The city of Manitowoc is certainly a great place to live for all coffee lovers.
There is a coffee shop for any and all coffee connoisseurs in the area, it could be hard to choose just one to try.
To help find the perfect go-to coffee place, here is a guide to some of the coffee shops in the city:
Harmony Cafe & Juicery
921 S 8th Street, Manitowoc
Harmony Cafe & Juicery is a newer coffee spot in Manitowoc as it opened in 2022. It’s owned and operated by Grow it Forward Inc. All purchases made at the Harmony Café benefit Grow it Forward’s mission to provide good food to those who need it. The café was opened to give the city of Manitowoc easy access to locally produced goods from Wisconsin. They use organic, fair-trade coffee roasted in Wisconsin, locally produced cheese, Wisconsin based tea, meats, syrup, honey, produce, and much more. Each month they feature a new specialty drink, sandwich and scone. In the upcoming month they will be sourcing locally produced truffles and shrub beverages from a local farm.
Jenn’s Java
1124 Washington Street, Manitowoc
Jenn’s Java has been a Manitowoc staple since they opened back in 2003. Owned by Jennifer Backus and Aaron Kowalski, the idea to open a coffee shop arose from Backus first working at a coffee shop as a regular employee and she fell in love with the experience. Her mother owned her own craft shop and when the time was right, she collaborated with her mother to own her first shop, From the Grounds Up. Then 6 years down the road when the building went up for sale, they purchased it and moved down three doors and opened Jenn’s Java. The coffee shop isn’t just known for their coffee, Jenn’s is best known for their homemade desserts. Jenn’s has a team making cheesecakes, tortes, bars, cakes, and more to be served everyday they’re open. Backus also encourages her team to be creative and try different flavors and recipes to keep customers wanting more. Jenn’s Java has new specials daily, currently they’re between specials but they do have their Honeybee Breve which has vanilla syrup made in house and real honey, along with their Yellowjacket Breve with Sweet Heat syrup and honey.
Manitowoc Coffee
706 York Street, Manitowoc
Manitowoc Coffee has been around in the heart of Manitowoc since 2007, although it’s had numerous owners over the years, the current owners Peter and Teri Stemper have transformed the shop into a well-known Manitowoc favorite. They took over the business in 2017 and expanded the business by moving to a new location where they now serve a full breakfast and lunch menu. Manitowoc coffee has a drink for any caffeine lover with an extensive list of different flavored syrups, hot coffee options, iced coffee, blended drinks and much more. Manitowoc coffee also has monthly drink specials along with specialty baked goods every day. The café environment allows for a good place to study or get some work done but is also a great place to dine with friends or family.
4Given Coffee Shoppe
1034 South 18th Street, Manitowoc
The 4Given Coffee Shoppe is a more recent edition to Manitowoc as Richard Robinson Sr and Leticia Robinson opened 4Given Coffee around 2 years ago. Richard and Leticia were a part of the “Coffee Ministry” at their church in California. They’ve traveled all over the country together and got to experience coffee in many ways and have brought their knowledge back to Manitowoc. The Robinson’s purchased the former Empire Beauty School building as they saw the potential it had and the great location it would be for a coffee shop. They knew they wanted to create a faith-based coffee shop and make it an enjoyable, relaxing environment. They even source green coffee beans from around the world in house weekly. They offer a wide selection of beverages besides coffee including smoothies, affogatos, loose leaf teas, refreshers, Italian sodas, flights of flavored espresso shots, fresh locally baked goods, and much more. 4Given Coffee offers their shop to those seeking a meeting place during and after their regular business hours, they have hosted events including book signings, bible studies, political events, suicide awareness gatherings, and live music.
Retro Eighth Coffee & Acai
801 North 8th Street, Manitowoc
Retro Eighth Coffee & Acai, owned by a young entrepreneur, first opened its doors in late 2022. Aubry Hassemer was only 20 years old when she opened Retro Eighth as her first business and has certainly struck success as the coffee and acai shop has grown in popularity. Each month Retro Eighth has a new coffee flight, acai bowl, and other specials that match the vibe of each month of the year. Along with the monthly specials, Retro Eighth has a standard menu including many different organic coffee options, smoothies, acai bowls, sandwiches, salads, grain bowls, and other treats. They even host occasional live music performances, events, and other entertainment at the shop.
