As one of the last locally owned businesses on State St., Michelangelo's holds a place in most downtown Madison denizen's hearts as a comfortable and reliable point of decompression. While the price points of the savory and bakery items are within acceptable limits (although $3 for a scone still has a little sting), there is a sense here that a part of Madison's original mission statement as a proud yet quirky location will always be present. It's in that spirit that I am hesitant, yet feel a duty to report that my last experience there was substandard in one key respect-the coffee. The college-aged clerk gave me a strong affirmation that they had a dark roast, which I ordered to go. Why then, was what I sampled when I was two blocks further more akin to hot brown water that one would expect from a residential tap in Brooklyn, NY? Bottom line-I would gladly pay an extra dollar for a full strength cup of coffee, and will resort to patronizing Colectivo and others until Michelangelo's gets their act together.