Good drinks, excellent biscotti, great atmosphere and vibe. I hung out there a ton as a teen. Service is always friendly but don't go if you want anything fast. The drinks they make take time to prepare and it's worth it to slow down to enjoy properly! It's no fun when people expecting fast food speed get grumpy in line. If you want speed, go to McDonald's. If you want to relax with a good cappuccino and a really good biscotti, come here! read more

I am a coffee lover. Really. Like, really really. Like scary, stop drinking so much coffee really. My mainstay for judging "boutique" coffee houses is their mocha latte. Everything in the process of creating this delicassy takes careful attention and love. A perfect mocha is just a little bit sweet, so subtle that at first you may ask "did they put ANY syrup in here?". But slowly, as you sip, the flavor builds to a graceful note of chocolate and espresso, just barely detectable through the warmth of the milk as it caresses your tongue. A great mocha is a thing of beauty; a great mocha is hard to do. Too often you might get a dump of syrup, overwhelmingly sweet. Or perhaps the milk is steamed too long, producing a burnt , off flavor. Many a barista has been tested under my watchful eye and many a barista has proven themself uncaring and uninterested in their art. Common grounds is not the perfect mocha. No, but common grounds is a damn fine mocha. I was initially unimpressed by the pour and began bracing myself for my morning to crumble away in a rockslide of disappointment and regret. I was wrong. This was no swan, nay, more an ugly duckling of a coffee drink but this mocha was an exceptional companion to my morning routine. I will be back. read more

Common Grounds - Cinnamon scone. Delicious. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Best coffee ever! The smell of the freshly ground is amazing! And the roasting machine inside which you can watch being run is an extra cool added feature to the already cool and relaxed atmosphere. Whether you choose to sit in front, the great little patio out back, or inside, you will enjoy it all...your coffee and a delicious bakery item and friendly faces. Love this little gem in our town read more

Quite the let down... I ordered a iced latte which came out tasting pretty gross and was prepared in a way I had never seen before. The lady making it filled up a cup with ice and then put the ice directly under the espresso machine and had the fresh espresso poured directly on the ice. This caused the latte to just taste watery with a very bitter espresso flavor. I also ordered a scone which tasted very bland and like it had been sitting out all day. read more

Starbucks be damned. I'm in love!!! everything is amazing. After an exceptionally brutal day yesterday, this is my treat. Life is better now. The latte is amazing and the pie is heavenly. I highly recommend. read more

Common Grounds - Almond joy latte and peanut butter pie After an extremely rough day yesterday, I really deserved this! Life is better... - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

When I think of neighborhood coffee houses, I think of Common Grounds. It's got all the key characteristics of a neighborhood coffee house. It's got hot beverages, desserts, cookies, biscottis, hardwood floors, dimly lit sections, sidewalk seating, and smoking hawt female baristas. The only thing it doesn't have is a very large interior space. I've visited a few times. It's usually right after dining at one of the several restaurant establishments located on Main Street. I think a lot of other people do the same thing as well. This coffee house is very popular with the locals and has been in business for many years. The owners also own Shoreline Cafe down at the bottom of the hill. If you can walk past the eight large glass jars of biscottis sitting on the counter without purchasing one, then God bless you. You have more will power than me. They taste fabulous and come in many different flavors. For beverages, prices are slightly on the high side IMO. Plus, it would be really nice if they served all hot beverages in ceramic mugs, instead of being served in flimsy paper cups. read more

Common Grounds - Biscotti - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

I wish Common Grounds was a little closer to the highway so I could pop by in the morning. Delicious lattes. I liked the vibe, although I grabbed my coffee to go (I had a train to catch!!) Definitely shall return and drink my way through the menu as this self proclaimed coffee whore should. read more

can only speak of the iced coffee today, it was STRONG and $3 for a not too big cup. I always like to check out the mom and pop coffee shops that are still in business, glad starbucks hasn't totally killed this town yet. Friendly staff, strong coffee, lots of local flavor - kinda pricey. Lots of Harleys lined up out front. read more

I love this place!! Their cookies are huge and taste amazing! I always get their lattes which have a perfect combination of sweet and bitter. I've tried their iced coffee and mocha lattes...unfortunately the coffee was very nasty and tasted like just bean water while the mocha latte was way too sweet. The store is so cute and a great place to study but I recommend to go around noon to get a seat, after noon it gets very busy and hard to find a table (aka a bar stool) to sit at to work. read more

