Stephanie Hofmann
CoffeeBytes, 799 University Ave., is located in the heart of East Campus Mall on the UW-Madison campus. The shop is constantly buzzing with students who flood in between classes. It makes a convenient and comfortable study space, and, of course, as the name indicates, there’s free Wi-Fi.
CoffeeBytes uses Ancora coffee, a local, small-batch roaster that prides itself on offering fair trade and organic beans. Even so, the shop’s macchiato is less than impressive.
A macchiato is a shot or two (depending on how much of a pick-me-up you want) of espresso, marked with a little foamed milk. To CoffeeBytes’ credit, its macchiato is served traditionally, in the Italian style, with very little milk.
But unfortunately the drink still falls flat. The four-ounce cup tastes bitter and thin. Ultimately, rich espresso flavor is absent.
On the bright side, CoffeeBytes features several seasonally inspired flavored lattes each month. The shop’s amaretto mocha special running through February, for instance, is a combination of chocolate, amaretto flavoring, espresso and steamed milk. It’s creamy and satisfying, a true coffee treat.
