Common Ground Coffee Shop

The baristas are always very nice, and I love their always changing coffee flavors. Plus they have day old 50¢ bagels and donuts and such which are always good (and cheap)! I love coming in on Sunday mornings to finish work, but it sometimes gets a little loud, and there isn’t always available seating (for a group of 3 needing a larger table). Also, there is a very very small parking lot.

This place is sooo close to where I live, but my sample size of 3 different coffees says they burn it every time. Do I really want to play coffee roulette?

It is a cute rustic coffee shop located away from the main downtown area. I wanted to try this coffee shop especially because they serve organic/​fair trade coffee. I got a latte and it was just okay. I have been spoiled by Chazzano in Ferndale (If you are in the area, you definitely need to check them out). The latte had too many bitter notes for my own tasting. However, if you are looking for a spot to finish some work, or just browse on the internet, there seems to be plenty of seating. Parking is also easy to find.

Do you want to have remarkable coffee and scrumptious baked goods that make it worth figuring out how to spell scrumptious? Then this is NOT the place. Do you want to get some work done, free street parking and serviceable coffee, seating and music? This is the place for you.
My coffee was middle of the road Starbuks quality served in a paper cup but the quiet working crowd was just what I was looking for. I spilled out my crap over the table like I was at home and no one noticed. The seating, decorations and puzzles spilling on to the floor remind me of a college co-​op. Casual, serviceable, boxy but good. It’s like an old sweater – nothing special but sometimes it’s just right for the job.

Grand Rapids best kept secret coffee house! It’s never busy, usually pretty quiet so it’s a great please for studying or reading, friendly, quick service, and selection of coffee drinks changes but is always yummy.
When I was in yesterday (around 7pm) they still had donuts and some other pastry treats out but I’m pretty sure they have more of a selection in the morning hours. They have a few outdoor seats and plenty of tables inside to work from. It’s next to Schnitz Deli (A-​MAZING sandwiches), so you can work here and grab lunch next door.
My only gripe is the wi-​fi seems janky and/​or non existent. At least we couldn’t get on it when we were in last. booooo to that.
Not sure what the building used to be but they have huge stained glass church windows on the wall that add a funky and creative ambiance to the place. There’s a full knights’ armor guarding the microwave and a unique stained glass piece hanging from the wall in the side room.

Been loving this place for the last 10yrs.
Good creative place to help you feel at home, play chess with friends, and log in some reflective laptop time. If you are a college student needed to compose a long paper, this place will help you.
Good coffee drinks, whole beans for purchase, good baked goods, free wifi if you brought a drink, and the staff is always friendly and upbeat.
This is a top 5 coffee shop in Grand Rapids for me!

Begrudgingly admitting that this place is great. My significant other has been telling me to try this place forever and I hate to admit that he was completely right. Lots of space, natural light, free wi-​fi, friendly staff, great music (and just the right, low volume), and a Harry Potter themed drink menu. The atmosphere is also exactly what I like in a coffee shop, warm, casual, neighborhoody (that’s a thing). I might just move in.

I enjoy this neighborhood place for an occasional cup of coffee.
The cookies are fab and the biscotti is good.
Friendly and knowledgeable staff.
What’s not to like?

My dad use to take me here a lot back in the days, so I’ve known this place for a long time. The people are great, it’s quite, calming, and it smells amazing because of the coffee. Staff is very nice, and the food is nice. I haven’t been here in a month or so, but I expect coming again very soon. (P.S, if you’re hipster you’d fit right in)

The staff is crazy friendly. When I lived in Grand Rapids, I looked forward to talking to them in the morning. The coffee is really good. I always get the Sweet Queen because I have quite the sweet tooth. Though, my fiancé always got the Americano, which he really enjoyed as well.
The place has a really nice vibe and the other customers are really friendly as well. Next door is a spot-​on sandwich shop. So it was easy to just walk next door when I needed lunch while studying or just hanging out. Great location and great place to be!

