Been to Lake Effect a number of times, and it's a consistently good spot. On this Saturday morning, they were super busy and the place was packed. We were a group of seven and were able to find a couple of tables to pull together. The staff have always been super nice and helpful. They make excellent tea lattes. I usually go with a London Fog, and they do a very nice job with it, even adding some latte art. If I could make one suggestion, it would be offering a 16 oz option. They currently have 12 oz mugs, and sometimes I'm just looking for a little more. A tiny issue. Thanks! read more

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What a cute coffee shop! So many windows, greenery, and cozy decorations! This is definitely a spot I could hang out at for awhile. I just popped in for a to go coffee today but will definitely be back! Staff was super friendly and conversational! Amazing service- even though they were busy, my coffee was delicious and ready quickly! I had the butter pecan latte- so good! read more

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Lake Effect is a solid coffee shop that specializes in homemade syrups and fresh espresso. They have a great selection of specialty syrups that are made in house (A+) and they even have some you can purchase for home use. Their fall seasonal menu is currently in effect and the drinks are tasty! I tried the nitro pumpkin chai (not pictured) and the salted maple latte. The salted maple latte is obviously sweet, so I toned down the sweetness by adjusting the syrup levels. It was the perfect blend of salty and sweet. I also tried the power scone which is vegan and soy free--2 things I was super excited about. The power scone was hearty and perfect for a snack. Lake Effect has plenty of comfortable seating options, so I can see this being a great place to work from. read more

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What a cute spot!! It's so open and bright, which I love. Service was great, but the poor guy working alone was swamped and it took about 5 min for him to even get our order. But he was AMAZING! I just felt bad for him. There were not much baked goods available, since we stopped by around noon. So I wouldn't go here if I was hungry. I thoroughly enjoyed my grain bar and my mom loved her cranberry loaf. I got an iced americano with caramel syrup, which was yummy. The syrup does clump up a little, but I didn't mind. Everyone else enjoyed their lattes! I will definitely be back! read more

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Highly recommend this cute little neighborhood coffee house. We hosted a bridal shower there and they were so easy to work with and the coffee and treats were delish!! read more

Super cute space with great drinks. I really love the nitro chai! The space is large enough to accommodate multiple groups and it looked like there was a small conference room in the back as well (although not sure if it's open to the public). Definitely recommend. read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

Something to remember - this place closes at 2pm. And it's closed on Tuesdays. So check your clock and calendar. before heading out. Nitro Cold Brew I asked for easy on the ice, and they said that they actually don't add any ice, since it's cold already. perfect. That's just how I liked it. And this nitro coffee is legit! Power Scone It feels very healthy and it's good enough, but not necessarily my cup of tea. My choice was between this and chocolate muffin at 12:05pm. I think any of their bakery choices will hit tastebuds just fine. I don't think it's necessarily over the top enough for me to break keto though. btw, there is a church that shares the building with the coffee shop - so it being a sunday that I went, there was service going on in the hallway where I had to walk through to get to the bathroom. I wasn't sure exactly where the church started and the ended. read more

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I had a couple work meetings here with community partners. This is a cozy spot to meet and work. Lots of natural light. There was no food (not sure if it's seasonal or not), so keep that in mind if you're looking for snacks or a light meal. Baristas were friendly - they even made a cute smiling face in the coffee. : ) The other photo is herbal tea, and it was presented in this unique way. Parking is available in two public lots on either side of the shop, just across the street, which makes it easy. read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

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I discovered Lake Effect Coffee through a Yelp event and I'm so glad I did! I tried the Nitro Chai Latte and it was smooth, super delicious, and you could really taste the chai. I also tried the cranberry walnut scone, which had the perfect balance of of sweetness and tartness, and they gave me an olympia chocolate espresso granola bar which was just as good. The interior is super cute! There's plenty of seating and the employees were all friendly, helpful, and full of energy, which made the gloomy Sunday morning a lot better! It wasn't overly crowded, making it a perfect spot to read, catch up with friends, or get some work done. Can't wait to come back and try more of their menu (especially their banana bread latte)! read more

