I really don't understand why Madisonites would be going to SBUX when there are ample independent places with great beans! Ancora Gold is one of my favorite drip coffees when I lived there. And got the Garbage (Shirley Manson) stamp of approval! Not that it means anything to the Google Generation... read more

One of my go-to cafes. The butternut squash benedict and current avocado toast are delicious. On the year-round menu, the egg & cheese sammie is reliably satisfying and tasty. read more

Outside did not stand out. The food was good. The staff seemed on edge. I would think they would smile and be a little more friendly. Been there a couple times. First time I thought it was just an off day. Guess that is the usual not friendly. read more

I love Ancora. I've been visiting this location for years. I remember when they actually had a roaster in the middle of the room. I do believe this establishment changed hands a few years back, but it still has kept it's good vibe and great coffee/service. It's a pretty roomy cafe with tables and chairs and a few more comfortable seating options for "camping out" a while longer. The coffee is excellent, both the brewed and the espresso drinks. I'm never disappointed with a latte from Ancora, ever. Sometime we stop here on a Saturday morning before the farmers market to get a good, hot cup of coffee and a tasty, warm and toasted, freshly made breakfast sandwich. Yum, yum. In more recent years they have added the service of making some evening cocktails, which, I'm never in the area that time of night, so I haven't tried them, but it's a cool idea. I highly recommend giving these guys a try if you never have. You will also be able to enjoy local artist's work displayed on the walls, that is for sale. It's a great place to stay, drink, eat and relax in a comfortable atmosphere. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Lavender lemonade - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This was my go-to place for coffee while visiting Madison. They really know how to make a good cappuccino. I also tried to "White Zombie" with coconut syrup which was pretty delicious. I thought it was unusual enough to buy a pound of the Cafe Bianco to make similar "white coffee" drinks at home with my stovetop espresso. One day I also tried their spinach and egg breakfast sandwich. It us a nice alternative to eating horrible hotel/conference food every day when you want something reasonably healthy. read more

Had the White Zombie with almond milk and caramel. Where has white espresso been all of my life?!? Ambiance is modern and cozy. Plenty of seating. Baristas were friendly and offered suggestions. read more

Ancora Coffee is definitely my favorite coffee shop in Madison, hands down. There are so many unique blends and choices that you can't find anywhere else. They even have a white coffee called Bianco which is packed with caffeine and perfect for my busy mornings. ( I get the cafe bianco espresso). There are tons of food options too. I prefer the kringle, crispy and delicious! All of their bakery items I've tried always taste fresh. When I commented the barista on this, she said it was because they have a cook in the back who makes all the bakery and food items fresh everyday. Love that! Much better than the coffee shops that serve processed store bought products. Ancora can count on me coming back for years to come :) read more

Updated. I appreciate the thoughtful and generous response from the owner, Tori, and am pulling up my rating. The point of reviews is to give potential customers a heads up and to help business owners improve their offer. If I am in Madison again, I will stop back by to see if they have changed up the milk to espresso ratio, but am basing my new rating on this being a business worth supporting. -- Hint, a giant bowl of warm milk with a little espresso hiding in it is not a cappuccino. I could have spoken up, and almost did, but when I handed the barista the giant mug and she saw only two sips gone, and doesn't ask about it, even though I can see her wondering, I give up. This is supposed to be a coffee shop, it really only has one job, and I shouldn't have a problem with one of the most ordered coffee beverages in the galaxy. That is why it gets two stars despite my only visiting once. It does have a nice fireplace. read more

For just a simple drip coffee, their regular roast was excellent. Comparable to any pourover I usually enjoy. The atmosphere is also quieter and more intimate than your nearby Colectivo cafe. I thoroughly enjoyed and would definitely come back. read more

Order the avocado toast...so yummy! Nice ambiance and perfect spot for cup of coffee or quick work meeting

One of the best cappuccinos I've had in a long time. The atmosphere is a bit plain, but the workers are nice and the coffee is definitely worthwhile. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Amazing cold brew here and the patio is super cute. Love the interior of the place, lots of seating available. Best coffee I've had in Madison by far. read more

