Great coffee at a reasonable price, and an even better ambiance. Do you want to sit outside right on the square in beautiful Terrace-colored chairs? check. Do you want to sit inside in a spacious, high-ceiling, svette space with plenty of study room? check. Not sure? My favorite spot is the in-in between covered area with large open windows. Dog friendly (outside and in-between areas). Good smoothies. Only knock is that wifi isnt available until 2PM on the weekend, even if you're a paying customer. read more

I only drink coffee when I absolutely need to and I think it all tastes more or less the same. This review is for the other stuff, but apparently if you're into coffee (I'll never understand) you'll like Colectivo. The smoothies are delicious and super creative! Ginger with tangy fruit? Genius! I've also loved their scones and breakfast sandwiches. The only thing I've eaten that I didn't like was the granola. It was pretty expensive and just didn't taste that great in my opinion. Apparently the BAKED granola is wonderful. Sitting outside in the summer and observing the Farmer's Market is an ideal Saturday morning activity. WHY DOES WINTER EXIST? Ugh read more

Great shop in Madison. What strikes me is how affordable everything is! You can get a v60 for less than $3? A pound of beans for $13? Take my money, Colectivo. Enjoying their Ethiopian Yirg at home. As a visitor to Madison and a coffee nerd, I loved having Colectivo so close to my hotel. The space is large and inviting with friendly service. Love their open seating outside, and the coffee I had also tasted great. Will return whenever I'm back in the city. read more

Decent place to grab a coffee and a bite on the Capitol Square. The place could have used some attention to detail in terms of getting tables wiped down, as well as the state of the condiments counter. I had a avocado BLT deal... It was decent... tomatoes were shot. Also had the white bean chili - could have used some kick but was decent. Topped it all of with a cowboy cookie... I'd order this again. Maybe just coffee and two cookies. read more

My first experience here was ordering a decaf coffee. I was so disappointed in it, that it took me months before I decided to stop in again. I'm glad I finally did, because they make wonderful lattes, which is a favorite coffee treat of mine. They use Monin syrups and the hazelnut is wonderfully toasty, nutty and sweet. It makes a very good latte. Their proportion of milk-syrup-espresso seems to be just right for me. Rarely do I need to request an extra shot of espresso. Pastries are also pretty good. I've tried the chocolate chip cookie, molasses cookie, and one of their bars (7-layer bar I believe), and a couple other pastries I don't remember the name of, but they were flaky and deliciously not too sweet. Good consistent customer service, spacious interior, open windows when the weather is conducive, and a great location, all make the visits pleasant. I have yet to order a plain decaf coffee again though, lol. One day.... one day again I will give it a shot. read more

Colectivo Coffee On the Square - Hazelnut latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is really cute. Love the options of seating from tables, booths and chairs. We got lattees and a carrot cake. The carrot cake was perfect and loved the frosting and love that if you don't take out they put the coffees in cute white saucer cups. Everyone is super friendly there too. read more

Great quality coffee favored by locals in a comfortable surrounding with easy seating. The staff here was very friendly. They helped me to choose a coffee based on their recommendations. They did a nice job educating me on it. In our group, we had a non-coffee drinker and our server was very helpful in helping him find a beverage. We were not rushed. It was quite busy there, which is a good sign, but it may have been helpful to have clearer signage for us. I will be happy to go back. read more

Goddamn! They took fuckin 30 mins to make a Hot Chocolate...bruh r u serious? And it wasn't even busy..crazy.

I love coffee. Whenever I think of coffee I think of Seattle. Never the Midwest. But, this place knows how to make coffee. And they offer almond milk as a substitute! They make their lattes strong. It's cute that this is a local darling with cafes only in Madison and Milwaukee. I like the seating area with the large leather sofas and the wooden tables. They have an area that could be opened up so that ppl can enjoy their coffee in fresh air. The sink outside of the bathroom was pretty nice to help with the flow. I did buy a mug (clear small tumbler) from them and I love it! It's also pretty cool that they sell beer on tap here. Next time I visit I plan on trying some of their food. read more

