Commonplace Poluto. What is this? Some kind of slam directed at Commonplace coffee saying that they are polluting the environment? Or are they just fan of Pluto? Oh it's a V not a P. Commonplace Voluto. What is That supposed to mean then? Is it some secret message to tell you how convoluted their coffee making is? Actually I haven't found them to be the slamming type, nor have I noticed that they were astronauts. And the coffee is no more complicated than any other place that makes good coffee. It is quality, that I know. I once ran through a terrible Steel City blizzard risking my life to get to this place. Why would I do such a thing? Because I knew if I survived I would survive With a delicious pour-over. I survived. With a delicious pour-over. The design in here stands out a bit in the Pittsburgh specialty coffee scene. It's far more modern than anywhere else. It's refreshing to see something new. As far as the coffee, it's on par with most of the other coffee shops around. Obviously they use Commonplace beans. And they brew it on their Synesso or in a pour-over. Not a whole lot more can be said. If you looked it up in Kent K's encyclopedia of Pittsburgh coffee, it would say, "Beautiful, modern cafe with quality coffee." read more

This place is amazing! I have only been here since Commonplace took over, so I cannot comment on or compare to the old management, but I think they are doing just about everything right. Great coffee, excellent espresso based drinks and latte art to boot, a bright, modern, pleasant environment for chatting and/or working, and nice baristas. But the thing about this place that I literally daydream about, and that can occasionally drag me out of Lawrenceville (since I could easily roll down the block to Espresso A Mano anytime) and to Garfield....is the PASTRIES. Holy cannoli they are INCREDIBLE! (although they aren't usually cannolis) Drew's Pie Supply, your baked goods have some serious soul. Can't wait to come here for pie day Friday! read more

My only complaints are that I wish they had longer hours and that the parking signage situation was worked out. I know when I'm working later into the evening I don't want to have to drive out of Garfield all the way down to C.M. in Bloomfield and deal with the clouds of cigarette-smoking hipsters and the other choice (not really a choice) is Starbuckos near Whole Foods - forget that! The coffee is awesome, the people are awesome, and they have a great place there - open, inviting, free of clutter but not sterile-looking - inviting I guess it the right word for it. I can't say enough about the coffee too - it's so good! I've taken several friends that are big-time coffee aficionados there and they love it too! They also have some food which I've had limited experience with but they source it all locally which is great! read more

I visit Voluto almost daily for a fabulous cup of coffee, latte or tea and a delicious cookie, croissant or muffin and one of their unique paninis for breakfast or lunch. I am often on the run having to just head straight back to work but occasionally have the opportunity to sit and relax in the beautifully sun-filled shop and admire the latest installation of artwork on the walls. Voluto makes me happy. The owners and other employees are awesome- always friendly and always open to comments and feedback. They seriously love what they do and want to provide the best quality food and drink to this here growing neighborhood, and it shows. read more

Really good coffee and a nice environment! It's a bit small and cramped, especially if you're trying to sit down to get some studying done. But if you come at non-peak hours, it has an excellent big window out onto Penn Ave to brighten your day. The coffee and espresso are really good, and they have oat milk and Gluten-Free Goat baked goods to satisfy tons of alternative diets! read more

My coffee tasted like straight feet and the barista was rude. My wife's coffee was OK at best. Would not recommend

I was only in Voluto for a very short time to pick up a drink to go. The decor inside is simple and modern. The only unfortunate thing is the air conditioning is rather loud when it comes on. I also wish they were open later, I'm the night owl type. Hopefully as this area of the city gets a little safer they will expand their hours. I ordered an iced coffee with vanilla, and I must say it was probably the best iced coffee I've ever had. And I've worked in a lot of coffee shops in my day. Of course, this superior quality came with a price...it was about $3.79 for the drink, which is rather high in my book but the quality definitely justified the price tag. The barista was friendly and the service was prompt. I hope to visit again soon to try some espresso beverages. read more

