My wife and I were doing something in Branford and had a little time to kill, so we thought we'd hop in for some hot chocolate & cider. We also decided to get a cinnamon bun, and it was absolutely one of the best cinnamon buns I've had in my life. Fresh, moist, full of cinnamon & topped with delicious glaze. Perhaps we came at a good time, but it wasn't stale in our case. My wife really enjoyed the cider, and I liked the hot chocolate. I added a little sugar as I like my hot chocolate with a little sweetness, but it was delicious. A little pricy, true.... but it's nice going to a neighborhood joint. We'll definitely be back. read more

The ambience and location of Common Grounds are what make it really nice. Happened to be passing through Branford center and really liked the quaint downtown feel of this place. It was really welcoming inside and there was an ecclectic mix of customers from a teenaged couple, to a man and woman in business attire apparently having a meeting, to a few middle aged guys having a lively discussion, to a young man working quietly on his lap top. It seems like a good people watching spot and it appears that anyone could feel comfortable there. I had a raspberry white chocolate mocha; good but a little too sweet actually. My boyfriend had a plain latte which was perfect. We shared a huge rice crispy treat which was decent. I noticed a variety of baked goods, including some impressive looking cupcakes, in a glass case that I would be interested to try if I visit again. As other reviews mentioned: prices were a bit high (around $12 for our order), but the overall experience was worth it. We really liked sitting on one of the comfortable couches while sipping our drinks and enjoying our snack. We would have lingered longer if I hadn't had to run to work. I like the fact that they stay open late, till 11pm on Friday and Saturday, 10 the rest of the week, excpet for Sunday til 9ish - which is great because it seems like not many coffee shops do late night anymore. We're thinking it may be a spot to check out again on some evening when we feel like having a relaxed evening out on the town. Service was friendly and prompt. The restaurant was very clean. I also noticed they had a great, well organized community bulletin board in the back of the store with flyers and business cards posted. I believe that they get a lot of patrons who browse the board. It added interest and an interactive element to the space. read more

Cappucino good. Bought 10 quite expensive biscotti, which were unceremoniously dumped into large shopping bag without tissue paper. A bit underwhelmed. In previous times they were put in smaller white bags with handles, tissue paper included. read more

Great coffee flavored..... Just ordered iced red velvet coffee! They have awesome coffee selections, but the lattes are too sweet for me even when I try to get them low fat. The environment is chill with oversized couch and chairs and some work areas but the owner is not always so chill. Maybe i catch him in a bad day repeatedly. The girls behind the counter are great and fast and friendly!! They make the place. A lot if charm, great deserts. And it's the same price as Starbucks. They are into art and I appreciate that. You can sit in the front or outside around a tree fir a private chat. Great spot for our local community read more

Good coffee but it's usually busy and loud. I came in to have some time to catch up with reading but I couldn't concentrate with everyone in there. read more

Really enjoyed my visit here. I had about an hour to kill before doing some training at SoundRunner next door. The Biscotti are HUGE and the people are nice. My European Macchiato was delicious! read more

Delicious coffee and treats! Lovely hangout spot in Branford. The staff is very friendly and there is plenty of seating to relax or get work done. We came in on a busy Saturday and still found a place to sit. Highly recommend! read more

Like others have said, when I think of neighborhood coffee houses, I think of common grounds. Sure, there are others closer to home but my girlfriend and I drive from shelton to come to common grounds (about 45 min) and We cozy up in a couple leather chairs,her on the iPad,me on the iPhone and sip our coffees and relax for awhile. Thank you common grounds for being my Calgon bath! read more

I have been here a few times to sit and do a little computer work before heading into work. They have some pretty good flavored coffees. I have yet to try a latte, but they always have some interesting special ones written on the board. There are a few small tables outside as well as free wi-fi. Unlike many of the coffee shops in New Haven, it is not too crowded with students. I have always been able to find a spot I like to get a little bit done. It is a nice change from Starbucks. read more

Great casual wifi coffee house. Good coffee. Very limited food selection. Great spot to meet and chat.

Its definitely getting better. The coffee is decent, the iced coffee is really good too. All the baked goods seem to be upgraded as well.