I fell in love with Colectivo when it was still Alterra. Their drinks and baked goods are to die for, and I'm confident to say that out of all the other coffee shops downtown/on State St, Colectivo makes the best-tasting coffee for the price. It's a little on the expensive side, but I don't mind paying that much for good coffee. There's plenty of seating space (indoor and right outside) and I love how they open the facade windows during the summer. All that being said, there's two things that Colective can work on. First is the lack of internet on Saturday-Sundays. I didn't know shutting off online access was even a thing for coffee shops, especially one in a college town. I understand that bandwith is expensive, it's just annoying because I love how removed it is from campus. I like being able to do schoolwork ithout stupid sorority girls babling all day (looking at you Starbucks), but I need internet. Lastly is the lack of outlets, which is a problem in all coffee shops I think. All in all, I still love Colectivo but I'm probably not going there during the weekends, unless I just wanna chill and drink coffee. read more

This is a very cool place to have a meeting, catch up with friends or enjoy the weather. It's got a great indoor outdoor patio and plenty of nice places to sit. The menu looks very good and there were a lot of yummy options. We didn't grab any food, but from how it looked we would have. Unfortunately, the coffee was a little less than desirable. I ordered a double shot mocha with coconut milk and felt the drink was lacking the strong taste of espresso to round out the sweetness of the chocolate and coconut milk. Plus, and I am a seasoned coffee drinker, I felt jittery and on edge for a while after leading me to believe there's pesticides in the coffee beans. All in all, I'd give it another shot. But definitely not with the espresso drinks. Perhaps the food is great but we'll have to see next time. read more

This place is always busy, but the line goes quickly. Their mystic green tea is my go to. I usually would go for a chai, but I am not the biggest fan of collectivos. I always pair my green tea with their veggie pesto burrito. Loads of cheese, potatoes, pesto, brocolli and egg. Yummy! Service is not over the top friendly, but the usual for a loud, busy fast paced coffee shop. read more

Smallest smalls I have ever seen. Music way too loud, can't even have a real conversation without speaking overly loud. Freezing cold throughout the entire cafe. read more

Pretty good over all. The milk was good, espresso a bit off for my latte, but still ok. Good enough to go back to the next day, I needed some espresso! The atmosphere is great, and the souvenirs were really cool! Probably the best coffee in that little area. read more

Colectivo Coffee On the Square - Coffee. Pretty good milk, espresso was decent, atmosphere was sweet! Colorado pride, could not help it :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is a good coffee shop with a great location. In the summer it is great to sit outside by the farmer's market and drink coffee and eat breakfast. They have a roast of coffee called black and tan (a mix of two roasts really) that I particularly like to buy as whole beans to make coffee at home. read more

If you like hipsters and the inability to change your order, you'll like it here. I asked for a breakfast sandwich without cheese, the kid behind the counter responded with, "We can't do that." When I asked what I could get without cheese, he said no modifications are allowed with the breakfast menu. It begs the question: Are the eggs pre-made? Because that's gross. read more

One of my go-to spots for caffeine as well as an exceedingly pleasant place to do a few hours of work. I love the bright and open design of this Colectivo - the large windows provide excellent views of the Square and the outdoor patio is the perfect place to have a morning coffee during the summer months. There is tons of seating here and since it's a decent walk from campus, I've never found it so crowded that I couldn't find a good seat. The Colectivo on State is nice as well but tends to get a little more packed so I prefer the Square location for more peace and quiet. It does get busy here too when there are big events happening on the Square - I made the mistake of coming during Ironman this past summer and it was super crowded and our breakfast burritos took a long time to get to us. It was to be expected though, considering the large crowd that Ironman draws + this Colectivo's prime location on the race course. The baristas are always friendly, the drinks come out fast and hot, and the food is really yummy too. I've had the Falafel burger which was hearty but not too heavy and which came with a nice side of crispy potato chips. I've also had a couple of their burritos which were also tasty but a little on the small side considering the price. But still, if you're looking to get some work done or if you want to do some fun people watching, this is a great spot! read more