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I had the best morning at Lake Effect! Loved everything about my experience. I ordered the Nitro Cold brew and a blueberry muffin. They also gave me a complimentary Olympia bar. The staff member was so incredibly nice and personable. It's plenty big inside with multiple seating options. The atmosphere is perfect for a chill relaxing spot to get some work done or have a bite to eat. I love the decor. Will definitely return and I highly recommend:) read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Nitro cold brew - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

Delicious coffee drinks and teas, and super friendly service. Great seasonal menu, as well. Love the window-filled space and all of the plants - great vibes overall! read more

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The pastries here were AMAZING! We got the apple hand pie and the pumpkin nut muffin. Both had a great flavor, and the muffin was very moist. The filling in the hand pie was a perfect amount of sweet. The nitro pumpkin chai was delicious. The pumpkin spice latte was not sweet enough for my taste. Though you can tell it's non-artificial pumpkin flavor, it tastes like real pumpkin. The service was very friendly and the space was large - great location for hanging out or getting work done. read more

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Guys-- it took me TOO long to get here!!! I'm absolutely obsessed. And I finally get why it's so well rated. Take a big city coffee shop and plop it into Milwaukee, WI. A couple with a big idea for coffee on wheels and connection during the pandemic. You get Lake Effect Coffee. Their cold brew on tap is what they're known for. I tried their Nitro Chai Latte today and it has the perfect notes of nitro cold brew and spice accents. It's super smooth and creamy too with the oat milk that's blended in. The barista here (Nick) is incredibly welcoming, immediately sharing the story of Lake Effect in a quick 1 min spiel. Seriously, super passionate and conversational! I cannot wait to be back! A prime study spot for students who are able to do work from their limited hours in the day from like 7-2 or 8-2 on the weekends! The windows and open space concept really add to a productive study environment. And the music is very coffee shop vibey. Internet is available and parking is two private lots (both of which are the '4 hour' parking lots). read more

Lake Effect Coffee - nitro chai cold brew latte - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

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Okay I totally get why Lake Effect is so highly rated. What a great, cozy spot! Recently popped in for my first time to grab a coffee, get some work done, and meet a friend. The service was so darn friendly, like that stood out to me so much. I was unsure what to order, and I'm really not too picky, so I went with the recommendation of the kind gentleman behind the counter. Salted Maple Latte I believe it was called? He was right, it was gooood! And not too sweet either which I appreciate. The shop as a whole is nice and spacious, plenty of seating, and big windows letting in lots of natural light. They also sell merch and some other small items that would be great for gift-giving. I'll look forward to my next visit! read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

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I love having Lake Effect close to me in West Allis. It's a fairly quiet spot to work during the week. Nice and bright with all the windows. Drinks and bakery case have always hit the spot and the baristas are very friendly! read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

I will be forever thinking about the dirty nitro chai latte I had at Lake Effect. It wasn't too sweet and was perfectly smooth and creamy from the nitro. The shop is really cute with lots of places to get work done. The guy that took our order was super upbeat and pleasant to talk to. I need that nitro chai in my life at all times. read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Nitro dirty chai... all my wildest dreams come true - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

Lake effect is very open and welcoming with a lot of space and natural light. I got a nitro cold brew and a power scone and I loved both. The nitro cold brew wasn't as smooth as some nitros I've had before but the flavor was great. The power scone was filling and loved the craisins in it. I would definitely come back, great spot to catch up with friends. read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Nitro cold brew, power scone, Olympia bar - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

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Recently stopped in due to a Yelp event and what a cute space! Very open and bright. It is a lovely place to come work or meet a friend. Large menu selection and honestly all the seasonal drinks sounded really good. Tried the banana bread mini loaf and it was so much chocolate goodness. Will def be back to this gem in West Allis. read more

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Came here for the first time. So glad i decided to try this spot. Ordered a regular coffee with the vanilla syrup and it was delicious! Nice subtle cinnamon aftertaste. I enjoyed my coffee very much. Also had the banana chocolate chip bread. It was divine. Will be coming back on rotation for sure. Super friendly staff as well! Very spacious cafe. read more

The staff was so friendly. They gave great recommendations and walked the coffee over to where we were sitting. The ambiance overall is just really nice and there were a lot of interesting and tasty options for drinks. read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Iced wild honey coffee and iced blueberry hibiscus tea - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

