I'll start by saying that I gave this place 2 stars instead of 1 because at least the person working there showed herself to be unsavory *before* I spent any money. So that was a positive. Perhaps this is a "Karen" moment, but I had a couple hours to think on my drive home and I decided,"f*** it...write the review!" I drove a couple hours to meet up with a friend from Sheboygan and pick up a musical instrument. He suggested Colectivo. I looked up the place and it sounded great. Having just returned from a couple weeks in the PNW, I'd gotten hooked on good Espresso. I arrived and waited on the patio for about 25 minutes but never saw any employee or server. So, after my friend left, I grabbed my instrument, put on my mask, and wandered in to order a cup of coffee and a bottle of water for my dog. The door I entered had no obvious signs banning pets. In fact, while waiting outside on the patio for 25 minutes, I had a chance to browse Instagram and find many cute photos of people who had leashed dogs at this establishment. Unless there is a secret to getting service from the patio, I can only assume they walked in to place their orders. I walked in and approached the counter, with my 15 year old, 8 lb, hypoallergenic, completely deaf and mostly toothless dog, both leashed AND completely confined in a zipped up pet stroller. Before I got to the counter, I was immediately approached by an ornery young woman who told me that I would need to leave immediately because the dog was a threat to the safety of their bakery. She said I could place my order from the patio (where I'd just been sitting for 25 minutes), but made no effort to actually follow me out and take the order. Now, this is where I go on a diatribe about how people with toddlers roaming about, picking their noses and wiping their mucous on every surface is a threat the safety of their bakery. Even sans pandemic. It's 2021. Get with the program. People like dogs more than humans now. I've traveled around Chicago, Asheville, NC, and locally in my home town with my little special needs dog in her stroller, or in a little cross-body bag and have never been asked to leave an establishment. I've dined indoors and out with this goofy plus-one. I was even able to pick up a meal just down the street in Bay View at India Cafe and they took no issue with me rolling in my stroller to pay for the meal I was picking up. So was this Colectivo employee really concerned about the dog? Or was it ME she didn't want in her establishment. Perhaps this plump dulcimer musician isn't hip enough. Perhaps I'd kill the vibe. Perhaps there's a sign on the front door for the pets and a secret handshake for all the people I spotted on Instagram who managed to place their orders. In the world we live in currently, I can't imagine feeling it was necessary to chase someone like myself out, but apparently it was for them. Either way, they don't seem to be hurting for business, so I took mine elsewhere. I highly recommend India Cafe just down the street. The samosas and Biryani are amazing! read more

Colectivo Coffee Bay View - What's in this photo? I call her, "Bakery Destroyer!" - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Great spot for a remote work day & best coffee in town. Almond croissant and pumpkin muffin are my top food picks. Staff is always very friendly and quick service! read more

The secret to Collectivo is the food....not the coffee (I can name half a dozen roasters that are infinitely better nearby). The Santa Fe sandwich is to die for, and I probably eat a Southwest burrito at least twice a month across their locations. This location has fantastic takeout/covid19 policies, and it is the most consistent colectivo in the city. If you are looking to step up from mass distribution coffee, their beans are decent and a great price per lb (~$15 per full lb) read more

This location of Colective Coffee is nice! Pretty big, with some indoor and outdoor seating! Colectivo has great coffee, and I love that it serves food as well! It can get really crowded, but it's a great coffeeshop. read more

The food is healthy and great, service is fast and very kind, and finally the ambiance is pleasant and calm. Colectivo is a spot to definitely visit for its coffee and great environment. read more

Quite possibly the best Chipotle chicken sandwich I've ever eaten as well as some house-made horchata. Just don't come during Drag Queen Story Hour if you want to just enjoy the atmosphere and good food :-) read more

Excellent Mexican flair breakfast food and delicious hot coffee selection! Check this place out after a run early on a weekday morning the line was not too long and the service was quick to get your coffee out and food fest. The Decore was kitschy they sell T-shirts and stickers with their logo on them and there was plenty of places to sit down bring your laptop or have a quiet conversation with a friend or two. I recommend any of their weekly specials and there so I café latte is on par. read more