Voluto serves Commonplace Coffee, which is, hands down, the best coffee in Pittsburgh. Voluto is a great space with lots of light and super comfy chairs. I love their high-tech ipad checkout system. I was, however, a little disappointed with the service and my drink. My friend and I ordered a latte and a capuccino, and when they came out on the counter we weren't informed which was which (we figured it out without asking, but still). And, sadly, my latte was lukewarm. I was disappointed, but will try again next time I'm on Penn Ave. read more

Actually owned by Commonplace Coffe Comany now. A pretty and crowded location. The joint was pretty. The crowd was pretty. It was pretty cramped and crowded. The coffee looked pretty amazing. I had the chai. It was pretty bland. Probably not the ideal coffee house for me. I'm past the age where form outweighs function. I like comfier chairs, people my own age, coziness but with space to breathe. But for the pretty people in their 20s, this is a great spot. read more

The best espresso I have ever had, and I've had me a lot of espresso! That Synesso really is something (and so are their baristas!). For coffee, maybe try the Clover at 21st St. read more

Another local place for some coffee. It's in the new part of east liberty. Support your local small coffee shops. Try the lattes and the good bake goods. Great atmosphere and a sea of laptops around. Great place and you should come here. read more

Commonplace Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I don't talk a whole lot so it takes a while for me to get to know anyone. Somehow, I know just about everyone at Voluto and they are all fantastic people. Friendly staff and great coffee aren't always your hand-in-hand pals [and I mean GREAT, as in locally roasted, 'craft', whatever] . In fact, want to read some great rants? Check out most new-school coffee shop Yelp pages. Not the case here. They make great coffee accessible. They have awesome, freshly baked pastries, and have a good selection of teas and juices for the non-caffeinated. read more

Easily one of the best coffee shops in Pittsburgh. Great coffee, great staff. And the PASTRIES. Megan Drew of Drew's Pie Supply is baking here, and her stuff is phenomenal. (Some previous reviewers have mentioned high prices; the prices have come down a bit since Commonplace took over.) read more

This is not your every day coffee shop. It reminds me a lot of the high end coffee shops of San Francisco. They have a great variety of unique blends, with great flavors that they brew to order. Its defiantly is the smoothest cup of coffee I've had in Pittsburgh. Their hot tea is also very good. It comes your own personal pot with a serving tray (super fun). It is a little expensive for a daily habit, but for a special treat or if you're in the mood to savor your cup of joe, this is the place to go. read more

I'm pretty much a straight cup of joe kind of girl. And in my opinion there are three places on the east end that serve a pretty badass/killer cup: 720 Music in L'ville, Zek's in E. Liberty and Voluto. I don't get many chances to visit Voluto, but I do get the whole bean coffee they sell and brew it at home. It's not quite sublime as the cup you'd get there, but it's pretty fine nonetheless. Voluto has a nice atmosphere; it's laid back and not pretentious. Cozy but not too small. Barristas are nice. As I said, I don't get a soy chai half cap whatever, just my cup of coffee w/ a splash of H&H, but they do a cup of coffee real justice read more

I won't return... I've had high end coffee across the globe and I'm spoiled by living in Seattle for six years. Commonplace is easily one of the worst lattes I've ever had in my life. My drink was luke warm, had ZERO foam, and the mocha powder used wasn't even dissolved/mixed... just a lumpy, barely warm, bland mess. I could have saved a dollar and got a higher quality drink from Dunkin'. Save your money, this isn't high end coffee, it's not even mediocre. How does this place have so many good reviews? Seriously Pittsburgh, you don't know what good coffee is, apparently. read more

The folks at Morcilla steered me here for some Pittsburgh roasted beans. I thought the Don Julio Guatemala was ok, but on the pricey side. I prefer the beans I bought from La Prima. The decor inside was nice, but I prefer warmer, funkier coffee shops. The cortado the barista made me was on point, and sitting outside on an unusually warm February day was a pleasure. read more

