Colectivo Coffee Roasters facts for kids
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Formerly
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Alterra Coffee Roasters |
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| Private | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1993 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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Number of locations
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20 |
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Key people
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Ward Fowler and Paul Miller. |
| Products | Coffee |
Colectivo Coffee Roasters is a special coffee company from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They roast their own coffee beans. They also make all their food in Milwaukee. The company sells coffee all over the United States. Before July 2013, the company was known as Alterra Coffee Roasters.
In 2013, the company changed its name to Colectivo Coffee. The old name, Alterra Coffee, was sold to a company called Mars Incorporated. Later, another company named Lavazza bought the Alterra Coffee brand.
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The Story of Colectivo Coffee
Colectivo Coffee started in 1993. It was founded by Lincoln Fowler, Ward Fowler, and Paul Miller. Today, Colectivo has 20 coffee shops. You can find them in the areas around Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, and Chicago.
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In 1999, the company started a bakery called Alterra Baking Company. It is now known as Troubadour Bakery. In 2007, the bakery and the coffee roasting area moved to a new spot in Milwaukee. A new bakery was built in 2012. Colectivo's main office and coffee roasting area are still in Milwaukee.
In 2010, Mars Incorporated bought the rights to the Alterra Coffee Roasters name. Mars uses this name for coffee pods in office coffee machines. Colectivo, however, stayed in Milwaukee. They used the money from the sale to grow their business.
Colectivo opened several new shops in Chicago in 2017. These included locations in Lincoln Park and Logan Square. In 2018, they added a shop near Northwestern University in Evanston. By 2019, Colectivo had opened its 21st location in Wicker Park.
In 2021, workers at Colectivo decided to form a union. This means they wanted to work together to improve their jobs. The company owners were not happy about this. In May 2022, the NLRB (a government group that helps with worker rights) decided that the workers had won their vote. This meant they could start talking with the company about a contract.
Why the Name Colectivo?
In 2013, the company changed its name to Colectivo Coffee Roasters. The Alterra name is no longer used by Colectivo. It is now used by Lavazza, who bought Mars's coffee business.
The name Colectivo comes from special buses. These "colectivo" buses are colorful and artistic. They are used for public transportation in Latin America. They are an important part of daily life for many people. The owners of Colectivo Coffee even bought a restored 1958 colectivo bus. They planned to show it around Milwaukee starting in 2013.
Awards and Recognition
Colectivo Coffee has received awards for being environmentally friendly. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized them. They were listed as an EPA Green Power Partner. This is because they use 100% green energy. This energy comes from wind power, solar energy, and small hydroelectric plants. In 2004, Colectivo won the Green Power Leadership Award.
In 2008, one of their Milwaukee locations won an award for being an "Environmentally Friendly Project." It also won the "Heart of the Community Award." Another award, the Building Blocks Award, was given to the same cafe in 2008.
In 2013, their Bay View cafe and bakery won a Real Estate Award. This was for its positive impact on the Milwaukee Area. Complex City Guide also named Colectivo one of the best coffee roasters in the US that year. OnMilwaukee, a local publication, voted Colectivo "Milwaukee's Best Coffee Shop/Cafe" in 2013.
Colectivo has sent its expert coffee makers, called baristas, to compete. They have taken part in the United States Barista Championship events since 2007. One of their Barista Trainers, Scott Lucey, placed 3rd in the 2008 championship. He was also the best barista in the Great Lakes region in 2009.
Images for kids
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Colectivo Coffee logo
