The Experience

🔊
Atmosphere & Comfort
Expect a social hum: 70–78 dB on weekdays late mornings, 80–85 dB during Saturday rush. AC runs cool around 68–70°F; window seats can feel chilly on breezy days. Lighting is bright with big windows; best glare-free laptop spots are the interior wall two-tops.
👥
Service Reality
Counter ordering; names called at pickup. Drinks average 6–10 minutes; food 12–20 minutes, stretching to 25–30 minutes 9–11 am weekends. Staff is warm and quick to fix misses, but bakes can be uneven—ask for “lightly toasted” on croissants.
🍳
Food & Drinks
Single‑origin pour‑overs (8–12 oz), lattes in three sizes, and an 8–10 oz cortado/flat white sweet spot. Waffles are full‑plate, shareable; chicken tenders come crisp with sauce options. Seasonal lattes rotate (maple in fall, floral in spring); ask for half‑sweet if you prefer balance.
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Hidden Details
Outlets along the right‑side wall booths and under the long high‑top; the front lounge chairs look cozy but have no plugs. Two single‑stall bathrooms in back; the left one is roomier with a changing table. Small sidewalk patio appears when temps stay above 55°F.

Frequently Asked Questions

Worth the hype or just Instagram pretty?
Go for the pour‑overs and the Brûlée Waffle. Coffee leans bright and nuanced; bakes taste best before 10 am—ask for “lightly toasted” to avoid over‑warming.
What will I actually spend?
Most people land $8–14 for a drink + pastry, or $15–20 for a drink + waffle/toast. Alt milk +$0.75 and extra shots +$1.00 add up if you stack them.
Can I get work done here or is it chaos?
Weekdays 1:30–3:00 pm are the sweet spot: open tables, steady Wi‑Fi, and outlets along the right wall. Saturday late mornings are loud and kid‑heavy—great energy, not great for Zoom.
What do locals order?
Regulars lean “The Grace” latte or a fruit‑forward pour‑over, plus a ham‑and‑cheese or almond croissant early. Families split a waffle and grab the chicken tenders for an easy win.

📖 About Grace Coffee Co.

Grace Coffee Co. emerged in the late 2010s as a Madison-area specialty coffee brand focused on light-to-medium roasts and approachable café food. The concept pairs third‑wave espresso standards with a friendly, family‑forward service model.

The Sun Prairie café at 1261 Cabela Dr opened as a new build-out within the Prairie Lakes development, designed for a clear bar flow, bakery case visibility, and ample seating. The space was configured with wide pathways and front-window seating to handle both remote workers and weekend brunch traffic.

Operations emphasize consistent in‑house roasting, rotating single‑origin offerings, and a bakery program that supports early morning pastry demand. The team prioritizes customer‑direct adjustments—half‑sweet builds, alternative milks, and brewed‑to‑order pour‑overs are standard options.

The menu balances coffee-first offerings with waffles, crepes, and savory toasts tailored to Sun Prairie’s family and commuter patterns. Mobile ordering and counter pickup are integrated to reduce lines during peak Costco and weekend rushes.

Today, the location operates as a suburban hub for meetings and study sessions, with practical features like plentiful outlets along one wall and two single‑stall restrooms. Seasonal sidewalk seating appears in warmer months, extending the café’s capacity without changing the counter‑service format.

🛡️ Area Intelligence

Safety & Crime

Prairie Lakes is a well-lit, high-traffic retail area with steady evening activity from big-box anchors. Typical suburban risks apply—lock vehicles and avoid leaving bags visible; occasional car break-ins are reported in large lots across Sun Prairie. After 9 pm the plaza quiets, but lighting remains strong around storefronts and main aisles.

Walking & Infrastructure

Continuous sidewalks connect Grand Ave to Cabela Dr with marked crosswalks at the Costco entrance. Morning glare and wind can be strong across the open lots, and winter plow berms sometimes narrow curb access near the café entrance for a day or two after storms.

Parking & Transit

Large free surface lot; closest consistent openings are along the south/pond side and mid-aisles. Madison Metro Route B stops on Grand Ave near Cabela Dr (about a 3–5 minute walk) with ~15‑minute daytime frequency on weekdays and ~30–60 minutes on weekends; fare $2 adult single ride, day pass ~$5.

Local Issues

Weekend traffic stacks at the Costco gas entrance 9–11 am, slowing turns into Cabela Dr. Construction pops up seasonally on Grand Ave; expect lane shifts and brief delays during Summer 2025 paving windows.