uptown.  The partnership between FLAT's and Heritage is one that's worth a visit. They collaborate in a building on Wilson as well, and we are looking forward to visiting that location soon.  

Gaslight Coffee Roasters | Logan Square - Chicago, IL

Address: 2385 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Coffee roaster: Gaslight

B's brew: 12oz latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 16oz iced latte w/ 2% milk

Sweet: Floriole Cafe and Bakery - Raspberry scone

Tunes played: The Babies - The Babies album

Website: gaslightcoffeeroasters.com

This wasn't our first time at Gaslight.  With all of the coffee shop options, a place must be pretty darn good to visit more than once... especially when it's not in walking distance to our condo.  We went on a Sunday afternoon and before we got there, we assumed it would be crowded.  We were, however, happy to see a few open tables and seats to choose from.

Most of the customers were on their laptops, which made it library quiet (aside from the tunes playing overhead) and added to the peaceful vibe. Considering Gaslight is located on the corner of a very busy Logan Square intersection, the peacefulness was unexpected.  The large windows are not only perfect for people watching, but also for letting in the best light, which varies throughout the big open space.  One of the reasons we started this adventure was to make sure that we took some time during the week to spend together, explore, meet new people, and it's always a bonus when we run into old friends - which is exactly what happened at Gaslight.

The coffee was just like we remembered the first time around, and just what we were hoping for - smooth, not too bold and not too acidic.  We are already talking about when we can fit in another visit. 

Bow Truss Coffee Roasters | Roscoe Village - Chicago, IL

Address: 2004 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618

Coffee roaster: Bow Truss

B's brew: 16oz iced latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 16oz iced latte w/ 2% milk

Tunes played: Twelve Hour Turn, Snowing, Duck & Little Brother & Duck

Website: bowtruss.com

We decided not to venture too far from home for our coffee this week.  It's sometimes easy to bypass the places that are only a few blocks away in search of something new and different.  Roscoe Village is like a small town tucked away in the big city, so it's quaintness appeals to us.  On top of that, I love the fact that we can go to a coffee shop next to Volo where we got married!  It's hard not to automatically feel good around such an important place.

Bow Truss Coffee Roasters fits into the neighborhood well.  Their Roscoe shop is not flashy or complicated.  We went at an off time - 4:30 on a blistering Sunday.  Only one table was occupied when we walked in, giving us plenty of seating options.  We ordered our iced lattes from the very kind barista, and sat at the wood four top in the front of the shop.  The sunlight coming from the large storefront window could not have been more inviting and the air conditioning and iced lattes cooled us off quickly.  Our lives seem to be a little more hectic these days with our puppy, so the calmness of Bow Truss was exactly what we needed to wind down before starting the work week.

Cafe Tola | Southport Corridor - Chicago, IL

Address: 3612 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

Coffee roaster: Colectivo

B's brew: 16oz iced latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 16oz iced latte w/ 2% milk

Sweet: Empanada w/ black bean, goat cheese & plantain

Tunes played: Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book Album

Website: instagram.com/cafetola

Well, because life couldn't get any crazier, we got a puppy.  We somehow managed to make it to our weekly coffee shop amidst the craziness.  It was a perfect spring day, so we decided to take a walk down Southport to Cafe Tola for iced lattes. 

I wish there were more places like Cafe Tola.  Even thought it's the size of a one car garage, they do a great job maximizing their interior and exterior space.  The walls are colorful, and Calaca's can be seen on every single shelf & corner.  The most obvious, though, is their recently painted exterior wall mural which is changed every few months.

Not only is their space cheerful, but their coffee is delicious.  As you may have read from previous posts, Colectivo Coffee is one of our favorites, so it's nice to live so close to a shop that brews it!  Charlie made the bold statement that his latte was "one of the best" he's ever had, and I couldn't disagree.  We enjoyed our drinks for a short time on their outdoor patio (there is no indoor seating) and saw a constant flow of customers.  We ordered an empanada on our way out.  After all, you can't go to Cafe Tola without getting an empanada!

This girl is the newest addition to the family.  Meet Sheepadoodle, Olive.  Born 3/31/16.

