2 espresso shots me plz! Cougar Grounds is the go-to coffee shop on the UH campus. I appreciate many things about Cougar Grounds. This is a review for the main/most popular location on campus, as they have two. With one located in the Health 2 Location on the second floor - very convenient in the instance you need a latte (or 2) and you can't make it to the main location. Cougar Grounds has delicious coffee, tea, and pastry/breakfast food items available. Everything is reasonably priced and the place is student led. I do wish that I could tip them via card though. Other than that, check them out if you're on campus/in the area! The ambiance is also that of a coffee shop! read more

Cougar Grounds is a great student-run coffee shop! This is a great place to study or meet friends on campus as long as you don't mind a little ambient noise. It can get very busy but definitely the best coffee shop on campus. read more

I love this spot for several reasons Customer service Ran by students Bomb a$$ pastries So many varieties of drinks not just coffee I always steer new employees and students to go get their fix from this coffee spot vs Starbucks. They moved from other smaller spot to this location closer to from of Hilton hotel on campus and it has sooooo much more space for hanging out or studying. read more

Cougar Grounds - New signage - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

I was at UH for a student panel recently and I tried cougar grounds while I was there. It's a student run coffee house on the first floor of the Hilton hotel. Inside was really packed but luckily there was barely a line to order. My friend recommended the medium matcha with a shot of espresso. The wait was not long at all and I quickly got my drink. For a student run coffee shop, I liked my drink. The espresso wasn't too overpowering at all and there was a hint of sweetness. read more

Cougar Grounds - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Houston, Texas

Fav place to study after class! Service is always friendly and they have a nice variety of snacks, drinks, and bakery items. Pumpkin chai is a must in the fall and cougar grounds def satisfies the craving! Love adding a shot of espresso too read more

See all

Good coffee and polite barista is all you need at a coffee shop. This place is filled with students all the time and the staff does a great job at working the queues. The coffee is good too. read more

I don't frequent this place as often enough as I'd like for their coffee, but when I do, they never disappoint. All in all, I probably get to visit CG about four times a year, usually for meetings. The coffee taste really good and authentic, better than the Nook (in my humble opinion), it's almost akin to Dunkin Donuts versus Starbucks - both good but very different coffee tastes. The friendliness is staff is hit or miss. On the days when I get really good customer service, I tip more than on the days that I don't. All in all, I am very much impressed with this spot and appreciate the work of these students bringing their cougar best to serve the UH community. read more

Their coffee is better than Starbucks in my opinion. And it's student managed so make sure to put your dollars here! I appreciate how it is now inside my building (the optometry building) for us cranky optometry/pharmacy/Ph.D students. I've tried their vanilla latte and their green tea latte. Both were pretty good. Not too pricey. They also sell snacks as well! Their baristas seem nice too. read more

See all

Nice place and good coffee, one thing to note is that music is too loud. Please be aware of Muslim students who do not listen to music and adjust accordingly. Perhaps turning off the speakers in one section and lowering the music volume is better. Also, too much music volume affects productivity, some people are trying to finish some work/ homework here. Please be inclusive. Thank you. read more

Great and friendly staff with delicious food and drinks :) it's affordable and the quality is AMAZING I tried their cheese danish 1000/10 and cheese and spinach danish 10000/10 read more

Updating review only because of the rude staff today. They normally keep a sign outside when they are open and take it back in when they are closed. It was 3:00pm on a Friday when I wanted to stop for some coffee, but their sign wasn't out and they're supposed to close at 4. I went in anyway to see what the deal was. I asked the cashier if they were still taking orders since I thought maybe they were closing early... She and another employee glared at me and didn't say anything. I explained that their sign wasn't out so I was confused. It was a yes or no question that didn't require that attitude. The only reason I may ever go back at this point is for my coffee, maybe not even then. read more

My favorite place to get coffee on campus. The espresso they use in their drinks is some of the best I've had anywhere!

