Common Grounds Coffee

I’m continually astounding by the wealth of great coffee shops in our region, and Common Grounds is no exception. Besides being tucked inside a shopping mall and a little far from the downtown scene in Davis, it’s as good a spot as any to get your caffeine fix and hunker down for some quality study time.
I am not much of a coffee aficionado myself so I happily explored their extensive iced tea menu and went with the green tea. It was fresh, crisp and refreshing and just the thing I needed on yet another sweltering Davis day. The shop is well laid out with plenty of areas to sit and zone out on your laptop or read. When I came it was quieter, almost a library atmosphere. That’s a pleasant change from the average noisy Starbucks.
Another plus, and an extremely important component of any coffee shop these days, is a fast and reliable wifi connection. Shame on any establishment these days that doesn’t offer free wifi!

They are okay. Nothing to «write home» about. I like that it is on a street named after one of the original UC Regents. I had a friend who lived at Cowell, when I lived at Porter, when I was at Santa Cruz. :)

I got the caramel butter latte or something to that extent. I was driving back to sac so needed something to drink along the way. The service was alright, the employees were distracted with their own conversation but the coffee itself made up for it. I usually add a lot of sugar but this time I forgot to and when I tried it… It was delicious. No sugar needed whatsoever. It was creamy and rich without the flavor a overpowering the coffee. Definitely wish there was a place that served this kind of coffee closer but definitely worth coming back here if I’m in the area again.

I was at my chiropractor’s (Michele Chu) office this morning and asked for her recommendation for a great coffee place in Davis. She immediately recommended «Common Grounds.»
Right after my appointment with her, I went there to check it out. It was conveniently located, only about a mile and a half from her practice. It’s on Cowell Boulevard near Safeway, Mr. Pickles and Great Clips.
When I walked in, I immediately liked the place because it had a vibe like one of those San Francisco coffee places. You can chill while sipping your coffee and/​or read a good book, study or just have a nice chat with a buddy. It also felt cozy there bc it was a rainy and cold morning.
I approached the counter and an energetic smiley young lady asked how she could help me. To my surprise they had a 24oz. cup of coffee! Of course that’s what I ordered. The other coffee sizes offered were a small at 12oz., medium at 16oz., and large at 20oz. The one I ordered is their extra-​large at 24oz. I wished Temple Roasters and Peete’s had this size because I drink coffee for a good part of the morning rush at my work and this size serves me well (hint). To share how much I love coffee… this weekend I bought a small French Press for my desk to support my addiction.
I asked for an extra large Black Magic, their dark roast. She rang me up and I grabbed my cup to look for a nice place to sit. I placed my coffee on the table and took off the cap to admire the dark roast. This allowed me to watch the oils float to the top. I blew on it a little bit to cool it down and took a sip. First thing I thought was this is a French Roast bc of its extreme bitterness and at the same time it offered a smooth quality. It’s not the type of coffee flavor many people would like but I like that in my coffee.
I also got a medium, Costa Rica, for my better half to bring home with me. I’m not going to lie, I did sip on her coffee too bc I was curious how their medium roast tasted. It had a nice mild flavor with a hint of vanilla at the end.
I really enjoyed their high quality coffee. Needless to say, I have found another coffee house I can go to before work. Can’t wait to try the other blends.

I’m no coffee connoisseur, but am slowly making my way through the coffee shops of Davis. From Starbucks to Dutch Bros, Peet’s, Mishka’s and Pachamama, and newcomer Temple.
We buy coffee beans for the office espresso machine from here (Black Magic dark roast), and it’s an easy walking distance too. I’ve come in a few times for coffee, mostly mochas or lattes. The butter caramel latte that other Unilocalers rave about I’ve tried, and the latte art is fun but I didn’t really think it wowed enough in taste for the additional price.
I also read in 2015 that Common Grounds carries Davis baker Jenn Cheng’s S’mores Bar (graham cracker crust and cookie dough middle mixed with marshmallows, chocolate chunks and salty pretzels)! She also has churro and Oreo flavor variations on the original s’more which are available by delivery. The only other place that carries these s’mores in town is Davis Creamery!
I like that it’s locally owned, they have free wireless, and plenty of tables/​chairs for studying or enjoying your drink. Open until 9pm.

Common Grounds really is just that: common. Nothing special. Baristas aren’t friendly and outlets are hard to come by. My mocha was whatevs. I just wasn’t really feeling it.
A lot of people come here to study and although they have lots of room, there were a few people that walked around and found no available seating.