Flavored coffees like no other! The coffees are roasted with the flavoring, so it's not just the sugary flavored syrup added after the fact. Excellent! read more

Great place for coffee and pastries! They also have Blue Diamond Unsweetened Original ALMOND MILK. The atmosphere is great. We ordered coffee and a cranberry scone. The coffee was one of the best I've had anywhere and the scone was moist and fresh (I wanted another but restrained myself). read more

Great spot. Very cozy and cute. Very good coffee and pastry if you go by must see and try

Friendly staff and good selection of in store roasted coffee. I love African and Yemeni coffees and they always have zome in stock. Just wish they would do some Ethiopian Yirgacheffe and more Fair Trade coffee. The Sidamo however is awesome and so is the Mocha Mattari. Prices are reasonable by the pound. read more

I was out for a walk on a Saturday morning and stopped in here to grab a coffee to go. The cashier was pleasant. The vibe was comfortable and I got a good cup of joe that gave me the boost I was looking for. Can't ask for more. read more

I have to admit that walking in was a little bit weird. It seems kind of hidden. But the coffee was amazing. I got the iced vanilla maple latte and it was amazing. It was so creamy. I will definitely go there again and again. read more

This is my favorite local business to get my coffee from! The drinks are somewhat pricey, but not as bad as Starbucks and in my opinion higher quality. I love how they have the option to make any drink hot or cold, decaf, and substitute almond milk to make the perfect drink for what you need. There's a pretty good variety of drinks, I'm a chocolate lover so I usually go for The Flood or a mocha, but they're all great. The atmosphere is nice and I love the decor and music. I always bring friends here when they're in town. read more

Nice relaxing place to sit and read on a Sunday afternoon. The staff here is nice eye candy. read more

Common Grounds - Sunday afternoon fix. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Their coffee and snack foods are palatable and mediocre; It "does the job" if you have a specific craving. However, that being said, there is one complaint I have in particular, which would involve the owner, Wilson. Every time I have visited Common Grounds, I have always bought myself a drink. One day, I was forced to evacuate my apartment due to a gas leak. Leaving my wallet behind, I retreated to the faithful Common Grounds. My backpack was in my car, so I assumed I could get some reading done for my grad program at the coffee shop, until all was declared safe in my apartment. I unpacked my books at a table in the shop, and felt the prying eyes of a man behind the counter, who brashly asked, "can I help you?" "No thanks," I replied. 5 minutes into my reading, and the same man comes over and says, "are you getting anything to drink?" "No, I don't think so, my apartment-" "Okay, well, if you're not going to get anything, then you have to get out of here". I complied, and left. It is my understanding that a business must be run accordingly to customer service. If a patron is purchasing an item from the store, then said patron is granted access to facilities, wifi, etc. My frustration is not with the rules which govern their business, rather, it lies with the owner's lack of customer conduct. In summation, I would not recommend Common Grounds after this experience (albeit, I'm not sure if I would have recommended it before, either). The owner, Wilson, is running a business, to which I understand, but, (1) as sub-standard as their coffee has been, (2) the unforeseen circumstances regarding my apartment and wallet, and (3) the manner in which my presence was dismissed, left me with a bitter taste in my mouth, and, unfortunately, it wasn't their overly-roasted coffee this time. read more

I love Commongrounds. Always have, always will. I grew up in Branford and this was a staple of my high school days. Even though I moved away, I still use it as a hang out spot when back in town over the holidays. It's the place to see and be seen. My rough, hunter/fisherman father in law loves it too--he usually finds places like this too stuffy. read more

I go to CG at least 3 times a week. They always have new and exciting coffees to try and a wide selection of fun drinks and desserts! The employees are very friendly and helpful if you have any questions. It can be hard to find seating on weekend nights in the winter, but in the summer its so conveniently right on the Branford green. read more

All around this is a great community coffee shop. I stop here every day for my coffee and it is always fresh and flavorful, the baristas are super friendly (and somehow remember everyone's specific drink orders) and the outdoor seating is the best for enjoying the weather and people watching. Their baked goods always look delicious, and they even started making gluten free treats which taste awesome. Definitely one of my favorite places in downtown Branford! read more

This is my favorite coffee shop in town . The girls that work there and make the coffee are great , kind , and always pleasant . I always get a delicious late w skim from there and I'm never disappointed !! As well you can buy flavored coffee beans , full or ground to take home . All the flavor a are awesome and so many options !! read more

Great coffee, great pastries, and an ever-changing selection of flavors. This place can be a bit loud so if you were planning on doing work plan to go elsewhere. read more

