Colectivo Coffee Foundry

My daughter gave this coffee place a million and 5 thumbs up!! The Sunshine Maple Sausage was absolutely delicious. It was a great first stop for our Milwaukee tour

I have always loved this coffee shop. Built in what was originally a foundry in the historic Fifth Ward, the postindustrial design is noted, with high ceilings, exposed beams and ductwork, etc. There is free parking in back (“Parking for tenants and customers of 140 and 170 South 1st Street”). The espresso is perfect, especially long draw. Lots of seating options. Exceptional service. Highly recommend.

Love the atmosphere. Hip and yet comfy cozy. Lots of wood and plants. Very peaceful. Got the smoked vanilla mocha to try something new. Very good. With the city bustling outside (good views!), the inside is chill and relaxed even when it's busy. ☕️ Enjoy!

Service was super slow and staff seemed stressed out and just didn’t want to be there. Ordered a cheese and egg sandwich which was excellent though. However, also got a butter croissant which was almost rubber - definitely not fresh and seemed like left over from the previous day. They really shouldn’t sell items that aren’t fresh.

I really liked the vibes here. Loved the plants hanging down from the ceiling, and all the seating was really nice. I got a sausage biscuit, and I subbed cheddar cheese for goat cheese. It was ahhhmazing. The coffee was awesome, too!

This location is fairly packed on a weekend. Trashcan was a bit overflowing. Overall the ambience is little loud, wouldn't come to study . A good amount of indoor seating and some outdoor seating ( not heated). The parking lot by the building is private, probably owned by the apartments nearby. Street parking was relatively easy to find. The breakfast sandwich on a muffin was fairly good. The muffin bread was a little dense. The almond croissant could have been more flakey. The drinks were less sweet than Starbucks . I would come back again since large menu for both food and drinks.

It is a very polite and kind place, I bought a pork turkey sandwich, I didn't realize it was pork, they kindly made a new one. This kindness and satisfaction should not go unrewarded! I am very pleased. When I come back from here again, it will be the first place I will come to for breakfast or coffee!

We read pretty good reviews for this place and wanted to stop by to grab something for our drive home. The prices are a bit expensive for what they have and the size. I got the Matcha Latte and it wasn't worth the price and it wasn't spectacular nor memorable. I think you can go to similar coffee shops and get the same items for less. I think the service was good, but very short and not attentive. There was limited parking due to area, but we found a spot. There's a decent amount of tables and chairs on the inside for people to sit at. The shop itself was unique. There's a lot of stuff for sale on their shelves, which is cool to see. As far as atmosphere, it's a pretty cool place, but as far as coffee and drinks, it's okay. I think it was a nice place to visit, but it's quite expensive and not super spectacular.

This place has really good coffee, best I have had in a while. I had the brewed coffee, no sugar or cream, just really tasty. I'm kicking myself for not picking up a back of beans on the way out. They have some food too. I had the southwest wrap. It was great and pretty filling. Service was friendly and everything was ready in about 5 minutes. It's in an old building with plenty of seating inside and some outside seating, which is pet-friendly.

In my never ending quest to find the best coffee and vibes in Milwaukee, this time it brought me to the Colectivo at The Foundry. Located right up against the butt of the Third Ward and Walker's Point, this is yet another great location to grab a cup of Joe, food, and good times. It has spacious seating for you and many friends, or if you are looking for a nice study spot. The coffee and food are exactly what'd you'd expect from a Colectivo, being of top notch quality. I would definitely recommend a visit if you're in the area!

Excellent all around! I started my day with a Vanilla Cream Cold Brew and the Famous Chorizo Burrito. The coffee was strong with great flavor and did the job - keeping me alert for my long day of driving. I absolutely LOVED the burrito. There was so much going on with it - eggs, sausage smoked chorizo, poblano peppers, pico de gallo, black and refried beans in a flour tortilla served it house made salsa. It was bursting with flavor! I only wish I grabbed a second one for later in the day. Highly recommend!

Love their seasonal drinks and the iced tea with lemon, I used to order a Windy Ci-tea every time but they took it off the menu. Always fun to try what they have cooked up. I wish the burritoes hadn't gone up in price and down in size over the years! Staff is really good about order mods and service is still decent during busy times. Love the exposed brick and beams and the all the lush plants inside, I wish there were more coffee shops in old buildings like this!

