Our roots began in 1994, as a coffee shop opened by Sue and George Krug in downtown Madison (112 King St). When the Krug’s retired (in May of 2013), Tori Gerding who worked for the Krug’s right out of college took over and expanded upon the roots they established. Soon after she moved the two existing cafes to new locations, walking distance from their original homes (read more about that here: downtown + shorewood hills). She added full kitchens, serving up brunch 7 days per week, craft lattes, house-made bakery, mimosas and more. At Ancora we are committed to creating a communal atmosphere that everyone feels welcome in while serving up some of the best food and drink around. Our team prides itself in supplying a unique variety of fair trade, organic coffees and a brunch menu featuring comfort foods with a twist. We consider our customers part of our Ancora family, and are proud to be celebrating 25+ years of business here in Madison, WI!
Every day, we have three different varieties of brewed coffee available, as well as 15+ different coffees for purchase by the pound. We feature a rotating list of seasonal drink options, crafted with house-syrups, signature espresso blends, and a large variety of milk options, including 4 non-dairy offerings. We pride ourselves in our speed and quality, and truly look forward to slinging what we believe are some of the best craft coffee drinks in Madison, every day.
We feature a seasonally rotating food menu, with a variety of brunch, egg sammies, and lunch options. Customer favorites include our honey bacon biscuit, and our chorizo hash. We offer a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-sensitive options – our staff favorite being our seasonal quinoa bowl. From our biscuits to our jams and cashew creams, we pride ourselves in our house-made offerings, and aim to go above and beyond the offerings that come to mind of a traditional “cafe”. All of our bakery is made in-house, with donuts, pop-tarts, scones and more!