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The coffee shop is bigger than I thought from the outside. I went to the one in bay view. Coffee is so good and duh carbs is always a YES! Awesome vibes great eats. read more

The staff here has always been friendly since I can remember. If you visit more than occasionally promise they'll Acknowledge they know you or your order. Coffees always perfect. Breakfast burritos are the bomb. I'd give 5 stars if they bring back big pretzel for my kids as well as the pesto mozzarella sammy. read more

Colectivo is a great place to grab a coffee/tea and breakfast/lunch. The food is always very fresh and the service is great! Something I recently discovered on thei menu is the Italian sodas, which are very good if you aren't in the mood for coffee! They have many flavor shots to add to the Italian sodas as well In the warmer parts of the year, it's great to sit outside on some on the swinging chair/tables along KK. One thing to note: the coffee sizes are definitely smaller than you'd expect from a typical Starbucks/other coffee shop size in my opinion, so don't be afraid to ask to see the cup sizes! read more

I love all the Colectivo locations but this one is my favorite. They have ample seating indoors as well as outdoors. Their outdoor seating are benches that swing. Yay enjoy the nice motion of rocking back and forth while having a cup of joe, reading, studying or people watching. On cold days enjoy sitting inside by the adjoining window and watching bread being made at Troubadours Bakery. You will also find parking on the streets; however there is a parking lot in the back of the building that a lot of people do not know about. If you do not see anything on the menu that you like they are always very accommodating and will make drinks to your liking. I always go here for a non-menu drink called the Chaider (Chai Tea and Apple Cider) steamed with a little coconut milk and they make it perfect every time. I'm very happy with their barista skills. Make sure to check out the Colectivo merchandise as well. They have really cool cups, journals and t-shirts to choose from. Colectivo can collect my dollars for a great cup joe. read more

Colectivo is a decent chain of coffee shops/cafes in the Milwaukee area. While my preference is to patronize stand alone establishments over chains and franchises (even though sometimes the quality may be inconsistent at a stand alone coffee shop), I find local or regional chains to be a much better option than that certain ubiquitous national chain found on every main street and strip mall around the nation. Such is the case with Colectivo where you can get decent drinks and food and enjoy a nice Milwaukee neighborhood cafe vibe. My wife and I ordered a couple of breakfast burritos, a chai, a cafe latte, and a pumpkin cranberry muffin. The coffee and tea were promptly and properly prepared and just a minute or two later the burritos and muffin were brought out from the kitchen to our table. The food was unspectacular but certainly better than anything you will find a fast food breakfast place. I'll be back. read more

Nice atmosphere at a busy interchange. Nothing special about the coffee but a nice place to meet and socialize. I did not try the pastries but they looked inviting. read more

Colectivo is not my favorite of local coffee roasters, but then again, I'm a coffee snob and Milwaukee is blessed with multiple amazing coffee roasters. This particular Colectivo location is a gem. From the open concept feel with plants hanging from the rafters to swinging tables outside, it's a wonderful. i've been putting off this review so more people don't flock here, but I've never had problems finding a table. The only thing is the WIFI is spotty consistently. I'll continue to come back! read more

Colectivo has the modern/hipster/popularity contest of local coffee shops in the bag. And you know what? Not without good reason! They get it. They offer a great variety of drinks and food and have great locations. They're known for strong coffee. Smoothies are excellent. Chai lattes (my jam) are spicy and tasty, you can order them "easy" if you want to tone it down. ;) My only complaints? Service is *sometimes* lacking and the drinks are not as consistent as I'd like, especially when it comes to temperature (they tend to be scalding). None of this is bad enough to deter me from going since its usually good. My partner detests their cappuccinos now that he's had others but he'll get the occasional cortado and is happy enough. They've got good vibes, they have music events here and there, if you are coming in from out of town (because every local has been here), definitely worth a morning stop! read more

