Milwaukee's East Side is getting another caffeine player, as Street Coffee Collective lays plans to open at 2008 N. Farwell Ave with an expected start of service by August 2026. The new spot from two Milwaukee transplants is set to pull double duty as a quick-service café and an events hub, with barista classes, pop-ups and off-site beverage service all on the board. Owners say guests can expect traditional espresso drinks, rotating seasonal specialties and a lineup of teas, along with catering and drink service at festivals and events around Milwaukee.
Founders' vision
Street Coffee Collective is the brainchild of Hannah "Fish" Staple and Kamren Starkey, who met while working at a Counting Crows concert in Indianapolis and bring a mix of brick-and-mortar and mobile coffee chops to the project, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Staple, who moved to Milwaukee to work at The Daily Bird and Roast Coffee Company, said "it's not just a coffee shop," describing Street Coffee Collective as an immersive, hands-on experience rather than a simple grab-and-go counter. Starkey's background is rooted in mobile and catered coffee, including running a coffee truck in Denver, per the report.
The space's past
The corner storefront at 2008 N. Farwell Ave has seen plenty of turnover over the years, previously housing Farwell Coffee Bar, Green Dragon Freedom Café and Brewing Grounds for Change before most recently being occupied by MJ's Apothecary & Gifts, according to the East Side Business Improvement District. The location sits near Brady Street and campus corridors that draw steady foot traffic, a factor the owners say helped sell them on the Farwell address. Local business groups note that the stretch has seen a wave of openings and turnovers this year, creating both opportunity and competition for newcomers like Street Coffee Collective.
Menu, events and expansion plans
The menu is slated to center on espresso drinks, a rotating specialty lineup and teas including sportea, matcha and hojicha, and the owners told reporters they will also cater and sell beverages at local festivals, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Staple said she hopes to host barista classes and, if permits and neighbors are on board, daytime DJs and what she calls "coffee raves." Starkey said the collective is looking beyond Milwaukee, with plans to expand to other cities, including Indianapolis, while using the Farwell Avenue shop as its headquarters.
The owners say they will share launch updates on Instagram (@streetcoffeecollective) and on a soon-to-debut website, and will lock in a firm opening date once permits clear and build-out work is finished. For now, the East Side has one more coffee concept to watch as Farwell Avenue keeps reshaping this summer.