This is one of our favorite places for weekend breakfasts in Madison. Their system is to order at the counter, and they bring your food to your table. (Helpful hint--paper menus are in a bin on the wall to the right of the line.). Their new space is beautiful and they have plentiful seating, including in a pleasant adjacent space. Ancora always has interesting breakfast specials, in addition to its extensive standard menu. They usually post their specials on Instagram on Saturday morning. This morning, they had a lox Benedict that my husband said is his favorite yet. The breakfast tacos are always good too. Most dishes come with a choice of potatoes or fruit. The potatoes are crispy with just the right amount of salt. The pastry selection is small but so good, including homemade pop tarts and savory scones. read more

The new space is adorable: bright , welcoming and clean. My husband and I went for an early lunch one day a few weeks ago. He got breakfast which was good. I chose the Green chili chicken sandwich. It was okay but seriously lacked salt or heat. A briney pickled onion would have made all the difference. A cute spot that I would like to check out again. read more

Great coffee, but very rude barista! The barista who works there is super rude, very loud, unwelcoming and doesn't smile! We asked for the order "for here", she made it in a paper cup, when I told her I ordered it for here, but she re-made it. While leaving we brought the mugs to the front, although we didn't have to! And she shouted saying "sorry, there is a box over there for the mugs" read more

When you want to level up from Starbucks, here should be your 1st choice in Madison. Ancora's is a wonderful blend of exquisite beans and an extensive variety of choices [but if you want something as bastardized as a Frappucino, you'll need to look elsewhere]. The service is good and the atmosphere is very urban Madison. Sip up and enjoy! read more

White zombie is cool! The barista was very knowledgeable and friendly and did a great job of helping us understand the beans and the differences. The service was quick. The coffee was very good quality. The cashier could have been more personable. The acoustics in there were not great and so it was difficult to have a conversation in there. Also, it was not clear if we were supposed to bus our own dishes. The seating could be more comfortable; it was more like cafeteria seats. read more

The food and coffee are the best I've had in a coffee shop in a very very long time. In fact the only reason it loses a star is its obviously geared towards regulars. In fact, I felt like all the regulars were giving us out-of-towners the stink-eye for Michiganing up their coffee shop. The staff were polite, the atmosphere was also quite nice, and the like I already said the food and coffee are amazing. It just really feels like a "locals preferred" kind of place. Still stop in if you're here visiting. read more

The coffee is delicious and the scones are superb! The chicken salad wraps are exceptional, too. Observing all safety precautions and has outdoor seating. read more

Greeted by an ironically smug barista. Enjoyed good coffee and decent breakfast to include almost cooked sausage. I miss MN.

Sausage breakfast sandwich with siracha aioli...SO GOOD! Coffee is delightful just as much as the service! Their miel lattes are fantastic and I love their iced pomegranate green tea. This place is always a morning favorite. read more

I am so excited about this cup of coffee I'm reviewing it on my phone in the shop! It's a 'white zombie' which is a slow roasted cafe bianca with almond and vanilla flavoring, suggested by the Barista. Awesome service, great place and most importantly excellent coffee. read more

great coffee, pleasant atmosphere... worth a visit for both locals and tourists... the coffee was brewed just right... a bastion of happy caffeine.... was traveling and met local friends here for coffee --- was very pleasant... read more

The coffee is ALWAYS roasted and brewed right! Talk about quality and flavor, this place is it. I buy their beans for brewing at home too, and it is probably the best quality beans you can find in town. I usually drink black coffee, so having truly quality coffee is really important to me. I rarely have a fancy/sweet drink like a latte, but I tried their sea salt caramel latte earlier this year and it was unreal delicious. (I ordered it with half the syrup because I don't like my drinks too sweet and it was perfect) Today I biked up to the King St location and tried their seasonal Pistachio Vanilla Zombie latte(again with half the syrup) and OMG IT IS SO GOOD!! I also appreciate that they are requiring masks, and have hand sani readily available and they are encouraging pre-ordering and social distancing. I have not tried the food yet, but the seasonal menu looks awesome. My only suggestion would be to offer Bicycle Benefits(pretty please)! read more

Ancora has long been one of my favorite coffee shops. The coffee is wonderful, the people are friendly and the atmosphere has just gotten even better. If you are looking for a cozy fireplace to curl up with a good book and a steaming cup of java or tea, this place cannot be beat. Complimentary Wi-Fi and excellent location round things out nicely. read more

