These days, coffeehouses and cafes aren't just places to down a few mugs of mud and catch a few poetry readings. They've quickly become a hub of social activity and, with the addition of Wi-Fi, like an office away from the office. This might not be Seattle, but Milwaukee does pretty well for itself when it comes to coffee options. Here's a guide to some of the city's best.

Allegro Coffee
2305 N. Prospect Ave., (414) 223-1500
http://www.allegrocoffee.com/
Located in the Whole Foods Organic Market, this national chain prides itself on high quality coffee. The cafe has a small counter as well as larger lounge style seating area right in the store.

Alterra
East Side: 2211 N. Prospect Ave., (414) 273-3753
At the Lake: 1701 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., (414) 223-4551
Bayshore: 5900 N. Port Washington Rd., (414) 964-4290
Foundry: 170 S. 1st St., (414) 765- 9873
Mayfair: 2500 N. Mayfair Rd.,(414) 453-9202
U.S. Bank Tower: 777 E. Wisconsin Ave., (414) 225-8970
Humboldt: 2999 N. Humboldt Blvd., (414) 292-3320
Wauwatosa: 9125 W. North Ave., (414) 259-7948
Grafton: 1211 Washington St., (262) 377-5183
Mitchell International Airport
alterracoffee.com
The ever-expanding Alterra is the city's premier coffee roasting company and its café on Prospect Ave., with the great mural painted by Scott Darrow, is possibly the best place to sip and be seen.

Anodyne
2920 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 489-0765
anodynecoffee.com
This Bayveiw cafe is bright and quiet and the perfect place for reading, studying, intimate conversation or a date. The clientele is young, the coffee is strong and roasted on-site and the staff friendly.

Bella Cafe
189 N. Milwaukee St.,(414) 273-5620
bellacaffe.com
This Third Ward café is in the ground floor of a beautiful restored, historic building at the locus of Milwaukee and Chicago Streets. The standard coffee and espresso options are augmented with a range of bakery, salads and desserts. Bella also offers an extremely relaxing environment with high ceilings, big windows and a range of seating choices: a bar, low tables, tall bar-style tables and inviting padded window benches.

Borders Books & Music
Downtown: 101 W Wisconsin Ave., (414) 225-9977
North: 8705 N. Port Washington Rd., (414) 225-9977
Greendale: 5250 S. 76th St., (414) 421 4290
bordersstores.com
Yes, it's a chain bookshop, but the café on the lower level has a good feel, especially during the day when it isn't terribly crowded.

Brady Street Cafe
1696 N. Astor St., (414) 272-4384
myspace.com/bradystcafe
Used to be a pharmacy and a diner, today it's a coffee shop and Brady St. hang out.

Brew Bayou
1442 W. Wisconsin Ave.(Inside of the Alumni Memorial Union)
This campus café is a great hang out for students and those that just missing looking at college gals or guys, depending on your preference.

Brewed Awakenings
1208 E. Brady St., (414) 276-2739
This Brady Street cafe has changed names over the years from Anodyne to Brewed Awakenings. Despite the new name, this cafe still serves Anodyne coffee and delicious sandwiches.

Brewing Grounds for Change
2010 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 273-9777
This Farwell Avenue café claims to be the only place in the city to serve 100 percent fair trade coffee. The intimate, artsy space is comfortable, the coffee is strong and the staff is knowledgeable.

Cedarburg Coffee Roastery
W62 N603 Washington Ave., Cedarburg, (262) 375-4321
cedarburgcoffee.com
Open since 1999, they offer coffee, tea, espressos, chai and Italian sodas.

Clara's New Bronzeville Cafe
1835 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., (414) 431-5069
This local cafe is run by students from Clara Mohammed High School.

Coffee Makes You Black
2803 N. Teutonia, Milwaukee, (414) 562-5225
The community's only coffeehouse with all African Coffees.

Coffee with a Conscience
Milwaukee Art Museum: 700 N. Art Museum Dr.,
Schlitz Park: 1555 N. River Center Dr., (414) 276-4341
wwbic.com/cwac.htm
The Downtown location is inside the central library and the coffee is augmented by a great selection of used books.

