The weather is heating up and that means that it’s time once again for Alterra’s summer concert series!

Join us Thursday evenings at 7pm at Alterra at the Lake, located at 1701 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive across from McKinley Marina (map) for free, live, outdoor performances featuring members of Florentine Opera as well as a fantastic lineup of local Latin music groups. We hope to see you down by the lake!*

Florentine Opera at the Lake
co-presented with Florentine Opera and US Bank
June 19th
July 10th
July 24th
August 7th
August 21st

Musica del Lago Latin Performance Series
co-sponsored by 88.9 Radio Milwaukee and the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies (CLACS) at UW-Milwaukee:
July 17th:  Cache
July 31st:  De La Buena
August 14th:  Orquesta Veneno
September 4th: Spanglish Band
September 11th:  Bahia

* Free parking is available across the street in the parking lot next to the sailing center. 

Well, it’s official...we have begun the transition from our old headquarters on Prospect Avenue to our new facility on Humboldt Blvd! On Wednesday, June 25th, Alterra hosted the ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of our Humboldt building as Mayor Tom Barrett, Alderman Nik Kovac and members of the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation looked on and wished us well.

Beginning June 30th, Alterra will operate from this signature building that brings the once-separate functions of our team together under one happy, Riverwest roof; Alterra Baking Company, Alterra Wholesale Coffee and the critical office and support functions. Throw in our great new Humboldt café and Loop Yarn shop and the result is a truly catalytic project for the neighborhood.

(If you’re a fan of the East Side, not to worry - the Prospect Avenue café will continue to roast AND serve up strong coffee with plans to eventually offer the full array of salads, soups, made-to-order sandwiches, and breakfast burritos that are currently available at other locations.)

The new facility has been honored as the “Best Environmentally Friendly Project” by the Business Journal Real Estate Awards and received a Mayor’s Urban Design Award. It also won the MANDI Awards State Farm Insurance “Building Blocks Award” for a development project that promotes the social and cultural life of the community.

We are proud to have kept our headquarters in the city, making walking and biking to work a simple task for many of our staff as well as our neighbors and customers. Thanks to all who helped make this building a reality and to all who enjoy the Strong Coffee Served Here! If you would like to read more about Alterra on Humboldt, please check out these recent articles from Shepherd Express and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Photo Credit: Ramie Camerena - Alterra Coffee

Alterra Coffee is proud to be a founding member of Our Milwaukee and is excited to take part in the upcoming “Celebrate Your Independents” week. Our Milwaukee is a business alliance that advocates for locally owned businesses that provide a genuine, quality experience – in celebration of our community’s unique character.

Live local, think local, buy local!

Interested in learning more about Our Milwaukee or becoming a member?  Please visit OurMilwaukee.net.

We are happy to have had 2 of Alterra's finest baristas make the semi-finals of the 2008 USBC. Check out Scott Lucey's and Justin Teisl's semi-finals performances below.

This year’s Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) convention is just wrapping up, and along with it, the 2008 United States Barista Competition. Three of our finest baristas, Scott Lucey, Justin Teisl and Dave Schwalbach (pictured top to bottom), have been practicing for months in preparation for this year’s USBC and each made a great showing in the competition. This was Dave’s first time to compete and he held up well against the daunting list of big names that made up this years group of over 50 competitors. Scott and Justin took their well-oiled routines through the first round of competition and into the semi-finals. We are thrilled to have seen them advance into the select group consisting mostly of regional champs, who were automatically added to the semi-finals, past USBC champs and other talented baristas from across the States. It took great skill and great scores from the judges to make it into the semis and, along with their espressos and cappuccinos, Scott’s custard and Costa Rica “Campeon del Valle” drink and Justin’s espresso Manhattan were just enough to place them amongst some of the barista world’s finest.

We and our many talented baristas will be working hard in preparation for, and looking forward to, next year’s competition, so be on the lookout for at least one Alterran somewhere in the final 6 of the USBC 2009 in Portland.

Click here to check out video of Scott’s and Justin’s semi-finals performances.

We would like to thank everyone that came out to one of Alterra’s cafes over the last months to support the MSO’s Beethoven on Brew series. We would also like to give extra special thanks to the musicians from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra that make these types of events possible. Please keep a lookout this Fall for more great music from the MSO at an Alterra near you.