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Alterra on Prospect
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
2211 N Prospect AveMilwaukee, WI 53202
Neighborhoods: East Side, Lower East Side
(414) 273-3753
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6:30 am - 10 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
40 reviews for Alterra on Prospect
Review Highlights
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"Bakery items never disappoint either." In 2 reviews -
"Love the new layout of the location." In 2 reviews
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"I love the smell of the coffee roasting in back." In 6 reviews
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40 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah W.
4/22/2012
Alterra is always great, and this location is a cute and charming surprise! They've got skylights beaming sunlight to racks of hanging plants and several rooms with spaces to sit and steep your tea. Its just so cheery and green..
The location is wonderful for a lazy Saturday (which was our reason for stopping in), close to Whole Foods, the UWM campus, and the lake. The clientele seemed to be an eclectic mix between college students, yuppies, and hip bohemian seniors, so somehow there was a place for everybody.
Last thing to mention, I didn't realize how close to the other Alterra this one is, and yet it was still packed. People just can't get enough local coffee!Listed in: Yelp 100 List- MKE 2012, Obsessive Cafe Quest-…
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Review from Melanie B.
Milwaukee, WI
3/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
My husband said it perfectly, "They could expand Alterra to be a city block long and you would still be fighting for a seat." Truth. However, I love this Alterra as it holds a special place in my heart. My first apartment when I came to Milwaukee was on Summit, one street over, and I would spend my unemployed days chilling here trying to pick up dudes. Wait, What? Oh, cuz I may have :-)
Anyway, people will fight for seats here because this place is so awesome, this is not your regular Starbucks, folks. There is something to drink for everyone and the crowd is really a mixed bag. They have since expanded and taken out the roaster part- which is not at Humboldt- however I get the warm and fuzzies when I walk in here.
My husband loves the new brew bar where they brew a fresh strong hot cup of joe for you right there. The Peanut Butter cookie will always rank as my all time favorite as well.Listed in: Yelp 100 Challenge
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Review from Elsa M.
3/13/2012
Alterra coffee is the single-most best local coffee shop chain I have ever been to and I miss it dearly. From my days working at Bayshore and hitting it up between shifts, to my high school trips to the East Side with friends on a Saturday night, I have many a fond memory at their locations, sipping on an Italian soda or a steamy cup of coffee, reading a book, or chatting with a friend.
Living in the 'burbs far, far away from my hometown of Milwaukee, I am reduced to Starbucks (so sad). I long for the day when you decide to expand to the East Coast and show folks how it's done, but alas - I don't believe that day will happen. However, should you change your mind, know that I I will be here, waiting for you... so long as you bring some of those tasty coffee cakes with you as well!
P.S. Love the new renovation at this location. It had been years since I was there and when I stopped back here last year I was amazed! FANTASTIC!Listed in: Milwaukee, WI, Coffee Shops (Milwaukee)
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Review from Angela K.
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Alterra, regardless of location, always has a warm cozy spot in my heart. They do so many things right, especially their tea!! I know people are all ZOMGCOFFEEEEEEE with Alterra, but I'm consistently impressed by their tea selection and preparation and trust me, I'm a big tea snob.
Also, I don't want to have to do this, but I have to rank their food preparation higher than some of the other Alterra locations. Everything comes out consistently better here. Why? I have no idea, but the food just seems either fresher or prepared more thoughtfully.
At any rate, I look forward to any excuse that brings me near to this Alterra in the mornings. You should too! -
Review from Erin D.
Reno, NV
9/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really liked the atmosphere! The outdoor seating was great! And the coffee was great! They even roast their own beans & will deliver them to your home via the coffee of the month club! What a great little place!
I would love to see one of these in Nevada! ;) -
Review from Rachel S.
7/24/2011
Why, oh why isn't this a national brand? Alterra's frappes are on my list of greatest things ANYWHERE and I literally race to their stand at the Milwaukee airport whenever I'm departing or arriving.