Kudu Coffee & Craft Beer | Downtown - Charleston, SC

Address: 4 Vanderhorst St, Charleston, SC 29403

Coffee roaster: Kudu

B's brew: 12oz latte w/ whole milk

C's brew: 16oz iced latte w/ whole milk

Sweet: WildFlour Pastry - Walnut Banana Bread

Tunes played: Menahan Street Band, El Michels Affair, Speedometer

Website: kuducoffeeandcraftbeer.com

 

Aaaaaaaaand, we're back. 

During our "blog break", we spent some time in Charleston.  What an awesome little (ish) city.  We had 4 days to walk around, eat, explore, eat, drink, eat, eat, and enjoy the sun and warm weather.  It's been something we've been missing in Chicago the past few months.  Between visiting Magnolia Plantation, Folly Beach, Rainbow Row, Palmetto Brewing, the Farmer's Market (find the best breakfast tacos ever at Dashi), we were ready to sit back and relax at a coffee shop.  We had a few places in mind, but settled on Kudu.

We went on a Monday morning around 9:30am, and it was already busy.  We stood in line, ordered our drinks & banana bread, and then snagged a seat in the front of the shop which allowed for some great people watching.  Kudu welcomed all - from young couples, to families, to dogs, to students and babies....everyone seemed to find their comfortable place. Charlie noticed that the barista was wearing an Intelligentsia shirt, so he started talking to him and found out that he used to live in Chicago.  For some odd reason, it made us love the place more.

After 20 minutes of sipping on our lattes, we finally woke up and questioned why were weren't siting outside on their beautiful patio!  So, outside we went, and outside we stayed for an hour admiring the fountain, the ivy, the architecture, and of course enjoying our delicious coffee.  I'm no latte expert, but I've had many in the past few years, and this one is easily in my top 5.  It was the ideal setting for our last morning in Charleston.

Side note - if you are going to be in the Charleston area and need some recommendations, feel free to reach out! 

Colectivo Coffee | Lakefront - Milwaukee, WI

Address: 1701 N Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Coffee roaster: Colectivo

Tea: Letterbox

B's brew: 12oz latte w/cinnamon & whole milk

C's brew: 12oz latte w/cinnamon & whole milk

Sweet: Troubadour Bakery - Coffee cake muffin

Tunes played: Bon Iver, Wilco, Ben Allison

Website: colectivocoffee.com

Milwaukee has a special place in our hearts.  It's where we met 6 years ago.  When Charlie was still living in Milwaukee, he took me to Colectivo on one of our first dates.  So, it was only fitting that we went again over our weekend getaway.  After all, it is a place that holds one of our earliest memories together.  I can't say enough good things about Colectivo.  The coffee.  The vibe.  The attention to design.  The community involvement.  Overall, it's a complete package of what a successful coffee roaster and shop represents. 

We had such a nice weekend visiting friends, eating lots of good food (side note - check out Engine Co 3 for brunch and Movida for tapas), and going to the Pabst Theater for a show.  On Sunday, we woke up to the rare sight of the sun's rays coming through the hotel window, which motivated us to get an early start to the day.  We decided to head out to Colectivo's Lakefront location as one of our last stops before driving back to Chicago.  It's hard to forget the architecture and charm of this location.  The building was originally a River Flushing Station built in 1888 and although they are not in use, many of the original interior mechanisms are still in place.  You can sit in the quiet back room, with tall arched windows and lakefront views all while taking in a little bit of Milwaukee's history.

We ordered our lattes and muffin, and chose to sit upstairs in the loft area which looks down on the main room with equally beautiful windows, views and light.  Charlie told me about Colectivo teaming up with MIAD (Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design).  The students created unique cup designs, which have been printed on their to-go cups.  Even though our latte's quenched our coffee thirst, I ordered a Revv tea (organic ginger citrus) on our way out.  It's not often that I can find Colectivo's tea, Letterbox, and it only felt right to support the coffee + art collaboration.  The sun was still shining on our way out, so we took a seat outside and couldn't help to wonder - why has Colectivo not branched out to Chicago?  Looking forward to our next Milwaukee visit.

Caffe Streets | Wicker Park - Chicago, IL

Address: 1750 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Coffee roaster: Metric Coffee Co.

