I met up with a friend at this coffee shop because they were the only one open at 7 on a weeknight. I ordered a vanilla iced coffee and it was delicious but we had to leave because there were no bathrooms! I am pretty disappointed that a cafe doesn't have a bathroom open to paying customers. I will probably not bother going back if I know I can't stay to hang out for too long - the point of a cafe is to lounge for a while and you can't really do that here if there's no bathroom. read more

I had an appt at highland hospital and wanted to grab a local cup of coffee before heading in and came upon this gem. After a 24hour shift this cozy and welcoming atmosphere is just what you need. The customer service was amazing-friendly, down to earth and personable. I didn't believe it when they said this is the best coffee in the area until I had it for myself. I tried one of their summer specials chocolata- chocolate coconut ice coffee and it tastes like an almond joy. Just the happiness I needed to start my day. read more

Equal Grounds Coffee House - Cinnamon bun/roll :) and summer iced chocolate coconut coffee. Wished I didn't live so far away or I'd be a regular - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

I'm always looking for good coffee shops to get my work done. Some are very noisy and some are very quiet, some do not have good seating and some have, some do not have good coffee (none so far) and some have the best coffee. Equal Grounds lands on the positive side of all the three criteria. I'm not a tea person but I can vouch for the coffee here, the baristas are super friendly and the theme of this coffee shop, as suggested in the name, is treat everyone equally. You can choose from a bunch of board games to play or books to read or just chill. However, one downside I experienced at Equal Grounds was that the couches were pretty beat up and dirty and had a mild case of dust allergy after sitting for about 15 minutes. Apart from this I think the cafe is a really cool place to hang out and get some serious studying done. read more

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I like the selection of board games and the service (the man who works at the counter is very nice and friendly, and he even sometimes brings my drinks/food to the table even though it's a counter pickup). However, the drinks, even the specials that they recommend, are sometimes not drinkable. Once I stayed for a few hours playing board games, so I ended up ordering a lot of different drinks and snacks/foods to justify my stay. The syrups they add sometimes make a drink completely undrinkable. The hazelnut syrup was ridiculously strong in my iced latte; I took one sip and could not continue. The frappes they sell are ok but are usually way too sweet and don't pair with their dessert options at all (as it's just sweet with more sweet). The hot latte and cappuccino I had were fine. I've liked all the cakes I've tried here, though apparently they just buy cakes from somewhere else and sell them by the slice. I'm happy to support a local business like this that also boldly takes a stance on something. I also love the board game cafe vibe, but I am not at all a fan of the drinks they have. I like to think of it as a cover charge to pay in order to sit there and do work or play board games, even if it ultimately gets thrown out in its entirety. read more

Brought my two queer friends here for the experience. I came here before and got great service. Today, 6/18 We waited 45 minutes for a smoothie. We politely asked several times and were told it's coming. Not great service today for my friends. read more

Afternoon knitting get together with friends. Comfortable vibe in an old but awesome space. Your usual mismatch mix of seating, high and low, large and small, some couches and some arm chairs lots of light from the front windows. Outdoor seating on the sidewalk in front. The vibe of Equal grounds is love you will see some rainbow merch and decor promoting love and inclusivity. One woman was running the show this afternoon and she was busy. I ordered a Vanilla Chai Latte and it was good not super special. They do offer some sandwiches and light fare as well as sweets. I didn't have any food so I can't comment. We hung out for about 2 hours and enjoyed the comfy setting. Others were there doing work, socializing, reading and playing games. There is a good selection of games, books and magazines available. read more

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PROS +nice ambiance +comfy chairs for lounging +plenty of tables for doing work +finding parking is not too difficult +one of the few places you can get a green tea chai latte CONS ... .. . none read more