Tried this last weekend and it was overall a good experience! Loses a star because they had very minimal pastry/food options. Other than that, the staff was very nice and the atmosphere was what I look for in a coffeehouse! It's worth noting that there's a church connected to the building with the reception area right by the main cafe, so if you're looking for relative quiet, I would avoid Sundays around the start and end of service times. read more

Stopped on as part of Yelp week. They were overwhelmed by the response and out of the offered item bit I was given a nitro chai in substitution and offered a coupon to come back, which I declined, I will happily pay full price next time. The nitro chai was delicious, not overwhelmed with ice like many shops do. Choice of pastry my daughter chose choc chip banana bread, I tried a piece, very good also. I was also given a trail mix bar, to my surprise, which I have not yet tried. Menu prices are more affordable than many shops in the area. Very friendly service. read more

So glad to see they have a space! Very friendly and quick service. Tried the haunted mallow latte, iced and it was amazing! The pumpkin walnut muffin was so good also. Had the perfect amount of pumpkin flavor! I would highly recommend this place and will definitely be back! read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Haunted Mallow Latte - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

We stopped by Lake Effect's coffee bike in the Tosa Village on Saturday mornings a few times before and liked getting their smooth and creamy nitro coffee (which is also pretty sweet if you don't like that). The owner has always been so friendly. It's great to see them open their actual cafe! I think it's a nice neighborhood coffee shop and also a great addition to West Allis's coffee scene. The cafe is bright and spacious. If you go in the early morning, the beautiful sunlight will shine through the cafe and reflect on the brand new La Marzocco machine. The signature nitro coffee is still on the menu, but I wanted to try their espresso. Got a lavender latte during the first visit and it was pretty good. The milk is steamed to very hot I guess due to the fall timing. Later, we also tried the honey latte and the nitro chai. The honey latte was perfect for a cold morning - nutty, sweet yet balanced. The nitro chai was not what I preferred a chai latte to be - too sweet for me. There are parking lots that allows free parking for up to 4 hours nearby. read more

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I had their Salted Maple Latte and was pleasantly surprised. Not too sweet, just right. The baristas are helpful!

Best coffee shop in west allis the vibes are emasculate best place to do some studying or getting some work done with a super friendly staff this is definitely Barber smalls go to spot read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

Super cute and cozy coffee shop with delicious drinks, solid amount of seating, and most importantly for those that like to do work in coffee shops, plenty of outlets!! The staff are all so friendly too. I definitely will come back! read more

Such a cute spot! Plenty of tables to either gather with a few friends or sit at the bar to get some work done. Coffee was delicious, service was friendly as well! Would definitely visit again! read more

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First time here and I loved everything about it. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect when you think of a local coffee shop. Tons of seating and tons of places to plug your devices in while working. Very well lit and the sound is very well maintained. Almost every table was filled while I was there and I had no problem focusing on my work. Also can I say the coffee. Oh my word it was delicious. I asked the barista what his favorite was out of the seasonal coffees and he highly recommended the brown butter cardamom latte. It was super delicious! Super glad I gave it a go. Will definitely be back again to try out different lattes and to just enjoy the atmosphere while doing work. read more

Enjoyed the most amazing nitro cold chai on tap. I had never had a chai on tap before. Flavor blend was perfect....not too sweet or spicey. Wait staff was delightful as well. read more

What a lovely space! So bright, well lit inside, great windows for lots of natural light. I have heard such great things about this coffee shop. It did not disappoint! The barista was very friendly, took my order, and quickly had it made. I met a friend there who had her tea set brought out to her. Wonderful service all around. A great spot for me to return to for a work session or leisure reading one afternoon. read more

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FOOD: I didn't end up ordering any food from Lake Effect as they only have pastries. I'm not too big of a pastry person. It'd be nice if the menu was expanded to have some sandwiches, paninis, and the like. SERVICE: The service at Lake Effect is awesome. They bring your drinks right to you. AMBIANCE: I love the natural lighting of the building. It's warm and cozy inside. There's ample seating and a conference room to reserve if you want to bring a group here. read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Macchiato and Oolong Tea - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

