$6-7 for an iced coffee and defaults with whole milk. Raspberry miel has cinnamon and honey, which you can really taste every component. There is plenty of seating inside, and you can escape sunlight in here. The staff is very informative and helpful. read more

Really great vibe! Loved the outdoor seating, friendly service, and huge selection of fresh baked treats and hearty breakfast sandwiches! Delicious! read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Welcome to Fair Trade Coffee House My ears filled with the low hum of chatty friends catching up accompanied by the silences of studious students in their books. The seasonal selection is an accurate portrayal of downtowns vibrant flavors. I was greeted with a lovely "sweetheart what can I get you?" I proceeded to ask if any drinks could be blended and this trip I switched up my usual order in which they happily modified the Turkish latte for a delicious spicy to read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Spring menu specials - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Came across this spot while passing time before catching our flight back home after attending a conference at Epic. Very nice little spot, but I do wish it had a little more seating. Everyone was super pleasant and quick. It definitely felt like a college kid spot, so I felt a little bit old, but otherwise it was very nice. I got a honey bee latte (with honey and lavender) which was super nice, and the mini carrots were moist and tasty. I didn't have the opportunity to try much more but I will definitely need to come back when I am in town again. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Honey Bee Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is great when it's not super busy. The only reason I'm taking off one star is because it can get unbearably loud when packed with undergrad students. Otherwise, it's warm and cozy with a large menu. I love the booths they have along the side wall -- perfect for getting work done since it appears that each booth has a spot to charge your devices. When it's busy, make sure to wear headphones if you're trying to concentrate. I got an iced chai latte with almond milk and a coffee cake muffin. Both were delicious. The sprinkle of cinnamon on the beverage was a nice touch and I appreciate that the barista offered to warm up the muffin for me. Altogether, the staff was friendly, the service was quick, and the food and drink was yummy. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Iced Chai Latte with Almond Milk and Coffee Cake Muffin - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Stopped by while attending a conference at UWM. The honey lavender latte was yummy. The service was fast despite it being crowded with patrons. Great stop in downtown Madison! read more

I stopped by on a Friday evening for a coffee. Not a time when people think of coffee. Not so surprisingly there were not that many customers. I went for a seasonal drink - chocolate milano latte. It was a good coffee. Cappuccino walnut scone was a good snack. The place had a good number of seat. You can work there while enjoying the coffee. Ambiance of the place was good. read more

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Bustling little coffee shop. Walk up, order at the counter. Small coffee $2.60, large $2.85. Paper cup. Various premade sandwiches and pastries under glass. Tap to pay available. Fairly clean establishment. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - From the back looking to street - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I'm a pretty big fan of their coffee drinks, and they have outlets at all of their booths to charge your devices when working which is handy. Their baked goods are not homemade, so I'd skip these. Haven't tried their other food items. Not the coziest or most aesthetic cafe in Madison, but it gets the job done! read more

Good food choices, Mom and Pop type business, good coffee and atmosphere to relax, use your laptop. The only issue I have is that they should add more charging ports and outlets because if it is busy, good luck finding an electrical outlet. Unlike in my generation, you need a battery, and a cord to function nowadays. LOL. read more

Despite the rave reviews on Yelp regarding the croissant breakfast sandwich, I thought it was bland (the inside, not the croissant itself). Still my favorite coffee place downtown though. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Egg and cheese croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Just meh. I've been here twice (about a year apart). On my last visit I got a flat white which, as you know is a coffee drink. So good news - for the price, a big flat white. Bad news: there was so much milk in the drink, I could not taste the coffee. read more

A group of friends were walking to the capital after lunch and my friend says he knows the owner so let's go in, ok I'm down because I'm a black coffee guy and don't go to coffee places like this. The place is packed which is a good sign so we waited our turn and I decided on a Carmel macchiato not knowing anything about it. Tons of great looking baked goods for the sweet tooth to pair with the drinks along with a small menu which was mostly light items but what a variety of drinks and food options. My fancy coffee was very delicious and surprisingly a great choice. I'm no expert on the coffee house thing but I must say if this was my thing it's the place to go for sure. read more