I've tried coming here 4-5 times and each time I'm hoping for a warm welcoming atmosphere but I have only received cool to ice cold service. I don't need much for what I consider normal service.... just a transactional purchase would even be fine. The drinks were ok, but I tell my guests visiting Rochester to avoid coming here even though it is the closest to my house. They still came and the service they received was also subpar borderline rude. This is now the running joke with a friend who keeps coming back to see if maybe it was his imagination... I noticed recent high reviews, I'd be willing to try again in the future to see if anything has changed but I do want to like this place.... read more

A free Saturday afternoon with nothing to do, still too chilly for outdoor activities... what to do? The perfect solution to get out of the house was to spend some Q-T in a coffee shop reading. I have a stack of books next to my bed that I've been trying (not so hard) to work my way through. I chose this past Saturday as the day to scour through a few dozen pages on a cozy couch with a chai in hand. Equal Grounds was the perfect spot to spend my free afternoon. The shop is filled with lots of seating, funky decor, good people watching when I needed a break from staring at the pages of my book. It's a pretty big space so I'm sure there's always a spot open. I like that they have something for everyone with a variety of larger tables, individual tables, couches and comfy chairs (although a few look a little worn in). After waiting my turn at the corner, I ordered a small spiced chai late (~$3) that was speedily handed to me in a mug and I found a spot to read the day away while customers came and went. Free wifi for paying customers, which means I may be a frequent visitor on those days I need to work out of the house. Plus some tasty looking sandies for lunch-time hunger pangs. read more

Friendly, inclusive coffee house. Good coffee, I had a decaf latte - very tasty. Good location with street parking. Great, fast wifi. Everything I look for in a coffee house. read more

Great place, serve a special community, and also just a great all around coffee shop. It's definitely got the vibes of being an eclectic space and does a great job in making everyone feel welcome. I wouldn't say that it is amazing, artisanal coffee - but that's not usually what I want anyway. I want something good, for a good price, and to be able to sit and chat with friends. They also host a lot of very important meetings and events. So, visit them even when you aren't thirsty/hungry. read more

THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! The ambiance is so warm, welcoming, and comfortable, and is the perfect place to meet a friend for coffee or to spend the day working on your computer (which is what I did). I'm not a coffee drinker so I loved that they had such a great selection of lose teas. I also tried one of their vegan pastries, which was tasty. read more

Equal Grounds Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

My 1st time there the coffee and the muffins were soo good I would totally recommend this place!!! read more

Equal Grounds Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

I have nothing but praise for a welcoming community space. In a world of third wave coffee and ultra cool, ultra craft everything, Equal Grounds stands out as a place where you can have the "Central Perk" Friends type coffee house experience. They can't tell you the acid content of your coffee or tell you about the family that grew the coffee beans or the hipster that roasted them. I'm giving a lot of shade to craft coffee (which I actually like) to highlight the difference you'll find at Equal Grounds. It's at one time a traditional coffee house and a LGBTQ+ community safe space. I went for a meeting there on Sunday and ran into a number of friends who were studying, working and attending a knitting group! The menu is your standard coffee house fair with tea, coffee and cocoa made to order and a few quick sandwich choices. I had a egg and cheese sandwich on a bagel, it was basic with a pre-made egg but it got the job done. If I wasn't watching my waistline I would have went for one of the giant muffins in the pastry case. There were a number of choices and a beautiful cake. Swing by in the summer for some ice cream. This is a South Wedge staple that is worth a stop for sure. read more

Like cheers, this is the place where everyone knows your name; and your dogs. They usually have water dishes outside and treats for your pooch inside. I enjoy the loose leaf tea selections and the coffee is limited but extremely tasty. Mike is fantastic owner and easy to chat with. The only reason I chose three stars is that if you aren't a regular and they don't know your name, it's pretty easy to feel like your left out. But that doesn't removed from their friendly nature, it just means that you will get friendly business and immediately the barista will re engage with the regular. read more

Cozy LGBTQ friendly café. Good coffee and calm vibe. This café probably has one of the coziest chairs of any coffee shop I've been to. Comfy seating+music+coffee is always a good time. Lovely service too! read more

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One of the best clean comfortable places. I frequently patronize. Awesome beverages coffee and food. All tbe staff who truly give exceptionally positive customer service read more

Great coffee, great service and oh so tasty sweets! Very comfortable space to sit and work, chat or relax.