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Not going to lie I had high hopes for this coffee shop. I would like to give Lake Effect the benefit of the doubt I did not have their signature drink which might have changed my rating. When we heard about Lake Effect's opening Two of my friends and I instantly decided to WFH on a random weekday. When we rolled in, we were greatly surprised by the amount of space and available seating. Since it was the middle of a weekday it was not super packed so pretty much had the whole place to ourselves! Now the excitement died as soon as a sat down. It became so clear to me why there was so much available seating. Lake Effect has the most uncomfortable seats I have ever experienced at a coffee shop. We expected to WFH there for a couple hours and I could barely do 1 hour! The seating height is super awkward, and you would think the booth would be comfortable, but it was worse than the chair. I know, I know this isn't a review on chairs, but the seats honestly ruined my experience. Let's move away from the seats and onto the coffee. I decided to get the caramel latte and it was pretty good! My friend got one of the fall drinks and did not enjoy it as much as my latte. Now we might have dropped the ball on both of our drinks as we later figured out, they are more known for their Nitro coffee. So, if you are coming here for their regular coffee, I would say it pretty average. So, what's my final verdict? Average with subpar seating. Wouldn't recommend working from home here but please take my review of the coffee with a grain of salt because I did not have their signature Nitro Coffee. I will come back to try out their Nitro Coffee, but you can guarantee I'll be taking it to go. read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Carmel latte - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

A lovely coffee shop in West Allis. We walked here with our dogs and our baby on a nice spring day for a delicious nitro cold brew and a cherry hand pie. Staff were super friendly. The shop just started roasting their own beans. Definitely will be back! read more

Charming place with a very friendly barrista. Had a pumpkin nut muffin which was excellent- moist, fresh and dense with lots of walnuts and dried fruit. Coffee was also very good. read more

Lake Effect is a great spot to do some work or just hang out at for a bit. The interior is spacious, modern, and bright with several different styles of seating (high top counter, regular tables, and comfy cushioned seats). Ny friends and I got here at 10 am on a Sunday and it was pretty busy but not overcrowded. There is a church right next door (it's actually attached to the coffee shop) and service had just ended so that probably brought in some of the crowd. Staff was really friendly and kind, and service seemed efficient. The barista let me sample the seasonal nitro london fog which was unique -- it was a little sweet and chocolate-y tasting in my opinion but definitely had hints of a true london fog and still good. I ordered an oolong tea because I wanted something warm, and it came in a cute steeper with a timer set for when it would be ready to pour and drink. I also got an orange cranberry scone which was generously sized and not too sweet or dry. Overall, I love the ambiance of Lake Effect and will definitely be back! Their menu is small but quality and I can't wait to try more items on it. read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Oolong tea - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

I've spotted Lake Effect Coffee back when they served their coffee on wheels at the West Allis Farmer's market. Excited to see that they've opened an actual storefront!! I want so badly to gate-keep their coffee shop but they def deserve the recognition for their creamy, smooth nitro coffees. Not to mention the cozy, inviting feel of the space itself--this cafe was thoughtfully designed for coffee lovers who intend to grind and be productive. Plenty of seating galore, outlets to be found in every corner, soft lofi playing in the background. The cafe almost feels cabin-like with the wood accents strewn all around. Got myself their famous nitro cold brew, which was a bit on the sweeter side, but so creamy, strong, and delicious. Service was welcoming and friendly. My only complaint is that they close so early (3 pm most days, and 2 pm on the weekends)! 100% will be a regular here. read more

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This spot is great! I appreciate the ample space for doing work. Their nitro coffee and chai is my favorite!! They also have specialty drinks rotating through their menu, their peppermint mocha is also great! Service is great, cheerful and attentive! If you're hungry try out their hand pies, it's actually really good! read more

Lake Effect Coffee - Seats by the window - Cafes Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

Lake Effect is one of the best up and coming shops in Milwaukee! Great variety of baked goods and drinks. Unique options with their nitro chai which is a must have! The inside of the shop is beautiful and a great environment. I saw that someone thought the chairs were uncomfortable compared to other coffee shops but I disagree. I think these chairs and booths are more comfortable than the typical coffee shop that I go to and even some restaurants. read more

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My new fave coffee place. It's a cute cozy shop that offers superb coffee. It's right in West Allis, which is super convenient for me. Service is always friendly and fast. #supportlocal read more