I will have dreams about their gruyere/ham & gruyere croissants: flaky, savory, to die for. I had the pumpkin chai zombie, which I think is seasonal, so get it while you can in the fall. Their iced tea is also to die for. Nice that a locally-owned business has such high-quality food and beverages; I'd so much rather go here than to a chain. I live in Milwaukee, but will find an excuse to go here whenever I'm in Madison. read more

I don't know if this is the original Ancora, but it's the first one I ever went to, and I always thought it was the best-tasting coffe in Madison. I loved the smell of the roasting beans. read more

The staff were all very knowledgeable of the different brews and the roasts they have to offer. They were all super friendly as well! My friend loooooved the white zombie. She dreamt about it over and over again after we left Madison. I got the cold brew which was amazing! I ended up buying 2 bag of beans to go. read more

Best coffee in the city of Madison, no question! Their cereal milk cold brew changed my life - that drink actually is the perfect spirit of this coffeehouse - great quality products with a fun twist, taking all the right things seriously while not taking themselves too seriously. I come here every time I visit Madison, and I'm still hoping they open a location in the Chicago suburbs! :-) read more

Delicious! You can't go wrong with their salted carmel latte :) Not to mention, the atmosphere is relaxing, the baristas are very welcoming, and the assortment of grilled cheeses are to die for! read more

I love the food and coffee and have been going there for about three years now, but the more I go the less friendly the staff seems to be. I understand that they may be working short or are in a rush but I am always so kind to them, say please and thank you, and leave great tips. In the beginning I thought maybe they were just having an off day, but in the months I've returned I've noticed that the attitudes of the employees is continuing to get worse. This makes me sad because I love coming here for the great food and coffee and I miss the friendly feel that this place used to have. I work in the hospitality business and I am always kind to all customers even if they are rude, which is also why this has been disappointing. I know I am not alone in this feeling because my family and friends have gone there recently and stated that they have had the same experience. It is getting harder and harder to return, but I will continue to support this small business, I just wish that the staff weren't so dismissive and condescending when asked questions about seating/the menu. I even tried to clean up after myself once when they were busy and was snapped at to leave it at the table next time. I was just trying to be helpful! This message could have been conveyed in a friendlier tone even if it is easier for them to buss themselves. Just disappointed. read more

While there are lots of good coffee shops in Madison --Ancora has the best beans. The white zombie with hazelnut syrup is a delicious (not too sweet) treat with a good amount of caffeine. read more

I'm in Madison for work and came across this place in July. The coffee is great (love the house dark roast) and the grilled cheese sandwiches are worth every calorie! I've tried at least 3 different versions and they were all fantastic! The coffee here is as good if not better than the Intellgentsia coffee I pay considerably more for in Silver Lake. read more

Great drinks. Loved my miel (cinnamon and honey latte). Very nice atmosphere too and great location near capital and Monona Terrace.

Get the Assam tea...this was drink almost everyday for four years. This place rocks.

Killer coffee and great staff. A quintessential coffee shop. It's my shop of choice whether I am on the go or looking to settle in for a moment to enjoy my coffee with a book, some work, or a friend. read more

Decent coffee. If you need a place to be a regular Ancora is definitely not going to disappoint you. They are good people and the atmosphere follows suit. read more

I usually just get plain Jane coffee or cold brew brewed coffee it ais always superb. Food is good. Ambiance is really nice, it is great place to do some reading. read more

I was visiting Madison for a day when I went to Ancora to pick up a latté. This was the cafe closest to where I was staying and I walked there when it was raining. Fortunately, the walk was well worth the coffee and the staff was very friendly and welcoming. While I did not spend time, the ambience seemed very homely. I would definitely frequent this place if I were to ever live in Madison. read more

What's not to love about Ancora? I've been a regular for over 18 years. Tori and Mark, the new owners, added their hip, young touch to the place, and made it even better than it was before. The food menu has expanded, and they are offering new, organic coffees and grown-up drinks. The granitas are legendary, too. I've always loved this coffee house, and highly recommend it to you, as well! read more