Great spot to sip a solid coffee away from the hustle and bustle of the Third Ward but not too far away from the action...if you know what I mean. The staff is always amazingly kind and accommodating. They help you walk away with the perfect coffee drink even if you don't quite know what you're in the mood for when you step up to the counter. Besides some seriously fresh roasted coffee the highlight at this location is the cozy ambience with a sweet, little outdoor patio that has lovely flowers and a mix of seating options plus shade. Be sure to check out the best David Thoreau sign out front for a bit of history too!

Good Ethiopian coffee on drip today. Disappointed all breakfast offerings were sugar laden. No savory items were available after noticing in the display then asking the clerk.

Came by for a quick bite to eat and pastry. The place was really nice and the staff was very friendly. We had coffee, hot chocolate and some bakery items. The location we went to was around the corner from a bobblehead museum. Hopefully, this review has identified the proper coffee collective location. Being from out of state, I had never heard of these spots, but I understand there are many more of them in the area. Our experience was good, and the food and drinks tasted very good. We sat inside, but saw outdoor seating as well. The area was a little "out of the way", but it seemed to be a place locals went to and frequented alot. I certainly recommend this location. It was relaxing and enjoyable

Have you been at this recently remodeled location? More seating! Yes, not just with an added area across from the counter, but with added smaller round tables where your laptop still fits. This location has been my most frequented over the last couple of years. Baristas are super friendly and it's just a nice space overall. I'm also go lad to see Colectivo has added more vegan options in the pastry case offer. A great spot to grab a beverage or a snack...and maybe sit outside when weather permits. On the Green and 15 bus lines.

We read pretty good reviews for this place and wanted to stop by to grab something for our drive home. The prices are a bit expensive for what they have and the size. I got the Matcha Latte and it wasn't worth the price and it wasn't spectacular nor memorable. I think you can go to similar coffee shops and get the same items for less. I think the service was good, but very short and not attentive. There was limited parking due to area, but we found a spot. There's a decent amount of tables and chairs on the inside for people to sit at. The shop itself was unique. There's a lot of stuff for sale on their shelves, which is cool to see. As far as atmosphere, it's a pretty cool place, but as far as coffee and drinks, it's okay. I think it was a nice place to visit, but it's quite expensive and not super spectacular.

Amazing location. Great music. Perfect seating. And great messages on potted geraniums. Colectivo is my favorite coffee "chain" in Madison and Milwaukee. The excellent hipster vibes and incredibly down to earth baristas make it a home away from home. Looking for a coffee shop to hang out and read, meet a friend, or even do some writing on that book you need to finish, come to Colectivo and grab a cup of Joe.

This Colective has such a cute, earthy, cool vibe. I picked up a sticker or two for an anniversary or event they'd had recently -- loved the styling of the branding and stickers. There were plenty of places to sit, but our group was ordering to go. The menu was impressive, I don't think I've seen a place where you can get a green (or any other kind of fresh-blended) smoothie along with coffee, tea, baked goods, and other fun drinks and food. I happened to order the green smoothie and really liked it. The apple was very prominent and I could taste it in every bit of the smoothie I had. I would order this again! The only thing keeping me from 5 stars was that when I ordered it, the guy at the counter delegated making the smoothie to a girl behind him. She loudly complained and said something like, "WHY MEEEEEE!?" Another girl who was already making a coffee made another remark that was along the lines of "sucks for you," to the girl who was making the smoothie. They didn't seem like they meant to have customers hear them say this, but they all said it loud enough that everyone could hear. I felt bad and their complaining about making a smoothie would be the only reason why I wouldn't order it again. It seemed really weird and rude for them to say. As soon as the girl who made the smoothie handed it to me, she was kind and polite. Not sure what's happening there.

Took 30 min for a cold brew coffee, people in front of us left because of the wait. Wasn't busy either

All I wanted was a hot cup of coffee but it tasted so burnt I threw it out. The staff was very nice but the drip coffee was awful.

