Valentine Coffee Roasters Third Ward — Restaurant in Milwaukee

Valentine Coffee Roasters has completely spoiled me for any other coffee. The beans are roasted in house, and you can taste the care and precision in every cup. Their roasts aren’t too acidic, never burnt, just perfectly balanced and smooth, probably some of the best coffee I’ve ever had. After first visiting Milwaukee almost a decade ago, we’ve been ordering their coffee off and on ever since and having it shipped straight to our house because it’s honestly that good.

If you want a recommendation, the Costa Rica and Bering Sea blends are my personal favorites. They’re consistently excellent, but the fun part is that Valentine rotates in other blends as well, so I always suggest sampling something new while you’re there. You really can’t go wrong.

And even if coffee isn’t your thing, the hot chocolate here is incredible. Made with real high-end chocolate instead of powder, it’s tempered into a silky, rich drink that blows away anything you’d find in a packet. It’s not quite as thick as European drinking chocolate, but it’s worlds beyond Swiss Miss.

Valentine has mastered the art of roasting and it shows. Whether you’re stopping in while in Milwaukee or ordering from afar, you’re getting coffee that’s crafted with passion and consistency. For me, it’s a...

First time stopping in to Valentine’s. It was a Saturday morning, and the Third Ward was bustling with activity. The coffee shop is on a busy corner with plenty of foot traffic. It’s a beautiful brick building with a welcoming entrance and large windows. Inside, there’s lots of natural light from the windows all around. You’re greeted by merchandise displays as you wait in line. Seating includes a few small tables for two and counter spots for individuals.

It was a bit of a wait until I got to the cashier to place my order. I received a friendly greeting and some helpful guidance while ordering my favorite London Fog Tea Latte and a Chocolate Chip Scone. I sat at a small table while they steeped my tea and finished the drink.

It took a little while for my beverage to come out, as there were other people ahead of me who had ordered beverages and custom food items (breakfast sandwiches, etc.). When the tea latte arrived, it was excellent — little lavender, little vanilla, extra foam. The scone was good too — dry and crumbly, like a scone should be — though I should have asked for it to be warmed. The noise level was a bit high, but with AirPods I was able to comfortably read my book.

A lively but...

Do not eat here as a vegetarian: they are very careless about mixing up vegetarian and non-vegetarian options and multiple people I know, including myself, have gotten sick as a result.

When I raised my concern to a staff member that they had mistakenly given me pork instead of soy chorizo - which I very clearly asked for and was on my receipt - she was not even apologetic. I told her I was going to be extremely sick from eating pork and also it’s against my religion to do so. I was not offered an apology nor refund. She practically laughed about the mistake. I will never eat here again and am so upset by my experience.

It’s also worth noting that the coffee drinks are genuinely not good. I used to come for the food but after this experience, I won’t be back. The lattes are...