Pros: -Casual, relaxed feel with respectful baristas -Safe space for LGBTQ+ folx -Hosts social events -A TON of flavor shots available for their coffees Cons: -Overpriced (think boosted small business prices) -Bathrooms are in need of an update and a thorough cleaning and are not infant-friendly (no changing stations here). read more

I love and miss equal grounds! I don't even live in the neighborhood but I always go out of my way to come here. I urge my friends and neighbors to support this shop in any way possible while they work to stay afloat during the pandemic. Can't wait to sit and have some of their delicious coffee in the future. If equal grounds goes under, so will I. read more

This place is awesome ! No loud college students, or pretentious folks. If there are college kids, they sure are quiet and respectful. Everyone is very relaxed and the place is calm. It would be nice to have more lounge chairs though. The owner John is super nice and gave us the inside scoop on the South Wedge area. I'm going to say the flavored coffee is okay, but the espresso drinks are AMAZING. My boyfriend tried the China Breakfast tea and that is good too. Food: There's a veggie wrap that I initially thought was going to be boring. I'm just not used to a tortilla not on the verge of being burned. So to me, it looked simple and raw. Turns out, there's a great sauce they use and the tomato, iceberg lettuce, and cucumber mix was darn tasty! We've been here 3 times in the week-long vacation we had to Rochester. We even met a local "Mike" who gave us the inside scoop on local thrift shops. Rock on, we'll see you again on our next visit during Christmas. read more

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Amazing establishment. I'm so proud to have a coffee shop aimed towards equity for all in ky neighborhood. Food and drinks always great.

Great coffee, great vibe, great music. Love the comfy couches and option for outdoor seating. A lovely local business. :)

Great atmosphere! Great staff! Love the Community it brings. Chilled, can go and knock out some work, and have a cup of mud!

I was gonna get Jamaican but changed to toasted coconut (seasonal) last minute. It smelled coconut-y and I added a few splashes of milk. Bonus point - they use ceramic cups for sit-in guests :) They have a minimum $5 for cards FYI. I also enjoyed browsing the South Wedge Quarterly, the city newspapers and looking at various business cards pinned on the wall. read more

My friend suggested we visit here. I like the idea of an inclusive space where everyone is accepted. I'd rather support local businesses than places like Starbucks. The space itself is big, lots of seating choices from couches to desks. They have tables for games as well as trivia nights, poetry, etc. I feel the aesthetic could be much more than it is. It's missing the coffee house "cozy feel" I'd hope for. The coffee is great. The presentation of it however, lacking. I ordered an iced coffee. It was served in a plastic cafeteria style cup. It didn't look inviting. I attached photo. My other issue is even though there were only a few patrons, it was 2 hours before closing. Two staff members were mopping right next to me and my friend. Felt that was unprofessional. The baristas are nice don't get me wrong. Hoping in time I can switch my 4 stars to a 5. read more

Equal Grounds Coffee House - Please change the iced coffee cups. Xo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

great ambience!! love all the little decorations everywhere. i feel very safe with all the pride flags there - this place is definitely a safe space! it's pretty large. good wifi. i've only tried a few of the drinks but they've been good so far. i haven't tried the food yet but i've heard it's good. they're pretty quick with getting drinks out and it's affordable. there's a parking lot across the street from the front of it. read more

This is my favorite neighborhood coffee spot-- there are always plenty of patrons whenever I wander in but it's never been too crowded to find a seat. I usually come to meet a friend for coffee so I've only ever eaten anything here once-- the grilled chicken wrap. It was okay but nothing special. I asked for no mayo and dressing on the side which was a good call because the flavor was pretty bland and the dressing helped with that. The drinks, on the other hand, are consistently great. I most recently got the summer special blueberry/blackberry iced coffee which had an interesting flavor. I wouldn't necessarily order it again but I like the creativity and while it was a bit confusing for my palate, I finished the whole thing. My favorite is always the chai tea latte-- cold or iced, with or without espresso (dirty chai). Prices are comparable to other hipster coffee spots such as Java's but I like the vibe and ethos of Equal Grounds much better. read more

