True Coffee Roasters - Cafe — Restaurant in Monona

OH MY GOD!!! I can't say enough good things about this place - I've been to SO many cafes as a University student (including across Europe during study abroad, mmm), and this place definitely is in my top 5 all-time favorite places to go when I'm craving that perfect cafe atmosphere. It's not loud, so you can study, but it's definitely a relaxed atmosphere, comfortable to come here with a group of people and chat and still not bother anyone. ALSO, there is a wonderful outside patio area that is just gorgeous to sit at on a sunny day, with hanging flowers - you feel like you're in a special place!

Their coffee is AMAZING! And with the location in Fitchburg, you can even ask to be let in to see their roasting machine and all the coffee bags in the back. Super cool! Also, I judge cafes based on how they make their hot chocolates as well (I've been to cafes that made REALLY bad hot chocolates, and if you screw up a hot chocolate, that's pretty bad, because they're not even that hard to make) - and THIS place has one of the most delicious hot chocolates that I've ever had.They don't charge you for whipped cream, and they definitely don't skimp either! YUM!

Also, their food is a tad expensive, but it's still so worth it, because it's TO DIE FOR. I've never had such great cafe food - it's on par with a nice restaurant. Their paninis are amazing.

The staff are friendly, attentive, just amazing! And I love the artwork they hang up around the place - they showcase local artists and jewelers.

Love you guys over there at True Coffee, thanks for making this place worth the drive from...

Do not get the pour over. Perhaps it varies by barista, but the one who poured mine has clearly not received adequate training in how to do proper pour over. She simply poured the hot water over the grounds filling the V60 and walked away. The entire brewing process took maybe 2:30 at the most. A proper V60 pour requires ~30 seconds pre-infusion/de-gassing and either continuous or pulse pouring until about three minutes until the final draw down. This is, of course, assuming that the filter was rinsed and other proper measurements were taken (water temperature, bean weight, grind, etc). I'm not confident that these were done either; I didn't pay attention. What was yielded was a flavorless cup of underextracted coffee.

This is too bad. I do like this place otherwise, which is why it gets four stars instead of one. I buy my beans here, which are generally good and inexpensive. The coffee shop has plenty of seating and a nice ambiance. Their normal drip coffee is generally fine (much better than this pour over for sure). Their baristas and staff are very friendly, attentive, and helpful. I can't comment on their food or espresso drinks. It's an overall above average coffee house aside from...

I really wonder who is posting all of these reviews. Their espresso is not good, and I've tried it several different ways (latte, mocha, etc.). One day I went after Pilates and got a mocha and disliked it so much I threw it away and went to Barrique's down the road and had about the best mocha of my life.

The baked goods are pretty good but the made to order food is not. They take forever (how many hipsters does it take to make a sandwich -- and more importantly how long?) and the value isn't great. I ordered a Turkey BLT wrap once and there was no bacon on it. I took it back to the counter and the associate advised me that it's a turkey and not bacon wrap. I pointed to the description indicating that it included bacon. He took the wrap back, added 2 small (less than a 1/4 strip) pieces of bacon to 1/2 of the wrap and left the other 1/2 untouched. Thanks.

I go to Pilates next door nearly every day and almost always have coffee afterwards. I've been failed too many times by True so now it is Barrique's or Starbucks. I really want to buy them and buy local, but they just can't...