Blue Heeler
This medium roast coffee features earthy, full-bodied, and spiced flavor profiles.
Original roaster or listing source US Brand Directory
Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive
Colectivo Coffee
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Origin / region level
TagsColectivo CoffeeWisconsin coffee roastersGuatemalaEthiopiaColombiaCosta RicaBrazilIndonesiaHondurasPeruIndependentOrigin / region levelRoasts in-house
Visit Colectivo Coffee's site Colectivo Coffee is a Milwaukee-based specialty coffee roaster and retailer that has grown from a local warehouse operation into a multi-state cafe chain. The company emphasizes a hands-on approach to roasting, utilizing vintage equipment without automated algorithms to develop flavor profiles. Beyond coffee, they operate the in-house Troubadour Bakery, which provides scratch-made food and pastries to their various cafe locations.
Ownership
Colectivo Coffee is an independently owned company founded by Ward Fowler, Paul Miller, and Lincoln Fowler.
Founded
1993
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
Colectivo is known for its extensive footprint of community-focused cafes across Wisconsin and Chicago, its in-house Troubadour bakery, and its long-standing tradition of hand-roasting coffee on vintage Probat machines.
Sourcing countries
Guatemala · Ethiopia · Colombia · Costa Rica · Brazil · Indonesia · Honduras · Peru
Farm-level sourcing
The brand sources coffee from various origins and maintains direct relationships with farmers and cooperatives. While they highlight specific regions and occasionally feature specific farms, their public-facing product descriptions generally focus on regional profiles and flavor notes rather than consistent farm-level transparency for every offering.
Notable coffees
- — Blue Heeler
- — Finca Oriflama (Historical reference)
- — Session Roasted Coffees
Documented coffee offerings
Coffees researched from Colectivo Coffee
These are examples recorded during editorial research. They are not a live product feed. The coffee, lot, price, and availability may have changed. We have not necessarily brewed these coffees ourselves.
Colombia Paso Fino
Colombia
This light roast coffee offers a crisp profile with notes of cherry and baking spices.
Original roaster or listing sourceCosta Rica SL28 Hermanos Aguilera
Costa Rica
This coffee features vibrant notes of guava, tangerine, and green tea.
Original roaster or listing sourceDark Sumatra Highlands
Sumatra
This dark roast is characterized by its full-bodied, smoky, and earthy flavor profile.
Original roaster or listing sourceBrazil Canarinho
Brazil
This medium roast coffee provides an indulgent experience with notes of nutty, dried fruit, and dark chocolate.
Original roaster or listing sourceExternal customer, cafe, marketplace, and class ratings are not comparable measures of the quality of an individual coffee. We do not convert them into original tasting scores or brand-wide star ratings. Our independent reviews are published separately after a coffee has actually been brewed and evaluated.
Verify original product sources
Retailer information: Colectivo Coffee
Documented physical retailers
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand operates its own physical cafe locations in Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago where they sell their coffee.
Physical
Documented online sources
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand's official website offers a full range of whole bean coffee, subscriptions, and merchandise.
Website
I was able to verify that Colectivo Coffee sells its products through its own physical cafe locations and its official online store; while the brand mentions a 'grocery store locator' on its website, the specific names of third-party retail partners were not provided in the search results.
These references come from public store locators, retailer listings and brand materials. Last checked Oct 28, 2026. They are research links, not proof of current stock or a buying recommendation. Verify availability, price and location directly with the source.
In the news
Recent news and media coverage about Colectivo Coffee, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.
2026-07-24 · Evanston Now
Colectivo Coffee to open second Evanston shop Colectivo Coffee has announced plans to open a second location in Evanston, Illinois, at 2945 Central St. The new cafe will be housed in a redeveloped historic building that formerly served as an auto repair shop and is expected to open by early 2027.
2026-07-08 · Chicago Business Journal
Colectivo Coffee Roasters continues expansion across Chicago metro Colectivo Coffee Roasters opened its seventh Chicago-area cafe on July 8, 2026, as part of a broader growth strategy. The company currently operates 23 locations across Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison, with additional sites in development.
2026-05-14 · Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich, Colectivo Coffee team on blend Colectivo Coffee partnered with Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich to launch a limited-edition 'Yeli Blend' coffee. Proceeds from the collaboration support the Yelich family's charity concert and Visit Milwaukee's emergency relief fund for local businesses.
2026-03-20 · Milwaukee Business Journal
Milwaukee's Colectivo Coffee eyes Chicago growth Colectivo Coffee President and CEO Scott Isabella announced that the company is accelerating its expansion pace after a period of stability. The brand is prioritizing new cafe openings in the Chicago and Madison markets as part of its growth strategy.
Sources used in this deep dive
- https://colectivocoffee.com/pages/shop
- https://colectivocoffee.com/pages/retail-locations
- https://colectivocoffee.com/cafes
- https://colectivocoffee.com/collections/coffee
- https://colectivo.com/
- https://colectivo.com/collections/all
- https://colectivo.com/collections/coffee
- https://colectivo.com/collections/recurring-subscription-coffees
- https://colectivocoffeehouse.shop/
- https://colectivocoffee.com
- https://colectivo.com/pages/about
- https://colectivo.com/pages/our-story
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colectivo_Coffee_Roasters
- https://linkedin.com/company/colectivo-coffee-roasters
- https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/alterratocolectivo
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-06. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the company emphasizes direct relationships with farmers, I could not verify a comprehensive, real-time database of every specific farm or producer currently supplying their diverse seasonal coffee lineup.