I will say, some of the employees lack a bit of... Training, shall we say? I've been told they don't know how to get more ice, I've been asked if I know the proper mixture, and someone once actually forgot to blend the drink. But I don't care. If I have to, I'll come behind the counter and blend a frappe myself - it's worth it. -
Review from Sally M.
9/19/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I like this Alterra, which is now remodeled (and has been for some time) and now has the ample seating it always needed. Community tables are nice for normal table hogs trolling the internetz all day.
Food, coffee, merchandise, service, all very similar to other Alterra's. I like the small outdoor seating area. It's perfect for people watching and has a nice quaint feeling versus Lakefront location.
This one is my fave. -
Review from Steve W.
8/26/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I'm going to write this review for all Alterra locations.
Alterra is one of those great Milwaukee establishments. They have refreshingly established such a great brand within the area, and each one of their locations offers the same "feel" with a unique twist.
I find all locations opportune for reading the paper, doing some homework, or people watching. The latter, perhaps, is the most satisfying. I sometimes have a problem with that one!
The free wifi is much appreciated. Though i find it goes in and out, i'm not going to complain since it is free.
The Coffee: While this may be my favorite coffee shop to experience, it is not my favorite coffee. Don't let this sway, i enjoy it thoroughly, but i prefer Stone Creek Coffee. (Red Sky to be exact).
The Food: Mostly there for breakfast, i enjoy the options. I'm stuck on the granola with milk (though i don't drink milk, so i usually get soy or yogurt). My runner up fav is the baked oatmeal, but i can't figure out how they produce it so quickly, so i'm starting to step back from that one. I've had some of their sandwiches, which are fine. Muffins and cookies are also wonderful!
The Service: Let me be clear...the service is not poor. It is just not up to par where i would expect it to be. I often find that the staff is distracted, perhaps more concerned about talking with each other than they are with the customer. Nothing wins me over more than customer service, and really its the only thing that lacks at all locations. But again, not poor where i would stop going there, i just adjust my expectations.
I'm also a big fan of the community tables that appears in most of their locations.
I'm excited to see their new Bay View creation, they have an amazing design team.
I visit the tosa location occasionally, as well as the5th Ward and Shorewood locations, but can most often be found at the Prospect location. Yes, that's me in the corner... -
Review from Tony K.
8/5/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Great space... Street bike parking... Alterra as you would expect it. The recent upgrade really "spruced up the place".
I love the addition of plants. There's something about plants that make me just feel at home. -
Review from John V.
Milwaukee, WI
9/1/2011
The best cortado in Milwaukee. By a long shot. Alterra's staff (especially on Prospect, in my opinion) know more about coffee than anyone in Milwaukee. Ask whoever's operating the brew bar to recommend a pour-over coffee.
Not exactly my favorite coffee shop to hang out at, and the lines can be a bit daunting, but the product is inarguably exquisit. -
Review from Jen M.
10/5/2011 4 Check-ins Here
WOW! This location's renovation makes it FABULOUS. I hung out all afternoon last week in September in their new semi-outdoor area, and was amazingly comfortable even though the weather was definitely no longer summer - ish. So great to have such a great place have more room!
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Review from Rachel F.
3/29/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Another Alterra. There are so many Alterras in MKE...
What to say? They have Rishi Tea. This makes my face happy.
The newly remodeled space? Super awesome. It's really pretty in there... they did a great job on the remodel. Me gusta!
Coffee? I like Alterra's coffee okay, but I'm still partial to Anodyne.
They're not roasting at this location any longer, however.
Verdict? I'll stop in when I'm on Prospect. Of course I will. Alterra, you're like David Bowie in "The Labyrinth." You have power over me, most of the time. -
Review from Gabriel B.
Deerfield, IL
1/3/2011
OK, let me start off my saying that I'm from the Chicago-land area, I'm into home espresso and have access to great roasters like Metropolis and Intelligentsia. Now with that out of the way, Alterra roasters is hands down my favorite roaster! I sometimes use the excuse of visiting Milwaukee's lake front as a means to pick up a few pounds of their Espresso Toro. I also experiment a bit with some of their single origin roasts and do indeed love pulling shots with those.
