Crescendo Espresso Bar - Music Cafe
1859 Monroe St, Madison, WI, 53711
Crescendo Espresso Bar - Music Cafe Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Madison for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Madison for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Madison for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
1859 Monroe St
Madison, WI, 53711 - Phone (608) 284-7908
- Website https://crescendomadison.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:30 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Izzy D.
Kick back with a book, a soy latte, and a Silly Yak gluten free vegan chocolate raspberry muffin (if you have the weirdest diet but love all of the delicious). A Monroe street gem of a coffee shop.
(4)Lyschel B.
Love the atmosphere! Fireplace!!!! Staff is always up for a laugh. I am not a coffee drinker but I do enjoy the iced tea. My children and I absolutely LOVE the Tree Huggers!!!! They are always asking for Tree Huggers as a reward. Heck, If I can get the cat box scooped it is a great deal! The Tree Huggers are egg sandwiches with pesto, cheese, spinach and tomato. They were even kind enough to let me interview for employees before my store was open. Odd request but Cait was up for it and it actually turned into a lot of fun!
(5)Heather H.
This is a fabulous coffee shop that also serves wine, beer and food. Highly recommend the flatbread with goat cheese, olives and avocado. All the ingredients were so fresh! They brew Anodyne coffee which is one of my favorites - if you are looking for a perfectly and expertly brewed cup of high quality coffee, this is a great place to go. They also support the local music scene and are operating as a venue for acoustic acts. I saw a show here recently and it was amazing. The sound is great and the band was awesome and a perfect fit for this venue. In short, highly recommend this place whether you're looking for coffee in the afternoon or a drink and some good music at night. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful as well. Five stars all around!
(5)Vern P.
Barista was super friendly and helpful. She explained the coffees and answered all my questions. The coffee was great and so was the cranberry cookie. Good place to relax and people watch.
(4)Robert T.
This place is easily one of my favorite coffee shops in town. Every time I come here the service is friendly, and the coffee is top-notch. What's more, they just became the first shop in Madison to serve nitrogen coffee, which if you haven't tried it...just try it!
(5)Shruti W.
Crescendo is one of my new favorite spots for a few important reasons: 1) AVOCADO TOAST. It's giant! and delicious...AND you can ask them to give it a kick with some cayenne. The bread is luxuriously thick and tasty. I've heard the breakfast sandwiches are good too, but I haven't been able to try anything else since having the avocado toast. 2) Great coffee. I've stopped in here many times over the past year or two to grab a cup of coffee. Their coffee and espresso drinks are awesome, and they have many tea options. They also offer a bottomless coffee option. Warning to those who don't like sweet chai mixes, they use the pre-sweetened Tazo chai mix for chai lattes. However, they do also make a chai latte from tea bags, which is unsweetened. 3) Nice work environment. This is something I've recently discovered. There are lots of tables and outlets, the music is low key and conducive to doing work, and most of the people there are working or reading or doing other quiet activities. Whether you're just stopping by to grab coffee on the way to somewhere else or have a day of work planned, I recommend checking out Crescendo!
(5)Christoph J.
Yes, I tried the avocado toast. And yes, it was fantastic. I also shared a breakfast muffin called "The Treehugger", and it was pesto perfection. We were there a few hours, and shared a chicken burrito before we left. I'm not sure that the burritos are house-made, because it seemed like a frozen burrito. Either way, it was a good burrito and I'd order it again. It came with salsa and cost only like $5. They offer pour-over coffee here, and it's great. The almond milk chai latte I ordered was delicious, and I gladly ordered another before leaving. The place cozy and nice, but I did find it a little cold in there yesterday. The owners and staff at Crescendo are fantastic and do a great job. The place was clean, even the bathrooms. The music playing was a nice mix of low-key tunes. Everyone there just seemed really relaxed and happy. Jut a really nice coffee spot with good vibes. Loved it, and will definitely add it to my weekend coffee shop rotation.
(4)Mike H.