I usually enjoy Common Grounds very much. The decor and tables are beautiful and fascinating. There's a certain amount of class in this establishment that puts McStarbucks to shame. And if there's a display by any local artist, then I'm especially interested in my surroundings. As a former Seattle denizen, I can honestly state the following: The baristas are constantly sweeter than Italian soda syrup. They know how to make the drink of choice, but they also banter with customers with warmth and humor. They garner a thumbs up from yours truly. Sure, you'll encounter rude service now and then because that's the nature of the beast. Dealing with sectors of the public is not a cakewalk so please exercise some patience. Of course, the coffee is to die for ("death by copious amounts of caffeine" is certainly the right way to transition these days), but I admit that they like to spritz their java with needless concoctions or leave too much bubbly foam in the latte. Yes, I'm one of those dreaded purists. I hereby apologize to all of you who prefer a variety of coffee drinks. (I used to. I'm not sure what happened.) However, you CAN get a hot cup of smooth coffee without injections of vanilla or hazelnut. The prices are a bit steep but they're certainly an improvement over McStarbucks. Sometimes I've had an "over-roasted" cup of coffee but it's the exception, not the rule. All of the uncommonly large-sized treats are lusciously toothsome. Therefore, I try to avoid those glass cases or else I'll end up with a few plates of the verboten. Then again, you might develop diabetes type 2 but I promise you won't even care about that possibility as the dessert coats your tongue and you gratefully ingest America's most powerful drug (sugar). I also enjoy the ambiance when it's at least fairly quiet and the lights are low. And maybe I'm transmuting into my dearly deceased mom, but sometimes the noise level in this place drives me to drink (and I don't mean another cappuccino). Let me 'splain. Some of us have high sound sensitivity due to Fibromyalgia or Misophonia, hence it would be nice for management to tone it down and thus present that example for its clientele who might also benefit from learning that not all of us want to listen to their conversations. Better music would be ideal as well, but we all have different tastes and ideas about playlists. Yet how about singer-songwriter afternoon or night? Joni Mitchell and Dan Fogelberg would be apropos. Enough kvetching. You'll relish Common Grounds, especially now that Retro Rock is closed and McStarbucks wants a quart of your blood (plus $6) for a caramel macchiato. And the location is awesome as well! I've met some of the weirdest people here, but that's not a detriment or insult by any means. read more

These guys are pros. I'm enjoying the best iced cappuccino I've ever had in my entire life, with a thick layer of foam and a well-balanced espresso beneath. Also, try the biscotti. They're huge and excellent companions for a cappuccino. Bonus: there's great people-watching if you camp out on a patio chair out front. read more

Common Grounds - The spectacular iced cappuccino at Common Grounds. This is the small! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

This is a nice coffee shop, with a broad selection of desserts and a cozy atmosphere. The tables are made of beautiful wood, and there is a good mix of people working and people chatting. The coffee smelled right, though we didn't try any on this visit. The smoothie was light on sugar, and the biscotti were more moist than expected. The cheesecake cone, which looks like a cannolo, but tastes like cheesecake cream, was the star of our visit. Service was very friendly, and we appreciated it being one of the only places in town open on a holiday weekend. read more

Best coffeecake I've ever had. Delicious and inventive biscotti too. My dog and I visited on a Monday. The barista was very friendly and accommodating. The back porch area was the perfect place to sip coffee with my dog and enjoy the sunny day. Highly recommend to locals and travelers like me. read more

Really good coffee, nice atmosphere and a great comfortable place to meet with friends and talk. They even have a pretty decent selection of desserts. Highly recommended! Great little coffee shop. read more

I've been a regular, everyday customer since day one back when I moved to downtown Branford back in the summer of 2017. The minute you walk in, you are blessed with the amazing fragrance of freshly roasted, high quality beans. The atmosphere is incredibly chill, beautiful carved wood tables for working, reading or simply sitting and unwinding, with the sounds of ultra relaxing Deep House music playing softly throughout the shop. (As a music producer that gets a fair amount of work done here, that is a HUGE bonus for me!) The baristas are absolutely perfect in Everest possible, and leave nothing but a great impression to any customer. Every single item on the menu, from drinks to food, is nothing less than superior to top notch. I will be a Common lifetime customer, no other coffee shop will ever top Common Grounds! read more

