International Rank: #944 out of 1068
Ranking is based on a combination of reviews and popularity on CoffeeRoast.com
United States Rank: #519 out of 586
Ranking is based on a combination of reviews and popularity on CoffeeRoast.com
Wisconsin Rank: #8 out of 9
Ranking is based on a combination of reviews and popularity on CoffeeRoast.com

Alterra Coffee

Flag of United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin

3.75(2)

2 ratings
Ratings here are based on aggregated user reviews of individual roasts from Alterra Coffee.
5 star
0%
4 star
50%
3 star
50%
2 star
0%
1 star
0%

Alterrra is a convenience format brand owned and operated by Mars Inc. most known for Freshpack pouches for Flavia machines.

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Alterra Coffee is a coffee roaster from Milwaukee, WI United States. We have 2 cataloged roasts with 2 total reviews with a score of 3.75.

2 roasts

Top Reviews(2)

  • Theo Chan, Managing Editor

    1390 roasts rated, avg score of 4.29

    4.00 - Average

    4.50 - Aroma

    4.00 - Finish

    3.50 - Flavor

    4.50 - Acidity

    4.00 - Balance

    Makes a solid cup of decaf with an appealing aroma, and simple, clean mouthfeel. It lacks any distinctive flavor characteristic outside of being lightly chocolate and citrus, but it drinks very easy. I do think Alterra's description here of fresh and smooth is accurate.

    Decent institutional decaf is not easy to find, so I am probably grading this slightly higher than I would at home.

    Cupping Method:I had this out of a Flavia machine at a medical office in Acton, MA. It extracts pretty well though I can't imagine this format is very sustainable.

    3 weeks ago · See more from Theo
  • Theo Chan, Managing Editor

    1390 roasts rated, avg score of 4.29

    3.50 - Average

    Smooth, straightforward donut shop blend style coffee with a good balance of acidity, a bit of (I think) natural sweetness. Doesn't have a distinguishing characteristic and there's a bit of woodiness.

    The pouch format annoys me, but apparently they are recyclable?

    Cupping Method:At a doctor's office in Acton, MA on a Flavia Creation machine

    Traits: smooth
    1 year ago · See more from Theo

Editor's Overview

In 2010, Alterra Coffee Roasters entered a partnership with Mars, Inc., allowing the brand to expand beyond Milwaukee and introduce its coffee to workplaces across the globe. Mars provided a large-scale platform that enabled Alterra to reach new markets, particularly through Mars Drinks’ office coffee solutions, while maintaining Alterra’s focus on quality.

Over time, however, the founders felt that Mars’ direction didn’t entirely align with Alterra’s original vision of a hands-on, community-oriented coffee company. In 2013, the founders decided to split from Mars and rebrand under a new name, Colectivo Coffee. This allowed them to continue crafting coffee independently in Milwaukee, with a focus on quality beans, sustainable sourcing, and small-batch roasting. Mars retained the Alterra name and continued producing coffee under the label for their office-oriented business.

Following the rebrand, Mars integrated the Alterra name into its Flavia system, which serves coffee and tea in single-serve packets for workplace and office environments. Today, Alterra-branded coffee remains a staple within the Flavia system, allowing Mars to offer a wide range of coffee options to businesses globally. The original founders, however, continue their work under Colectivo Coffee, focused on serving customers in a local, craft-focused environment.
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