I've been to a few Colectivo locations and can honestly say--solid fan. This location is probably my favorite thus far. Not sure what it is? I just kinda dig an open beam, bare brick backdrop to caffeinate by. If you've not tried Colectivo's coffee, it's quite good. Their espresso is pungent and smooth and the chocolate they use in their mochas is rich without being overly sweet. All in all? They make a solid cuppa joe. They have tons of tables indoors as well as ample patio space. The patio would make for a lovely coffee date. I've also been here for business meetings and it's also a great location for that as it's possible to find a table with a bit of privacy (ie: the tables are well spaced). The service? Lovely. There's one cashier who is completely charming. When taking your order, this particular barista always refers to the customer as "friend." Ie: "What can I get for you, friend?" --or-- "Will that be all, friend?" It's just so...well... Friendly. And, who doesn't like friendly? It's the small things in life, my people. Friendly baristas make pre-morning-coffee moments bearable. Get to it!

Visited two Colectivo locations while I was in town! Friendly and fast service, great ambience, lavender lemon scone was delicious, latte was PERFECT! Five stars all around!

Pistachio matcha latte had good flavor but was super sweet. So if you don't like it so sweet, ask for half the syrup. The smoked vanilla mocha was ok.

I can't rave enough about Collectivo in general. When I moved to Chicago this was my little piece of home but I have to say, these new drinks are absolutely exquisite! The smoked vanilla mocha pretty much gets gulped in 2 mins and the honey lavender coconut latte tastes just like the lavender vanilla latte from LYFE kitchen I would pick up in Chicago (there really should be a Collectivo downtown). Yumm!

Now that Colectivo has made its way to Chicagoland, I had to stop in to one of their original (I think) locations in Milwaukee. I had a matcha latte and a breakfast chorizo burrito. The matcha latte was great, while the burrito needed the side of salsa to give it flavor. The service was fast casual and quick. The clientele is the hipster set and college students studying. The internet service was really good and easy to use and they had plugs which I seem to never be able to find! I had no trouble finding a table, but there was a steady crowd the entire time. This is a great place to study/work all day since there's an all day breakfast menu, a lunch menu and of course good beverages.

Friendly and speedy service, generally pretty clean. Cool atmosphere, very earthy. Food order was completely wrong, but I imagine the majority of people stick to basic pastries. I ordered the smoked salmon sandwich and my friend ordered the Southwest breakfast bowl. Both were good - nothing extraordinary, but nice portion and flavor.

Maybe I skew this Alterra higher because of the nice employees. Since I'm in the area a lot, I often pop in here for a breakfast sandwich, coffee, and whole beans. Popping in is easy, since there's plenty of free street parking, and a parking lot in the back. There's outdoor seating, and employees will even come and find you out there with your food order, true story. I'm partial to a darker roast, but I'm really liking their Guatemala Hunapu these days, and they've still got it in whole bean. Third Ward, best Ward! Alterra Foundry is great!

Inside was extremely cold. It was at least 60° inside and I got goosebumps just waiting for my drink. It took 22 minutes for them to make a latte while the barista kept talking to her friend. I went to the DMV right before this and it was literally faster than getting a latte here.

Friendly staff with a decent coffee shop menu but when I received my large tea there was about half a cup left for dairy (which I didn't ask for)...not a big deal but I felt silly asking for not hot water. Good vibe, I will go back when I am in town.

Awesome spot! Colectivo was recommended by local friends, so we swung through to grab breakfast. What a smart move! Extensive menu covering a variety of tastes. The smoked salmon sandwich was an incredible breakfast- generously filling and easy to eat in the car. Not only were the beverages delicious, the cups themselves are so visually appealing. To sum it up- GREAT atmosphere, fast service, extensive menu, and delicious!!!!

First time at this location and was impressed by the service. Even though the location wasn't at a peak time, the cafe was still housing the day to day crowd of the coffee realm. New things can seem overwhelming and Colectivo does what most places can't seem to get right -- make it easy to be a customer. Conner (hoping that I got it right) was a huge help in narrowing the scope to what we wanted to drink and gave us some insight on his favorites and the new and exciting options. Moving down the line, Kelsey was the muscle on bar. A perfect blend of espresso and steamed milk, although trivial sounding, can be hard to brew up (pun intended); however, this Colectivo has what it takes. To anyone not local to Milwaukee, this a recommended coffee stop for a nice experience and good coffee. My review is based on the following factors: Attention to Detail - 5 Speed of Service - 5 Friendliness - 5 Cleanliness - 4 Food taste/quality - 5 Total Average - 4.8 (rounded to 5)

