Beginning June 5, there will be yet another reason to venture over to the new Harbor District home of Boone & Crockett, the Pedal and Paddle Taverns and The Cooperage, 818 S. Water St.
Steve Hawthorne of Hawthorne Coffee Roasters will be taking on a summer residency on Boone’s patio-in-process, where he’ll be parking his coffee truck in the courtyard next to Taco Moto (and yes, that means you could, ostensibly, have a nice shot of Hawthorne cold brew with your next corn cup or chips and queso).
Hawthorne, who originally bought the truck to provide transportation to the farmer’s market, says he’s gradually converted the vehicle to accommodate full coffee service. Offerings will include pour-overs ($3), original cold brew ($3) and bourbon barrel cold brew ($4).
"We’re essentially going to treat this like a second location," notes Hawthorne. "We’ve committed to it for the summer and we’ll evaluate it from there."
The truck will keep early-morning hours on weekdays to capture commuter traffic as well as evening and weekend hours that synchronize closely with Taco Moto’s lunch and dinner service. Hawthorne says the truck is also likely to keep special hours during events at The Cooperage.
The Hawthorne Coffee Truck’s initial hours will be Tuesday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday from 7 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Cocktails, waffles and a great patio
If you’ve not ventured to Hawthorne’s cafe and roastery at 4177 S. Howell Ave. lately, there are numerous reasons to make the trek.
The cafe’s patio is now ready for visitors, so you can enjoy your cold brew with a side of sunshine.
There’s also a menu of inventive spring and summer-worthy nonalcoholic coffee concoctions including the Coffee Julep with fresh mint, simple syrup and bourbon barrel cold brew ($4.50), the Hawthorne Collins with cold brew, lemon, honey and mineral water ($4), the Cold (Brew) Fashioned with bourbon barrel cold brew, sugar and bitters (Angostura orange and Bittercube cherry bark vanilla, $4), the Espresso & Tonic with espresso, Angostura orange bitters and tonic ($4) and the Bronecki, described as the White Russian’s South Side cousin. This drink features bourbon barrel cold brew, honey and a splash of cream ($4.50).
The shop, which now has a full liquor license, also has a full menu of house cocktails, including whiskey drinks like a house Manhattan called Pablo’s Last Stand with Old Forester 100 proof bourbon, coffee infused Carpano Antica sweet vermouth and bitters ($9), gin-based cocktails like the Barrel Collins with Twisted Path gin, cold brew, lemon, ginger and mineral water ($8) and a rum-filled riff on the old fashioned featuring Twisted Path Dark Rum, cold brew, sugar and bitters ($8).
On Fridays, Hawthorne hosts happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. during which all house cocktails are $1 off. There are also $2 Montucky Cold Snacks, $3 shots of Fernet. The shop also hosts rotating food vendors, including Triciclo Peru, on Friday nights. So there’s food to go along with your cocktails.
Speaking of food, if you visit on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and noon, you’ll also find Press serving up their delicious Belgian liege waffles at the cafe.
Make it a brunch date by pairing waffles with a cup of joe or one of Hawthorne’s brunch cocktails – including a Bloody Mary ($6), Beer Mosa ($6) or Greyhound ($5) – and more creative options like the Twisted Chai made with Twisted Path White Rum, and Rishi chai tea (served hot or cold, $7) or the Southside Coffee featuring a pour-over or cold brew spiked with Old Overholt Bonded Rye Whiskey ($6). Any way you look at it, it's probably the highlight of your weekend.
Hawthorne Coffee open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours through 9 p.m. on Fridays.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.