I'm a Commonplace Coffee fan, and Voluto is in my neck of the woods, which is great! They have excellent coffee, pastries, and the space is very well-lit and comfortable. Love the art that they have for sale. I don't fully understand why they keep the artificial sweeteners in the back and only bring it out upon request. Not a personal issue, but this has happened to several people I've gone with who can't have "real sugar." I hope that it's a space and low-demand issue and not a coffee shop snobbery issue. read more

You can find almost everything you want for a good coffee house here! They provide a good selection of coffee and tea. The place is not very large, but it is full of natural lights and the design is simple yet modern. I wish they could provide more different options of pastries. read more

Commonplace Coffee - Delicious latte and scorn - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nice little coffee shop on Penn in Friendship. Free WiFi, wide variety of indoor seating options & some outdoor as well. My soy cappuccino was good - on a par with those from other leading shops in the burgh. Carrot cake muffin was tasty & still hot although somewhat raw in the middle. read more

Commonplace Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I'm ashamed to say that I just got around to visiting this coffee shop when it is in fact walking distance from where I live, but there we are. Voluto Coffee has a great ambiance and layout for kicking back and enjoying a good cup: a few bistro tables and chairs outside and areas of cushy chairs, a bank of bench seats, and a high-top counter at the window with bar stools. There's a lot of window in this place and the natural light is great, accenting happy-colored walls and lots of art from locals. Voluto also has free Wi-fi for customers, which I saw several taking advantage of on iPads and laptops. For those biking, there is a bike rack right outside of the door; for those driving, parking will be on the street. On to the most important part of the equation: the coffee! It is quite delicious, with that frothy creaminess I tend to expect out of a good brew of espresso. I had my standard latte to get my feet wet and judge their product on even terms. It was delightful and came with a little heart-shaped leaf like a philodendron designed on top. The price for the drink was a little higher than you would expect at, say, a Starbucks but was on par with other places like 21st Street Coffee and Tea. While I didn't partake in their other fare, I saw that they have a few options for breakfast and lunch items, such as small sandwiches and baked goods. The girl next to me had a pain au chocolat, which looked as it ought to: dark and chocolatey in the middle and flaky on the outside. There is a nice selection of teas, chocolate drinks, coffees, and espresso drinks. There are also a few "sweet lattes" that they make in flavors of vanilla, cinnamon, or honey+cardamom, which I appreciate because--though I don't normally get sweet drinks--I go to cafes with friends and it can be awkward when a shop won't serve something so widely accepted in the US, making the cafe seem pretentious and you a party to that sentiment if you suggested the place (ahem, 21st street coffee, even though I love their products). For those in Pittsburgh or visiting, I would definitely suggest a stop here if you are looking for a good, hot drink. I will add it to one of my top rated coffee places in Pittsburgh that I've tried so far. read more

Just went today for the first time. Unsure when they opened officially but I think it is within the past two weeks (still some minor construction going on.) There was a pretty standard espresso bar menu with a couple of brewed coffees, six loose-leaf tea options and four kind of sad looking scones/muffins/pastries. They looked sad mostly because they were all alone, one each on a big white plate in a big glass case. I guess they are touting the fact that their menu is short and sweet... it is just kind of awkwardly short and sweet, oh well. This is part of the new building that UPMC Bloomfield-Garfield takes up a big part of with some sort of housing on the upper floors. The space is by far the highlight and is deserving of five stars itself. There are huge south facing windows that allow for loads of natural light spilling onto new arm chairs and ottomans. This is the kind of place you could come to really get some work done if you needed to. I will probably re-rate eventually as it is close to my house in Friendship and I foresee many trips in the future. I am hoping to see outdoor seating in the warmer months. read more