My favorite coffee shop in town. Cait and Paul are humble and warm business owners that are always improving the atmosphere of their shop. They love Madison, its music scene, and good coffee. They serve Anodyne, one of Wisconsin's finest roasters; and recently even started serving their cold brew coffee in single serve bottles and on tap (yes, on tap). Great place to study, meet with friends, or take in a show.
(5)Sarajane L.
So, first, the good. The coffee. Is. GOOD. On par with Victory on Atwood, my very favorite in town. Anodyne, first time I've had it, and I ordered it pourover, Ethiopian. Really, really, really good. You can choose any of the beans they have, not just the daily choices, so that's cool. The signage. They've probably used someone like Planet Propaganda to design their logo and corporate ID, and it's good. And now, the rest. Prices. $5.00 for a Chemex brew? That's nuts. At Victory it's in the $3 range. A pourover here is $2.75, also a bit high. They list 'creative add ins' for your coffee, and they want .65 to add honey. What?? There's honey on the homey, heavy wood Sideboard stand. behind you to add in, for free. In a big squeeze bottle, with one inch of hardened honey in the bottom. Good luck getting that out. There's also one stainless steel dispenser, unlabeled, which you assume is cream. It has about a teaspoon of liquid in it. You pour it in, and when you give them the container to refill, they tell you it was skim milk. Ugh. They insist that it *is* labeled. You look again, and sure enough, once upon a time, someone wrote 'skim' on it, in Sharpie, which is 90% scratched off now. Seating. The place was pretty full on a Saturday morning (11/1/14). No table seating was available. Much has been made of their fireplace, which has exactly one chair next to it. With a big hole ripped in the arm. That was the only seat, so I took it. Outlets. None visible. Wifi requires a password, which is not apparent until you try to log in. Another patron supplied it to me. Service. Harried, unsmiling, no greeting. The staff seems stressed and unhappy. I just don't see why it's so hard to look up, say hi, and smile when a customer comes through the door. You need to set the mood, welcome and acknowledge people, then the wait isn't such a big deal. Their go-to move seems to be to apologize once someone finally reaches the counter. They apologized to everyone. Cleanliness. Not so good. Borderline grimy. The self service containers, dispensers, floors. The armchair next to me has spilled coffee that has dripped down and dried all over the side. Ugh. The massively bearded dude making the food behind the counter wore gloves, occasionally. Summary... I'll try them again in the evening sometime for music and wine. I have a feeling that's where their heart lies, and that's cool. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here for coffee or food again, although the coffee was well prepared. That's the best thing I can say. I hovered between two and three stars, but the coffee decided it. Everything else honestly needs help.
(3)Richard H.
This cafe has become a part of our (perhaps overly) regularly routined lives. Being in grad. school, we spend a lot of time reading and don't have much money. Since we don't have much money we shop at Trader Joe's and go out for coffee and read for a few hours at Crescendo. The space is cozy, which is great for the winter and terrible for trying to get to the bathroom. They have solid food options, including Gotham's bagels. I've never been disappointed by the staff or the coffee...though one time I did have 1 cup too many.
(4)Chiahomer C.
On a cross-country trip, we stopped at a Trader Joe's across the street to stock up on food. We needed good coffee. Spouse went to this place, which was across the street, and got us 2 cups. Hands down, it was the best cup of coffee I had in the 19 states we visited on this trip. I wish I lived in Madison. :(
(5)Corey D.
This just in: Avocado Toast is a 2015 food trend to watch. Where did I learn of this? Time Magazine aka a really reputable source for trending foods across the land. You know who's been serving Avocado Toast for like, ever? Crescendo. Which means two things: 1. Crescendo Espresso Bar is a trendsetter. 2. They're more reputable than Time magazine because they've been putting avocado on toast for longer. In all seriousness though is is probably my favorite food item if I'm sitting down for a wealth of work. Something about my favorite mashed up fruit on a warm piece of thick cut toast just really gets this guy going. It's creamy and toasty and barely fits in your mouth the way they cut the bread, AND if you're looking to heat things up, they'll sprinkle a little cayenne pepper and add a few drops of hot sauce. Also important to point out is the fact that the beautiful work-worked pour over station they use on site can come home with you! Well, not THAT one, but a different pour over stand. Cait's dad Joe made several for holiday gifting, so pop in and check out all the options. And if you're reading this after the holidays, the stands would still make a stellar gift for a birthday, graduation, father's day, boxing day if you're Canadian... the list goes on. And the last little tidbit I'd like to leave here is Crescendo joins the ranks of only a half dozen places where you can purchase Yes coffee, a new roaster out in Monroe Wisconsin that makes a pretty mean bean. They have a decaf that in my opinion trumps their caffeinated varieties, which I understand is do in part to the careful work done by one of the owners who can't consume caffeine. That little hiccup makes the decaf roasting process all the more important for him and all the more delicious for you!
