I've been frequenting area coffee houses for about 15 years and have seen a sad falling trend in quality of coffee and companions.  The bigger local establishments are going the way of Starbucks... becoming more trend than substance. 

Alterra, although providing fantastic roasts to the Milwaukee area and beyond, has lost the true meaning of the coffee house - great coffee and great espresso in great company with great music.  Nothing is more irritating than to pay $4 for an espresso drink only to get a watered down, weak tasting cup of what should be coffee-filled happiness.  I have noticed, however, that all of Alterra's staff appears to be of the same ilk... appearing that the hiring staff is concentrating more on looks than talent...  and if you should complain about your drink, you're met with grimacing, snotty faces looking down their noses at you.  Come on Alterra!  Get some Barista's in there that can make a good shot of espresso, and TRAIN THE OTHER ONES to do it!  If they can't be taught, then get them away from the espresso machine.  Why should I bother complaining about a drink when they're just going to make me another one that tastes equally as bad?   The number of times that I've been forced to choose coffee over a latte when I really want one because "that guy" or "that girl" is making drinks tonight has become more frequent than not.   

Stone Creek, although a fundamentally great company who is all about the community and their staff, has a product that I just cannot get behind.  I want it to be good, I really do, but every time I order a drink there, I'm disappointed.  They lack flavor and substance... and sadly that goes for just plain old coffee too. 

The only places you can get a really good cup these days seems to be HiFi, Node (if you can stand the smoke) and Anodyne (formerly Brewed Awakenings)... who has been consistent for the 15 years that I've been going there.  I've never had a bad drink there... or bad food either.  Although they've changed names since the "old days", their coffee is still outstanding, the atmosphere is as it should be, and the staff is nothing but pleasant and arty in a good way.  Seldom have I been met with pretentiousness at Anodyne... I've always felt welcome there and continue to do so with a visit to the new location in Bayview.  The place was dead... which makes me think that there's something wrong with the coffee-shop goers in Milwaukee.  Are they a dying breed?  Only wanting sweet, syrupy tasting coffee drinks that barely have any coffee flavor to them like those of Starbucks notoriety?  If so, what a sad commentary...