Not ratedCupping notes point toward Red Apple, Warm Spice, and Apricot.
Mantiqueira de Minas, BR
LightAppleSpiceApricot+3
$1.50/oz
Roaster
Colectivo Coffee
Milwaukee, WIcolectivocoffee.com ↗
- Coffees in catalog
- 19
- Also available
- 0
- Avg Cherry's Index (limited data)
- 59.7
- Reddit sentiment
- 65/100
OriginsBRCOIDGTMXPE
How Cherry’s Index is calculatedavg coverage 33% · limited data
Coverage is below 50%. Most of this roaster’s lots are scored off roaster-level signals (Reddit + YouTube) without per-lot SCA grades, Coffee Review entries, or published buyer reviews. With limited signal, scores are also pulled toward a neutral 50 baseline by the Cherry’s Index methodology, so lots can read flatter than the actual cup quality differences between them. The avg Cherry’s Index reflects general reputation more than per-lot quality.
Roaster signals
Apply to every lot from this roaster.
- Reddit65/100weight 18%
- YouTube65/100weight 10%
Per-lot signals (averaged)
Vary across lots; averaged over 19 in-stock lots.
- SCA gradenot on file · weight 25%
- Coffee Reviewnot on file · weight 20%
- Buyer reviewsnot on file · weight 12%
- Cherrybook reader ratingsnot on file · weight 5%
- Transparency29.2/10019/19 lots · weight 5%
Bonuses earned (per lot)
- sprudge19/19
- stale decay15/19
Base components are renormalized over whatever signals are available for each lot. SCA + Coffee Review are capped at 40% combined to keep the cupping story from dominating. Bonuses (accolades, awards, editorial coverage) and freshness decay are applied on top.
Community reputation · Reddit
Mixed reviews· sentiment 65/100
Colectivo is a well-known regional roaster that often serves as an entry point for coffee enthusiasts in the Midwest, though it frequently faces criticism from more experienced hobbyists for its darker roast profiles and recent shift toward 'best by' dating. While some users appreciate their heavier roasts and accessibility, others find the quality inconsistent or lacking compared to specialty-focused peers. Additionally, the company has faced significant negative attention on Reddit regarding their labor practices and union-busting efforts.
accessible entry-level coffeeprefers darker roast profilescriticism of 'best by' dating vs 'roasted on'controversial labor practicesfrequent comparisons to other regional roasters
Threads cited (10)
- r/Coffee · ↑ · Workers at Colectivo Coffee have won their election to unionize with IBEW, the NLRB ruled
- r/Coffee · ↑ · Colectivo beans shipping "best by" instead of "roasted on"??
- r/Coffee · ↑ · Question - Do you feel a difference in caffeine buzz from cafes vs. home brew?
- r/Coffee · ↑ · [Question] How on Earth do I make a decent cup of coffee?
- r/Coffee · ↑ · Colectivo a big disappointment?
- r/Coffee · ↑ · How Colectivo Coffee Backed Union Busters to Stop Employees From Unionizing - Eater Chicag
- r/Coffee · ↑ · Third wave coffee that isn't so.. third wavy?
- r/Coffee · ↑ · Which Sumatra to Buy?
- r/Coffee · ↑ · Sharing the fruits of my labor
- r/Coffee · ↑ · Trouble With Aeropress
Press · Sprudge
- Workers At Colectivo Coffee Ratify First Union Contract2023-06-12·sprudge
The contract was ratified with a vote of over 95%.
- Workers At Colectivo Coffee Vote In Favor Of Unionizing2021-08-27·sprudge
They become the largest cafe union in the United States.
- Colectivo Coffee Finds A Home In Chicago2017-10-03·sprudge
Colectivo Coffee in Chicago, Illinois.
On YouTube
3 videos · 9k combined views
Outside coverage of Colectivo Coffee focuses on its dual identity as a prominent regional brand with a distinct visual aesthetic and a site of significant labor activism. Reviewers highlight the company's long-standing cultural footprint in Milwaukee, particularly through its iconic graphic design and packaging. Simultaneously, media coverage has documented the company's recent history of labor organizing, framing it as a notable case study within the broader movement to unionize coffee chains.