(5)Susan S.
Best iced coffee in Madison, probably in Wisconsin, possibly on planet Earth. They recently put it on a nitro tap which makes it even better. Get an iced coffee and a peanut butter granola toast and you'll feel like you've died and gone to heaven.
(5)Lydia J.
After a change of hands, this cafe spot on Monroe Street has transitioned to the perfect place to learn more about coffee, listen to some live music and enjoy the company of neighbors and friends. The owners are enthusiastic about music + coffee and they really show it! A new, custom made pour-over station ensures you get a cup of the best quality and learn something new while you're at it! Some alterations to the front of the shop let more light in for a fresh, relaxing spot to do what you need to do while you caffeinate. If it's a little too late for java, there are wine and beer options, too! Hungry? The flatbread is delicious!
(5)Rochelle K.
Loved my recommendation from the very friendly staff! had the Miele Latte which is a delicious Honey Cinnamon LatteI also loved the Tree Hugger bfast sandwhich...pesto veggie egg fast on an English Muffin!!!! Soooo good!!
(5)Melanie P.
I love stopping in this coffee shop when I walk to work. They make delicious espresso drinks. I especially enjoy the lattes. The espresso has tons of crema and the flavor is perfectly balanced. I never need to add any sugar or syrup to the latte--that's how good it is! I also love the scones that they make. My favorites are lemon, pumpkin with cream cheese icing, and rosemary cheddar. I highly recommend this coffee shop if you want to stop by or if you want to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee.
(5)Matt G.
Initially went as a friend of mine was performing and was blown away with the atmosphere. I am not really a coffee aficionado but I can honestly I had one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had. They know there stuff. The owners really take pride in this place and made it their own. It feels like you are part of the family when you are there. Loved it!
(5)ArchaeoFiero S.
Great espresso and coffee right across from Trader Joe's! They use locally roasted coffees and prepare it correctly. I had a great double espresso with perfect crema, followed by an expertly prepared pour-over. It's rare to find a cafe that does either of these perfectly, so I was pleasantly surprised. The staff is apparently very well trained and seemed happy to be working. About me: I've roasted coffee at home for the last 7 years and own two professional espresso machines along with two pro grinders and a lot of other equipment, so it's rare that I find cafes that can prepare coffee on par with what I make at home. In fact, I've only ever found a handful that can--Crescendo is one of them!
(5)Scott L.
Great place, love the fireplace on a cold day, and the coffee is excellent. I don't like that some of the baked goods are sealed in plastic.
(4)Erin L.
Realistically this is all I need in a local coffee shop. A rotating display of art work on the walls, great music playing in the background, mismatched plates & mugs, sunshine streaming in through the windows, the opportunity to catch some local bands or author readings. And of course, great coffee. I don't need to buy a mug with a company logo on it or some schmaltzy last minute gift that screams "I didn't try. At all." Looking forward to many return visits with laptop in tow & pretending to be working while what I'm most likely doing is running background checks on potential dates.
(4)Danielle N.
Get the Mocha Blended thing, amazing! This place is also great to keep an eye on for live music, which they feature pretty regularly. Cozy little setup, owners are always there, good conversation, great Frappes.
(4)Patti M.
Only had the iced coffee and won't get it again. They fill half the cup with water and then put a "concentrated" coffee in it. Not good, tastes watered down and bitter. Brewed coffee is on the only way to go for iced coffee.
(1)