I had a day off and was feeling frisky, so I headed out to try a new coffee shop. Thanks to Unilocal,I settled on Common Ground and headed up here. It was a pleasant, easy drive from Vacaville, my usual haunts. The shop is in a plaza, and at first step in the door looks tiny-​but don’t be fooled, theres a bunch of seating (soft chairs and stools both) in the back to the right.
I have a delicious, nutty, perfectly blended and creamy café au lait – very nicely done. AND, they have real mugs – I love real mugs, takes it to a whole ‘nother level. I selected an apricot scone out of their abundant pastry case. It has a wonderful, wholesome flavor sprinkled with oats and with generous dried apricots; it’s a smidge dry, as if there was not quite enough liquid in the recipe (not overbaked), but that could just be a style vs preference thing for me.
The décor is fun, a little eclectic with a mix of biking paraphernalia; wood paneling combined with earthy paint colors, marble and wood tables, painted concrete floors, and purple-​grey patterned furniture combine to give a calm, calming, modern-​but-​not-​stuffy vibe. However, their storage does seem to be overflowing their capacity; half of the front portion of the restaurant is cluttered with boxes and storage items, which is a bit distracting and unprofessional looking. But, that’s me and most people probably would not be bothered; the rest of the restaurant is clean and tidy, no issues there.
I“m enjoying my time here and would be back, would be afun place to hang out with friends as the group seating seems generous and nice.

Stopped in for a latte this morning.
The «resist corporate coffee» motif is evident. I’ve seen that in Seaside (Monterey) as well at Acme Coffee. No need to resist– just no inherent need to patronize them («corporate coffee») either.
Unless you want to… because they’re almost as tasty and much more convenient.

Went in hoping to grab a quick bite but once i got in, the display cases were empty and messy. Maybe it was just bad timing? (I went in around 3PM). They were already out of bagels! BOO.
Instead, I decided to order the Butter Caramel Latte… Mehhhh… it was so thick and not good. It lacked flavor, tbh. I’ve had better coffee elsewhere.
There’s plenty of seating inside though. Probably a good spot for college students to study and get stuff done. However, I would advise going early!

It’s alright for a quick coffee fix. Nothing to write home about, but it does its job. Parking is really easy. Study space is plentiful.
The downside is the wifi. They boast «Free WiFi», but it’s actually the City of Davis wifi, which is super limited. You have to sign up for an account (and for some reason plug in the MAC address), and it’s not actually free. You get a free trial period. This is great if you just need a distraction-​free environment to really get some work done, but not super practical if you’re really reliant on Internet.

After a few times coming here I would say Common Grounds is just A-​Ok as Unilocal would put it. It’s a great alternative to Starbucks and on campus but I’ve just had a few more meh experiences than wonderful experiences. This mainly refers to the service and the drinks. The place itself is great for studying. It’s a nice vibe in there, the music is on point, decent amount of seating/​outlets so in that sense it’s great. However, I’ve had hit or miss service and the drinks are just okay.
I’ll probably continue to come just because it’s so close to my apartment. But unless you’re a regular, they won’t give you the time of day. This is mainly from the college workers. The owners are very friendly but the younger folks are just not friendly. The drinks are okay. I was disappointed that I had to wait 10+ minutes for my café au lait. I asked for a pump of the honey vanilla Torani syrup but I saw the owner put just plain honey in my drink. Minor thing but why?
Hopefully I don’t get the evil eye next time I visit…

My first time here but my boyfriend used to go to Davis and likes going here.
It looks trendy and hip on the inside. I loved the décor and how warm it felt inside. Parking is a bit tricky, as many spots in front are timed spots, meant for getting in and out.
Drinks — I got a butter Carmel latte. Definitely yummy and wasn’t too sweet. It was really savory because of the butter. Definitely a great drink! The boyfriend got his medium cappuccino with triple shots of expresso for the drive back to Fremont.
Service — honestly I was not impressed. They seemed kind of bothered we were there but had to take our orders anyway. When getting our drinks, she only shouted the cappuccino and then put my drink on the counter a minute later. They just seemed in their own world and didn’t really care much about others around.

Well, Common Grounds. I love that we have coffee shops in Davis that aren’t just Starbucks or Peet’s. This place has fabulous seating, sometimes okay coffee, and decent other drinks.
Café au lait: the first time, the coffee was superb, but I got one the next week and it was terrible. The coffee tasted of very poor quality — too burnt. Like Folgers. I didn’t appreciate the inconsistency.
Chai tea latte: sweet or spicy — got the sweet. Milk was so foamy. Great amount of chai flavor and definitely heavy on the sweet.
Latte: better than Starbucks, not as good as Temple. Also got the pumpkin chai tea latte (spicy version). The spice was fantastic and I prefer it over the sweet. Couldn’t appreciate any pumpkin flavors though.
Butterscotch cream soda: house made and ridiculously good. Deliciciously sweet! Not available all the time. Look for a paper taped to the counter by the register that very meekly tells of the existence of this drink.
Butter caramel latte: perfectly sweetened, with flavors all melted together and smooth. I love the creaminess. It’s like liquid smiles.
Caramel macchiato: more sweet than espresso-​y. The foam on top was perfection. I’ve noticed some inconsistencies in the taste of their espresso, which is a bit disappointing.
Mocha Frappé: tasted every bit like a Starbucks frappucino, only the whipped cream is not as thick and rich as Starbucks.
The only pastry I’ve had was a scone, and it was very dry and crumbly and far from satisfactory. I’ve yet to try something else, but I have been eyeing the Oreo Bars they occasionally have in the case on the far right.
I love their seating, minus the fact that most of the tables and chairs are close together, reminiscent of a fire hazard. (But not quite as bad a fire hazard as Mishka’s). They have a bar/​counter along one wall, then couches, comfy chairs, and your usual tables and wooden chairs. They even think of the kids here too, and have a basket full of books. I’ve seen some people cozy up with their dogs here, so don’t be shy– bring your pup! I love that they have such a large space indoors for chatting, studying, or reading. I’ve found that the back area seems more quiet and the atmosphere more conducive for studying than the front. There’s also a gated outdoor patio for those bright sunny days. Don’t worry– they have umbrellas!

