Good morning news, coffee drinkers! Radio Milwaukee and Discourse Coffee made a big announcement bright and early today. Discourse – known for its unique, experimental coffee and alcohol-free drinks – plans to open an all-day café in the former Stone Creek Coffee space at Radio Milwaukee (2020 E. Pittsburgh Ave.), the station’s home since 2013. Discourse is shooting for a January 2024 opening.
Stone Creek left the café space in 2020 after seven years there.
Discourse, which first came to local attention when it opened a coffee bar in Crossroads Collective food hall in early 2022, has been on fire of late, opening additional cafes inside Milwaukee Art Museum and on the campus of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE).
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“We are incredibly excited for this partnership with Radio Milwaukee as we view this cafe as the full evolution of what we want Discourse Coffee to be,” said Discourse founder/creative director Ryan Castelaz, via a press release. “Radio has been an important part of my life for a long time and the way Radio Milwaukee approaches storytelling and music discovery strongly parallels the way we aim to tell stories through flavor at Discourse.”
Castelaz says the new concept will show further progression of their artistry while also balancing the mainstream side of a coffee bar. In other words, you’ll be able to get a pour-over coffee or a beverage that pushes boundaries. For example, the Discourse team will offer drinks inspired by Milwaukee’s music scene and by the “personalities of Radio Milwaukee,” says Castelaz.
And there will be far more than coffee-inspired drinks here. The menu will also offer no and low-proof spritzes along with full-strength cocktails “for evening enjoyment.” Add to that a curated selection of beer and wine.
Serving various food creations is part of the plan as well. That will include sandwiches and salads, soups and boards, patisserie and desserts spearheaded by Frankie Hartmann, Discourse’s pastry chef.
You can sample a smattering of what Discourse will offer at Radio Milwaukee next month when they host two week-long pop-ups during the station’s membership drive, October 2-6 and October 9-13. The pop-up will take place at Radio Milwaukee each day of the drive, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Discourse started just six years ago in Sister Bay, Wisconsin. Castelaz operates the business with business partner Sean Liu.