Comet
1947 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 273-7677
Comet started out as a cool coffee house with great food and a hip vibe, and has recently been convereted into a half-cafe/half-bar hybrid with equally great food and hip vibe. And yes, they still serve a mean cup of coffee, courtesy of Anodyne.

Cosmic Coffee House
5900 W. National Ave., (414) 302-1322
This West Side spot offers a comfy vibe for casual conversation and reading the paper, or bet yet online publications.

Cranky Al's Bakery
6903 W. North Ave., (414) 258-5282
Originally a small bakery, Cranky Al's expanded into a full service restaurant and added a complete pizza menu to their already delectable baked goods.

Fiddleheads Espresso Bar
192 S. Main St., Thiensville, (262) 238-8737
This cafe is one of the few places serving the north shore.

Fire Escape
819 N. 27th St., (414) 935-1100
http://www.thefireescape.net/
This cafe features all the amenities found at Milwaukee's most popular coffeehouses and would seem to be a perfect fit for Milwaukee's ever-trendy East Side. But this non-denominational Christian coffeehouse, an outreach ministry launched by Heart-Fire Ministries, is located just west of Downtown.

Flowers & Coffee
1019 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee, (414) 762-6313
What a concept, coffee and flowers. Owners Mari and Brian help get your morning off on the right foot.

Fuel
818 E. Center St., (414) 374-3835
fuelcafe.com
Fuel is the undisputed coffee spot in Riverwest. The staff goes head to head with the clientele in the hipper-than-thou sweepstakes, and the Fuel bumper sticker and T-shirt have become de rigeur items for cool cats nationwide. Also, just as Comet has undergone recent renovation, Fuel's future includes a bar area, outdoor patio and even (gasp!) a non-smoking section.

Gloria Jean's Gourmet Coffee
2500 N. Mayfair Rd., (414) 259-9898
Located in Mayfair mall, this coffee chain sends smells of roasting beans throughout the mall concourse.

Harland J's Cafe
555 S. Main St., Racine, (262) 619-4110

Hi-Fi
2640 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 486-0540
hificafe.com
Hi-Fi is a much-needed oasis in northwestern Bay View and the neighborhood's cool folks are all regulars, as are the more progressive Bay View High School students. It's go great food and coffee and one of the best jukeboxes in the city.

Highland Park Pies and Cafe
4110 W. Martin Dr., (414) 933-9303
This cafe offers a huge selection of homemade pies, cookies and cakes. Located close to the Miller Brewery, the shop closes early at 6 p.m.

Last Drop Coffee and Sandwich Shoppe
3801 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 967-9911

M Cafe Inc.
535 E. Wells St., (414) 271-5212

Mad Mug
7934 W. Burleigh St., (414) 447-6847
This cafe offers delicious coffee, bakery and a children's play area for daytime play dates.

Magais Cafe
5018 S. Packard Ave., (414) 481-0890

Midwest Espresso
411 E. Wisconsin Ave., (414) 272-1222
This cafe also has coffee carts in the Milwaukee Center.

Mocha -- A Coffee Bistro
124 West Wisconsin Ave., (414) 276-6242
mosmocha.com
Owned by Johnny "V" Vassallo, this coffee house adds to the collection of Mo's Restaurants on the corner of Plankington St. and Wisconsin Ave. It is one of very few coffee houses to stay open late until 1 a.m.

Moondance Coffee
Hales Corners: SW - 5620 S 108th St. (414) 427-9322
Franklin: 7001 S. 27th St., (414) 304-1440
Third Ward: 207 E. Buffalo St.
Moondancecoffee.com
This comfortable and kid-friendly started in the surburbs, but ventured to the city when it opened it's Third Ward location in June '06. It's warm, family-owned and serves Alterra coffee products.

The Original Coffee Company
5635 S. Broad St., Greendale, (414) 423-5810
Located in the quaint downtown of Greendale, this cafe is often packed with regulars of all ages. The staff is friendly and the coffee hot and tasty.

Outpost Coffee
7000 W. State St., (414) 778-2012
2826 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 755-3202
100 E. Capital Dr., (414) 961-2597
http://www.outpostnaturalfoods.coop/
It only makes sense that a local, organic grocery store sells fair-trade organic coffee. Check out the counter just inside each Outpost market for fresh coffee, pastries and more.