I had one of the best cups of coffee I've ever had here last week - a lighter roasted Brazilian that was great. It was still great 4 hours later sitting in my car - then 8 hours later on the drive home and EVEN the next day - the little bit that was left. I also really liked the space - re-purposed wood and metal. I normally wouldn't comment on food at a coffee place, but some of the baked goods were truly inspired. To wit, the pumpkin-seed-cranberry(?) muffin. Wish I could remember what exactly what is was so that fellow Yelpers could order it. ===== I only had time on this short visit for but one espresso - which didn't blow me away like the coffee - but was still better than most. Service that morning, for me, was curt.

Even though I'm not a native Milwaukee-an, something about this Colectivo (maybe colectivo in general) feels like home. I went most recently for breakfast with my parents, and my mom commented that it was as if the staff knew me. I assured her that I don't go very often, but that's just how they are. Friendly. Helpful. Knowledgeable. Powerful (I mean they have the coffee, do they not?) We got the smoked salmon sandwich on multi grain, the granola, and some drinks. Everything I get at colectivo is always good. For 3 drinks and 3 breakfasts, it was under $30. That's a good price for a memory of a lovely al fresco breakfast with the best parents I know. Thanks Colectivo! I'll be back.

Though their coffee is my least favorite of the Milwaukee coffee shops, their potato bacon burrito is sooooo good! I just wish it wasn't as expensive as it is, but I still buy it every time. This location has 1/20th of the craziness of the Lakefront Colectivo, and all of the same product. Sure, it isn't by the lake, but their garden area is cute and it is so fast!

I've been to quite a few Colectivo locations but I think this is my favorite. The staff is friendly and has a high energy. The coffee is always good and the food is always fresh. My favorite thing is the homemade strawberry jam! Delicious!

Home for the holidays and was looking for a spot to reunite with friends who were also home. Colectivo was a great meeting spot. I enjoyed drinking the snow day blend. Ordered lunch, the troubadour grilled cheese sandwich and added avocado to it for an additional .75. Delicious. Avocado should be on all sandwiches. This is definitely a smaller location and I can imagine it gets quite busy on weekends. As it was, they were busy at the lunch hour with a lot of to go orders but I think the fact that it was a Monday worked in our favor for getting a table. I liked the vibe. There were some people working and others chatting so I didn't feel like we were disturbing anyone by talking.

I've been coming here for years, don't know why I didn't ever review it. Good coffee with personable baristas who get my order right. Good place to get some work done, read a book, and in a good location for coffee to go. Ample bicycle parking, and an interesting bulletin board. Nice selection of baked goods that go with coffee, and very good whole beans to bring home.

My fav spot to open up my laptop and get some work done! The best vibes, oh and the VERY best matcha in town. Is it possible to drink too much? Asking for a friend.

I was a little jittery after drinking 2/3 of this cold brew. I enjoyed the atmosphere, fast internet, and was really impressed with the almond croissant. I'm from out of town, so I was impressed how so many locals chatted with me. I would definitely be back. My only complaint is how few outlets there were.

I hadn't been to a colectivo in quite a while--I was really disappointed in the low quality today at the Madison State Street location. The almond croissant was startling--it is definitely no longer made with all butter (it has that filmy feel that comes from non-butter fats), and the coffee was burnt and not good. They are clearly cutting corners.

Nice coffee, had to try this when in MKE. Tried the latte, good coffee flavor. Staff was very friendly and location was not too busy. Inside was warm and had a cozy atmosphere. Very good alternative to the usual Starbucks coffee.

Lots of bean options and a pretty good draft cold brew. A little pricey. An employee (Christopher?) was extremely sassy and rude. He made us move from an employee-only area of the space (no signs, mind you), and refused to ring up a bag of beans when we didn't stand in the right part of the queue...no mind there were no other customers around. Additional signage plus employee compassion would bump this rating up.

I schedule a lot of work meetings at this Alterra location, and it's not always the best idea on my part. See, it is a good idea because the location is pretty centralized and it's easy to get to from my house. Most folks are familiar with this location, too, and it's considerate of ppl who work downtown or on the east side. It's not like I'm asking them to meet me in Cudahy or anything... What's problematic is the fact that this particular location is ALWAYS busy. Always. Always always always. Everything else that applies to Alterra applies. Nice staff. Good bakery. Lunch-y stuff. Good coffee (better when it's pour over). I do have to dole out an additional star for the convenience factor. Plus, proximity to that froyo place? Total plus.

