Coffee: 📍 Likewise: Wonderstate’s Medium Roast, Kenya Kamavindi Estate, as a pour over. Sparkling tones of jammy blackberries and juicy grapefruit, finishing with a long currant finish. Don’t get this one wrong, though. That long currant finish is the feature in this pour over.

It’s an overcast and dreary fall morning, and 7am couldn’t come quick enough to get my first cup of coffee of the day. I’m off to Likewise in Milwaukee’s Third Ward neighborhood. Hot coffee and a scone will chase the literal and figurative fog away.

Anthony, a familiar and welcome face behind the counter can deftly pull a shot, while holding space for last night’s Brewers game at the same time. Did you see that double play? I’m still confused by it. They almost won it in the end.

Don’t sleep on their bakery. Made in-house fresh each day, my coffee this morning was paired with a Spinach Feta scone. Crusty outside, warm and spice-filled inside. Perfect with coffee.

Likewise can be found on E Erie street, a modern looking open glass cafe front with seating outside, and plants framing all areas of the cafe inside. Prefer a booth? They have those. Need a high top to catch views of the street overlooking the river? Line up at the window. I prefer the bar top in the thick of things around the island that is their workspace.

I can’t hide it, Likewise is a longtime favorite of mine. No doubt unsurprising that I would choose it as my first coffee shop to highlight. There’s a story behind it. It’s where my journey, the chase of the perfect cup of coffee began. And that’s only the introduction. Pull up a chair at the counter and let’s chat.

Community starts after the first sip.