The place is clean and pleasant, and the folks behind the counter are friendly and fast. They have a really neat decor, with custom polished wood tables and trim, and they rotate pieces for sale from local artists on their walls. They also keep a community bulletin board in the back by the milk and sugar. It's the kind of place where you can stop to pick up a coffee on your way somewhere or sit with friends for an hour and sip something delicious. They have excellent muffins in the morning and a selection of other pastries and desserts, but the coffee is really where this place shines. They roast a variety of beans in a variety of styles, and there's always a selection of different roasts and flavored coffees you can get on the spot. I usually get the house blend, though, both when I want something to drink right then and when I'm buying beans. It's a good value, and it's a mild, nutty, medium roast that's delicious with a minimal amount of milk and sugar. We've been coming here ever since we moved to Branford several years ago. We've bought pounds and pounds of their house blend whole bean coffee to grind for our coffeemaker, and we've stopped in literally dozens of times for a coffee or a red eye. I'll also sometimes come in and get some work done on a laptop when I need a change of venue from working at home. So I feel pretty confident in recommending it unreservedly whether you want a quick cup of good coffee, a place to buy your beans, or a spot to hang out for a while with good friends. read more

Let me preface my review by saying I usually enjoy Common Grounds but my most recent visit was a big disappointment. There was only one person working which was fine as it was a Sunday evening and not very crowded. But, the person working was clearly pretty new and not very experienced with the various coffee drinks. She was very nice and tried her best but my latte was 2/3 full and not very flavorful and the incorrect flavor. I had her correct it, but it still wasn't what it should have been. Not her fault, better training was probably needed and hopefully she gets it soon. read more

We come to the CT Sportsplex on occasion and when we do, I try to get here. Great place to hang out and get work done. Coffee is good and the baked goods are super. read more

I like common grounds, they're coffee is pretty good, and the environment is relaxing warm and cozy. I really like how they are open fairly late, which is really helpful since I go here to do a lot of schoolwork during semesters. Their prices thou.... regular coffee isn't too expensive and I'm willing to pay for a cup, but anything other than regular coffee is outrageous. A double shot latte is I think 4.50 and it wasn't even filled to the top.... if I'm paying that much I expect a drink filled all the way to the brim. Another thing that bothers me is when I bring my own cup they don't charge me less no matter what the ounces are.. maybe I'm being a little uptight but it is just an aspect of this coffee shop that turns me away. Overall I enjoy drinking their coffee, and it's a good place to study. So when school starts up again I will be back and give them more business. read more

Be much happier if the Internet was functioning correctly. On the last couple of visits I've been having major problems with it. Seems like many of the connections are blocked and other customers have experienced the same troubles. It's great for coffee but not good if you also need to use the Internet. read more

Come for the great indy location and atmosphere, good music, decent brewed coffee, but generally bad attitude in service. Eh, I can deal with a few seconds of 'tude. Sometimes I try to make them laugh, or smile, or I just be extra super extra nice. It usually works. I've been coming here for years because I like the location and hangout vibe so much. Right on Branford green in a cute little downtown, with plenty of restaurants and budding gentrification everywhere, this is a scrappy indy shop that has plenty of space to hang out and artwork to see. Coffee is decent, I've learned to stick with the straight brews because the fancy drinks, lattes and such tend to disappoint me ...Too roasted for my taste (less roast- more caffeine.) Small business can't always attract the best employees, but, when the counter staff are blatantly rude, (not just aloof), that's a super bummer and if I'm feeling down I won't go in and risk catching one of the more rude gals. To be specific it is generally the younger ladies I encounter, being flip, rude or even snarky... and I am not asking for anything special. Very simple questions like "how much is this cookie" can prompt an eye roll. So, in conclusion, I'll soldier through the ordering process so that I can chill in a great space, but only if I'm prepared to deal with possible snark. read more

Have been to this place several times now and have loved it everytime! Their coffee is always amazing whether it's a special, a latte, or just a cup of the house blend. I'm typically the kind of person who can't drink black coffee, but theirs is wonderful even black. I've had only a few of their pastries, and they've been delicious everytime. Highly recommend to everyone to try, don't think I'll be able to enjoy any chain coffee place as much as I do Common Grounds. read more

I was early for a meeting in Branford last week so I decided to stop at a coffee shop that had free wifi so I could get some emails out. Enter Common Grounds. I don't know if it was the cozy atmosphere, the crisp autumn colors and weather just outside the door, or the coffee, but I think that I fell in love with this place. Sure, maybe its expensive for suburban CT.... but for me it was cheap. The coffee (soy latte, in case you were wondering) was way better than anything I could have gotten at a Sbux and the girl who served me was a gem. I don't think that I'll ever be back to Branford but... If I could lift up this little coffee shop and put it down near my office in midtown Manhattan, I would do it in a heartbeat. read more

A lovely energetic coffee shop nestled in beautiful Branford CT. Common Grounds has a great variety of coffee both brewing or for purchase as whole bean. The cooler case may look mostly empty, don't be fooled though, what's there is amazing. read more