Stopped here because we came down for the live jazz on King Street. I sat at one of their outdoor tables, my Husband went in to order his drink. He was gone for about 15 minutes, I wasn't sure what was going on. Two people came and told me they were officially closed, about 3 minutes apart. Both times, I informed them that was fine, I was just waiting for my Husband who had ordered his coffee. They weren't sympathetic, just looked at me and asked if I could go wait outside because they were stacking the chairs and tables. I've worked customer service for 18 years, they should have said "oh! Sure, no problem! You can wait here for him, we'll just stack the tables around you!" So, they were pretty rude, we've gone to the other location at the corner of State and Frances St's, and they've always been really friendly and nice there. Also, they gave my Husband's drink away to someone else, which is why it took him so long in the first place. I guess, unlike every other coffee place ever, they don't write the names on the cups? I don't know. Needless to say, we will only be going back to the State St location, _never_ to this one again. read more

We went to Milwaukee recently and tried Colectivo for the first time, we loved it so much we stopped in this Madison location on our drive home! Aside from the coffee being awesome, I just love this coffee shop. It's unique and cozy, with big windows looking out at the capital and plants everywhere. I really really wish there was a Colectivo location near me!! read more

Good coffee, good atmosphere. They even have uniquely fun cups to vessel your coffee to your mouth. Overall pretty dandy. The only issue I could list is that it isn't open late enough. It's downtown on the square where there are people out pretty late and studying or whatnot. Now I'm not saying it should be open 24-hours, however if it was open until 1AM or so that would be nice. read more

Its just not my thing. Its super loud and always way too packed. The atmosphere is nice so I get its popularity but if I want to go to a coffee shop I'd like a place to sit. The reason I give it two stars is because I think the coffee is not very good. Its kind of bitter and leaves me with an unpleasant aftertaste. I drink a lot of coffee and I might actually prefer a starbucks coffee over this. The pastries are defrosted mediocre items. The food is microwaved and low quality. I remember 5 years ago in Milwaukee the food was really good. I wonder if the quality has diminished as it has expanded? read more

Very good coffee! Everyone is dedicated to make excellent quality coffee! This is also where I buy of my own coffee beans. They have excellent varieties and seasonal roasts that are locally sourced and tastes fantastic! I love this location as well. It's great to get into the city and the atmosphere is also wonderful. They open up all the walls in warmer weather and you feel like you're pretty much outside! It's great! Also, plenty of outdoor seating as well right across the street from the capitol. read more

Heeey Yelp, have you guys heard about this new place yet? It's supposedly pretty good! I'll break it down for y'all though. Reasons why this place rocks: 1) They have outdoor seating so I can enjoy the nice weather while enjoying my ice cold cup of coffee. 2) They're right by the Capitol, so connecting to a wireless network is as easy as 1-2-3. I am actually doing work on my computer as I speak. And by work, I mean procrastinating in any way I can, in this case, writing this review. 3) They have more than just coffee!! They have an extensive list of smoothies, made however you want, with the freshest ingredients blended then and there. Oh and for those of you into a little midday drinking, they also have beer on tap. Can I get a WUUUT WUUUUT??!! 4) They have a clean, inviting decor with a wonderful staff that will make even the pickiest customers happy. 5) Best. people. watching. spot. in. town. for. sure. During my two visits here, I've seen a wedding photo take place, a prom picture take place, and a drunk person puking. How awesome is that?! Reasons why this place doesn't rock: ....... I'll get back to you. read more

I'd been to Alterra several times in Milwaukee and was pumped to hear we were finally getting one in Madison. We went the opening weekend and LOVED it. Highlights... the chorizo burrito. Just do it. The sauce on the side has some delicious spicy kick to it. We ordered a pretzel and it came with real stone ground mustard. Unreal! The mocha I ordered was smooth and delicious. I plan to eat here on Saturdays followed by a trip around the farmers' market... a perfect Saturday morning!! Seriously, everything I've eaten here (and I've been back several times already) has been delicious. read more