Very slow curbside service. I do not have this problem at any other location. Always great food and drinks

Colectivo has quickly become my bright spot of warmth in the chilly winter air of Milwaukee. It's one of the few places I will voluntarily leave my house for. Because on top of all the incredible coffee, and homemade bread, there's still piles of incredible pastries. People, the sunshine bun is always the right choice. But make sure you get there early enough to get them. Because they do sell out. I've been disappointed before. (If you're unlucky enough to miss them, the chocolate croissants are perfectly acceptable. And the other things are perfectly acceptable. Oh and the dessert things! Cream cheese brownies? Holy everything. I went there on a date once, and the guy I was with actually stole mine, after I'd taken only one bite. (He got me another, but still). That's how good it was. In addition, there's almond, soy, AND COCONUT MILK. Non milk drinkers, rejoice, because coconut milk is the only non milk I want anywhere near my coffee. And, with an over abundance of seating, I've never gone there and actually had to leave because there wasn't a spot for me. There are cushy chairs upstairs, lots of bar space, seating outside (doors shut now, cause winter!), and adorable swinging bench things outside outside. This coffee shop is my heaven. Now here's my only complaint. I go in, with the moral intent of buying a pastry and a coffee while I get some homework done. Pious, right? I sit down, eagerly eat my pastry, sip my coffee, and start work. Several moments later, some rando sits down and...their pastry looks so damn delicious. I spend the next hour coveting their pastry, even after it's gone. Then I'm forced to buy my own because I can't stand to be without it. The prices are all super reasonable, the staff and wonderful and friendly and helpful, and the space--as stated--is wonderful. They're aces in my book. read more

Colectivo Coffee Bay View - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This was my favorite spot while visiting Milwaukee! Everything was delicious and the staff was friendly. read more

Colectivo Coffee Bay View - Outside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

People are passionate about their coffee & I'm one of them. Alterra, aka Colectivo, has been my roaster since they were in a basement in Walkers Point. I frequent many locations with this one as the exception. I'm rarely in Bay View. Today I had time prior to an appointment so stopped in. Atmosphere is fairly typical Colectivo styling. Dark, woody, metal & overall, masculine in design. It's not a comfy coffee shop to lounge & chat it up casually. Utilitarian is it's nature. Good for meetings, business & such. I'm here for coffee. I don't get food because they do not segregate food with nuts from other foods. I'm sure it's a space constraint or just how they do things. Idk. But coffee. They roast good coffee. Flavorful, strong & not bitter. Make it sweet & blonde like me & I'm the happiest girl in the place. This is done consistently. Yay! This location does lack service. I was reminded of this at checkout. My transaction didn't stop the conversation between two staff members behind the registers. Three sentences were spoken to me, otherwise they didn't miss a beat with each other. Service is still important in this industry. I'd give higher rating, but when staff doesn't acknowledge clients, politely conduct transactions I just can't give them props. No props for this location other than the coffee they stock. read more

Over 30 minutes for a berry booster, definitely not worth the wait, after I asked they submitted the ticket again and it was put to the back of the line. read more

I was wrong; this Colectivo kind of rules. Why it's different: ample, varied spaces for seating... you can hide and work, or meet friends and chat, inside or outside, Wisconsin weather permitting. This spot boasts a seriously beautiful layout. Nice folks working the counter, and all the other requisite Colecterra drinks and foodz you've come to know *and maybe love* are all here, you guys. This will most likely be my new "office" now that I'm a resident of the Beev. Looking forward to many meetings here! read more