Cookie and a hot coffee! When it’s freezing outside a good hot coffee is an excellent solution. Walked in on a very frigid winter day and tried one of the seasonal drinks! Mayan spiced cocoa, marshmallow, expresso, and steamed milk… fantastic. Also got a coconut oatmeal cookie. The only reason it doesn’t get a 5 star rating is because the medium was so small. Otherwise the taste, price, and atmosphere is great. They also use locally roasted coffee so your money stays in the area which is cool. Definitely recommend checking the place out. Free wifi too! :)

Love it, and all the people who work there! But, it’s due time to clean the place up a bit. I like the fact that its not a high end coffee shop, but that doesn’t mean it has to be dirty.

Motorcycle church on Sunday mornings with friendly staff and great coffee!

You could consider this Fulton’s hidden gem. On a road that runs cross town, and many people use to get from point A to point B… very few people realize it’s there (and that’s a shame). With an extensive variety of direct trade coffees, fair trade organic coffees, organic coffees, flavored coffees, espresso drinks, teas, chai drinks, French sodas, Italian sodas, soft drinks, and juices I can virtually guarantee this place has something for everyone.
It’s located right across from the opera house, in between a liquor store and a deli. From the outside it doesn’t look like much; just a few chairs and some overgrown flower pots. But on the inside this place has some character. It has plenty of seating area and, although old, it fits the building perfect.
The menu is drawn on a chalk board, and at first glance you can’t tell what anything is with names like Sir Carmalot and Golden Sword (mid-​evil theme?). But each name has a description underneath, and before long you find something that sounds like heaven… and it always tastes like heaven.
So enough with that… the important stuff: free WiFi, great music, plenty of outlets for studying or hanging out, AMAZING coffee, very consistent, prompt service from knowledgeable staff. The prices are reasonable and there are multiple coupons if you have yourself an entertainment book of some sorts. There is almost always a game of chess being played and there is a bookshelf with a variety of games to play. Bottom line: great product and atmosphere.
According to their website they have been around for 15 years… and with the rate they are going at they have many more to come. I am very impressed by this place and wish there were more hidden gems in Grand Rapids like it.

Ever since i moved to grand rapids, this has become my second home. They have a good selection of coffee which keeps changing daily. Also try they baked goods they sell. The cranberry/​walnut muffin is one of the best i have tasted.
+ Good coffee
+ Free wifi
+ Adequate seating with power outlets and study lamps
+ Knowledgeable staff & great serviced
+ good music
+ cheap refills on drip coffee

Whenever I plan to go to a coffee house in Chicago I go through all the possibilities in my mind, but I’m never content. For some reason I always think, «I want to go to Common Ground. I want a place like Common Ground.» But no place like this exists in Chicago. The coffee houses here are so different; both in appearance and in vibe. It’s disappointing, really.

I returned yesterday due to continued lack of internet. In fact, I’m probably going to become a regular here pretty quickly. This time I got an iced tea, and was a little disappointed when I asked what kind of tea they used (I meant green, black, etc.) but the guy was like «Uh…Lipton’s?»
I did venture into the other room, which apparently until May 1^st offered a smoking section. This side has a bookshelf of games to play, and some guys were gathered around a chess game. There are also desk lamps at a lot of the tables which is great for studying, and plugs at almost every table for your laptop, which I appreciate.

The best true coffee house in GR. Not fancy, but the coffee is great. Creative seasonal drinks, coffee for sale, sandwiches available (and next door is the Schnitz Deli — best in GR too). Prices aren’t insane either.
Not too loud either for sitting and reading/​pondering your navel.

Great coffee, some fine goodies like scones etc. Mostly I like it because it’s a real student type hang out without any pretentions. You can sit there all day if you like or go in and walk out quickly with a latte, or whatever floats your coffee boat. I stop there every time I’m in the area.

If the bustle of Eastown drives you away from the coffee shop experience, head over to Common Ground. With smoking and non-​smoking sections and wonderful fair-​trade coffee, everyone can be satisfied. They offer free WI-​FI access and plenty of books on the «take-​a-​book-​leave-​a-​book» shelves, comfy couches and reading lamps on every table to please the masses. This shop offers a more mellow atmosphere with dimmer lights and quieter customers. The baristas control the music via iPod and do a great job. They always seem to know your mood. Stop in to this cozy spot and catch up on the up and up of GR. Local publications fill the shop to fill you in on the new music, literature and much more. I love the 76, but sometimes I need an escape, and this is just the place.