I've been here a few times now, and the first time I went they were out of what I went there for. Bummer! But I still walked away with a great coffee. I got their harvest bowl and it was delicious. It did not quite fill me up, but I like to eat. The decor is beautiful, and I love what they did with the space. Just a tip - they do sell out of menu items often, so be careful. That's the only thing that kept me from giving them 5 stars. Every time I went there were out of multiple items by noon. read more

Wow, am I ever glad I went to breakfast this morning. This is a fantastic neighborhood coffee place. Just perfect for a long morning with your laptop, bottomless cup of coffee & a breakfast sandwich. Even though the menu is inexpensive, it can add up if you are in for the long haul. I love the extensive breakfast menu and the fresh squeezed orange juice. It is for the most part quiet, just the usual coffee place noises. Ancora has parking in the back where the outdoor tables are located. I would hesitate to use this place for a big group, there is a high top table & chairs that seat about six, but no more than that. Those with small kids might want to go elsewhere, as maneuvering your stroller through the narrow spaces might hang you up and if your kid is ambulatory they could easily get hurt tripping someone in the tight space. read more

Good unique food and drinks, but can be a bit pricey. I also wish they were open later so I could use it as an afternoon study spot. But, it's a very cute store with friendly staff. read more

Awesome brunch menu, locally-sourced food, amazing coffees, spot-on bloodies and mimosas in this sheik new brunch space. You NEED to check it out! read more

See all

Cute and solid coffee shop with a good amount of natural light and a beautiful space. Ancora is a nice place to take a break and catch up with a friend at or do some light studying - there is a nice selection of coffees, teas, kombucha, etc. Also, the mugs and dishware is very pretty! They also have a simple menu for breakfast foods and lunch - I recently got the grilled cheese with tomato soup which was tasty, but a little greasy. My friend got one of the specialty hashes and it was super flavorful. Few things to be aware of before coming here - there's a parking lot in the back which is a huge huge plus (although it's pretty limited), the internet can be a little spotty, and this location is a little small so it can fill up quickly. The ambiance is lovely here and it's definitely a great place to keep in rotation! read more

I've gone here a few times and they can never seem to get my order right small when I order a large cold when I ask for hot give me a plate when I say it's to go. I'm not sure if the music is too loud or what but I feel I speak clearly when I order. Not a happy camper today with the snide comment when I they again got my order wrong. read more

Ancora is my go to cafe in town when I visit Madison. The food is fresh and delicious, and they have a number of drink options to get your day started right. There was a small mix up today with my order and I have to say, the customer service was great. Jessica went above and beyond to fix the issue. If you're looking for a place to have brunch with friends or a little nook to get some work done before class (once dine-in is available again), Ancora is your spot! read more

Nicely redone space. The tables seem to be made from real wood, indeed real oak. The warmth that this wood provides is contrasted by the polished concrete floors that millennials seem to love so much. The space manages to be both intimate and airy. As a tea drinker, I have a healthy distrust of cafes. They usually know how to make cappuccinos but can that scramble together a normal cuppa tea? Normally not. The tea here is of pretty good quality, though, so just make sure they give you enough in your tea bag. Finally, as a southerner--and the reason for my relatively low ranking--I know my way around biscuits. If you're going to charge $9 for a biscuit sandwich, that biscuit better be bringin' the pain. Ancora's biscuit fails to bring the pain. I left frustrated that I eaten what I ordered. read more

Ordered curbside pickup one day. It was supposed to be read at 11:20. I waited for about 20 minutes for a breakfast sandwich and coffee and just decided to leave because I was in a hurry to get somewhere else. Not thrilling service. read more

This was renovated recently and for the best! It is so adorable inside. If you are not a coffee drinker.... at least get there and get a tea or hot cocoa! You will love it. Perfect nook for studying. I know, Starbucks is reliable. But people: support something local like this! You can't get charm like this at Starbucks. I love to order the cafe au lait. Just Delicious. I recently got their cappuccino. SO adorable! They are excellent at their craft. The workers are friendly. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxing. You can even get some fresh ground coffee to take home! If you are near the UW hospital on University: hit this place up! You won't be disappointed. Always check for their specials: they will probably have something new to try on there that is more seasonal. read more

See all

BEST COFFEE EVER Love this place. Actually maybe a bit better than my other review of Victor Allen's...but I like their cafe a bit better. This is more of a place to stop by than to stay. Get the Ancora D'Oro for home, and the White Zombie for right now. (Almond flavor is my favorite) Or the mocha, which is heavenly. Seriously, the best mocha I've ever had. EVEREVEREVER. The chocolate has some weight, but blends perfectly to be a grown-up version of chocolate milk you had as a kid. The White Zombie is a strange and beautiful thing. A "white coffee" drink, it's light and powerful, you will feel like a high-powered cloud ghost zooming around after drinking this. They tried to change the name to White Lightning, but no one wants to feel a crackling electric jolt. Don't worry, the zombie will carry you through the day like a white flotaki magic carpet, smooth, airy and sensuous. read more

