Colectivo Coffee – Bay View

2301 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee

I got a little tired of Colectivo coffee shops—being the most ubiquitous coffee shops in Milwaukee—but since so many coffee shops closed during the pandemic—and some of them were Colectivos—I haven’t been to any Colectivos in a while. If you say “Colectivo” enough times really fast, it starts to sound weird. Or else you get used to it and forget what they were before they were called Colectivo. At any rate, they all seem new again. The espresso is good and not ridiculously expensive and comes in a cute little cup with lightning bolts on the side and the red letters, “CCR.” I guess that stands for Creedence Clearwater Revival—but I don’t know what the significance is. The thing I like about this place is that it’s huge—it’s a sprawling corner establishment with several entrances—I think their bakery is in there, too, though I wouldn’t know about stuff like that. I like that there are a variety of places to sit, and a variety of indoor/outdoor hybrid areas, depending on the weather. My favorite seating is the upstairs—quiet and less hectic—there are some private corners and cubbyholes, and a balcony overlooking the downstairs area. A lot of natural light (if it’s light out) but also, it’s pleasantly dark in there—a lot of brick and dark wood—one of the more relaxing cafés in town.

1.4.23