This is my fav coffee shop in UH! I love the Caramel Java and Matcha Latte, the price is cheaper than others. Just a little disappointed this time because of the whipped cream. Overall, a great place to study and have a small talk with friends read more

Cougar Grounds - Caramel Jav with Whipped cream - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Houston, Texas

Not many coffee places on campus but even still, this is a really good spot. For students trying to find a spot to study, it's usually pretty busy but if you can find a free seat it's a nice atmosphere to get some stuff done. Iced Vanilla Latte is one of Lauren's favorites and I always go with a simple Americano! Nice and polite staff as well - most of them being UH students too! read more

Cougar Grounds - Vanilla latte and Americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Houston, Texas

Forget Starbucks. Cougar Grounds definitely makes my morning with their freshly brewed coffee. I'll usually grab a cup of coffee when I'm on campus really early and just need to wake up, and they never fail. Not to mention that service is great! It's also a bit cheaper than Starbucks. They sell some pastries, granola bars, drinks like coconut water, bottled water, and a few other things that you might be craving. I've been here a few times just to study with a friend and I always forget that it's such a nice study spot other than the library itself. There's comfy couches, bar tables, outside seating, and what do ya know, a coffee shop all in the same place. read more

Cougar grounds is a cute spot, with happy baristas and cozy atmosphere. Unfortunately, as an iced coffee drinker, I don't agree that it is better than Starbucks. I was quite disappointed with my iced charger, which I was told is stronger sibling to regular iced coffee. It tasted rather watery and was easily overpowered by the toffee syrup (my ratio is usually 3 oz of syrup for a 20oz coffee). Price wise, a flavored medium iced charger also costs about a dollar more than its Starbucks equivalent. I think if I was looking for just caffeine, I'd take Starbucks as I can customize syrup/diary/ice to my heart's desire without judgement. (Green/gold rewards members also get free refills) However, Cougar Grounds does offer a nicer atmosphere and I wouldn't mind chilling outside next time with a blended frappé or smoothie. read more

Cougar Grounds - Medium iced charger (20oz) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Houston, Texas

Their coffee is always so good! It's always my go-to place for good coffee and a nice atmosphere to study or read. Right inside the Hilton so the restrooms are always nearby and very nice and clean. The staff can be a little rude sometimes. I feel like customer service can improve a little. I know that mostly students work there but holding off from taking my order because you want to finish your conversation is kinda pushing it in my opinion. The toffee crunch latte is literally heaven in a little cup. I swear they put something in it that makes me come back each time. Blueberry bagel is always my chosen study snack. read more

Cougar Grounds - The small size is about the size of a Starbucks tall. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Both the Hilton College location and the Optometry building location are great, although there's no seating and a much more limited bakery at the optometry building. The coffee is sooooooo much better than the burnt stuff at Starbucks. Prices are similar but unlike at Starbucks I don't feel like I'm being ripped off. I only wish there was a location somewhere closer to the McElhinney building so I didn't have to walk so far. read more

A small space that offers much. There vegetarian snacks and vegan snacks. The coffee is excellent. The service is friendly and fast. It's well priced. A great choice on campus read more

See all

This is definitely one of the best places on campus to get your coffee fix! Around the same price range as Starbucks, but 3 times the quality in flavor. The atmosphere of the coffee shop is surprisingly spacious and dimly lit. It's a great place to study or chill if you can manage to find a few open tables. read more

Cougar Grounds - Matcha green tea latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Houston, Texas

Such a great coffee shop with great snacks!! I've been to both locations that are inside the Hilton and inside the Optometry building. As an Optometry student here, I was very excited when I heard rumors of a Cougar Grounds being built into the new part of the building. My favorite drink is the vanilla latte. Tastes great and always looks so pretty. The Optometry location just added the little bakery section for things like kolaches and donuts so that's also exciting. Always great service too! Will definitely visiting the Optometry location much more the last two years that I am in the building. read more

