A Review of Waukesha, Wisconsin Area Coffee Shops

There are several coffee shops to choose from in the city of Waukesha. When weighing coffee shops, I'm not one to make a big deal about price, since coffee is generally inexpensive, and most shops have comparable prices-a nickel or two difference here and there is no a strong enough variable to be the determinant factor. However, atmosphere, menu, and shop eccentricities are important.

Caribou Coffee: 1890A Meadow Land, Waukesha, WI. Caribou Coffee offers a wide range of menu items, and nutrition information is conveniently located online to help customers make the best dietary choices. They serve standard coffee shop drinks and a few tea assortments; the menu items that really stand out, however, are the smoothies. Coming in four delectable varieties, Caribou Coffee's smoothies offer a unique cold-menu option, setting them apart from coffee shops that only offer iced coffee or tea for a cool-me-down on a hot day. Another point of distinction is the drive-up window located at Caribou Coffee's Waukesha store, making the shop ideal for an on-the-go coffee fix. Inside, the shop has a relaxed atmosphere and comfortable seating. Free WiFi is also available for sit-down customers. Overall, this location comes highly recommended.

The Steaming Cup: 340 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI. At The Steaming Cup, you can get a good cup of coffee and some nice blended drink, but the main attraction is their wide tea selection. The Steaming Cup is connected with Waukesha's Spring House Tea Room, offering, according to the Steaming Cup Website, nearly 120 tea choices. I've only sampled a few of their tea varieties, as I enjoy coffee more than tea, but locals that I've chatted with highly recommend dozens of varieties available at The Steaming Cup. Another reason to stop at The Steaming Cup is their live music; check The Steaming Cup's website calendar for details. Unfortunately, the live music leads to some irregular hours, with the storefront staying open later on peak performance nights. The store is consistently open early in the morning, but some days closes at 5:00 PM, and other days remains hopping until 10:00 at night. The store has a very open layout and nice outdoor seating on sunny days; street performances on Main Street are common, so it's nice to enjoy a cup outside when the weather permits.

Starbucks: 21481 Highway 18, Waukesha, WI. Another Starbucks, another beverage made from burnt beans or over-pulled espresso shots. While their coffee is cheaper than some of the competition, I did say that choosing a good shop should rely on much more than price. Their coffee has never struck my fancy, but many do enjoy Starbucks for their many sweet-tasting blended drinks. The atmosphere at the Highway 18 Starbucks is one of contemporary leisure; the décor is somewhat modernistic, the people in the shop are usually chatty and friendly, and the music is generally soothing. With WiFi available, it can be good place to pull up a chair if you're willing to drown out poor bean quality with some heavy cream and sugar.

Sources Referenced:

Caribou Coffee, Caribou Coffee, Caribou Coffee.

Caribou Coffee, Beverages: Get the Skinny on Your Favorite Treats, Caribou Coffee.

The Steaming Cup, The Steaming Cup, The Steaming Cup LLC.

The Steaming Cup, Spring House Tea Room, The Steaming Cup LLC.

The Steaming Cup, The Steaming Cup: Calendar, The Steaming Cup LLC.

Starbucks, Starbucks Coffee Company, Starbucks Corporation.