In sum, excellent REAL coffee. If you compare this place to Starbucks you have no idea what you are talking about. This is how coffee is suppose to taste. I live nearby. I've driven by this place many times and have been meaning to stop. Sadly, I have been roped in to other coffee spots before, left with a lighter wallet, and a bitter sad palate. This was not the case today. Voluto coffee is amazing. Bravo on serving Commonplace Coffee. Great beans and a amazing roast. Local beans done right. Love it. read more

I am a fan. I came here this morning prior to a class across the street at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and was reminded of why I like this place so much. It is a nice, quiet place to do some reading or catch up on email. And the best part - they have great coffee! They definitely take their time making it, but you just have to appreciate this as part of the experience, and enjoy your wait. In the past, I have gotten a scrumptious little tart that has cinammon baked into the crust, but they didn't have those today. I will be back next week, so hopefully they have them then! read more

Voluto coffee is *VERY* good, and as a former barista I tip my hats to their baristas bc they are fantastic! I only wish Voluto had more hours. They are open at 7am, which makes it one of my favorite spots to grab a coffee and pastry before heading to work, but they are only open until 7pm. I wish they had later evening hours. Great location, excellent vibe inside--this is a great place to get comfy, and read a book. read more

Voluto has become my favorite place in the burgh for coffee and one of Pittsburgh's hidden gems. It is a must stop every chance I get to visit Pittsburgh and something to look forward too after living away at school. The exterior of the shop is inviting and modern. It's located in somewhere different in the vicinity other than the usual forbes and fifth ave. The interior is very relaxing and inviting. On to Coffee... I opt for Voluto's latte's. They have a very artistic feel and look to them. Plus they taste amazing. The flavor is very sharp and on point. The staff is friendly and welcoming and it's convenient that they take most credit cards, including American Express. read more

I recently moved to Friendship and this is my new favorite coffee shop! The lattes are great, especially the signature lattes that change every few weeks, they never miss. I recently tried the brown sugar cinnamon latte and was very impressed. The prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly! read more

Came back and the service was awesome- efficient and the barista was even nice enough to bring my latte to my table.

First time at this location. I ordered a small latte to go. It was perfect. I have thought about that latte every day since. I have had pour overs at Strip and North side locations before. I usually put cream in my coffee but this coffee is so lovely I take it black. They also charge very average prices for exceptional coffee. Highly recommend. read more

Best little coffee shop in Pittsburgh. I work nearby and I have to say they do everything right here. Coffee from 49th paralell looseleaf teas and the best chocolate chip cookies you will ever eat. Staff are friendly and will remember you and the space itself is beautiful. I honestly don't want to know how much money I have spent here haha. read more

Commonplace Coffee - Voluto coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I'm a fan of each and every Commonplace around the city. It truly represents its name. It's more than a place to grab a coffee. It is a community. It's a place to gather. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm while the coffee is thoughtful and made with care and devotion. The cherry on top is that they have always been supportive of fair trade and locally sourcing their baked goods. read more

Coffee tasted good but happened to wait for about 15 minutes due to long queue and only one staff. Btw, afternoon sunshine might be too much if seated closed to window. read more

Voluto is okay. It's better than Crazy Mocha, but not nearly as good as Espresso A Mano, Tazza D'Oro or 21st Street. I found it to be more expensive than those other shops and the coffee just didn't taste as good. I suppose it's alright if you're on foot on Penn Ave and waiting for the 88...of course you could always just take the 71A up the street into Highland Park to get to Tazza or the 88 to 37th and walk down to A Mano. Your choice. read more

By far the best tea I've had, well, ever in the US. They had a variety of loose leaf green teas--I've tried three kinds and all were excellent. Tea is served in ceramic pots with about 1 and 3/4 cups of tea each, ranging in price from $2-5. The green tea steeped with brown rice tasted crisp and absolutely delicious. I couldn't decide which to try first, so I asked the man behind the counter, who was extremely helpful, for a recommedation. I can't speak for the coffee, but it all looked to be French press (roasted by 49th Parallel). There are a few couches and some high smaller tables and a few longer tables inside as well as some outdoor seating. The music wasn't too loud, to allow conversation or a nice study spot. read more