Funky atmosphere, pretty outside seating, and delicious coffee. Grab an iced brew with honey and almond milk. You will not be disappointed. Probably the best turkey club I have ever had to boot.

Another great location for Alterra. I prefer to go to this location when I am studying because it is usually not as busy as the Alterra on the lake. It is located in the Fifth ward, next to the Social. There is a small parking lot in the back. Great coffee. Strong coffee.

2nd time at Alterra, even better! I had the espresso shake. This was the most amazingly decadent iced coffee beverage I have ever had. It was like crack. My sister literally told her boyfriend I was drunk off Alterra, and I did kinda feel that way. You need to try this drink. Plus, I found two heads up pennies that day. Clearly my good luck was finding this drink at Alterra.

An ode to Alterra: All hail Alterra, With your locally sourced goods, The patio is charming - in an easy to access neighborhood. The coffee is flavorful, The pastries are pretty, If you don't try the baked oatmeal then for you, I feel pity. So head to Alterra and score ye a coffee, And if you're smart, you'll get one for your boss...y.

Name has changed to protect the innocent Colectivo is an odd name but I like the Java here nonetheless

Skinnamarinky dinky dink, skinnamarinky do you love coffee on the daily as much as I do??? Date of most recent visit: July 6, 2013 Location: 5 out of 5 Mind you, I've only been in MKE since July 1, but this location is extremely close to my new digs in the 3rd Ward (just cross the bridge across the river). Street parking is plentiful, and bus routes run along the road as well. But TWIST! Why would you do that when MKE has a vibrant cycling community, many of which are making their way to the trails to the south? Bike racks are available, and seem ample for those of you decreasing your carbon footprint. For me, it's so close that by the time I get my bike ready, I might as well walk (which is what I did). Pooch friendly. Decor: 5 out of 5 This is probably biased, because I really do like the remodeled loft/industrial site look with the high ceilings, exposed rafters and ducts, etc. Throw in some re-used tin(?) inside, and I'm all set. Indoor seating seems to be made out of repurposed wood for the chairs and tables, and the outdoor pastel colored metal seating brightens up the beige brick exterior. Customer Service: 4 out of 5 No complaints on either of my visits so far. Orders were taken accurately and verbally repeated prior to punching into the machine, and I happily signed up for the rewards/benefits card when it was offered to me. Quality of Coffee: 5 out of 5 Listen here. My theory on "quality" is pretty simple. If the plain/unadulterated coffee tastes good, then any variations with flavors, syrups, dairy, soy, etc. are going to taste equally as good. It's the same concept as good bbq. If the meat by itself tastes good, there's no need to use sauce to cover up an inferior product. My go to beverage? Iced coffee, plain. And to my delight, the product on both of my visits to date have been consistently excellent. Well caffeinated (VROOOM!), above average body (towards the heavy side), and light/medium light acidity. No harsh overtones, no burnt taste, and yeah maybe there are some hints of fruit/citrus in there at the end (at least my first cup), but that's not going to bother me. Quality of food: 4.5 out of 5 I don't want to call it "luck" since there were two separate items that my fiance ordered that she raved about. The first of these was the Local Yolkel, and the second was the smoked salmon. While she is more forgiving when it comes to food than I am, she was visibly excited about eating both of these items (not on the same day). This is not a case of happy wife, happy life. It's a case of, "When it's completely quiet at meal time, the food must either be really good, or she's choked on something and needs the Heimlich." Amenities: 5 out of 5 Not a usual metric I use to review, but free Wifi and Hinkley Springs bottled water (from a dispenser, not individual bottles) available to the public is a nice touch. So much of a nice touch, in fact - that I will probably start doing some of my work at home days from this place (with purchase, of course). Overall: 5 out of 5 I don't give 5 stars very regularly, but this place has earned it with it's all around strength. Great coffee and food, pooch friendly atmosphere, and a neat atmosphere really team up for a nice experience.