Gearing up to leave the good old Roc with lots of work to do, I've been checking out local hot spots - Equal Grounds being one of them! Currently sitting in my little corner near the window, I am enjoying the sunshine beaming through the large windows and my Monkey Latte. This latte is full of flavors - made of milk chocolate, banana, expresso, and steamed milk - it is heavenly. However, it may only be a summer special so stop in and get it quick! Equal Grounds is pretty spacious but cozy. Super important! The vibe is chill and relaxing which is exactly what you might need when you're feeling a little lazy. It is a great spot to lounge around with friends, attempt to get work done, or light reading. Although this another local coffee ship in the Rochester, it has been around for 10 years making them veterans. And they definitely know what flavors work well together. They treat their customers really well, are helpful, sweet, and pleasant. I had a fantastic time talking to the barista about random stuff. Making friends wherever I go. Definitely check this place out if you haven't! read more

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OK, I know that it is a locally-owned and gay-owned business, but, man, if you're gonna sell coffee, at least serve a DECENT cup of coffee! Jeez, the dish-water they served us today was nothing short of awful! Add to that the often "colorful" (i.e., borderline crazy..) local characters and the scuzzy-looking furniture (seriously, shampoo the damn stuffed chairs! They are disgusting!!), makes me wonder how they stay in business. read more

Sitting in one of the front window nooks of Equal Grounds with the sun pouring in and a vanilla chai latte to sip on, I'm having a good Friday. Since I live just down the street I try to frequent this business. I always receive warm, friendly, and speedy service. Have only tried their drinks, not any food, but am always pleased with the quality. Reasonable prices, too. A great, welcoming space to have in the South Wedge and the Rochester community. Also, free wifi and lots of board games. read more

This is what a coffee house should be like: tons of eclectic chairs, board games, lots of space, delicious tea/coffee, dog friendly, and a great vibe. The tv of the fireplace (as other yelpers mentioned) is so effing cute. The baristas make excellent coffee drinks and I second the amazing TEA! The ginger tea ($2) knocked my socks off. Come here- do some reading, see what's going on in the Wedge, or just relax with a great cup o' something. Note: NO Minimum on Credit Cards! read more

One of the best coffee places in Rochester, hands down. It's a great place for a variety of situations: meeting friends, studying, grabbing lunch, or just stopping in for a coffee to-go. The service is always very good and friendly. There is free Wi-Fi and plenty of seating with tables. It's a fairly quiet place if you're looking for somewhere to study. The food is very good-highly recommend a salad! They have a wide selection of beverages, bakery items, and a seasonal drink menu that often has cool flavors. It's a very accessible venue with two accessible single-room bathrooms as well. They also have outdoor seating which is great. It's convenient in its location right on South Avenue. There is plenty of street parking around and also a few spots in the lot behind the building. Locally-owned and operated. read more

Pros: Location (South Wedge is wonderful). The Atmosphere is fun and doesn't take itself too seriously (the television-fireplace is a fun idea). There are lots of different seating options. There is parking on the street or in the lot in the back (I've never had a problem finding a spot). There is also free wireless. Cons: The baristas. I guess I'm the only reviewer on here who hasn't had consistent customer service, but out of eight or nine trips to EG the baristas haven't been particularly warm or inviting (exception: if you're one of their "regulars" then I've noticed they tend to smile at you more and ask how you're doing). Not ALL of the staff are like this, of course, but there's been too many times when my girlfriend and I purchased drinks and walked away asking each other "What was that guy's problem?" I hate to give a coffee shop a negative review on their staff but it's just happened too many times. That said, the owners John and Harry seem like really nice and outgoing people. Anyway, maybe you'll experience all of my pros and none of my cons! Check the place out and see for yourself. The times I have visited have typically been in the afternoons during the week and on weekends in the last two months, so maybe some of the unhappy staff members will have left by the next time we stop by. read more