May I preface my 3-star review with the following confession? The coffee here is good. Pretty darn good. 4 or 5 star good. I also love coffee though. Like, a lot. The location is convenient and the space is attractive and hip the way coffee houses should be. And I do feel true, honest pity for them when I see them getting inundated by Farmer's Market or other crowds. Truly. Kudos to your workers for surviving the chaos. But... 1. Products: I have never had more than a luke-warm experience with anything other than their actual coffee offerings. Their food is just ok, and is rather expensive considering what you get. 2. Crowd. Long lines, and even in their huge space it is often crowded and loud, and something about the kind of crowd I often find there makes me wrinkle my nose in distaste. Perhaps it is the entire chapters-worth of Sorority girls constantly in attendance. Or maybe it's the clans with 6 children running through the isles. I know it is their location that brings this mess upon them, and it isn't their fault. But I don't find myself wanting to stick around and hang out. Oh and with 50 people all using their internet, it is slow and patchy and kicks you off frequently. So I never linger. 3. Staff. I get it, its a coffee house and you are a barrista, and that makes you cool in my book. You can even be a little pretentious and get away with it and I won't think twice on it. Thats the coffee house code. But seriously, these guys practically sneer at me every time I order. I swear, I am super nice to everyone. I'm service industry, I always tip, I'm always polite and full of thank yous. So I am not sure what I am doing to earn their disdain. Moreover, they try to TALK ME OUT OF ORDERING WHAT I WANT. This has happened several times. But it's not just that, but that they act like I don't know what I am ordering every time, and try to convince me that what I really want is a cappuccino or a latte or the usual press-pot coffee. I order that, when I WANT that. For example: "I'd like a machiatto to go, please." Sneer. "Do you even know what a macchiatto IS? Its not like at S-bucks, its only going to fill like, this much of your to go cup. You want a latte, right?" No... I asked for a macchiato because I know what that is and what I would like, so please give it to me. I could pass this off as them trying to be helpful, in the face of I assume hundreds of sorority chicks that expect some kind of large blended caramel concoction when they order a macchiato. But it has happened repeatedly and it annoys me. Or "Can I get a cup of that hand-crafted poured coffee?" Sneer. "Look, that coffee is something we have to pour slowly over the grounds, its going to be a while. It's also more money. You sure you don't want a regular coffee, like this one right here?" No... I asked for that coffee because I want to try your expensive, premier fancy coffee and I am prepared to both pay for it and wait for it, thats why I ordered it. Anyway, I do want to like them because they make pretty good coffee. But I think I will just keep going to Michaelangelo's, where people smile when they see me and I never have to wait 20minutes just to order something that they will insist isn't really what I wanted. And if I want a big ol' blended caramel frou-frou dessert coffee, then I will go to S-bucks. read more

Coffee stout is excellent. They have a welcoming staff and environment. Can be a challenge to find a table despite the large space. But I believe that is a commentary on how nice a spot it is. Lunch sandwiches are good. Coffee, too! read more

As a longtime Bradbury's patron, I come to Colectivo sometimes because it has later hours, more space, and a bigger food selection. Bradbury's is one of those rare businesses that excels in a niche and doesn't try to expand into everything else. It's great. So Colectivo isn't really a direct competitor in that sense, and fills in pretty well. In short: Pros: good coffee, bakery, atmosphere, plenty of outside seating Cons: unbearably crowded at lunch rush and any event on the square, very unreliable / spotty internet access, loud music for a coffee shop Finally, I'm not sure what the reviewer talking about "surly staff" is on about. At JPL, sure. I refuse to go there because I am not myself a barrista and therefore feel unwelcome. Also, I don't want to spend $16 or whatever for a small coffee. But I don't feel any of that vibe at Colectivo...this is a friendly, open to all kind of place. And it serves excellent beer. read more

Eh, not sure what the fuss is about. Not great coffee, by Madison standards. Nice outdoor seating though, so there's that. There are a couple other cafes within a block or two that have excellent coffee, so no reason to go here unless for the seating. read more

Finally stopped at this place on a Tuesday at lunch time. Cashier: short guy with pony tail: rude and grumpy. I ordered a cowboy cookie and an espresso shake. The cookie was amazing. Lots of oats and incredibly delicious. The shake was yummm too, but so rich I couldn't finish it. The other 2 employees we encountered were nice, just that one was having a bad day perhaps. It was busy but there was plenty of seating. Will return for more cookies in the future! read more

I totally loved this coffee shops. Great service and the coffee taste very very good. read more

Colectivo Coffee On the Square - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Burnt coffee and thick ass bread. not much else to say. Go here if you want to eat toast with bread the thickness of the full oxford dictionary. read more

Good coffee. DO NOT EAT HERE!! The food from the kitchen was closer to vomit than food.