I feel like such a fan girl but seriously, I wish we had Alterra in Chicago. Truly great coffee, food, and the building is stunning! I have only been to The Foundry location, but everyone I know raves that all of the locations are gorgeous old buildings that have been converted. I kinda want them to come decorate my old house in Illinois! The experience/coffee/food is wonderful across the board. I took my whole team there after I discovered it for myself and they became instant fans as well. Service has always been fast, efficient and friendly. I tried a couple of different breakfast options, both a bacon and egg sandwich and a salmon sandwich and I have a hard time picking a favorite. Both were fantastic. I am a big dork when it comes to food & coffee, and I am a little obsessed with how good it always is at Alterra. I have a couple of favorite places in Chicago for this type of atmosphere and food, but nothing beats Alterra overall. I had both the drip coffee (strong and flavorful without being bitter or burnt) as well as espresso drinks. Both A+ in my book. Free wifi, lots of seating, great location with lots of parking. When weather permits, it has an awesome little outdoor area too. Even though it is by the street, and a fairly busy one, it has enough trees and art surrounding you to still feel a bit private and sheltered. Worth stopping in!!

A great spot for meetings or working out of the office. Obviously they have good beverages but they also have delicious bites. Portions are on the smaller side but it's good for lunch or a snack. The veggie pesto breakfast burrito and the avocado BLT are favs of mine.

Great lattes and coffees as usual. Only reason for 4 stars is always sold out of biscotti so starts making my trips here not as exciting as they could be. Unfortunately for then I just discovered another bakery near Ironhorse hotel with the best Almond biscotti I have ever had!

I am a Colectivo fanatic. Every time I'm in town, I go multiple times per day. Went to 5 different locations this time and the coffee is as good as ever. Very fond of Single origin Mexican and bought bags of Kenya, Ethiopia and Peru to take back to L.A. However, i think the food has slipped considerably since last visit. Baked Oatmeal is always a home run but a sweet potato quinoa bowl was awful (and cold), yhe baja mexican bowl was icky, and the minestrone soup takes like cheap dried herbs. Sour dough bread was great though. Watch the food quality friends.

Of all of the Colectivo locations this one is probably my favorite to go for studying and getting things done! I go here to study because of the calming and quiet atmosphere. I am obsessed with the ginger snap cookies and get one almost every time I go!! I also am a huge fan of the Reve Letter-Box tea and am tempted every time I got to buy some to bring home. I have never experienced poor customer service here, they are always so happy to be there and help get you anything you need. Highly recommend if you are looking for a coffee shop to get some productive work done!

Downgrade. This location is going to bear the brunt for the group on this, as it's the most recent visit. My favorite thing on the menu is the smoked salmon. I've ordered this at pretty much every location and it's one of my go-to items on the less frequent times that I get to Milwaukee. I order this without red onions. Just not a huge fan of them or the long-term aftertaste. It is what it is. I always say please when I request no onions. And then... Every. Single. Time. ...there are onions on the damn thing. This happens everywhere and I just don't get it. Either they're just fu@king with me or they have the worst printer system in the world. I've even pointed out that it's been done in the past. No luck. This morning had what looked like a double order of onion and I should've taken a picture of what amounted to a pile the size of the salmon on the bagel. I think I'm just about done with this location.

1st visit to an Alterra. 1st stop on a day trip to good Old Milwaukee. 1st impression? a great 1st cup of African Chai. Got here around 330pm on a Friday afternoon, but it felt like it was 10am. I felt like having some tea that morning, er, afternoon, and went with the African Chai, medium. I waited patiently, and when my drink was called out, someone who came after me grabbed it and left. I wasn't sure if he just swiped my drink or not, so I kept waiting. Until I realized he swiped my drink. So I told the barista, and they made me another. OK, Keith no angry no more, no smash douchebag that steal drink. First off, I loved the cup. Sugar skulls to go! Effing great, right? Then I tasted the tea. It was very mellow, with a somewhat muted spice flavor that agreed with my tongue. I enjoyed it a lot, and wondered how it was possible that we never found an Alterra in the how many trips to Milwaukee with taken in the last couple of years. Before we left, we grabbed a couple of T-shirts, because we're both suckers for 50/50 shirts for that vintage-y feel. I love the materials used to decorate the cafe, a great ratio of wood and metal. An enjoyable experience. I will be back to conquer the rest of the menu. And to try to convince them to sell me an espresso cup with a sugar skull on it.