Outwords
2710 N. Murray Ave., (414) 963-9089
outwordsbooks.com
It's nice little place in a gay & lesbian bookstore on a quiet East Side street. Although cramped, Outwords is easy going and relaxing.

Que Pasa Coffee & Books
611 W. National Ave., (414) 649-0460
Que Pasa pours top coffee and has Walker's Point's best selection of children's books.

Roast Inc.
2132 E Locust St., (414) 963-6363
One of surprisingly few coffeeshops near the UWM campus, Roast is a cozy, hip spot on the corner of Maryland Ave. and Locust St.

Rochambo
1317 E. Brady St., (414) 291-0095
Although it's been remodeled several times since the doors first open, they've all been steps in the right direction, aesthetically. The coffee and tea house retains a nice rag-tag vibe with music playing, either on the stereo or live on stage and dim lighting. With its lively atmosphere, Rochambo is more suited to conversation or game-playing rather than quiet contemplation and reading.

Schwartz Bookshops
Shorewood: 4093 N. Oakland Ave., (414)963-3111
Mequon: 10976 N. Port Washington Rd., (262) 241-6220
http://www.schwartzbooks.booksense.com/
Both cafes are in local independent bookshops, with drastically different vibes. Shorewood is lively and full of neighborhood regulars while Mequon is quiet and orderly.

Sherman Perk
4924 W. Roosevelt Dr., (414) 875-7375
shermanperk.com

Starbucks
Brookfield:17000 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 860-8707
Downer: 2551 N. Downer Ave., (414) 332-6105
Downtown: 1610 W. Wisconsin Ave., (414) 933-1233
Downtown: 515 W. Wisconsin Ave., (414) 390-1804
Downtown: 326 N. Water St., (414) 278-0345
East Side: 1677 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 224-7760
East Point: 544 E. Ogden Ave., (414) 221-9099
Mequon: 11025 N. Port Washington Rd., (262) 240-2969
Milwaukee: 1130 Miller Park Way, (414) 643-5179
Milwaukee: 2735 Oklahoma Ave., (414) 647-9102
Milwaukee: 4170 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 962-0132
Milwaukee: 140 W. Holt Ave., (414) 489-0846
Milwaukee: 5300 S. Howell Ave., (414) 747-5252
Milwaukee: 2600 S. 108th St., (414) 545-8000
Midtown Center: 5610 Capitol Dr., (414) 442-9603
Bayview: 2110 E. Oklahoma Ave., (414) 486-1407
Wauwatosa: 1417 Wauwatosa Ave., (414) 607-8864
Wauwatosa: 12345 W. Capitol Dr., (414) 438-9727
West Allis: 1540 S. 108th St., (414) 302-1131
Whitefish Bay: 302 E. Silver Spring Dr., (414) 332-8628
starbucks.com
These chain shops need no introduction. They have comfy chairs and great cinnamon scones, but your money is being siphoned off to Seattle. It's an individual decision I'll leave you to make.

Steamer's
624 N. Water St., (414) 277-7679
This is one of downtown's oldest coffee shops and now has a selection of sandwiches augmenting its great coffee and modern interior.

Stone Creek
Bay View: 2266 S. Kinnickinic Ave., (414) 481-4215
Delafield: 2644 Hillside Dr., (262) 646-2241
Glendale: 6969 N. Port Washington Rd., (414) 228-8699
Grand Avenue: 275 W. Wisconsin Ave., (414) 298-9965
Oconomowoc: 1043 Summit Ave. (at Hwy 67), (262) 569-7375
Shorewood: 4106 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 964-1608
Wauwatosa: 8340 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 443-1302
Whitefish Bay: 601 E. Silver Spring Dr., (414) 332-2285
stonecreekcoffee.com
A local roaster, Stone Creek offers yummy specialty coffee drinks, coffee, tea, juices, pastries, bakery and whole bean coffee.

Sven's European Cafe
2699 S Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 483-2233

Wildgrove Roastery and Coffeehouse
524 S. 2nd St., (414) 807-3699
wildgrove.com