I am SO GLAD that there's an independent coffee place at UH. On those days when I'm just tired of the same ol' same ol' office coffee, I drop by Cougar Grounds. It's hidden in the back of the UH Hilton. There is no flashy sign or banner outside the place...you just gotta find it somehow. BUT once you do, you'll be glad you did. There are tons of tables, chairs, and couches to study or to lounge. They have a variety of options for your coffee. The toffee coffee drink is my go-to on most days, but I sometimes get the iced coffee. It is run by UH students. They're usually friendly and aren't reluctant to take your requests. The decor is pretty nice and the place is well-lit. If you're on campus, make sure to stop by and grab some coffeee! read more

Located in the Hilton on the UH campus, the Cougar Grounds is my absolute favorite place on campus. What makes this place different from any other place on campus is the atmosphere. The staff is always very nice; I always walk off with a smile on my face. There is lots of lighting if you need to study, if you're looking for a place to relax there are plenty of couches. The music being played is also quite good as well. I've enjoyed every song played since I stepped in to get my coffee and as I type this review now. It's always relatively quiet too; I actually get more studying here done than the library. The good atmosphere is enough to keep my coming back but I'll admit the drinks are pretty good too. Just like your typical coffee place there are a variety of drinks for any mood you're in. I'm a fan of the vanilla latte at Starbucks and the white mocha here is quite close if not better. I rarely get breakfast here but the times I have it has just been a bagel. The bagels are just your regular bagels but I guess cream cheese will make anything taste good. The Cougar Grounds has been a great place for me to escape the sometimes nasty Houston weather. On cold days like this there is nowhere else I would rather be on campus. If you're looking for a place to study, meet up people, good drinks or just want to meet some nice people then the Cougar Grounds is your place. If only there are more places like this on campus instead of all the chain restaurants. BTW I'm pretty sure they even use Fair Trade Coffee! read more

If you are ever on the U of H campus . . . ditch the Starbucks and the disgusting coffee from the University Center, and head straight into the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management behind the hotel. Their coffee is the best on campus. Their atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. They have good pastries and snacks. Their pigs in a blanket are a guilty pleasure of mine. They have good muffins and bagels, and I believe after four, all their pastries are half off and their americanos are $1. Steer away from the breakfast tacos, and you should be fine. It's really the best place to study on campus or just drink some good coffee. read more

I wouldn't usually think to take the time to do a review of a campus coffee place but Cougar Grounds warrants an exception. First, know that I didn't go to school here or have any affiliation with the university. Happen to be here on business and staying at the Hilton which is in the adjacent building. Have been here 3 days and have now come here for a double shot, short, cappuccino. First time was the risky one not knowing what to expect. Was so surprised. They pulled some good shots! So if you ever find yourself on campus forget about the SBUX in the student union and walk across the street to Cougar Grounds. read more

Cougar grounds is in Hilton student lobby. It's normally busy! The servers are friendly. They have various drinks to choose from from frappe, latte, tea, cookies, kolache, bottled water, gum, chips etc!!! Several tables to sit around but prob full unless you go there super early. read more

I go to cougar grounds about 2-3 times a month. I have not ever experienced anything but positivity. The employees are super friendly. The prices aren't bad at all, and the muffins are delicious! I am a student at the Hilton at UH so it's very convenient for me, which is great. The only reason I didn't put 5 stars was because the line can get long and i feel nervous on making it to class on time. I guess everyone loves it here!! Overall, great little coffee shop! read more

Nice on campus coffee shop. The location is good. It is clean and the staff is always friendly. Skip Starbucks for sure and try this place if you're on this side of campus. read more