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This coffee shop is a great study spot! The music is quiet and good for students who want to focus with just a little bit of background noise. Additionally, it has a solid food menu, which sets it apart from options like Starbuck. I got a black bean burger and an ice caramel latte, and both were tasty. On that note, this is a good spot for people looking for vegetarian or vegan options. My biggest critique is that their coffee tends to be generic. They focus on garish flavors. That's fine if you want a Turtle Latte, but if your looking for an Italian macchiato, look elsewhere. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Cafe space - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I recently moved to Madison and Fair Trade is quickly making my short list of coffee shops! The service is always quick, the coffee is solid and while I haven't tried one yet they also have a long list of specialty drinks and smoothies. Their breakfast croissant is delish and relatively large- I usually end up sharing w my husband and find it plenty filling. There is also a variety of other sandwiches offered in addition to bakery. Service is always quick and plenty of seating available. read more

I ordered coffee here after the Bigger Than Roe march. Prices are fair compared to other shops near the capital. Wait staff wasn't as cheerful as I'm used to at other coffeehouses I'm used to going to, but it was the weekend and after a big rally. The coffee was delicious. I was happy to see there were plenty of vegan options. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Counter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Casual coffee shop on state street. We came here for a coffee and dessert. I recommend the apple pie!! Very tasty read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Apple pie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I always love going to Fair Trade. I usually get a London fog or a hot chocolate. The apple pie and spinach/feta croissants are my favorites. Service is quick, the place is a little busy and it can be hard to get a seat during busy hours, but it makes a great place to sit down and do homework- they have free wifi! read more

Came here on a busy day and it was pretty good. Really liked my coffee, but the breakfast sandwich was just ok. Definitely need to come back on a slower day! read more

Great cuppa and the flatbread with Avocado and pesto is soooo yum. What a wonderful vibe- with many people speaking many languages. I like it here. read more

I love Fair Trade! Excellent study space as a student at UW-Madison. Their coffee is great and the service is kind and welcoming. I highly recommend their pumpkin scone in the fall and their spinach feta croissant in the winter. If you are looking for a quiet place to study this might not be your go to - but if you are taking courses in the summer or want to indulge in a good book, their back door patio will certainly scratch your itch. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Pumpkin Scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Large coffee house on (usually) busy state street. Plugs easily accessible and coffee is pretty good (only had an au lait).

The cafe macchiato was pretty good. The cafe itself was spacious and great for reading and writing. The place is great for people watching or just relaxing. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Ice cafe macchiato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is my goto State Street coffee shop. It's generally pretty busy but has decent service and good coffee. Also a large variety of tea including iced tea. They also have cold brew coffee on a nitro tap. Has limited outdoor seating as well. Currently open during covid crisis and seems to be working hard to follow all the rules. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - They're doing a decent job with the covid mess - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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What an institution of State street and Madtown as a whole! Order tea, coffee, snacks or treats, all gives a sense of yum amongst an atmosphere of silence where our beloved UW pupils are able to study and us writers are able to write in depth. The only con is that it is difficult to find a table, which speaks to the popularity and a main-stay read more

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In a world of same and standard, FTCH is a wonderful touchstone to remember what a coffee house is supposed to be. A comfortable place to visit, drink, nosh, and waste a morning just enjoying the time, space and faces around you. The team behind the counter - Rock Stars... Nice, Friendly and can quick! The coffee is top notch! Not overly roasted at all. It roasted perfectly, brew and pulled with perfection so as not bring any harshness to the cups. The coffee is bold but mellow enough to enjoy all the edges of the flavors profile... It is nutty and sweet, while ever so slightly rich and acidic... It is like a great glass of drinkable wine (get drunk wine) because you can just keep drinking it! Have not tried the food, but it all smelled and looked wonderful. I did not see one plate with anything left for the trash- Great sign of great food! Thanks for the awesome brew! read more