Tea: Rishi

B's brew: 12oz Turmeric honey latte w/whole milk

C's brew: 12oz Monkey latte (organic banana, honey & cinnamon) w/whole milk

Sweet: In-house bakery - Blueberry and orange zest scone

Tunes played: The Sea & Cake, Common, Dave Von Ronk

Website: caffestreets.com

It's always a struggle to wake up early on Sundays.  Add rain and daylight savings time to the mix, and it's virtually impossible to get out of bed.  Because of that, we ended up at Caffe Streets a little later than we had hoped.  Even so, we had plenty of seats to choose from.

One of the best parts of Caffe Streets is the interior.  It's housed in a newer brick building, with the decor being the complete opposite.  A mixture of woods cover the ceiling, tables, and stools, and the south facing windows are perfect for people watching. The opposite walls are filled with beautiful photographs of all sizes, as well as plants, for a little touch of greenery.  What sets it apart from others, though, are the replica street lights above the barista counter.

We decided to change it up from our usual lattes, and ordered two distinctly flavored drinks. Charlie ordered a latte that had a banana undertone. It was definitely a change from the coffee forward lattes we usually drink, but still as delicious.  My turmeric honey latte had a perfect blend of spices.  I was skeptical as to whether or not the flavors would mesh well, but they complimented each other in a unique way.

The staff was very friendly and told us all about the roaster, Metric Coffee, which was started by Cafe Streets owner. They'll be opening a small coffee shop just west on Division in the near future. Another one to add to our list! 

Dollop Coffee | Evanston, IL

Address: 749 Chicago Ave Evanston, IL 60202

Coffee roaster: Metropolis Coffee Company

Tea: Rishi

B's brew: 12oz latte w/ cinnamon, cayenne & whole milk

C's brew: 12oz latte w/ honey, cinnamon & whole milk

Sweet: Hoosier Mama Pie Company - Cranberry Turnover

Tunes played: Bob Dylan, Fleet Foxes, The Mama's and The Papa's, Elvis Perkins

Website: dollopcoffee.com

DOLLOPl Evanston, IL

If you've ever been to Evanston, you'll understand why I say it has appeal.  There is something about it's small town charm, the Northwestern campus, the lake, the homes, the people.  It's a nice little getaway so close to Chicago.  We find an excuse to visit Evanston every few months.  Just recently, we went to SPACE for a show and passed Dollop on our way home.  It automatically went on our Coffee Shop "to do" list. 

We got there around 9:45 on a Sunday morning without knowing what to expect.  We found out quickly as the energy went from fairly quiet to completely chaotic within 15 minutes.  It was as if the entire city of Evanston decided to meet at Dollop for coffee at 10:00 am sharp.  We quickly snagged two stools at the bar, and we watched as a constant line of people ordered what it seemed like unlimited amounts of coffee, pies, Rishi tea and breakfast goodies for the next hour.  The chaos was welcomed by all, which made for an upbeat Sunday morning.  We definitely had our fair share of people/food watching for the weekend and we're looking forward to trying out the other Dollop locations!

Ellipsis Coffeehouse | Edgewater - Chicago, IL

Address: 1259 W Devon Ave Chicago, IL 60660

Coffee roaster: Counter Culture Coffee

Tea: Rishi

B's brew: 12oz latte w/ whole milk & cinnamon

C's brew: 12oz latte w/ whole milk

Sweet: Lovely Bake Shop - Pumpkin spice muffin w/ cinnamon glaze

Tunes played: Emancipator

Website: ellipsiscoffeehouse.com

We decided to head north for our coffee this week, which is how we ended up at Ellipsis in Edgewater.  Luckily, we got there before the afternoon crowd, and we grabbed two stools in the window - our favorite spot.  The brick walls, wood tables and warm paint colors all added to the comfort of the big open space. 

After sitting there for a while enjoying our lattes, the head barista, Christian, came over and introduced himself.  He was curious as to what we were doing with our photos.  Once we told him about our project-turned-blog, he was excited to tell us about Indie Coffee Passport and also suggested other coffee shops in the area. He let us know that the roaster they use, Counter Culture, has a free cupping event every Friday at their training center, and it's open to the public.  Meeting people at our weekly coffee shops is always one of my favorite parts of the weekend.  It's nice to know that so many people share in the same interests as us, but it's also a reminder of the kindness surrounding us in the city.