5th Element stands out in the Madison specialty coffee scene. Why? Because it's about the only contender. Does it add a new element or a new dimension to coffee? No, not any more than any other specialty coffee shop.
They have a few special things going for them though. Alejandro Mendez, winner of the 2011 World Barista Championship, which is obviously an impressive title. He's co-owner or something. And apparently he brought the the WBC official machine back with him. Black Eagle by Victoria Arduino. The only one in Wisconsin and the first one I've ever seen.
They have their own in-house roasted coffee along with a few guest roasters. I tried an award winning coffee of theirs in Aeropress. Was it good? Ehhh, quite too dark for my preferences.
Design: is it cool? Yes, it's fresh and clean if maybe a bit harsh. But can I say harsh in a good way? Yes, I just did. So harsh design and mediocre coffee? Nah, it was great. Overall I was reasonably impressed and I was glad I stopped.