Great coffee and food. The baristas are very friendly and quick with service as well. Good study spot nearby the UW Campus, but the music tends to be very hit or miss. One barista loves to play vintage tiktok music, and it's an interesting mix. read more

Everything in the bakery is just overpriced Costco. The coffee menu has way to many things on it. They should focus on a smaller and higher quality menu read more

Let me preface this by stating that I'm not a coffee drinker... However, I can still appreciate a good coffee house for the occasional pastry, hot chocolate, or smoothie. Fair Trade Coffee House does all three of those things exceptionally well, and the atmosphere of the coffee house itself is very relaxing. This was the fourth or fifth time I've been in here and the staff has been super friendly each time. All of the pastries are baked fresh in house daily, and it really shows. The muffins, danishes, and croissants stand out to me, but they also have cheesecake, chocolate cake, brownies, and a variety of bars. The prices are fair for a coffee shop on State Street, and they also have sandwiches if you're hungry for something more savory. They have an adorable little patio (literally like 5x5 ft) at the back of shop as well, if you can snag a spot in the warmer months. I highly recommend this spot! read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Full Monty Smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I came here for the first time today for a meeting and afterwards I ordered the Californian sandwich to-go. I didn't get a chance to eat it until almost 30 minutes later and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was still warm! I think this was due to the fact that they wrapped it in aluminum foil and sealed in all the warm, toasty goodness. This was very much appreciated. The sandwich itself was excellent. It was a flatbread panini with avocado, tomato, cheese and pesto. It was incredibly tasty, but I am going to call it a "two-handed" sandwich. I attempted to catch up on some personal tasks and messages during lunch but soon had to forgo the multitasking to tend to the pesto running down my arm. I'm not saying this in a bad way - the melty cheese definitely helped hold most of it together - I'm just saying have some napkins handy. In addition to the good food, they offered good customer service and were helpful in answering my questions about allergens. They also had a good list of smoothies on their menu so I will definitely be back to try some of those! read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Messy but delicious Californian sandwich on flat bread with avocado tomato, cheese and pesto! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Gee whiz are these employees nice. Truly. I spent two back-to-back afternoons at Fair Trade taking meetings and working and I swear everyone was treated like a regular, myself included. One gentleman in particular was chatty and welcoming without being overbearing and just lit up the place. On my first day I ordered the Californian panini. It was messy (like, crazy messy) but delicious. Pesto, tomatoes, avocado, and melty cheese blended well but the hot pesto and tomato dripped everywhere. There is no dainty way to eat this sandwich. Be sure to have a napkin or two handy and lean over your plate. Day two I stuck to a hot chocolate made with almond milk and that was quite delicious. My meeting buds seemed to enjoy their drinks as well. Fair Trade is the sister store to Michelangelo's, so their bakery case also looks incredible. I regret not ordering anything, but I guess that just means I'll have to go back. My only major complaint is that the internet was majorly dodgy both days. I was trying to upload one single picture and it failed and failed and failed - their internet just couldn't handle it. There were also several times throughout both afternoons that the internet just cut out completely. It's a pleasant atmosphere for hanging out and working, but if the internet is usually that sketchy I think the annoyance would deter me from making it a regular stop. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Back patio area. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great coffee and great servers. Their Cheese Danish is magnificent and so is the Almond Croissant. Great joint for a quick work session in a cafe read more

