I’m pretty sure that this formula is correct:
people + glass of red wine + fireplace + coffee house = exaggerated gestures and dramatic laughing
Not saying it’s a bad thing 
, just holds true.
I feel like I’m a minor coffee snob. I grind my beans right before I brew and (try to) keep my coffee make very clean. I drink the coffee within 10 min. of being brewed and use only a dollop of skim milk with out any sugar to cut it. In addition, I occasionally use a french press.
Anyway…I feel like Alterra serves some of the best brewed coffee on the face of the earth, it just happens to be in Milwaukee. They have multiple locations throughout the Milwaukee area and sell their coffee to cafes throughout Wisconsin.
Their locations, namely the Lake Location (in an old water pumping station just off of Lake Michigan) and their Prospect Ave. Warehouse are full of character. One can count piercings and tattoos on both the clientele and the service, along with all sorts of people that channel through. The Warehouses offer various blends of whole bean coffee ranging from Café Voltaire (a personal favorite) to George’s Burly Blend. In the cafés, people are friendly, the music is good and not too loud, and, late at night, bakery is 2 for 1. Unfortunately, unlike other coffee places, WiFi internet requires some sort of paid subscription. Finally, avoid Alterra’s 10am on Sunday mornings…lines can be quite good.
Overall, for a chain, it’s quite good, and it’s a local Milwaukee business.
Recommendations:
The brewed coffee
Mocha or Chai Shakes
Bullfrog (a mint mocha)
Latte (often they are quite skilled at foam designs)
Sport Tea
Honorable mention for Milwaukee area chain coffeehouse: Stone Creek Coffee. There are multiple locations and the brewed coffee is equivalent if not better than Alterra’s, just less variety. In addition, there tends to be a lack of atmosphere and earlier closing times at all locations