Not only do I love their blends and roasts, but their cafe locations are better laid out and more enjoyable than Metropolis' and Intelli's locations. C'mon, have you guys been to the Alterra cafe location on the lake front? What a great idea to turn the old water pumping station into a cafe. It's a must visit location, especially during warmer weather.
Now will I admit to another die hard Chicagoan that Alterra is my favorite roaster... maybe not. But it'll be our secret. -
Review from Stephen M.
Milwaukee, WI
Updated - 3/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Wow, this place turned gorgeous. It's like that girl from way back that you dated but weren't really into, and then you run into each other, she went crazy hot and, somehow, you hit it off great.
Long analogy, I know. But this was a revelation. Back when I was a buyer, I used to come here a lot to pick up beans since they used to do all the roasting here. The smell was an instant high, but the space felt pretty cramped. More so than the location on North Ave in Tosa.
It's now huge and roomy with plenty of table space to rival the lakefront location. Even with 20-something people inside on a Sunday night at 9, there was no cramped feeling.
Even with it's individual location and building style, it's got the distinctive Alterra feel. I'll definitely be back to this location.
The only drawback is the loss of that great roaster smell.Listed in: Version East.0 - Places I…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/3/2011
Of the Alterra locations, this is my favorite by far.
The location is prime, especially in nicer… Read more »
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Review from Richard S.
New York, NY
2/27/2011
I guess this is a good thing to do while I'm rehab, try to recall the other places I visited on my fateful Milwaukee trip. It's no secret that at one time I lived in Milwaukee and bought all my coffee beans here, where they used to roast them. Sometimes they would still be warm! I guess they moved their roasting facilities to a new location, but I used to live in this very block, so I wanted to come here. Kind of sad with the roasting stuff gone. I feel like that added a lot of energy to the place. Maybe they could have celebrity roasts here now. Or tar and featherings of select local politicians.
The coffee is still good, though. I have to say, I haven't found coffee in New York that I like as much as Alterra. I'm sure there IS, somewhere, in this vast metropolis some pretty fantastic coffee, but the question is, how much do you have to pay for it? I went into a highly recommended place in the NYU area, and the coffee beans were so exclusive, they had them on a PEDESTAL like they were a sculpture, enclosed in a glass cube. Probably hooked up to an infrared alarm. Probably can only buy them at a Christie's auction.
Call me old-fashioned, but I think a cup of coffee should be available to the common man. I do own a coffee grinder, and like to buy quality beans, but I don't think they should cost ONE MILLION DOLLARS. I miss a few things about Milwaukee, I guess, though as far as I'm concerned you can sell the Packers to Mark Cuban and move them to Cuba, but I sure miss Alterra. -
Review from Virginia L.
Milwaukee, WI
5/19/2009
Go down the street to one of the other Alterras unless you are just planning on getting your coffee to go... Unless you live right around the corner, why would you come here? Poor layout, no seating, noisy street outside, same-old alterra coffee. They may have plans to improve this location now that the roasting has moved, but for now I think it stinks.
BTW - I still like their whole beans a LOT!
Coffee: Beans are good but I can't stand the espresso.
Food: Overpriced but tasty
Vibe: Cramped, trendy
WiFi: Yes
Plugs: Unknown, but doubt it. -
Review from Tom M.
Chicago, IL
4/18/2008
This place is crazy good!
Had a lovely cup of coffee (or 3!) the other day, along with a wonderful onion bagel w/cream cheese, and a cowboy cookie that had me so friggin' high on sugar and goodness I'm still coming down! -
Review from Jennifer K.
Saint Paul, MN
7/6/2009
Ten years and about fifty coffee places later, Alterra is still my favorite. When I worked at Milwaukee Catholic Home to keep me afloat while I was student teaching, I used to come here on my day off, sit in the sun, and conspire how to educate the sixth grade nerdnicks that were my students. When they had the roasting factory there, it was some kind of a wierd thrill to watch people work in a factory while you're sitting and relaxing with a coffee.