The lattes and pomegranate tea are good. It's a nice place to study if you have headphones in given that they have a plentiful dispersion of outlets for your devices and speedy wifi. I don't know if I would be able to focus without headphones however, given that their weekend brunch has a pretty steady flow of traffic. It might be quieter on a weekday. Their breakfast menu was good but a little expensive given the average portion size. I really liked my Veggie Eggs Benedict and the breakfast potatoes were nice and crunchy. I'd like to try their pancakes the next time I'm there as I saw a few orders go out and they looked wonderful. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Veggie Benedict, soy latte, and two eggs with sausage and breakfast potatoes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Courteous and helpful staff, tasty food, and inviting atmosphere. Great place to have a no-frills breakfast

The best coffee in Madison hands down, and I've been everywhere. I almost always order the drip coffee of the day, and love it when I'm lucky enough to go in and find that African coffee is on the menu. Everything they do is gold, from great espresso to fantastic drip coffee. They do things the right way--roast their own beans, grind fresh for each espresso drink, and keep their equipment clean. You won't find these three qualities anywhere else in town. If you go to Starbucks down the road, you're getting swindled out of a great cup. Go to Ancora instead and support a fantastic local business! About me: I've roasted coffee at home for the last 7 years and own two professional espresso machines along with two pro grinders and a lot of other equipment, so it's rare that I find cafes that can pull off better coffee than what I make at home. In fact, I've only ever found one or two that can. Ancora is one of them. read more

Delicious baked goods and coffee. I especially enjoyed my Ethiopian drip coffee and my daughter raved about her oat milk latte. Next time I hope to try some hot food, as all the breakfast sandwiches sound great. Customer service is first-rate... friendly and helpful. read more

Amazing cold brew that has been the absolute best I've tried in Madison. Decor is very cute and the service was quick and kind.

Has nice seating arrangements however Id save your money. Tastes like every coffee shop in Madison and the attitude you receive from the staff doesn't make it worth it. Been a barista at Starbucks in overcrowded cities such as Chicago and Detroit, never took the time to have an attitude with a customer like this staff, especially when they're paying 4 bucks for an espresso drink. read more

Great coffee, pretty good food but major drawbacks with the ordering, waiting, and coffee doctoring area. The staff could stand to be a little more pleasant especially when their customers are...which might be helped if they were a bit more organized. Definitely could use some improvement but a good coffee place overall. read more

Received very unwelcoming treatment at Ancora Coffee on University Avenue. We tried to sit with our kids, who had ice cream sandwiches, on their patio, where there were several empty tables. We had the full intention of ordering coffees, and I was walking to the counter to order when I was told by the barista that we could not sit on their patio while our kids had ice cream sandwiches. I've eaten at Ancora several times but will not again. I also encourage others to avoid it, as, imho, their coffee is as bitter as their customer service is poor. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident, as others in our neighborhood have reported observing similar situations. read more

Wee coffee shop; only open til 530 on weekdays and closes even earlier on weekends. Options offered are OK. This Ancora offers free wifi, pastries (origins unknown), and a small selection of Gigi's cupcakes. It appears most customers are getting their drinks to go, maybe because the Starbucks on University Avenue is quite busy in the morning rush hour. Beverages are actually a little too sweet for my taste, but I can't speak for the brewed coffee. Prices are just about average for locally owned coffee places. Not much to say here. I really just consider it more of a "get in, get drink, and go" kind of place/ read more

This is a nice spot to pick up a coffee or espresso drink before I head to my office. I really enjoy (and usually get) the Caffe Miel. It has the cinnamon notes I like. Sweetened with honey. So good. There are seasonal drinks that are very entertaining to read on the menu while waiting for my order to be ready. The Bakery items are usually fresh from local bakery locations. This location is small so I don't really linger here. But it looks comfortable enough is you don't have an office across the street to go to. Good price points on the drinks compared to other coffee establishments you may find along near westside University Ave. read more

Great coffee shop! Well actually its also very much a cafe. Their food menu is much more extensive than most coffee shops. They do have a small selection of bakery items. I haven't tried any since they didn't look all that enticing to me-most items look over baked. They have a very extensive breakfast and lunch menu. Ingredients were very fresh. The Hollandaise sauce got rave reviews from a very picky Hollandaise connoisseur. I really enjoyed the Southwest Veggie sandwich. Coffee was great and the iced tea was fresh. Staff is very friendly. The space is fantastic and it's much bigger than I expected. I loved the decor-somehow both bright/cheery and zen at the same time. There was a 50/50 mix of people doing work and those socializing. Easy parking thanks to the lot behind it. Awesome addition to the area. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Southwest veggie breakfast sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Nice ambiance. You order at the counter and they have plenty of options. Latte was well made and the breakfast sandwich was good. I liked that they had a veggie sausage option. Free Wi-fi. read more

