7 locally-owned Wisconsin coffee shops where your dollars make a difference

Sure, Starbucks is fast, but grabbing a cup of coffee from a locally-owned small business is a simple way to make your dollar go further.

💸 DID YOU KNOW? When you buy something from a local business, about 70 cents stays in your community. When you buy from a chain, less than 40 cents stays local.

Luckily, Wisconsin is filled with a long list of small coffee shops and cafes that make the switch to local simple! Here are seven of our favorites that not only serve coffee, but their communities:

☕️ Seth’s Coffee

If you want your coffee guaranteed fresh, Seth’s Coffee is the place to go. The company brews every cup by the cup, so you’re getting something handcrafted to order every time. Started by a couple from Little Chute, Seth’s now has three locations around the Appleton area that serve every type of coffee you can imagine.

☕️ Stone Creek Coffee

If you want to support a company whose founding philosophy is to be a force for good, Stone Creek Coffee is the spot for you! The mini-chain has eight cafes across the state, but if you don’t live near one, order a bag of their signature brews online (and enjoy free carbon-neutral ground shipping).

☕️ The Goat Coffee House

The Goat Coffee House is a must-try if you’re around Eau Claire. Environmental friendliness is top of mind for co-owners Ryan and Laura, so all of their cups and dishware are compostable and all of their organic coffee beans are locally roasted in Duluth.

☕️ Bella Goose Coffee 

Bella Goose puts hospitality first in their cozy cafe environment, making it well worth a visit to one of their two locations in the Dells. This company also has a sister shop in Thailand, which employs people who don’t have consistent housing.

☕️ The Open Door Coffeehouse

The Open Door Coffeehouse is committed to more than just coffee–it’s actually a non-profit that offers mentorship programs in the greater Milwaukee area, so you can be sure your money is going to a good cause. The cafe also has a family room that’s great for customers with kids!

☕️ Colectivo

Colectivo is one of the state’s biggest local coffee chains with more than 15 locations across Milwaukee and Madison, plus five more in Chicago. The company partners with local producers to source its coffee beans from Riverwest, Milwaukee, and individual Wisconsin farmers.

☕️ Hi-Fi Cafe

A staple of Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood,Hi-Fi Cafe is a retro diner and coffee shop that’s as well-known for its large neon sign as it is for its lengthy coffee and food menu. Customers can choose from more than 17 coffee drinks as well as 12 different flavor shot options.

WISCONSIN COFFEE 101:

☕️ Our most popular coffee drink is the cappuccino.

☕️ Our favorite local roaster is Ruby Coffee Roasters in Nelsonville.

☕️ Our favorite national chain is Starbucks, and Wisconsin has 176 of them!

DID YOU KNOW? The city of Stoughton, Wisconsin takes credit for inventing the coffee break. The story goes that in the early 19th century, the local tobacco warehouse hired Norwegian immigrants to help at harvest time. They agreed on the condition that they be given two daily breaks to go home, do chores, and drink coffee. To this day, the city hosts an annual Coffee Break Festival every August with coffee tasting, food, and a fun run.

MORE: 11 Woman-Owned Coffee Shops In & Around Milwaukee