Common Grounds - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Common Grounds is an awesome neighborhood coffee shop. The staff are extremely friendly and always recognize regular customers. They're happy to customize drinks and get you whatever you want. I have a weakness for a Vanilla Decaf Tea Latte thing my wife often gets, but the plain coffee is very good too. The ambiance is great, and half the town comes through the doors so you get to see a variety of people and run into the same faces over and over. Great place to grab a quick charge of caffeine, or sit and work for hours. It is a bit expensive--$2.50 for a cup of Joe. There's no denying that. But it's a fun place to hang out. read more

Small local cafe but mostly for those coffee minded as tea is bag and powder and even smoothies are not fresh ingredients. Comfy couches and decent vibe but just a step above mass market franchise options. Don't like being so critical but even the bathroom was not up to par - was actually next to filthy! read more

Common Grounds - Cool Place to Rest - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

My go to spot, cozy and staff is amazing. And open late. Great place to meet for coffee, or just to get work done. Support small business!

Great for morning person! Love the smell of coffee every morning. Wish you open even earlier XD. That's how great the place is! read more

Common Grounds - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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The iced latte should definitely come with more shots included, but when you bump it up to a quad it's perfection. Strongly roasted coffee that's not bitter, various milk options (hopefully they will add oat milk soon), and a good selection of roasts and flavors. The Brazilian Gold coffee is absolutely incredible and always freshly roasted. If you're a coffee connoisseur and appreciate quality blends and roasts, I highly recommend Common Grounds. You can occasionally catch them roasting the coffee right in the coffeehouse. read more

One of the best coffee shops around! A little pricey but absolutely worth It! Never had a bad coffee, pasty, or experience here and the ladies behind the counter are always very nice, helpful, and make a mean latte! read more

Perfect chill cafe to get a great latte and ruin your diet with some giant sweets all in one. This beats any Starbucks. The biscotti are also gigantic and sitting in their big jars in front of the register will make you want to at least grab one, or ten. read more

Best coffee around! Every time I come here I'm never disappointed. My latte is always made perfectly and the staff are wonderful. Take the time to stop in one morning, it's worth it! read more

World's best cup of coffee! Seriously though, the coffee is super fresh, aromatic and smooth. Common Grounds gives a favorable amount of flavor choices and can quickly whip up a custom drink with ease. They always have a couple baked goodies and treats to go with your brew. I dig the huge m&m cookies. I love relaxing here alone or with friends, either way it's super inviting scene. read more

Very weird establishment. Open and cozy-looking, but some of the seats, not so comfy. Strange mix of people in the place. All these coffee choices and then you get it and it's just eh. Desserts again LOOK great, then you eat them and they are just eh. Too pricey for eh. read more

Great atmosphere and staff, but owner is incredibly rude and does not appreciate or respect his customers or employees. As much as I like to support local businesses, I will never go back to Common Grounds or Shoreline again. Wilson, you should be grateful for your regular, loyal customers and respect them, instead of being a giant douche. read more

I love this place. The staff could not be friendlier and more attentive. The patrons are loyal and there are many regulars. It's also a great place to sit down and set up a mobile office. I've done work here for hours without as much as a sideways look from the customers, staff, or the owner, who is regularly at the shop, introducing himself and conversing with the customers. read more

I have to agree, the coffee roasting is not consistent. I find it to be a bit less expensive than sbux. Part of the charm of this place is the community. Sit out front and watch the world go by, you're bound to see someone you know. Sit in the back and ponder how they built that table around the tree, and how the tree keeps growing but the table doesn't break... Sit inside in a comfortable chair, on one of the leather couches or at a table... connect to the Internet and chill read more

I usually go to the Hamden location but went to Branford today bc I was in the area. The lady at the counter was rude and rushing me and it was pretty annoying. Didn't even ask me if I wanted cream or anything she just threw the coffee at me and assisted the next customer. Literally had to go home and put my own cream in. Other than that experience was fine. Hamden location I usually have a better experience. read more

Common Grounds has less than great coffee and their breakfast/ pastry offerings always seem stale. It's okay, if you're perusing the shoppes in downtown Branford, but if you're just in the need for a caffeine fix, sbux is right down the street, drive through and all. read more

I am having coffee here as i am writing this review. Place is cute and coffee is good. The barista, Zora, was just so incredibly rude to me though when i asked for a one shot almond latte that i have to give this place only one star. Unbelievably rude for absolutely no reason. I hope the manager of the cafe sees this. read more