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The new Alterra in Bayview (on the corner of South KK and Lincoln) smells like DELICIOUS! Similar to the coffee roastery on Humbolt, this new location will be the baking/food prep center for all the Alterra locations throughout MKE. And your nose will know as soon as you walk up and get a whiff of all the bready yumminess. I was so excited to check this new space out because I've been watching the building construction evolve over the past few weeks. The lot is triangular in shape and it made for some interesting construction challenges that Alterra, in typical Alterra fashion, transformed into some awesome design elements that fit beautifully into the surrounding neighborhood. I seriously LOVE the space that they created-both inside and out! The cafe/seating space is MASSIVE. It's got to be the largest Alterra. Even with the tons of space though there is a very consistent local Alterra feel. A lot of the space has been sectioned off into different "rooms" and each have their own unique feel to them. I especially love the "hybrid" seating they have which essentially functions as both indoor/outdoor areas due to the large (wall sized) windows that can be retracted back during the summer months/warmer days. This is truly a lovely place to sit and sip coffee and watch the Bayview neighborhood pass by. They have only been open since Friday (three days) and it already looks like there are a few regulars. The upstairs area also had a massive garage door that pulls open to reveal a screen window looking out over South KK. There is a really cool water treatment running along the side of the building (with rubber ducks in it but who knows how long those will last-my kiddo loved them though!). You pass the water treatment as you walk from the parking lot (yup!) which is behind the building. The lot is also new and looks really nice (cute little prairie flowers lining the perimeter). It has a 90 minute limit but I think it was smart of them to incorporate the parking space into such a busy area of the city. There is also street parking-if you stay closer to S. KK it is metered but drive a few extra feet and you won't have to pay the man. Also, if you are the biking type there are two large bike racks and one of them is covered! Goodness-this feels like so much to say but I love me some Alterra and I could not be more excited about this new location! Definitely check them out. They did a beautiful job! read more

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Right around the corner from where I stay, I'm here a lot when I visit Milwaukee. One thing I never noticed until this summer were the covered outdoor table and bench combos that are SWINGS. LOVE! What a perfectly perfect way to start a sunny morning. Madison, get these immediately. Or yesterday, if possible! The coffee I always order is pour over, and it is always superb. The place is open, airy, stone and beam, and lots of plants, lots of veranda-style outdoor seating, feels almost like you're in a more tropical place rather than a hipster Milwaukee suburb. Even a magical little toy duck water feature for the toddler set to enjoy. Indoors, the bakery is wide open to watch the magic happen as you sip. Four stars instead of five because the food can be disappointing at times, such as the lox bagel with chewy, stringy, almost impossible to eat lox. On the upside, the service is ridiculously perky (pun intended). I mean that in the nicest way, because everyone is super nice, almost over the top. When I asked for honey for my coffee, the barrista seemed stunned for a second, then she switched into customer service overdrive. She offered to 'mix it with hot water so that it would dissolve in the coffee'. Ummmm...let's think that through one more time, shall we? ..... Ah, there we go. LOL still makes me giggle whenever I think about it. read more

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Great coffee shop!! Had a pour over of one of their selections and was excellent. They also have a number of pastries and breakfast items which I did not try but others in my group did and said were very good. Great atmosphere too!!! read more

As always product is great, staff good Cleanliness terrible! Seems like the floors have not been cleaned in months. Staffed or not you do need to keep your establishment clean. It's disgusting, I'm sitting at a table in the upstairs and my feet are in a mess of filth. The entire upper section is like this and it doesn't happen in one day read more

Great local spot in Bayview at the nexus of many bus lines & great restaurants. Colectivo has great coffee (I often do a drip) & collection of delicious food. My favorites are predominantly of the scene variety, but I've also had their quiche, curry chicken wrap and soups. The space is super open, great for working remotely (as I do) so long as I'm not on calls - as it gets a bit noisy. Love their outside picnic table swings and open air tables. read more

Incredibly friendly staff!! I'm pretty easy with my coffee ordering but the hot coffee and iced coffee is always perfect. You can use a gift card (even after there is no longer money on it) to earn points on your purchases. I came in on a Saturday morning and was bummed to see they no longer have morning glory muffins. The staff informed me that they cycle through some bakery items and suggested the ham and cheese croissant warmed up which was buttery, flakey, and delicious. They also have donuts now which look super good. The plain or everything bagels toasted with cucumber dill cream cheese is also delicious. read more