Who am I kidding? This place definitely deserves 5 stars! I've tried the white mocha and a regular coffee in addition to their vanilla latte, and both have been good. I hope they make their white mocha a staple instead of a holiday drink - I can't get enough of it! And the thing I really like about this place - they're consistently good each time I've gone. read more

This is my go-to favorite coffee shop in PGH. Awesome ambiance (modern, minimal) and not too much noise. Plenty of parking in the back. Good latte art and the homemade pop tarts are a must! If only I could actually work in coffee shops I would be here a lot more often! read more

I do not find the layout or seating of Voluto to be very comfortable, and maybe its ambiance and customer base are just a tad bit too serious for me. Yeah, it feels like an office; a pretty cool office that is employed by nice, modern, apple using, yet innovative, doing-more-than-just-Facebook, like maybe even Tumblr or Cliodynamics, people. But I find monumental comfort in knowing that I can walk in here any day and get an absolutely perfect soy cappuccino. The best. Seriously. read more

This is my favorite coffee shop in Pittsburgh. I'm very picky about iced coffee and commonplace gets it right every time. The store is very welcoming and the staff are friendly. read more

Despite Starbuck's attempts to completely monopolize the coffee industry, there are still small coffee shops that exist in metropolitan neighborhoods. One such café is Voluto's in the East Liberty/Friendship area of Pittsburgh. I had never heard of Voluto's until a colleague scheduled a meeting there. Large windows adorn the front of the café, letting in plenty of natural light- if you plan on enjoying your coffee during the afternoon, bring your sunglasses; you're going to need them. "May I have a small decaf?" I asked. "We, um... don't brew decaf, there's really no demand for it," the barista replied. He went on to tell me that he would be happy to make me an Americano decaf- it would be much better. As I waited for my coffee, I noticed some original art on the soft blue walls. There were a few other patrons on the coffee shop having conversations, enjoying their brewed selections. As I took my Americano decaf to my table, I noticed a strong roasted scent ascending from my mug. I took a sip and realized what a big difference fresh-brewed coffee makes from drip coffee that has been sitting around for lengthy periods of time. The taste was rich and robust- the color dark. This was a good cup of decaf coffee- seriously. As I continued to wait for my meeting to start, I had a short conversation with the owner, Barb Russell. She filled me in on a few not-so-well-known facts about her coffee shop. *She uses direct- to- trade coffee beans, most of which are organic from 49th Parallel Coffee, in Canada. *There is only one (1) size of cappuccino- yup you heard me. The goal here is to capture the authenticity of true Italian brewed coffee, and the Italians don't order their coffees by size! *They don't make any drip coffee; only French presses are used to prepare their blends. *All of their syrups are made in-house Besides having good coffee, Voluto's also offers other pastry treats, and Panini sandwiches if you're looking for lunch. read more

Voluto is without question one of the flag bearers for high-end coffee in Pittsburgh. They are supplied by 49th Parallel out of Vancouver, who offer both single origin and blends from some of the world's best growers. They do french press or pour over for coffee as well as pretty killer latte art if you're into that. I'm not a fan of flavored coffee drinks but the ones here are surely superior to your standard chain shop. I also like the local art on display, spacious sitting area, available parking out back, and the pastries. I'm by no means a tea expert but they take tea just as seriously here, which is a great sign. What would I change? Sometimes the hours are frustrating and inconsistent. I wouldn't care except this isn't the easiest spot for me to get to. I suggest following them on Twitter just in case there are unforeseen changes. The bottom line is that local, dedicated places like Voluto are so manifestly superior to the Dunkins and Starbucks of the world that it almost goes without saying. It's discouraging (read: depressing) that in 2012 the megachains still draw in the masses so overwhelmingly. read more