This place is great for studying, having a nice place to read a book or just hanging out with a friend!
I will admit that I’m not a huge fan of their coffee but their tea selection and pumpkin muffin are excellent. I really appreciate this place because it’s spacious, has free wifi and LOTS OF OUTLETS to charge up your electronics! They also have a lot of seating options (booth, tables, sofa).
FOR LONG STUDY SESSIONS:
There’s lots of good food places around so if you need a lunch break you can just walk over to Teabo, Safeway or Dos Coyotes. Most times I just leave my stuff, buy a sandwich from Safeway and come back (people aren’t shady here).
Overall, this place is my go-​to when I need a nice place to study for school!

This cute little place is great for studying in the mornings or even at night. They usually close later during finals week which is really considerate of them for students. One of my main concerns is that to connect to wifi, you have to register for instaconnect-​hotspot and then they’ll give you a good amount of hours that you can use for the wifi while logged on.
Sad to say, I didn’t enjoy the caramel macchiato as much as I would’ve liked because it was a bit bland, but then again, caffeine is caffeine. They’ve also got Italian sodas and pretty latte hearts (obviously).
4 for a hip study spot and caffeine filled all-​nighters.

Overall great place for studying! I came here twice now and I have ordered a mocha and a butter latte. I didn’t quite like the butter latte but the mocha was delicious!
I personally love this place because the interior is so creatively designed. There are a ton of outlets. Also, there is quite a bit of furniture (couches and chairs) that are super comfortable to sit on and relax while reading a book!
Definitely worth paying a visit!

What a cute low-​key coffee place, and it’s not just for coffee. I was looking for a place to meet an out-​of-​town friend near the freeway as she passed through Davis and also wanted to go local as opposed to the ubiquitous Starbucks. I don’t enjoy drinking coffee and was happy to see that they have a large selection of teas and for the summer they also make Arnold Palmers. They use organic lemonade and you have a choice of three different teas. My selection of the peach tea made for a very refreshing cold drink.
There are a lot of tables and comfortable upholstered chairs in the back room. That room is cutely decorated with bicycle jerseys.

I’ve been here enough times to finally say, I LOVE THEIR HONEY BEAR (honey latte). It costs the same price as a normal latte, but they add honey in it! Recommended by Solongo B., I knew I had to try it!
No other coffee shop makes a honey latte like Common Grounds does. I do still agree that the coffee isn’t as strong as I like it to be, but with the honey, it is perfect!
Also, their baked goods are superb and fresh in the morning! They usually run out by 11am, so try to get there early!

+ Coffee & Pastries
I usually order a Mocha and a Chocolate Croissant. Common Grounds’ coffee is not bad at all; the mocha is not too strong/​toasty (maybe not enough sometimes) and is not overloaded with sugar. It is simply sweet and warm: such a pleasant drink to wake up in the morning before class or work!
I really like their Chocolate Croissant and I believe their pastries are baked by City Baking Co. from San Francisco (Peet’s Coffee & Tea sell their pastries as well). It’s not the best, but it will do! They run out of chocolate croissants by 10 – 11 AM, which makes me sad sometimes… Additionally, they carry cookies from the Cookie Connection! Go try one (the Crackle) with your coffee!
+ Ambiance & Customer Service
The coffee shop itself is nicely furnished and spacious. Ample seating and there is also an outdoor patio. Getting Free-​Wifi is a little confusing and is annoying to set up (you have to create an account via Instaconnect and provide some personal information).
Staff is a hit or miss. Sometimes you have a really friendly barista helping you out with your coffee and the next day you have a really grumpy, whatever-​attitude person. It’s kinda sad.

It was a dark and cold Saturday morning at 6:30 and I’d been let down time after time until I stumbled upon this marvelous little coffee shop! The service was swift and friendly, just as I like it on an early morning. I was pleasantly surprised at the waitress’ chipper mood for such an early weekend, so props for that.
Had a great non-​fat extra hot mocha and it wasn’t burnt but perfectly hot and toasty. Also got a lemon zest scone (not technical name) and it was fresh and warm. Will def be going back ASAP.