Every time I come to Milwaukee, this is part of the program. By the way, I totally saw Tipper Gore here back in the day. Secret Service men and all... -
Review from Roberto F.
Chicago, IL
6/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Short and simple, great coffee and great space to enjoy it. Garage doors to enjoy some fresh air, at least when the weathers nice. Not sure what else to say but if you just want to relax then stop here some spend some time enjoying the fresh brewed coffee.
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Review from Vlad K.
Milwaukee, WI
7/26/2011
The "cortado" must be the best espresso drink ever. I am hooked on them like crack. The baristas here usually know what they're doing and service has always been real nice, for me anyway.
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Review from Dhruv P.
Good ambiance, great pie, good enough coffee. However, the costa rican coffee wasn't freshly made. A coffee house should have made to brew coffee, not something made an hour or hours before Same goes with their ice tea.
The bakery items, however, were superb. I tasted both a scone and a muffin, and both were excellent. To finish out the bakery, the peanut butter pie was decadent, just keep in mind, that a slice can feed two people enough with its rich nutritional baggage.
Still, a good place to come and get your caffeine and thousand times better than any Starbucks. -
Review from Kevin C.
Milwaukee, WI
5/16/2011
Coffee is great but you need to set aside a half hour of your day just to get it. Everytime I go there it takes FOREVER to get your drink, even an iced coffee was a process. Last two times I was there the employees were bantering back and forth about how they do things in Tosa v. Eastside. This isn't an East vs. West dilemma, just make the damn coffee.
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Review from Elizabeth F.
Milwaukee, WI
Updated - 1/27/2011
Sooo...score a point for the garam masala pumpkin bisque, lose a point for the Peruvian roast coffee from today.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/14/2011
I'm lucky to work so close to so many awesome eateries and it's a small miracle that I haven't… Read more »
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Review from Nineu I.
Milwaukee, WI
10/27/2011
I like this Alterra to work/read. I find it quieter than the one down the lake.
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Review from Joshua P.
Madison, WI
6/15/2011
Always friendly, clean, and not too noisy. Quite a mix of people in the building at all times and I have never had to fight for a table. The ambiance is awesome and very trendy. I love the smell of the coffee roasting in back. The friendly and flamboyant young man who makes our drinks is great at foam art, clean, quick, and makes drinks to perfection every time, hasn't failed us yet. So happy that they use Rishi tea too. Ask for a dirty soy chai, they are awesome.
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Review from Erika Y.
Costa Mesa, CA
6/6/2008
I hope I could go there one day but I just looove their coffee!!!!
I only order coffee bean from there.
My faborite is Blue Heeler and East Timor Maubisse. I tated Decaf Breakfast Blend but it tastes same as Trader joe's break fast blend.
also, they carry Fairtrade+organic coffee!!! how nice...... -
Review from Lisa A.
1/22/2009
As a poor sociology grad student in Milwaukee in the mid 90's I had one splurge: coffee. I most definitely needed to be alert to read Weber's "Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism." To say I'm an addict is an understatement. Every few weeks I would wander over to Alterra and buy at least two pounds of their wonderful coffee (they roast on site and the process is pretty cool in itself). They have a great selection of Fair Trade and Organic coffees. These people know their stuff...so any probing coffee (or tea) questions you may have, ask away!
I have always supported my local businesses and even though I left Milwaukee 10 years ago, to this day I order online from Alterra. They have a really groovy website with very intricate coffee descriptions. My favorites are Delta Mud, Blue Heeler and Dark Sumatra Gayoland coffees. It's so great to see this business continue to thrive. Congrats!Listed in: Coffee Talk
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Review from Julia W.
Milwaukee, WI
3/25/2011
Love the new remodeling job!! Love alterra coffee
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Review from Angela Z.
