I’m not sure if it’s because I feel like a badass the moment I walk through the doors, or if it’s the fact that the coffee is always good, and even better when served in a glass drinking cup. It’s probably all of these things and more, forcing me to come back to Fuel Café on 5th, week after week.
It’s a coffee shop unlike many others in Milwaukee. It’s original, even as a clone. Coming from Riverwest, Fuel on 5th has found a way to evolve and fit perfectly in with the neighborhood to the south. Here, you can come in for a cup of coffee, or a burger, or maybe a beer. It’s not just a café, but a bar and grill as well.
Business people, hipsters, bikers, punks, and whoever else walk into Fuel are hit with the same coffee-tinged air, and greeted by a building and business that is weird and perfect all at once.
The Vibe
Motorcycle memorabilia and art greet you right away and mixed in with an industrial feel, you feel the roots of Milwaukee seeping into you. This place could only exist in this one city.
The coffee shop area blends in a bit with the restaurant (especially on weekends). The area is open, with garage doors letting in the fresh air, and the sounds of Walker’s Point fill the café area. There aren’t any walls separating the area, but this welcomes in the smells of the kitchen to the coffee shop and the smell of coffee to whiff over to the bar. It’s a win-win each way.
This is the type of coffee shop you go to if you’re going with friends or when you need a true energy boost. The feeling isn’t necessarily relaxing, but that’s perfectly fine. The energy is rumbustious and ready to go. People are laughing and eating their meals around you. You don’t come to Fuel to get your thoughts together. You come to Fuel to get shit done.
As always, I have to applaud the music choice here. Classic rock is almost always playing when I’m here, and as always, I really dig that. Bowie plays often, and if there isn’t some classic rock, solid alternative rock or blues is cranked over the speakers. I’m not sure who picks the music per day, but I’m always eternally grateful to them.
Give Me A Cup
There’s something about a hot, steaming latte being poured into a glass drinking cup that creates some excitement in me. I’m not sure if the glass makes the coffee taste better or if I’m just excited for some change. I swear I’ve never had better coffee in my life.
From vanilla lattes to iced vanilla lattes, I’ve had, well… I’m not very good at venturing out of my coffee-comfort zone, but they don’t disappoint. As always, I had a friend taste-test some of their other coffees for me, just to make sure I wasn’t biased. A cup of their cold brew, which is on tap, by the way, was celebrated by one of my friends on one of the hottest days of the year. A true-fan of cold brew, he had nothing but compliments for the coffee.
Fuel serves Milwaukee favorite, Colectivo Coffee, but somehow, it always tastes better at Fuel. Again, I swear it might be the glass cup, but I can’t be too sure. The baristas always seem to make my lattes exactly how I like them, making me believe they can read my mind or something. I have to give them props there; often there’s only one barista, making the drinks for a line of people. And while I know the sign says, “Lousy service, killer coffee,” I can’t help but disagree. Those people are my own personal rock stars.
Location
I never spent a lot of time in Walker’s Point before I started going to Fuel. I would drive right past it, head straight down to Bay View, but often wonder what I was missing. I’ll be honest, I don’t remember how exactly I stumbled into Fuel on 5th one day, but I’m happy I did.
5th Street is full of life. Restaurants and bars line the street, many with outdoor seating. The street is always vibrant, even in the winter, with Hamburger Mary’s at the end and the colorful buildings and art that surround the area. I think the location is perfect for this place. While the Fuel in Riverwest fits the Portland feel of Riverwest, the 5th Street location fits the feeling of Walker’s Point.
Fuel isn’t hard to get to. It’s close to the Harley-Davidson Museum, The Iron Horse Hotel, and the train station as well. The influence of the motorcycle seems to be a theme in the area, and Fuel adds to it.
I’ve always found driving there to be a breeze, but I never attempted to take the bus. The Green Line drops off only a few blocks away, making it semi-easy for UWM students to get down there.
Parking
I’ve never had an issue with parking on 5th. There’s a lot of metered parking, which is usually a two-hour limit until 6 p.m. Up on the north end of the street, there’s free, unmetered parking, but that usually results in a two block walk.
Rewards
The classic old punch card is used for both Fuel locations. Get ten punches and you got yourself a free cup.
Conclusion
As time has gone on, I’ve officially decided this was my favorite Milwaukee coffee shop. I always find my soul being pulled back to the coffee that’s served in a glass cup, where Bowie plays over the speakers, and I feel just cooler sitting there. I love how the environment motivates me but leaves me alone to do my work. It’s not relaxing or peaceful, but hey, it never promised that. The coffee is good, the food (while not part of this article) is just as good too. I never pull up on a bike, but sometimes, my station wagon feels like one while I step into Fuel. While I wish they had longer hours, I’ll take what I can get.
Vist Fuel
630 S 5th Street
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*Note, the bar and grill hours are different