Colectivo Coffee Bay View - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Will I ever find a colectivo I don't love? Probably not! My love for colectivo started in Madison, but after visiting several of the Milwaukee locations my love has only grown stronger. I'm not a coffee drinker so I'm always happy when cafes have lots of tea options which colectivo does. I also love that colectivo usually has a non-coffee special in addition to all the regular teas. The cider is delicious and the seasonal cocoa mint tea was a fun flavor as well. This location in particular has great seating options. I really like the upstairs area and outdoor seating. Plus the bike racks are really cool! It's also cool that you can see the bakery. I will definitely be back! read more

Colectivo Coffee is my go to place when I have time to get out of my car and run in for a mocha. The mocha at Colectivo is a little cheaper then the one from Starbucks, easier on the waistline, and smoother. Plus if you want a great picture to put on Yelp with a fancy cup and a milky heart then this is your place. Drink up! read more

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Ok 3 1/2 stars. There are so many great choices in MKE. Anodyne, stone creek, valentine, the mermaid and collectivo come to mind. I really dig that each location is unique. I also like they keep the old buildings that we all love. This location has the huge bakery And pretty amazing outdoor space. Coffee is solid. Don't get me wrong it blows the mermaid away IMAO but it's still second to anodyne and stone creek. But I like to mix things up and love variety. And I like blue Herron. This corner in bayview gives you many coffee choices so you really can't go wrong! One thing I do miss "alterra". Can't seem to wrap my head around collectivo..... read more

Milwaukee has many great local business gems that I frequent when I'm in town. But one business in particular that I always seek out is the Colectivo Coffee houses. Scattered all over the greater MKE area and formally known as Alterra, Colectivo is far superior, more refined, and just a bit more edgy than your typical corner chains. Beans are roasted right in River West, sourced from small farms all over the world. The roast selection is awesome and has something for all types of coffee lovers. They also serve Letterbox teas, which I've heard great things about. Colectivo is partnered with Troubadour bakery, which make some damn-fine in-house, slow-baked bread and treats to make your café experience complete. Their t-shirts and apparel are pretty unique too; the CCR'93 shirt is B.A. My favorite Colectivo roast is the Maximilian: a smooth, full-body selection that is damn-near perfect in a French press, only surpassed by the pour-over. Second fav is the Black & Tan, a unique full-body and light-body blend for its namesake. If you are a fan of pour-overs, try their Sumatra; deep and intense. Because I'm a 'café experience' type of guy, I go for the almond croissant and hang out for a while on the tablet or people watching. Not a bad way to enjoy the moment. Like I mentioned above, Colectivo has many locations around the city, and are even in Madison now, but are far from the chain coffee roaster. It is a larger Wisconsin local business that keeps the local vibe and flair alive and well. Their prices are slightly higher than the conventional, but you are not paying for conventional here. For me, having a handful of craft coffee shops around is great for swinging by to get some great beans or a delicious cup no matter what side of town I'm on. Among my favorite Milwaukee business gems, Colectivo is a diamond. Shine on. read more

Colectivo Coffee Bay View - Maximilian and an almond croissant. Yeah, about as good as it gets. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Affordable coffee that tastes good? Sounds good to me! While I would love to spend more time at Colectivo, I always seem to be doing a grab and go when I'm here and this Friday was no different. Ordered a large coffee to go, added a maple glazed donut to the order and it's the perfect end to the work week, TGIF! read more

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I picked up a mobile order here yesterday for the first time since COVID started. I have to say the set up was great and the system in general seemed safe for staff and customers. I gave 3 stars because I stood up by the sign that said "cafe pick up here" because I needed a drink carrier for my order but the barista who was behind the tables was talking to the barista making drinks behind the counter and walked by me multiple times blatantly ignoring me. I finally got fed up with the lack of customer service and just struggled to carry my order out the door how difficult is it to ask a simple "how may I help you"?! 1 star for customer service but giving it 3 because the drink and breakfast burrito I had were great. read more

