Best Cafes in Milwaukee | Discourse Coffee

Discourse Coffee delivers impressively unique craft coffee to one of Milwaukee's best cafes.

I have been to so many coffee shops over the last 15 years - hundreds of different spots and thousands of different stops. Not a single one of those times did any of those places leave an impression like the one Discourse Coffee has left on me.

Whether you’re only in Milwaukee for a few hours or live near the Third Ward and Walker’s Point neighborhoods, Discourse Coffee needs to be on your itinerary and agenda - it certainly is one of the best cafes in Milwaukee.

Process

Enter through the door on Barclay St. As you head through the second set of doors you’re greeted by the baristas at the counter. Giant menu boards can be found above the counter - the one on the left covers the drinks and the one on the right shows the breakfast and lunch options.

As I have mentioned in other reviews, I am a huge fan of coffee shops that tell you the options rather than giving you too many options. Discourse outlines this neatly and simply on their menu. You can always customize your order a little bit, but I would recommend ordering everything as it was intended to be enjoyed.

Ordering food? One thing to note here is that the kitchen closes around 3 pm while the rest of the cafe is open until 4:30 pm daily. If you do order, they’re going to provide you with these beautiful little golden table signs to take to your seat.

Coffee and Treats

Here is where the magic starts to happen and the reason that I will never forget my experience here at Discourse.

My first stop on my craft coffee journey? The Channel Orange. The orange powder grabs you immediately and reminds you that you have entered the laboratory of a coffee scientist. Hints of smoked and oaked orange vanilla syrup come through providing a unique sweetness that cannot be ignored. The blackstrap bitters deliver a shot of earthiness to round everything out while the black lava salt brings this journey to a sharp close.

If you asked me what craft coffee I would choose for the remainder of my days it would probably be the Channel Orange from Discourse Coffee.

It was around lunchtime when I stopped in. I ended up going with the seasonal grilled cheese. During this stop, in February, my grilled cheese had a magical assortment of ingredients within its perfectly grilled bread. Incredibly flavorful cheeses began to stare at me as they sat on that plate. There was a lovely hint of spice from a pepper jelly that blew my mind - a welcome sense of warmth on this -4° Wisconsin day. This grilled cheese forced me into a months-long project trying to find all of the finest grilled cheeses in Wisconsin (it’s the right state to do this, right?)

Next to that impeccably assembled grilled cheese sat a pile of the most perfectly fried and flavored chips - a perfect complement to the grilled cheese. Handmade, handpicked and hand-placed on that plate. There was not a broken chip in sight. That doesn’t just happen by chance. It was intentional.

As I headed out the door I remembered seeing sous vide coffee on the menu. I had to try it. It was something that could not be explained, but that needs to be experienced to understand. This hits so differently from your normal cold brew. The amount of flavor extracted during this process is shocking I could not believe it.

Two weeks later…

I made another visit to Milwaukee for the sole purpose of trying out Discourse’s other offerings from their craft list: the Pappy and the Parisian.

Maple syrup, black lava salt, and a hint of bourbon make the Pappy an outstanding decision should you choose to make it. Much different than the Channel Orange from my first visit and no less inspiring. If I was immune to the effects of caffeine I would sit at Discourse all day until I tried them all at least once.

Discourse also offers a wildly delicious craft matcha - the Parisian. Lime and blackberry join forces here to create an unforgettable matcha latte. The texture here is wild. The way the lime shines through brings a sense of lightness. The blackberry delivers a blended dose of sweetness and tartness that only a blackberry could - perfectly complementing the gentle earthiness of the matcha itself.

Update: Discourse is now brewing up Presta Coffee Roasters coffee. They have one called Candy Blast that I am super excited to try out!

Seating and Atmosphere

There are two main seating areas at Discourse. For simplicity, we will call them the front and back areas.

In the front, near the coffee bar itself, you will find several tables that will seat four. There are also some stools along the window to the far left in a cozy little corner. Then, along the back of the coffee bar, you will find a neat little diner-style seating area to saddle up.

If you head towards the back, through the giant garage door opening, you will find more of a lounge/work vibe. It is certainly more quiet in this area as it is away from the business end of the business. The seating and the ambiance back here are great for getting that work done or hanging out with a few friends or colleagues over a wonderfully crafted craft coffee.

In the back, there is also a community table of sorts that can fit 8-10 people comfortably. If you are looking to get some work done, there are plenty of outlets to refuel your tools.

Service

You can have the greatest menu in the world, and the best-crafted beverages and treats, and they will all be tarnished if the service is not on point.

Discourse delivers.

The gentleman who took my order was great. I originally went in and asked for a parfait. He apologized when he realized that the parfait was no longer available - and did so convincingly empathetically.

Once my drink was ready the kindest voice announced its status from behind the bar.

When my food was ready, it was gently placed beside me, the table number sign carefully taken away.

No harshness. It was so smooth. It was easy. I did not have to wait around wondering if they forgot about me or if I just happened to miss an inaudible announcement which can sometimes happen at other spots.

Summary

I have so much respect for a cafe that will put as much thought into a potato chip as they do their extraordinary craft coffees.

The folks behind Discourse have a special gift, and it is showcased in everything that they do.

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