3/18/2011
Love it! I was pleasantly surpised that this place was MUCH larger and more comfortable than it appeared from outside. There is not much I can say about Alterra's coffee that hasn't already been said.....it ROCKS! Seriously good!! My fav! I love going to all of the Alterra's (including General Mitchell International) but I like the Prospect location for plugging in the laptop and getting some work done on a cold day! Lots of outlets (which the Riverwest location lacks...even though in the spring/summer that patio IS fantastic!) People are nice and the baristas are friendly and treat their coffee lovingly! I can appreciate that! Oooh...and stay for lunch! The grilled cheese is gooey and delish!
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Review from Kelly R.
Middleton, WI
9/7/2008
I love Alterra. My boyfriend has made me a fan of their coffee, and we stopped in to this location when we were in town on our anniversary. A great chance to see your product being made! How cool is it that you can sip a cup of delicious coffee while watching beans being roasted, and then ordering up a pound of the fresh stuff(and having it zip-lined up to you) on your way out?
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Review from Chitown D.
Chicago, IL
1/2/2011
Good coffee, great place. We bought some whole beans, which I look forward to trying tomorrow. We had breakfast there yesterday, including yogurt and homemade granola, and the breakfast burrito. Both were pretty good. Looking forward to going back.
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Review from Mark Y.
Madison, WI
12/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
Love the new layout of the location! Alterra did an amazing job with the place. It's a lot bigger w/ probably 4-5 times the seating area, yet it does still have the charm and intimate atmosphere. The coffee speaks for itself, however for a limited time, they're featuring the Costa Rican Geisha as a pour over.........costs almost $4 for a 12 oz. cup, however it's worth every penny! My favorite menu item is the grilled cheese sandwich made w/ four different types cheeses and tomato......highly recommended!!!!! Bakery items never disappoint either!
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Review from Racer X.
Falls Church, VA
3/5/2008
This is my favorite Alterra location. Besides, Alterra having the best coffee around, this location is cool because you can watch them roast the beans. The Baristas are exceedingly nice. Maybe because it's near campus? One downside is parking in the am.
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Review from Ashe D.
Milwaukee, WI
1/1/2007
While I am not a big fan of their coffee (roasted too darkly in most cases), I love their specialty drinks and bakery. I especially recommend the chocolate espresso cookie and the bullfrog.
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Review from Apollo L.
Sunnyvale, CA
10/10/2006
Great mocha and friendly service. This roaster on the east side of Milwaukee served up exceptional coffee and a great attitude.
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Review from Eric N.
Baltimore, MD
9/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is the ultimate coffee experience in Milwaukee. We visit this place every-time.
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Review from Mike P.
Chicago, IL
10/29/2007
They have great coffee and tea here. Great desserts too. Staff is really cool and the place has a wonderful relaxing vibe both inside and out. You can sip your coffee and watch them roast the coffee beans in back. It's located on Milwaukee's Lower East Side, one of the city's most interesting neighborhoods. It can get crowded but it didn't bother me all that much.
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Review from Alfred W.
Cedarburg, WI
2/20/2010
They have a lively location, good coffee and a great selection of food and coffee stuff. It is also a great place to watch people.
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Review from Dorothy P.
Algonquin, IL
9/20/2010
My husband & I were passing through Milwaukee on our way to Port Washington. We passed an Alterra Coffee and decided to stop in for a coffee since I had heard of them before. I have to say that the espresso that I ordered was not good. First of all, since when is a single shot of espresso the equivalent of 1/4 of an espresso cup? The espresso tasted burned and bitter, almost as bad as Starbuck's espresso. I think I'll stick to Intelligentsia to satisfy my espresso cravings. On a positive note, I did like the ambiance, very urban and trendy. Maybe we went during an off time, but it didn't seem packed at all; we were able to find a table right away.
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Review from Troy H.
Arlington Heights, IL
6/13/2010
Intelligentsia gives Alterra a run for its money, but if given the choice, I'll always chose Alterra. Perfect pour, perfect taste. The mecca of coffee roasters.