Iconic regional visual identityLong-standing Milwaukee heritageSignificant labor unionization effortsArtistic and vibrant packaging design
Flagship cafe
Retail location
Milwaukee, WI
Open in maps →Seed-city fallback applied (Milwaukee, WI); the website didn't expose a specific flagship address. LLM-finder notes: The website mentions having 12 locations in Milwaukee, 4 in Madison, and 6 in Chicago, but does not provide a specific street address for a flagship location on the provided pages.
The catalog
19 in stock · 4 archived
Not rated
Not ratedCupping notes point toward Milk Chocolate, Ripened Cherry, and Hazelnut.
Huehuetenango, GT
LightMilk ChocolateCherryHazelnut+1
$1.41/oz
Not ratedThink Plum, Grape, and Dark Chocolate.
Chiapas, MX
LightPlumGrapeDark Chocolate+1
$1.33/oz
Not ratedTobacco, Full Bodied, and Smoky on a washed build.
Washed
DarkTobaccoSmoky
$1.33/oz
Not ratedRoaster flags Berries, Milk Chocolate, and Caramelized Sugar in the cup.
LightBerryMilk ChocolateCaramelized+3
$1.41/oz
Not ratedRoaster flags Cherry, Crisp, and Baking Spices in the cup.
Cauca, CO
LightCherryBrown Spice
$1.41/oz
Not ratedCupping notes point toward Earthy, Full Bodied, and Spiced.
MediumHerbPepperOverall Sweet
$1.41/oz
Not ratedCitrus, Syrupy, and Sweet on a water process build.
Water Process
LightCitrusOverall Sweet
$1.33/oz
Not ratedRoaster flags Full Bodied, Tobacco, and Smoky in the cup.
DarkTobaccoSmokyDark Chocolate+1
$1.33/oz
Not ratedRoaster flags Cherry, Syrupy, and Graham Cracker in the cup.
MediumCherryChocolateOrange+1
$1.41/oz
Not ratedThink Citrus, Milk Chocolate, and Blueberry.
LightCitrusChocolateBlueberry+2
$1.41/oz
Not ratedThink Nutty, Dried Fruit, and Dark Chocolate.
Minas Gerais, BR
MediumHazelnutDried FruitDark Chocolate
$1.33/oz
Not ratedThink Milk Chocolate, Citrus, and Blackberry.
LightMilk ChocolateCitrusBlackberry+1
$1.41/oz
Not ratedCupping notes point toward Red Grape, Date, and Brown Sugar.
BR
LightGrapeDateBrown Sugar+1
$1.31/oz
Not ratedThink Grapefruit, Lemon Lime, and Brown Sugar.
RW
LightGrapefruitLemon LimeBrown Sugar
$1.50/oz
Not rated
Not ratedCupping notes point toward Caramel, Balanced, and Dark Chocolate.
MediumCaramelizedChocolate
$1.33/oz
Not rated
Not ratedCupping notes point toward Smoky, Full Bodied, and Rich.
DarkSmoky
$1.33/oz
Archived (4)
Not ratedRaspberry Jam, Raspberry, and Tropical Fruits on a washed build.
CO · Washed
LightRaspberryTropical FruitGrapefruit+1
$1.31/oz
Out of stock
Not ratedExpect Smoky, Earthy, and Full Bodied from this wet-hulled.
Sumatra, ID · Wet-Hulled
DarkSmoky
$1.41/oz
Out of stock
Not ratedThink Tropical Fruit, Ginger, and Almond.
PE
LightOther FruitAlmond
$1.50/oz
Out of stock
Not ratedExpect Watermelon, Grape Punch, and Juicy from this natural.
BI · Natural
LightWatermelonGrapeLime
$1.31/oz
Out of stock
For roasters
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