Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co.
224 W Bruce Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204
On the southeast side of town, in Milwaukee’s oldest neighborhood sits Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co, a gem with just about every facet that I love in a great coffeehouse.
In a historical industrial building, they have batch roastery on premise, both the café and the roasting facility are certified organic, and it doubles as a concert venue with weekly live music options, or an event space. The baristas are knowledgeable, friendly, and offer a variety of excellent coffees. The overall space has a warm and welcoming vibe that’s suitable for a morning starter, a business meeting, a lazy respite, a party in the coffee lab, or anything in between, and for the cherry on top, they have a pizza menu and serve craft beer and wine.
Coffee:
For my cortado, I had their Mind Tonic Espresso which was a robust delicious with notes of cherry and milk chocolate that held up well in its pairing with whole milk. The drink was served elegantly in a Gibraltar glass and the steamed milk was perfectly prepared affording the homogeneous, velvety smooth texture that defines a well done cortado.
For my drip, I had their Kenya Gatina AA, grown in central Kenya at about 6,000 ft. It had a fruit platter bouquet with tasting notes of berry and citrus. Both beverages were a treat.
Barista:
I’ve been several times and have universally enjoyed a tasty, welcoming, and very pleasant experience. The baristas are knowledgeable, engaging, and typically colorful. They display an evident pride in their work and take joy in delivering excellence. The work area is efficiently managed and kept spotlessly organized.
Vibe:
Classic. Anodyne is the single occupant of a 24,000 sq.ft. building that doubles as a base for their retail space and their roasting operation which you can peek at through an opening behind the service counter. Occupying what once was a bottling facility, the space is resonant with history having aged wooden floors, brick walls, industrial windows, a 40’ vintage bar, and natural edge tables hewn from a family farm. The overwhelming mood is one of warmth and welcoming that invites exploration. Antique mirrors behind the bar add to a vintage style that is augmented by a collection of radios from the 40’s and 50’s that ornamentally stud an adjacent wall. Next to this feature sits a sizable, elevated stage that hosts live music on most weekends, as well as numerous other events including a monthly Moth Radio Hour. There are plenty of seating options and plugs for those who need them.
And there are some great, intentional touches in this space, including a handicap elevator and acoustical panels to soften the soundscape given all the hard surfaces.
They have a “coffee lab” that was being used to host a birthday party while I was there.
Make You Better
A more robust bakery/morning snack selection, maybe a breakfast pizza, would be a nice touch. And as I’ve recently become a big fan of an Espresso Tonic, I’ve grown to treasure a shop that makes their own syrup, which would be a cherry on top touch.
Anodyne means a source of soothing comfort, and if you check them out, I’m sure you’ll agree. ~ Clyde <3