Opens late! Eclectic coffee shop. every day the music is different. sells mugs that are actually used to get a discount on your drinks not just buying a mug for the sake of the mug. has lots of tables for studying and couches. if you pay you can use wifi $5 min for credit cards. read more

I always come here for the vanilla chai smoothie and hot vanilla chai, it's absolutely amazing. The atmosphere is always relaxing and there are often fun events/meetings taking place. It's also a local business and gay-owned so I will ALWAYS support them. The only thing that bothers me is the customer service. I always try to be positive and polite to the barista, and 9 times out of 10 I'm met with shortness and unpleasantness. I know it gets busy and overwhelming and often there is only 1 person working, but I feel like this is an area they could work on. read more

This place makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. My girlfriend and I frequently go to Equal Grounds after going to acupuncture at Rochester Community Acupuncture next door. It's not pretentious in the least and welcomes gay and straight patrons alike. The fireplace burning on the flat screen and the comfy couches make it the perfect place to relax and enjoy one of their delicious coffee drinks in the winter, and an assortment of board games make it a great place to hang out when you have some extra time. There is a lot of literature for those interested in the GLBTQ lifestyle and a lot of great novelty items that will make you giggle. The coffee drinks are also fantastic. As I stated in a check-in, the Pumpkin Latte here is far superior to the one at Starbucks and is served in a mug, which I prefer to the scorch-your-fingers paper cups at Starbucks. I've never ordered anything here that I didn't like and the baristas are always really nice. read more

Equal Grounds is a well established LGBTQ+ owned business. Beverages and food are in my opinion taste great. Never have is had a bad experience coming to.Equal Grounds. The staff are very friendly and providing exceptional great customer service read more

I've only been here once but I can say that I'll definitely be coming back. I love patronizing small businesses, especially ones like these that stand for good things. The space is larger than I thought it would be from the outside, so there is ample seating. Extensive menu, including food. They also serve healthy smoothies. I ordered an iced latte, which was great. A lot of places put way too much milk in it, diluting the taste of the espresso, but this place got the combination just right. There is also free WiFi, if you make a purchase, and the atmosphere is perfect for catching up with friends or getting some work done. Glad I found this place. read more

Equal Grounds is by far my favorite coffee shop in the Rochester area. They have excellent drinks, especially when compared to many other coffee shops in the area. I find they have the best/most flavorful chai, really well made and delicious frappes, and a strong selection of really good coffees. They also have numerous flavor shot options and a rotating selection of specialty theme drinks. They also offer a few wraps and salads. I haven't really delved into that portion of the menu much, but what I've had was good. They also have a decent ice cream selection and some dessert options that are good as long as you get them when they're fresh (sometimes by the last couple hours of the day you're better off passing). Depending on when you go the atmosphere is either incredibly relaxed or a little hectic. I've been there late nights where it was standing room only with people spilling out onto the sidewalk. Depending on how crowded it is you may have access to couches and board games if you feel so inclined. Equal Grounds also hosts events on occasion, including open mic nights. The building itself also has a lot of charm, and there are typically a rotating selection of art pieces (some of which are for sale). They also have a selection of mugs, clothing, jewelry, and LGBT themed books. The location is also nice. It's right next door to Little Venice and just down the street from a number of bars and restaurants (my favorites being Beale Street, Lux, and Tap and Mallet), so it fits really well into a night out in the Wedge. All that aside, I find the staff to be the strongest asset to Equal Grounds. Everyone there is great, and I've never had a single problem in probably 40 or so odd visits. I find basically every aspect of Equal Grounds to be above my expectations, with the sole exception of parking. Depending on day/time, you may have a little hassle finding a spot, but it's well worth the effort. They also provide free wi-fi for paying customers. read more