Stopped in on a whim and was delighted. The branding IS FABULOUS, staff was very friendly. They have TONS of pastry to choose from, very dissapointing that NONE of it was vegan friendly. they did have some gluten free options. They carry soy/almond milk, so i was able to have some tea, and i had a pretty good granola bar that was homeade. I had a smoothie the following day and it was vegan and delicious. Definitely try the green hornet smoothie! My husband is a big fan of their coffee, bought some beans to bring home. they have really great tshirts for sale, sandwiches, coffee drinks, etc. the space itself is really lovely - right on the square with lots of outdoor seating. read more

I've been here twice in a little over a week. I have had two of the best pour-over coffees I have ever tasted, hands-down! I only order black coffee, and they were amazing. Further their staff is super friendly. Bravo Alterra! Welcome to Madison! read more

It's ju st really over priced food and the coffee never really tastes smooth...... and it's usually freezing in the building

I loved this shop on my quick trip to Madison. They have the best chamomile tea I've ever had. My husband order a cappuccino and breakfast burrito and loved both as well. Great atmosphere inside. read more

I got a A breakfast sandwich and there was lettuce on my plate and it doesn't come with it and it taste like Mayonnaise and I had the sandwich in the past it never tasted like that before I also don't like their coffee it taste too burnt read more

The food and drinks are good, and they even serve alcohol, which is always a plus. The downsides are that they've messed up my order a few times and it takes a relatively long time to get your food and drinks. So, this isn't a great place to go if you're in a hurry. And, honestly, the food and drinks are overpriced. But, it's got a great location, I like the ambiance, and I like that they serve fair trade coffee. So, I'll keep going back! read more

I have been going to Colectivo for a long time now and I love their coffee and food (especially the new brie sandwhich). However, the change to no Wifi on the weekends is a big disappointment. I always enjoyed grabbing a coffee and pastry Sunday mornings and sitting for a bit to check emails and read the news. Colectivo is no longer my coffee shop of choice purely because I can't get any work done. I think putting in a wifi password on weekends and just giving a 2 hour limit would be a much more effective solution if the purpose of removing Wifi was to make sure people didn't hang out all day. read more

At 11:00AM, I went to Alterra and I ordered a bowl of white bean soup, a gingersnap cookie, and a milk from the cooler cabinet to stay. My order was about $10, more than the average bill. After ordering, I walked around looking for a place to sit, I found and asked to share a table since Alterra was busy. No problem. My soup was delivered to my table via a stand with a number, a nice perk to standing and waiting at the counter. I've had two soups off the menu and they were both just ok. Today, the white bean soup was gummy as if it were thickened with starch. And the meager bread roll had been warmed in the microwave, resulting in chewy and slightly over cooked bread. When I was done with the soup, I bused the dishes to the tubs. I ate part of my cookie. It was thick and chewy, just the way I like it. Pretty big, too. I opened my milk and drank about a third. By this time, it was around 11:40AM and I had opened my iPad, got out my keyboard, and was working a bit on the Alterra wireless. But it was still lunch time and I was still eating my cookie and milk. Sometimes I'm slow eater and I had ordered a lot of food. I finished my cookie. I drank another 1/3 of milk. My table neighbor that I shared space with left. I started folding down the cover on my iPad and had the idea to leave. 30 seconds go by. An Alterra employee comes to my table. Nicely, but clearly emboldened, the employee says I might want to find a different place, maybe at the bar or a single serve seating because I'm taking space at a four-seat table. You might think this was friendly. I found it unbelievably rude. Not only I did approach, and share, a table, as others presumably would, but I clearly still had food left that I ordered and was STILL EATING. I packed up my things and left, drinking the remainder of my milk while walking out the door. You might wonder if I've had the coffee, since it is a coffee shop. Yes. I will continue to get coffee at Alterra. But the food on the lengthy menu is shipped from Milwaukee and warmed in the kitchen and I won't be eating there again, possibly sans the bakery. The gingersnap cookie was good and I've had two good coconut macaroons. The staff definitely needs some experience in the hospitality skill set. read more