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Back to the Grind

3.7 (748 reviews)
Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Back to the Grind Photos

Business Info

BACK TO THE GRIND ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
DJ
Live music
Hipster

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Recommended Reviews - Back to the Grind

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First of all the vibes and ambience of this place was great, but my only complaint was the food and drinks that are always disappointing. I've given this place two chances. I got a matcha the first time and thought matcha wasn't their specialty, but I went in for a coffee and still was disappointed. Also the fact that two of my friends also got drinks and left with an upset stomach... Service was alright.

Club Vamp:Love Bites
Nisha M.

I came here for a drag show and was AMAZED to see the underground space/vibe that they had for the shower. It was super cool to see both a coffee bar and drinks being served. Their latte was made extremely quickly and was delicious! We also got the iced black tea, which was very yummy too.

Close up of hot vegan food items
Tamara E.

I recently visited this coffee house for a special event and was amazed by establishment's layout as well as their variety of vegan food and beverage offerings for customers. As we walked up to the coffee house, I liked the variety of outdoor seating as well as several types of indoor seating including small tables and longer tables. I was most pleased by the large amount of vegan options available consisting of sandwiches as well as deserts. After looking at the menu, I decided to order a vegan bagel melt and an orange blossom outrageous smoothie while my hubby decided to order a grilled cheese a radical raspberry smoothie. Initially the ordering process was a little confusing since it wasn't clear where customers needed to stand to order. Once we were told by an employee where to go to order, the process was quick. Our smoothies were created in front of our eyes and our food and drink were hot and flavorful. As an avid reader, I throughly enjoyed how the coffee house was filled with several bookshelves containing a variety of books along with.much CDs and other assorted items. Although I wanted to pull a book off one of the bookshelves, since I didn't see an signage saying this was okay, I decided to not browse through the books. The coffee house experience was pleasant, the food was great, and considering the abundance of vegan menu options offered, we will absolutely plan to visit this coffee shop again soon.

Amanda N.

I loved the vibes in here, very fun to bring some work or art projects. The coffee was good. Seemed to have a lot of food options but did not try.

Inside
Johnny G.

Great service stopped in between appointments...picked up a watermelon protien smoothy....knocked it out the park. Well done

Head
Ken H.

Before reading my review, please imagine that I am a beautiful woman or handsome man who meets all of your visual criteria. This way my review will get more likes & reactions. See also: The Halo effect. Speaking of the effects of beauty, Back to the Grind is a palatial coffee house loaded with rococo furniture & sturdy wooden chairs. The walls are adorned with bookshelves full of trendy books that people pretend to have read to impress a date like The Alchemist, Harry Potter, The Stranger, etc. The rules at Back to the Grind, albeit few, do not cohere or make sense just like most places. For example, the staff will not allow people to put their feet up on any of the coffee tables. However, people are permitted to bring in dogs of any size. The tables are spotless at Back to the Grind. Unfortunately, the wooden flooring & some of the couches are redolent of kennels and dog food breath. I ordered a large hot chocolate. When I got my order, I was pleased to notice the barista properly prepared a large hot chocolate. The large here is much cheaper than a Starbucks because price gouging is not pervasive in Riverside. 5 stars for being the biggest dog shelter in the city of Riverside that also sells coffee. I would suggest that anyone who brings in a dog heavier than 60 lbs. should receive a free bagel, and one of those hand sized plastic bags for throwing away dog crap. Thank you Back to the Grind for being you in the most offbeat, passe way possible.

Matcha iced tea
Jenny V.

Came in today discovered by accident and OMG my favorite matcha tea ever so freaking delicious. The person that took my order was so friendly and nice ! The guy that prepared was so sweet too. The ambiance is quiet great for reading which is perfect for me. It's beautiful inside looks like a collector's museum. It's a vibe. I will be back !!

Coffee place
Tiffany P.

My husband and I were walking and he wanted to check this place out so we went in. They have a bar and ice cream, some coffee drinks and food items. Service was okay, ambiance was lovely. I enjoyed looking at everything but it was hot! There was an outside and had an upstairs we didn't explore. I would like to check out open mic night.

Christina G.

Love, love, love! Came in for an evening latte and stayed for an hour or so on the cozy patio. As soon as you walk in, you'll notice the cool decor. I'm a sucker for bookshelves in coffee shops! Tamia took our order - she was so friendly and easy to talk to. Definitely will return for the yummy coffee & vibes next time I'm in town.

extra ice iced latte with a lot of whole milk.
Cass F.

when i walked in here i was so excited to try this place bc the pictures looked cool. i should've looked at the reviews bc i wouldn't have driven up here knowing id experience what a lot of other people were experiencing. When i walked up to order i asked if i could have oat milk in my latte. they said they didn't have it so i said okay that's fine i'll do a little bit of whole milk and extra ice. i had specifically asked for a short latte with less milk and extra ice. i get my drink back and it was made with a regular amount of milk and light ice. so when i went back up to politely ask if they can remake my drink i was told that "they can try to make it with less ice but that's not how they usually make it". i stood there trying to understand what he meant bc i just asked for extra ice and less milk. the employee with the tattoos and blue tank top was truthfully dismissive and made me feel like an inconvenience for asking to remake my drink. i then notice that there was oat milk this whole time and the other employee didn't even bother to check. i was hesitant to leave a review because i didn't know if maybe they were having a bad day and they just needed some grace but as i see other reviews and how other people stated how they were treated i can see it clearly now experiencing it. regardless, i still didn't get what i ordered as i said less milk but i did get extra ice. i unfortunately had to throw out my drink bc the thought of being another inconvenience to the employees was not even worth it anymore. update the man in the blue tank, his name is Max i believe.

Back to the Grind
Norman R.