EXT - STATE STREET - COLD SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN LATE MAY (a tumbleweed blows across the intersection of State and Gilman) Aaron: Where is everyone? This place is a ghost town....and it's Saturday. Yelp: Looking for an afternoon bite? Aaron: Yes I am, actually. Let me take refuge at Fair Trade Coffee from this wintery day! INT - FAIR TRADE COFFEE - AFTERNOON (Everybody from the metro Madison area is present, busy knitting, talking about organic churches, and staring mindlessly into MacBooks.) Aaron: Hmmm. Well, I found everyone. Hopefully I can get a seat. And some food. Menu: LOL, not so fast! A sandwich will be an hour's wage, please!:) (Avoiding the bank breaking statements of the colorful menu board, Aaron nervously stares at the "Vegan Bar" in the display case. He's very hungry, but for some reason this "Vegan Bar" looks to be the only thing within his budget that will appease his taste buds.) Employee: (with coarse, inhospitable voice) Hi, what would you like? Aaron: (bashfully) Can I have a Vegan Bar and a tall Grasshopper Mocha? Employee: For here? Aaron: (trying to be lighthearted) Yes please...if I can find a spot! Employee: (even less hospitably) We'll find you something. That'll be $8.58. Aaron: (dies) END --- Long, poorly written video script summarized: This place was packed. I felt rushed and unwelcome. The food/coffee is expensive. Lot of people just milling around inside. The drink was frufru, so it's hard to mess up, but it wasn't bad. The vegan bar tasted vegan...but not bad. Overall, I don't care enough about expensive names like *fair trade*, *organic*, or *vegan* to pay for them, but if that's your thing, that's your thing. I probably won't come here very often though. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Grasshopper mocha and vegan bar. The vegan bar tastes vegan. Thankfully the grasshopper mocha doesn't taste like grasshoppers. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Ah good vibes all around. They whip up my ideal chai. Strong chai flavor that doesn't need any fluff of sweeteners or cream to make it delicious. It makes me happy that they don't frown in confusion when I explain I just want the tea, not the latte. No sugar, just some iced chai tea goodness. They brew it up real strong and remind me that when my cup runs dry, they've got some ready and free refills. Perfect. The gluten free pumpkin chocolate chip muffin at Fair Trade is where it's really at. This guy is how I define the perfect muffin. I like gluten, but man this dude doesn't need it. The lack of gluten makes for an incredibly chewy texture so unique that I'm left in awe and craving more. The chocolate chips and pumpkin flavor only add to the happiness. Friends rave to me about the zucchini muffin and I finally tried it today over my usual pumpkin muffin love. While I personally favor the pumpkin chocolate chip, there's no denying this is one tasty muffin. When something is covered in a cinnamon-oat streusel topping, it's hard not to be amazing. Think banana bread, in a portable muffin shape. And this muffin is huge, so double thumbs up. Oh but I can't forget the brownies. They are similarly ginormous like the muffins, studded with copious amounts of chocolate chips, and oh so rich. If you like dense, flavor packed brownies, then this is your brownie. Best in town in my book. In sum, the drinks are on point, the service is smashing, and the sugary concoctions make me swoon. Check it. read more

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When I walked into Fair Trade, a nice comforting feeling overcame my body. The nice smell of coffee filled my nose, and there was no line. The customer service was fabulous and top notch. I ordered an iced coffee to go which came up within 30 seconds of placing the order. My iced coffee was an exceptionally good price, too! The taste of the coffee is something to mention. For me, most iced coffee has a bitter taste. This iced coffee had an amazing dark chocolate/cocoa after taste that last a little. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - One of the many art pieces in here :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I have LOVED Fair Trade Coffeehouse since an undergrad!! That is about 8 years, mind you. :) 8 years of love, which probably makes me and FTC fairly committed while I continue to live in Madison! The food is fantastic, the coffee is alright, but well sourced and prepared. The staff is friendly, helpful, and all around fantastic 90% of the time. Summer reveals patio seating right on State Street, and a private back patio with just a few seats - but it LOVELY!! Winter is so cozy!! The fireplace is alive and crackling, and if I can trek through the mounds of snow and the blustery, icey winds to State Street, I try and snag that space. I find it a good mix of students (during fall and spring terms) and the general public, except for those pesky weekends during special events or game days. What can you do, though? Am I right? Whether it's a day off, after work pick me up with a good book or work assignment, FTC is one of my TOP go-to's for enjoyment and productivity! read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - Great for hanging out. VERY casual and relaxing. There's a fireplace in the far back and a cozy, small patio out back too! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The space is large and great for if you happen to be with a large group and are looking for a coffee shop where everyone can find a seat. However, if you are looking for a quiet place to study, sip on a latte, and get work done- this isn't it. The music is too loud (IMO) which means people who are present must talk louder making it nearly impossible to focus. I came because it is a great location and I had a coupon for free coffee, but am unsure of whether or not I will frequent it again. The menu does look fun to explore, the staff is very friendly, and I have heard great things about the smoothies! read more

