Milwaukee's Eco-Friendly Coffee Scene
Third Wave coffee enthusiasts will love Milwaukee. Not just for the amazing specialty coffee, but also for local roasters' commitment to eco-friendly practices. We haven't found another Midwest coffee city yet that surpasses MKE's eco-action.
Check out these great Milwaukee roasters (listed in alphabetical order):
Note: All roasters in this list source sustainably produced coffee via fair trade/direct trade relationships.
Eco-friendly practices
Anodyne's beans are roasted in a USDA Certified Organic Roasting facility. Roasting is achieved using an energy-efficient, eco-friendly Loring Roaster. The Loring uses 80% less fuel than conventional roasters, as well emitting less greenhouse gas than traditional roasters.
Once roasted, many of Anodyne's beans are packaged in compostable coffee bags. (Tip: remove tin tie before composting.) And sold under LED lighting. In a facility heated, cooled, and air conditioned by an energy-efficient HVAC system. (Nerd alert: their HVAC uses condensing boilers, which make use of the latent heat of vaporization. Kind of like re-capturing energy that was lost in running the system. Probably more than you wanted to know, right!)
Anodyne holds the Green Professional Designation from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council.
Fun fact
Per their packaging, Anodyne means "a medicine that relieves pain; a source of soothing comfort." Could there be any more perfect description of coffee?
One more reason to visit
With wood fired pizzas at one location (Bay View), craft beer, wine and music at another (Walker’s Point), an entire public market surrounding a third, and an outdoor patio at the newest (Wauwatosa), there’s something to love at every location!
Locations
4 locations around Milwaukee. See "CAFÉS" dropdown on the main page
Eco-friendly practices
Colectivo has been designated a green energy leader by the EPA.
Colectivo has a history of using renewable geothermal energy, making use of reclaimed water, and incorporating reclaimed wood and recycled fixtures into their cafe construction and décor. Colectivo also uses biodegradable cups for iced beverages, and sources ingredients locally when possible.
Colectivo encourages environmental awareness in their patrons by offering discounts to those who bring their own reusable mugs and who have their beans refilled in their own previously used pound bags. Community bike pumps at every cafe further encourage green transport practices among patrons.
Fun fact
Colectivo says: "Our name was inspired by the artful and funky buses used for public transportation across Latin America, colectivos, and the iconic part of everyday life they represent."
One more reason to visit
Cocado Cortado. An espresso made with coconut milk. Need I say more?
Locations
18 cafes, mainly in Milwaukee, spreading to Madison & Chicago. See "CAFES" dropdown on the main page
Eco-friendly practices
The vast majority of Kickapoo's coffee (more than 94%) is certified organic.
Kickapoo partners with two non-profits—Taking Root and the Arbor Day Foundation—fostering carbon responsibility within the supply chain.
Perhaps most uniquely, Kickapoo went 100% solar powered in 2015, becoming the first roaster in the country to do so.
Fun fact
Not a Milwaukee roaster per se (Kickapoo roasts in nearby Viroqua, WI), Kickapoo Coffee is such a vital part of the Milwaukee coffee scene that an MKE coffee discussion would be incomplete without this roaster.
One more reason to visit
Kickapoo Coffee’s Milwaukee location has been included on Architectural Digest’s list of The Most Beautiful Coffee Shop in Every State in America.
Locations
Four locations in Milwaukee & Viroqua, listed here
Eco-friendly practices
Pilcrow keeps their eco-awareness pretty basic around the shop (like composting coffee grounds and using recyclable cups).
It's in the local delivery model where Pilcrow has fun with eco-friendly innovation:
One aspect of Pilcrow that reduces our carbon footprint, and has become sort of an icon for our brand, is the Nitro Cold Brew bicycles we use to "peddle" (pun intended) our product around town and at various farmers markets.
Fun fact
A pilcrow is the paragraph symbol used in a rough draft as a story is formed. Pilcrow Coffee says: "The final version of our story is yours to share with others. Embrace the storytelling experience!"
One more reason to visit
One of our fav coffee experiences ever has been Pilcrow's Nitro Flight. Including Sparkled Chai Float (Tea), Tumeric Ginger on Nitro (Tea), Storyteller Cold Brew on Nitro, and Sweet N Creamy on Nitro; this flight was like nothing we'd experienced at a roastery before!
Location
1739 N. Doctor Martin Luther King Dr., Milwaukee
Eco-friendly practices
Stone Creek strictly limits the use of disposable items in their cafes, as well as being committed to recycling.
Upon request, Stone Creek gladly provides coffee grounds to local farms and gardens for composting needs.
Cafe waste is minimized through Stone Creek's close monitoring of trends to eliminate over-ordering. One of Stone Creek’s Guatemala suppliers is working to further minimize waste by developing a flour from discarded coffee cherries.
Stone Creek locally sources ingredients whenever possible.
Fun fact
When an employee has been with Stone Creek for six years, they are taken on a trip to Guatemala to participate in the coffee harvesting process.
One more reason to visit
Stone Creek hosts FREE weekly tours with two coffee tasting samples. Offered on Sundays at noon.
Locations
11 locations around Milwaukee, plus one each in Chicago & Madison. See "CAFES" dropdown on main page
Eco-friendly practices
Valentine reports that much of their eco-friendly actions take the shape of waste stream management and waste minimization.
In house, Valentine diverts organic waste (e.g., coffee, filters, food) to compost -more than 50 tons in under 3 years!- and uses compostable cups and lids. Valentine promotes eco-friendliness in their tasting room patrons by offering a discount to those who bring their own reusable cups.
Valentine extends this eco-friendliness from the tasting room to their wholesale market. Wholesale deliveries are made using reusable totes, recycled paper bags and reused cardboard cartons.
Additionally, Valentine minimizes transportation and shipping impact by locally sourcing food and ingredients.
Fun fact
The first cup of Valentine Coffee was sold in 2009 at a farmers market in trade for a bag of snap peas.
One more reason to visit
One of our favorite logos to date, plus a highly instagrammable parking lot mural. Visuals on point!
Locations
5918 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee & 7981 S 6th St, Oak Creek, WI
Did we miss your favorite MKE specialty coffee spot?
Let us know in the comments!
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