During a recent visit to downtown Riverside in the university area I discovered "Back To The Grind" coffee shop. It would appear to be a local hangout for college students, coffee affancianados, and tourists due to the diverse collection of patrons enjoying a cup-of-joe while chatting or studying. The establishment has a library or den decor with various artifacts and artwork adorning the walls as well as the random furniture which resides within. Offering the usual iced or hot beverages in various flavors and sizes, the shop further offers some delicious doughnuts, pastries, pies, cookies and sandwiches to enjoy. My iced coffee with a dash of cream was perfect! Flavorful dark roast, with the perfect amount of cream over solid ice cubes. The atmosphere is typical for a college study spot with a noise level that is tolerable. Outdoor seating in the rear and as well as curbside in front. Highly recommended.

Mocha
Tumbeler C.

Great stop just off the 91 freeway, it made it easy to reenter the freeway. My friend and I enjoyed mochas and we were thrilled with the high quality ingredients used. We also bought some tarts. Looking forward to visiting again. .

Pastry and smoothie with live jazz in the back.
Kelaia F.

From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was welcoming and exciting. I've never been in a place like this before. The ambiance blends the charm of an old school library-like scene in perfect combination with a cozy feel and eclectic decor. I chose to browse the menu and instantly the Caribbean smoothie caught my eye. The menu provided the fresh ingredients being used which were: Banana Pineapple chunks Crushed ice Orange Juice I then swiftly made my way over to the pastry section where I was greeted by a cashier who promptly informed me there were other pastries on the other side of the bar area. My eyes scanned for a potential (unneeded) pastry to purchase when my eyes met a delightful, glazy cheesecake like pastry that included fruits such as kiwi, blueberry, strawberries and even raspberries!​​ The visual appeal of this dainty pastry was absolutely heavenly. Fortunately for my vegans out there they have incredibly diverse vegan options to choose from as well. For those of you who prefer a night with a bit more of a buzz they have options for customers 21+ And to address the eager coffee enthusiasts... there are over 10 different otions to choose from including their signature back to the grind coffee! I on the other hand, am not a coffee enthusiast so please refer to other reviews for more in depth thoughts and descriptions on coffee served here :) I cannot forget to mention the phenomenal jazz music being played by the college students at RCC. The vocals, the strumming of chords, the passion, the music... WOW. They all performed with heart and did not miss a single beat. My heart was full of joy watching fellow college students perform with love and undoubted elegance. It was quite the sight to see and one must be watching live to truly understand the effect the music they play has on your mind, body and soul. What a life changing experience! I will without a doubt be back to enjoy another pastry, try a new beer, and listen to some tunes! Overall dope vibes, unforgettable pastries, entertaining live music and absolutely recommend to creatives or students!

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Ask the Community - Back to the Grind

Is it still cash only?

Hello! No we are not cash only but there is a 4% charge for all card transactions

Do you guys still have open mics for poetry or just music and comedy now?

Hello! Our repo nights, aka our poetry nights, are on Mondays now! At 6:30

Is there places to charge laptops?

Yes

Is smoking permitted in the back patio?

Yes

Do they have pool tables? I tried searching for "pool billiards" and this was the first recommendation but I don't see any pool tables in their pictures..

No, they do not have pool tables. Mainly table sitting throughout the coffee shop.

What nights are open mic nights?

Mondays

Do they have dine-in at the moment?

No one in Riverside County is approved for dine-in at this time.

Is Back to the Grind gay friendly?

It's definitely gay friendly!

Does Back to the Grind host Open Mic Nights?

They do! And if you go on their Facebook page or go in person they have a monthly calendar that tells you their events. I believe the open mics are Monday's from 9-11pm (poetry, music and open mic night). RUPO (Riverside Underground Performance… Read more

View All 10 Questions

Review Highlights - Back to the Grind

Yeah, sometimes there's homeless crazies that come in, but mind you, we're in downtown Riverside.

Mentioned in 39 reviews

Read more highlights

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North Cork Vineyard & Winery

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Amazing scenery... beautiful weather... great service. Very friendly staff with good…read morerecommendations- IPA's available by Escape, plenty of wine choices and I love reds... my fav was the Tempranillo & Sangiovese. Ordered pizza to enjoy while sitting in the sun and taking on the beautiful surrounding. I will definitely return!!!

This place was lovely. Really, just come here for the views and the time to chill in a really…read morerelaxing wine spot that's way closer than Temecula. Pretty view of the hills, trees, hummingbirds and butterflies around. It's lovely. The best part of this place is the ambiance, the beautiful views and spacious outside can't be beat. Unfortunately, if it's a rainy weekend, this place will be closed because because all of the seating is pretty much outside. But when it's nice outside, and in SoCal, it's usually nice outside, this place is wonderful. I was really happy watching all the butterflies flitting about. Service is also really nice. Just go up to the bar and put in your order, they'll get to it asap. There's water around for you to grab if you're thirsty. But if you want more drinks, just go back up to the bar. My friend actually got sick on my last visit here (not alcohol related - health issues) and the bartender was so nice to us and understanding - we paid up and left right away when it happened. Def made me feel welcome to come back again. It was something not in anyone's control, and she knew that and understood it, and was really amazing. The minus star I give is honestly because the wine is a bit meh (I got a bottle of the sparkling wine). One, it's just not the best taste wise even when you add some orange juice, but the biggest thing is it's always warm when they hand it to you. I would raise it this star if they just served it actually cold - doesn't need to be the best wine, just cold would be nice. I might bring some ice in a pack with me next time actually lol. If it was cold, I think it would be way better. I haven't tried the pizza place here, but it's on my list for the next time I come up here. Overall, loved the ambiance and service. And that will always make me come back.

Back to the Grind - coffee - Updated May 2026

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