Quick service, friendly staff! Luz was wonderful and another man kept chatting and asking how everything was and it was so nice of him to care! read more

Their coffee is tasty, location is convenient, but I agree with Doro R. It's somewhat uncomfortable walking in here, and I can't pinpoint exactly why. I don't know if it's the layout, the crowd, whatever, it's awkward. I don't particularly care, it won't stop me from coming here, but it's worth mentioning. It's in a good location to meet friends for a cup of coffee and sit outside, I much prefer it to Starbucks. read more

Great gathering to meet locals. Aside from the fact it's located in the best areas in town. Coffee is a bit pricey but very good. I recommend going here. read more

Love Common Grounds for coffee and a treat any time of the day. Their cinnamon scones are fantastic! They always have a regular and decaf flavor of the day and lots of different kinds of flavor shots so you're pretty much guaranteed to get something you're craving. The atmosphere is laid back and people are friendly. I'm there at least a few times a week. read more

great place for coffee/studying with enough table space and a change from the other coffee shops around time. decent coffee. 4 stars mostly for ambience. read more

The lattes and biscotti are amazing and staff is very pleasant. It is unfortunate that you can't enjoy the outdoor area without walking away with lung cancer. Where do these chain smokers come from? Isn't there some law about how far you need to be from a doorway in order to smoke? No matter how good the coffee is it's really gross to walk through a cloud of smoke to get it. read more

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GLAD they brought back Kathy's Biscotti (especially the Mandal Bread). I stopped going to Common Grounds for several months, because Kathy's biscotti and mandal bread were no longer being sold there. The biscotti that replaced it was disgusting, insipid, and moist!! GROSS! And the Paleo-cookies....YUK, I'd rather eat a skunk's musk gland. Thank you for bringing back this delicious biscotti. I was getting tired of going to Brunello's. read more

This coffeehouse is as good as it gets. I read old reviews about the brewing variances, but they now have mastered that formula.All the desserts are done fresh daily! They even gave out free coffee on Christmas Day to all their customers as a thank-you. Let me see your local coffee shop or even one of the big boys do this! The staff love their customers and their customers love them. Great job!!! read more

I'm always glad I stopped by. It reminds me of an old favorite in my old college town, Bonducci's. Starbucks put Bonducci's Cafe out of business, but Common Grounds is still going strong, and I'm always grateful. read more

First, there isn't a bike rack. I roll up hoping for a coffee and something to eat. The girl behind the counter was very friendly. She welcomed me in and told me about the dulce de leche latte that they were promoting. So I order one of those, and a corn muffin. To my surprise, this was 6 dollars something. Almost 7 dollars, for a coffee and a muffin. That seems steep to me. The girl asks me for here or to go. I had my eyes on the cafe tables outside, and said "for here." She puts the muffin on a plate, and gives me my latte in a paper cup. Hmm. I was really hoping for an actual mug. But I go outside to sit, anyway. The tables were pleasant, there were lots of people coming and going - all in cars, but nonetheless - and everything was all right. The muffin was good: sweet enough that it wasn't just cornbread, but not overwhelming. The latte was a different story. I'm pretty sure it was half a cup of sugar watered down just enough to dissolve. Way, way too sweet. And in a paper cup. Final tally, then. Pros: friendly service, nice-ish seating area outside. Cons: no bike rack, expensive, poor presentation, poor flavored drinks (maybe plain coffee there is better?). I'll pass on this one in the future. read more

A cute, quaint coffee shop with yummy desserts, friendly baristas who make delicious drinks to warm you in a fall or winter day. In the spring and summer the iced beverages are top-notch, too. Great music and art on the wall. read more

I have been to Common Grounds a few times, but after my experience there yesterday I will not be going back. On the menu board, it was listed that a medium coffee would cost $4.85, and also noted that ANY drink could be made iced. I ordered a medium iced coffee, and my credit card was then charged $6. When I asked the barista why I'd been charged $6 when the board specifically said $4.85, she rudely said "Because you got a large." I said, "No, I ordered a medium." To which she replied "Iced coffees only come in small and large." As if I should've already known that. That's something you tell the customer before charging them. If the drink I am trying to order doesn't exist, tell me and ask me which size I would like, don't just charge me $6 for a large coffee that ended up being gross and too sweet anyways. Horrible service, and completely overpriced, overly-sweetened coffee. Will not be returning. read more