Ancora coffee is greater than ANY OTHER COFFEE. I'm serious. If you're in Madison and want a delectable, well-made latte, go here. The newest location (University Ave) is aesthetically pleasing and the baristas know what they are doing! Try a White Zombie if you need an extra-extra pep in your step - It is a beverage that uses lightly roasted coffee beans (white in color) and pack a little more punch (hi CAFFEINE) than your typical drink. I would go to Ancora more frequently if it were on my way to work, but I still make it a weekly stop. read more

Food much better than the usual coffee house fare, and staff is great. My spouse has an unusual allergy to pepper and they went to great lengths to find out if there was any pepper in their ingredients and put together a dish for him. Thank you! Pleasant vibe, which you might not think from the outside. One whole wall with electrical outlets at every table, so great for working as well. read more

Coffee is always delicious! I haven't tried there meals but the baked good are usually amazing!!

The coffee is decent and they have a solid WiFi connection, which are the only reasons this review was elevated to two stars. Good was under seasoned, cooked unevenly, and all around unappetizing. Furthermore, for all that you have to pay far more than I would have expected for a chain coffee shop. For my money, I'd go to colectivo (or even barriques) every time. read more

Stopped here to grab breakfast as we passed through town on a road trip, and it was a great pick! All 3 items we chose were delicious, certainly standing above all the other random stops we made along our route. Also very friendly staff, and a nice vibe to the place with outdoor seating. If I lived in Madison I'd be a regular at this place. read more

I frequent the downtown location for coffee but finally went for brunch to this University Ave location Sunday December 3rd and had an eggnog latte, apple cider mimosa and the espresso french toast. Everything was absolutely amazing. I love the seasonality of the menu! Great atmosphere and staff also, I will definitely be coming back and recommending to others! read more

Stopped in for brunch, and this place was pretty disappointing. Eggs were grossly undercooked, I'm fine with them being runny, but this wasn't that. Sausage patties were really chewy and lacked flavor. The bacon and sourdough bread was good though. The bloody mary was pretty solid, but no chaser was offered. My girlfriend enjoyed her cappuccino, but the espresso french toast were overwhelmed by the espresso flavor. Not a good stop today. The bloody mary kept this from being a 1. read more

Food is great! But espresso drinks are lacking in quality. Could barely taste the espresso. Husband got a mocha and I got the maple nut latte. As far as their plain coffee, we think it's okay, not amazing. Will go back just for the food! read more

Always great coffee and specialty drinks, but the food is AWESOME!!! High quality ingredients prepared well. Do it.

Great coffee, food, and atmosphere. However, was scolded for ordering my coffee in a to-go cup (because it cools too quickly in the ceramic mug). Then I was scolded again for trying to clear my own table. How about instead of condescension you problem-solve? Order heat saver tops for the ceramic mugs. Put little cards on the table telling patrons to leave their dishes, etc. on the table when they're finished. read more

One of the best breakfast places in Madison. I went to Ancora mainly to get their excellent coffee but I didn't know they had this amazing verity of breakfast options. Hash lamb was delicious and the tomato soup was spicy and flavorful. One down part of my experience was that you have to pay to use their WiFi. Highly recommended the place. read more

My favorite coffee in Madison! The salted carmel latte gives me life. The beans are great quality. Friendly staff, great coffee.

Such a nice place to come for your morning coffee. Staff is always smiling and friendly. Lots of options for drinks and also really great breakfast/brunch options. read more

I loved my light roast. Interesting after taste. Not bad but different. WAY better than mainstream coffee shops; I'll be back!

The staff is always very nice and the atmosphere is charming. I'm always pleased with what drink I order, even when I try something different it tastes good. read more

Great little place for coffee and breakfast! But please, please, please, Ancora, CLEARLY state on your menu and tell your front staff that your pancakes are "pumpkin spice flavor" pancakes. I am sure they are great pancakes for all those who love that flavor year round - but a big disappointment for those of us who don't. read more

I stopped here for the first time today. I ordered an iced latte and an omelette to go. The latte was good, staff was friendly and welcoming. I like the set up they have and it was really quiet when I went. I would totally go here again to study or work on projects. Unfortunately my omelet was pretty gross, the flavor was ok but the egg was rubbery and over cooked. The potatoes were super salty and I could not taste the other spices or herbs that they put on the potatoes. I would totally give it another try but next time I'll try dining in versus ordering to go. read more