This is my favorite coffee shop at the University of Houston! First of all, their coffee is amazing---not quite bitter and just right. Their other drinks, such as their iced coffee, frozen/blended drinks, and tea lattes are also delicious. Their caffeinated drinks has a good amount of caffeine in them, and I must admit that the coffee tastes better than Starbucks'. I am always satisfied with my beverage during every visit. Whenever I go there, I usually get their green tea latte (hot) or their iced coffee. They also do nice foam art on their tea lattes, which brings a smile to my face whenever my drink is ready. Additionally, I like their food selection, which consists of kolaches, bagels, sandwiches, chips, and various other snacks. I absolutely love their kolaches and it's usually what I get whenever I visit. Their food are reasonably priced (unlike the food at Starbucks) and are quite tasty. Not only is Cougar Grounds' coffee and food great, but I love the ambience of the shop. Whenever I come here, I always find ample comfortable seating and the noise level is not too loud, especially in comparison to the other coffee shops on campus. The environment of this shop can be described as "cozy" and "spacious", and it's a great place to study, read, chat with friends, or just overall unwind from a long day of work and classes. Their couches are comfortable, and each table-and-chair pair gives enough tabletop space to do work (e.g.; laptop), enough room to write. It's conveniently located inside the Hilton, which is great for HRMA majors. (Even though I spend most of my days at PGH, it takes just a nice, *worthwhile*, walk halfway across campus to get to Cougar Grounds.) Due to the big windows in the coffee shop, customers also can enjoy the view of the grass and the trees outside, which is just another plus! read more

Cougar Grounds - Green tea latte & kolache. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is my favorite coffeehouse in Houston. They're drinks and food are delicious and there's a wide variety to choose from. They do NOT accept cougar cash but totally worth the investment! Quick service & all the baristas are sweet. read more

It's no Southside or Catalina, but this is as close as you can get to third wave coffee on campus. The Starbucks-esque sizes are a bit cringey (the "medium" americano is huge) but the beans (roasted by Greenway) are legit. Friendly service. read more

Good study spot, great music, their matcha green latte (iced) is amazing! Also they have yummy chocolates they also have great iced teas--try the blueberry acai one! read more

Cougar Grounds - Room :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Houston, Texas

cougar grounds has the best coffee on campus. all of their employees are super friendly and the drinks come out really fast.

Nice little coffee shop with a lovely ambiance. They serve a variety of kolaches and cookies as well. The cookies are delicious and positively huge! This is definitely one of the best spots for coffee and a quick bite within the university. read more

They make my favorite matcha frappe It's creamy and smooth unlike the one from Starbucks which is just icey and not that good. The prices are less than the other places coffee places on campus and they also sell pastries like muffins, cupcakes, croissants, kolaches, and even quiches. It has a homey atmosphere with a nice music playlist, good for getting some homework done. read more

Nice place to study and their drinks are OK. It is very dark and in my opinion hard to access/inconvenient. It's near CV and I couldn't find it the first time I went so I had to ask around. Employees are nice and friendly and every time I went it was very clean. read more

I love coming here ever since I discovered the place. Coffee is way better quality than Starbucks and also the price. Staff is always friendly, even when they are busy. Sizes are decent and it has an outdoor patio to study in or just enjoy the weather. I love getting the Iced Chai Latte and the Mango-Strawberry smoothie. If you come here make sure to try their Mayan coffee and their smoothies! It's a must stop if your visiting campus. read more

Espresso is imported/roasted in Florence, IT. While I haven't tried it, my curiosity is strong enough to get me to come back here another time to try it. The 5 stars is for the $4 Chemex I ordered. Got the Antigua, Guatemala bean (Greenway Coffee) and it was excellent. Plummy, sweet, and floral. Was a true pleasure to sip this on their outdoor patio on a gorgeous sunny autumn day. Keep up the good work here, team. I wish I had an on-campus coffee place like this when I was in college... read more

Cougar Grounds is definitely the best place to grab coffee on campus. Their coffees are stronger compared to Starbucks! The workers are happy and cheerful when obtaining your drink orders, unlike other food places on campus. They have plenty of tables/couches to study or hang with friends. If you're on campus I'll definitely recommend you try this place! read more

Our Tier 1 University FINALLY has a Tier 1 coffee shop! We routinely walk over from the Chemistry Dept--past 2 or 3 other coffee shops, mind you--for morning and afternoon coffee at the CG. read more