Fair Trade boasts: A large, open seating area with plenty of outlets along the walls, A kickin' vegan pumpkin chocolate chip muffin, A mean chai charger, And free wifi (which doesn't even require a password). I don't really know what else you need in a study spot. (: read more

Hands down the best local coffee shop in Madison! A great place for coffee, a bite to eat, catching up with a friend, or getting some work done. The atmosphere is cozy and always accompanied by kind staff members and fellow coffee lovers! I would most definitely recommend a visit if you're ever in the neighborhood! read more

Usually I don't just avoid "gluten-free-vegan-friendly" joints, I run from them, but it was cold and slippery and we needed a place to get some work done without eating so we wouldn't ruin our appetites for Sri Lankan lunch at KJs Curry Bowl. We also wanted to be downtown, and this cafe was closest to the legal parking spot we miraculously stumbled across on a near zero degree January Madison morning. Serendipity is always good. As expected, the baked goods were not tempting, but my cappuccino was properly prepared and the tea bag tea the Chief of Staff ordered was adequate. We prefer tea served properly boiling hot over loose leaves in a tea pot with a normal sized tea cup and saucer, since we were in an American coffee shop I knew to order coffee. Like a lot of coffee shops, they serve tea in an oversized coffee mug and saucer which actually makes it a bit of a challenge to drink while you are concentrating on reading. The cappuccino comes in a cappuccino came in a cappuccino cup. American coffee shop owners must love Italians but hate the British. Hmm, maybe that's fair. It's a sunny wide open room, with a smaller warmer room in the back (with a fireplace!), the State Street facing window gives the place a warm feeling even on a frigid day. Most of the tables are set up for sitting straight and getting some work done, but there's a round low table with an assortment of more comfy chairs, these chairs called my name. Once in reading position, only then did I consult YELP and was pleased to find that from my comfy chair I was looking out the window right up at the apartment the famous Sarah P. lived in during her undergraduate days (above the Jamba Juice) and I do like historic places. Scrolling through the YELP reviews, I wondered about the handful of negative reviews, complaining about the service and the sandwich prices. I'm not sure that the prices complaint is still valid (the worst reviews seem older) as costs here for the food and beverages are completely in line with the location. I'm an academic, I've had coffee and preposterous conversations all over this town. I think that your opinion of the service might depend on personal taste. Me, I don't like the fake saccharine insincere friendliness of many corporate chain coffee shops. I've got a pathetic recently divorced middle-aged overweight heterosexual male friend, an academic who still wears his thinning graying hair long in a sad ponytail to give you a mental picture, he loves Starbucks mainly because some attractive young goth thing will smile at him and act like she's glad to see him. That sentence was so long that I'm not sure I worked in the key adjective, pathetic. What I prefer about the service here is that the baristas are polite, efficacious and efficient without any ersatz exaggerated friendliness. That doesn't mean they're rude, one of them pretended to listen to the peculiar rambling of some local crazy man (could be a tenured English lit professor) but there was some sort of unspoken but clearly practiced teamwork strategy so entertaining this colorful fellow didn't slow up counter service. I wonder if he was both crazy and an English professor, I mean how could anyone tell? Although I'm not a fan of the gluten-free fad, and I find vegan to be distasteful and ethnocentric, I do like the social justice of fair-trade. The thing is, I'm not sure that in all of the Madison area that there is a coffee shop that doesn't claim to be fair trade. It is, however, in the name of this place. read more

Fair Trade Coffee House - 8 am on not a school day. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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