Crescendo Espresso Music Cafe - Madison

Coffee was a crescendo of flavors. Burrito more like dimminuendo. The vibes were great! It 's a cute little place with cozy plants all over and local art on the walls. There 's a little stage for local music artists. Excited to come back for that. The lattes were yummy. Everything you expect from a latte. We got matcha and a normal latte. We got the crescendo and black bean burrito. The burritos were so tiny, like the palm of my hand, and I got tiny hands. They were both yummy, just not best the best value. TLDR: come in for a latte and good study, skip the 'rito.

Underwhelming, in both environment and food. Ordered latte with an egg muffin sandwich. Feels like the dorm-cooked version of my favorite Ancora sandwich, lukewarm. Out of bacon. Portion of egg and cheese covered about half the muffin. No seasoning or garnishes that elevated it a notch. Also, chalk board was unclear--it lists the sandwich with meat like it is the way the sandwich comes when its an add-on option. Coffee was standard, but the kind of place that feels like they made the espresso early and just steam the milk and froth it in with the order. Room is spacious but there were lots of boxes and what looks like an additonal coffee bar prep space. It feels like an unfinished space.

I 've stopped in here a few times when some friends were playing music here. Love that the space is supportive of the community and hosts local artists to showcase their talent. I am also such a huge fan of the coffee shop that serves alcohol. It really is a match made in heaven, and Crescendo delivers! I love that I can get beer, wine, coffee, snacks, or food... its runs the whole spectrum and is perfect for just what you need at the time! I work night shift, so often the early morning hours are the most convenient times to meet with my regular 9-5 friends after my workday and before theirs begins. They can grab a morning latte and I can grab an after-work beer. Perfect for everyone. The staff is always super friendly and helpful when I 'm slow to choose my beverage of choice as well. If you are looking for a good, local spot without the fanfare, this is the place to go!

Really impressed by the quality of coffee here. Very friendly baristas. We got a 12 oz latte and a 16 oz nitro cold press. The latte was rich and smooth. The milk temperature was right and the foam was blended well with the espresso. The nitro cold press was just amazing low acidity, sweet aftertaste, strong yet clean balanced flavor, medium body and silky texture. Highly recommend it. We did street parking in front of the store.

Today was my first visit to Crescendo to buy whole beans to brew coffee at home. The staff was incredibly helpful and kind. They roast the beans in house and include date of roasting on the bag, all of which were within the past few days- very fresh! A surprise bonus was a free cup of coffee included with the bag. I can't wait for quarantine to be over to get to sit and enjoy some of their espresso drinks. The only reason I knocked off a star was for the price. Although I chose a slightly more expensive bag, $17 for 12 oz of coffee is much pricier than where I usually buy coffee. The coffee is delicious enough to be worth it, but definitely something to consider!