In my humble opinion, Downtown Milwaukee needs more coffee shops.

I do a lot of walking and running around our home at the corner of Wells and Plankinton, and a week doesn't go by (usually it's a weekend day) when I'm not asked "where can I get a cup of coffee?"

Yes, there are six Starbucks within a two-mile radius of home and Mocha, Cedarburg Coffee (at the Public Market), Nervosa and Stone Creek are all a stone's throw away too. So, that makes 10. But, people (I believe) expect coffee on nearly every block in major Downtown areas. Don't you agree? 

I fully realize that New York City is about 10 times larger than Milwaukee, but there are 165 Starbucks alone within 5 miles of 55th and Broadway.

I'm no expert, just a consumer, but I think there is something to the rise in tides lifts all coffee boats mentality. Of course, there's a cap to the market, too.

Regardless, I like to be able to easily walk for coffee when I'm in any city, much less my own; 3-4 blocks away is usually too far. Clarification here, I'm not lazy. I walk a lot, but for most people -- if coffee or needed item is outside a 3-4 block walk, then trip calls for a car. This brings up the bigger issue that Downtown Milwaukee needs to become more pedestrian focused and less driver focused. But, wow, that's way off topic.

What the heck do I know, though? So, I asked Eric Resch, founder and owner of Stone Creek Coffee. He's had two Downtown Milwaukee cafes, including the always-buzzing Shops of Grand Avenue skywalk location. Resch said, "I wish I had an easy answer." The answer, he said, to Downtown's coffee density needs, depends on the following:

•  location -- easy to get to, parking, signage
• quality of drinks -- do the drinks make people say wow!
• quality of people -- amazing people creating a fun store
• unique products -- boring old lattes will not cut it.

Resch, who closed a 915-sq. ft. store on Wisconsin Avenue in December 2006 and is currently working on his roasting location that's close to the new Amtrak Station, continued, "Like all businesses the success or failure of another Downtown coffee shop is not a function of the number of other coffee stores but rather a function of how the new coffee shop creates an experiences customer will love. There is always room for a new business in any market if they are willing to find a new path, specifically one that resonates with customers."

I'm an equal opportunity coffee guy. I try to stop at different places and vary my morning "routine" daily. So, multiple coffee houses in and around Downtown are good for me, personally. Okay, they also are good for you. But, Resch is right. Ultimately, we gravitate to the ones that make us the happiest.

And, we all have our favorites. Heck, some people only go to certain Starbucks. Personally, I like the Third Ward one the best with Red Arrow a close second. And, for the record, I do think Starbucks has helped make other coffee shops possible. But, that's not the point here. Growth is.

So, for more insight, I asked Angie Nikolas, owner of Espresso Christoph about Downtown's coffee density. Nikolas said, "While I think the coffee culture in Milwaukee has much room for growth, I'm not entirely positive that it and the loyal customers who visit could support many more shops. I believe than when a coffee house is introduced, it becomes an anchor in the neighborhood; a place other than work and home for people to gather. Many customers find their favorite coffee shop and stick with it, making it difficult for many coffee houses to succeed in one area."

Ultimately, the market dictates how much coffee is brewed in Brew City. For now, though, I say please brew me more Downtown coffee.