ACOCA Coffee

Interested in joining the Acoca team? We’re now hiring!
Stop by to pick up an application. 💀☕️

Hi, I’m Alyssa!

I’ve been part of the ACOCA team for over three years. I’m a barista and the Front of House Manager, and one of my favorite parts of the job is getting to know our regulars, meeting new people, and helping create a welcoming space for everyone who walks through our doors. I also love learning more about coffee, and creating new drink specials.

Outside of the café, I love spending time with my friends and family, traveling, hiking, and spending time at the beach. I’m also a huge horror movie fan— Hereditary and Halloween are two of my all-time favorites, and when I’m not trying to find something new to watch, I’m probably rewatching New Girl or Community. I also love listening to music, growing my record collection, and hanging out with my cat, Luna.

My current go-to drink is an iced oat milk latte with maple syrup, vanilla, and black lava salt. I love coming up with surprise drinks, so ask me to make you a latte!

Come say hi the next time you’re in!

Art credit: Batz

A Farewell to a Remarkable Legacy

Today marks the symbolic end of an era in downtown Appleton.

For more than six decades, the Makaroff name has been woven into the cultural fabric of our community. Since Nikolai and Juanita Makaroff founded the Makaroff School of Ballet in 1960, generations of children and families have walked through these doors to discover discipline, confidence, artistry, and a lifelong appreciation for classical ballet. Their daughter, Jeanette, carried that tradition forward, ensuring the family’s extraordinary commitment to excellence continued for another generation.

While many knew the Makaroffs for the beauty they created on stage, their greatest gift may have been the countless lives they shaped off the stage. They gave young people a place to grow—not only as dancers, but as confident, resilient, and compassionate individuals. Their influence reached far beyond ballet, enriching the arts and strengthening the character of our community.

As neighbors, we have been fortunate to share a building with this incredible institution and to witness firsthand the quiet dedication that sustained such an enduring legacy. Downtown won’t quite feel the same without the familiar rhythm of dancers arriving for class and the knowledge that something beautiful was being created just downstairs.

On behalf of everyone at ACOCA Cafe & Roastery, thank you to the entire Makaroff family—and especially to Jeanette as she closes this remarkable chapter—for your decades of passion, perseverance, and service. Your family’s legacy will continue to live on through every student you inspired, every audience you moved, and every life you helped shape.

Congratulations on a well-earned retirement, and thank you for making Appleton a more beautiful place.

With deep gratitude,

Bill and the ACOCA Cafe & Roastery family

We’re kicking off August with some exciting new specials! Let us know which is your favorite.☀️

Cool off with our Watermelon Sweet Ginger! Refreshing and sweetened to perfection, this iced drink is a blend of our house-made Sweet Ginger, fresh watermelon juice, and lemonade. 🍉🫚🍋

Who says you can’t have dessert with breakfast? Start off your day with a sundae in a cup with our Banana Split Latte. Strawberry, banana, & white chocolate, oh my! With a cherry on top, of course. 🍦🍌🍒

Our Campfire Cold brew makes its grand return this summer. Like a s’more, it’s toasty and chocolatey, and topped with crushed graham cracker— brewed to perfectly suit those end-of-the-Summer camping vibes.⛺️🍫🔥

Our chai special is just peachy! A perfect mix of spiced, fruity, and decadent, our Peaches and Cream Chai will surely satisfy. 🍑☕️🤍

It’s that time of year again, folks! Mile of Music is back, and with it are our limited time specials— Cousin Arthur’s Vegan Kimchi Toast, and our house made Pickled Blueberry lemonade. Come celebrate Mile 13 with us here at Acoca. ☀️🎶

Hi, i’m Dorian! I’ve been a barista at ACOCA for 2 years now. By far, my favorite part of the job is getting to connect with new people and chit chat with our beloved regulars.

Outside of the coffee biz, I'm an avid fiction reader, doodler, and researcher of all things “bug” (fun fact requests are encouraged). I am an aspiring conservation biologist, and am currently taking classes at FVTC. At home, I have a cat, a colony of dairy cow isopods (with their springtail friends, of course), a tarantula (a Venezuelan Suntiger!), a praying mantis, and nearly too many houseplants to count.

Rapid Fire Favs: You can usually find me sipping an oat milk cortado or a ginger tea. My favorite foods are blackberries and olives, and my favorite books (right now) are "We Burned So Bright" by TJ Klune and "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir. I watch "Gilmore Girls" and "Over the Garden Wall" on repeat. I love the color orange.

Come say "Hi!" when you get your next cup of coffee. :)

Art credit: Batz

Join us tonight from 6PM to 8PM!

Celebrate America’s birthday with the ultimate 4th of July special at Acoca! 🇺🇸✨
Introducing America's Birthday Waffle: our signature golden, fluffy Belgian waffle piled high with fresh strawberries, blueberries, a mountain of whipped cream, and festive birthday sprinkles. 🍓🫐
Served with a side of fresh fruit and warm maple syrup, it is the perfect festive fuel for your holiday weekend!

☀️ July Drink Specials Have Arrived at ACOCA Coffee! ☀️
Beat the mid-summer heat with a refreshing trip to downtown Appleton! We have hand-crafted three incredible new featured drinks to keep you energized and cooled down all month long. Grab a friend, head over to ACOCA Coffee (https://www.acocacoffee.com/), and try one of these beauties:
🍉 Watermelon Sweet Ginger Refresher
The ultimate summer thirst-quencher! Our sweet ginger refresher is mixed with fresh watermelon and topped with a bright hint of lemonade.
🐻 Teddy Graham Cold Brew
A nostalgic sweet treat! House-roasted honey caramel cold brew topped off with a thick layer of cold foam and a dash of cinnamon.
🌅 Golden Tide Latte
A smooth blend of maple and vanilla syrups in a creamy latte, finished with a striking touch of black lava salt for the perfect sweet-and-savory balance.
Stop into ACOCA Cafe and Roastery on College Avenue to find your new July obsession. Which one are you ordering first? 👇