This place has served as a meet up, a workplace, a chillax spot, a snack stop and of course... coffee fuel up zone! With the free WiFi, food and drinks here there is likely to be something for everyone. The only warning I give is to keep an eye on the hours of operation as they change with seasons and this place can close kind of early in my opinion. Their is a lot of space to hang out and do what you need but it's best served as more quiet place in the sense of the patrons. There is a semi loud music to drown out the conversations but most people here are on a laptop. With that, plugs can be a short resource so make sure you're juiced up before you get here because you may have to snipe an open spot that has one if and when it becomes available. The service is good, the offerings are good and it's a clean space overall. One complaint is the bathroom. It could use better lighting and a bit more attention. It's not gross but it's not amazing. That happens with high traffic though I guess. In short, come get a coffee, a lunch and a seat, you'll like it here. read more

Really cool environment and a great vibe. Sizing is weird. I got a medium which is easily a small any other place you go but it was only $4.88. Really nice staff. read more

Colectivo Coffee Bay View - Medium iced matcha with soy and lavender - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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So disappointed in Colectivo. I have been a customer since before Alterra opened and a friend gifted me coffee from the brothers bringing back the roasted beans for family and friends. I called to ask that they include a vegetarian soup for the winter. The person answering the phone could have well been AI for all the response she gave me. "Thank you for taking the time to give your feedback". No human warmth or connection available. And certainly not "I'm sorry, maybe next year, because this winter is set". The operative part of that last sentence being the I'm sorry. I get it that development is done way ahead of time. But please act like you care what loyal customers are asking about. read more

Nice urban cafe location. Located at an intersection heavy with restaurants, this Colectivo is my 2nd favorite thus far (I really like their lakefront location, which is #1). Excellent espresso, decent baked goods, and the space is shared with an extensive Troubadour bakery operation. Friendly staff, and a roomy interior round things out. There's street parking and a metered parking lot (or two) just off the main drag. If this was my neighborhood, I'd be at this Colectivo all the time. read more

This place is HUGE!!! During house-hunting in the area, I stopped in with the group to grab some coffee and pastries before we continue on. This was a Saturday around noon so the place was absolutely packed. The decor is awesome with plants growing in the beams up above the seating areas plus there is an upstairs (I didn't check it out yet looked to be a good size). The Menu and Coffee are what you come to have known and love from Colectivo so there is no suprises there. The wall of gear that you can buy there is quite extensive ranging from pour over systems to what appear to look like chemistry sets to brew the perfect cup of Joe. I really love how you can see the production in the back and see how large the operation is in here. There is a lot of individual and group seating areas yet just like any Colectivo it does get loud and packed very quickly so get there early if you're looking to study. Great shop in the heart of Lincoln square in Bayview - stop on it and get some good treats and coffee. read more

Nice coffee shop with a great selection of your favorite java and pastries.... plenty of seating both inside and out.... including metal swings with tables which are cool. My only knock is the service can be a bit slow.... not bad service just sometimes in the morning for people on the go it can be frustrating. Could be my luck of the draw but I always seem to get behind chatty people who don't know what they want to order and/or are never prepared to pay.... probably just me needing to slow down and enjoy the experience. read more

Colectivo Coffee Bay View - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Whenever I travel and live in a new city, I love the try and visit the local flavors of coffee and avoid the big-names like Starbucks and Dunkin. While Colectivo is a huge chain, it was new to me and the area. But I LOVED IT. It does a great job of having a huge space made into a small coffee shop feeling. I arrived later at night to meet someone, about 2 hours to closing. I had to really look at the menu so I could get something not usual, but I still went with my favorite macchiato. I also tried the drip brew before I left and was happy I did. Smooth and delicious. The staff was very nice and helpful. I had a ton of questions. The place has immense amounts of baked goods and I could have eaten every single one. I got a small cookie to munch on and keep my glucose up to study, and it was great. The space is huge at this location and great for groups. I wish I had this area in college. Very clean and easy to navigate. Does have a little hipster vibe to it, but it is a coffe house after all. Enjoy! read more

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