The most amazing little coffee roaster and shop in River North area. Tucked away in a residential area- it is worth a few extra blocks for those staying in the heart of RN. They not only have delicious coffee, but creative lattes that are absolutely delicious. Try one of their seasonal items- they are truly refreshing. And the pastries are FRESHLY BAKED! Their hand pies have a perfect crunch- and there's savory and sweet options. Dogs are welcome inside the main area and there's some high top seating inside with wall plugs if you'd like to stay a while. A homey feel- a rare find these days :) read more

See all

The turmeric ginger chai latte is where it's at. Of course, if you've got a fur baby, treat them to the puppaccino! The baked items weren't super fresh and wish we'd skipped those. But the beverages were right on. read more

Ground Up Coffee is my favorite coffee shop in the area. I love how many tables and chairs there are to setup a work station for a few hours. The staff has always been really friendly as well - answering questions about their local partnerships and striking up mini conversations. I typically order a drip coffee, and they're all fantastic. The most recent time I went, I wanted a decaf coffee, and the only option was a decaf americano. It was still very good, but fair warning there isn't an abundance of decaf coffee options. There were some tea options though. I also LOVE the spinach & feta hand pie! They have several good bakery items, but that's the one that keeps me coming back for more. read more

I love them, great coffee, staff are always friendly, some of them always try to remember regular customers and what they normally order. Small but great little neighborhood spot, I used to stop by and pick up some coffee and their amazing pastries every day on my walk with my dog, but haven't been able to after I moved a short distance away. Whenever I do longer walks I do make sure to get coffee from here. read more

My favorite coffee shop in chicago! The river north location has bar seating at the window but no table seating. The coffee and customer service is great here - the baristas always give good recommendations and are super friendly. Super quick service and love the seasonal drink rotations!! Ps if you like donuts they have a 10/10 old fashioned!! read more

Ground Up may be slightly tucked away on a quieter part of River North, but it should not be overlooked' I enjoyed my Golden Chai Latte and will definitely be back to try some of the delicious looking pastries. There was some seating by the window, but it was hard to snag a seat on a Saturday morning, as there was a constant flow of people! read more

Ground Up Coffee - *ICED* Turmeric Ginger Chai Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I needed to kill a little time before dropping my friend off at Union Station. So we stopped into Ground Up Coffee since it was just a bit west of the Amtrak station. We walked in expecting a cute little coffee shop. What we found was an amazing market and incredible coffee spot. It had a warm, rustic urban charm with exposed brick and ductwork. It was spacious and offered not only coffee but many other grocery items. They even have a copy/printer for customers to use. It felt like a cute little neighborhood shop. The staff was super friendly and were very helpful. The girl that assisted us was very sweet. We weren't sure what we wanted and the barista offered several suggestions. We both ordered lattes. My friend enjoyed her Peppy Mint Mocha. I tried the Stir Crazy. It was a fantastic blend of sweet spicy goodness. The turmeric, ginger and cinnamon left me wanted to visit again very soon! We also split a croissant that's texture reminded me of a blend of croissant & biscuit. Yum!! There is a large foyer with large tables and chairs. There is also counter seating. The skylight offers a bit of natural light. The entire area felt reminiscent of a classic 70's office building lobby. I loved it. It was large enough to have a seat and enjoy your latte while keeping a safe distance. If I lived in this West Loop neighborhood, this would be my go to spot. I loved everything here - the service, coffee and ambience were spot on! read more

See all

Truly the best service I've ever experienced! The barista was wonderful, I wish I knew his name so I could call him out! My friend and I each got a specialty latte, I would highly recommend adding lavender to yours because it was incredible. I also got a croissant - the barista said they fly their flour over from France, and it was truly delicious! Very cute inside, counter seating at the window. read more

Always in search of a great local coffee shop when on the road. Found it at Ground Up Coffee! Miami needs one! Service was great and the vibe made me want to stay and groove to the beat even after the coffee was finished. Yum! read more

Ground Up Coffee - Coffee add ons - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Wide selection of snacks , you have to get the spinach pie or the 9 grain croissant . I die for those . The owner Alex is always there , so friendly and makes you feel welcome . Very chill place - I've had a meeting there or you can have a seat at the bar for shelter from the rain . read more

See all

What a great coffee shop! The people that work there are friendly and provides awesome service. I love their medium roast coffee and lattes are extremely good also. This is my favorite coffee shop. read more

Ground Up Coffee - Medium roast coffee - the best and never bitter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a wide variety of drinks, snacks, coffee, and groceries!! There are so many vegan groceries and snacks to choose from. Their lattes are delicious and they have plenty of tables and free wifi for studying. read more

Ground Up Coffee - Iced Matcha Latte Iced Latte Seasonal Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great matcha which is rare - not great to work in or focus in, seems to be more of a social spot

Ground Up is located in the same building as my daughter's dermatologist. The barista helped me pick the perfect cortado, and was super kind with my daughter. Their 9 grain croissants are my favorite (so good my daughter ate most of it). The Cafe is small but we were able to find a seat. Looking forward to stopping in every time we're at the derm! read more

GroundUp hit it out of the park again. The Rivernorth/Streeterville location is awesome. Paying homage to their original westloop location and their brand, the space just works. Everyone is overly nice and helpful and wants to make sure that you are satisfied with your order. If you run into Alex once, you're likely never to forget him. The pastries are light and delicious and their coffee has almost exclusively been getting me through the pandemic. I order almost exclusively from them. I still not so subtly home they bring their killer bougatsas(sp) back into circulation. Stop by. Give them a try and you won't regret it. Grab a cold frappe there and a bag of their coffee to go. read more

See all

IF YOU WANT AN AUTHENTIC CAPPUCCINO...DON'T COME HERE!!! This is the first review where I'm struggling what to say. The place is amazing inside. Very hip. Great atmosphere. The selection is perfect for a coffee shop and I think, the way it should be. Quality pastries and a good selection, all fresh, some from family recipes. Very cool, The coffee itself is the best that I've likely ever tasted. No lie. The hard part. My third visit I am asking them if they'll make a proper cappuccino. Anyone who has ever been to Italy, particularly Rome will know that a cappuccino properly is steamed milk, NOT scalded milk. You should be able to drink it right away. They didn't do it right the first time, no worries, a paradigm shift, I understand. Second time, closer, but again, I understand. This afternoon, I think it's fair to hold them to what they said they'd do, but it was still too hot. Very simple, warm milk, not hot, you should be able to hold the pitcher with the palm of your hand. (Nooooope (in the words of Sterling Archer). I'm paying $4 for a cup of coffee... just make a real cappuccino please???) I suddenly get the 3 people telling me all the issues with serving me a warm, not hot cappuccino. The line stated three times "we have strict protocols!" Oh my f***king god!!!! Asking them to make the milk warm, not hot is suddenly likened to asking for a variance on the specifications for making the O-Ring for the f-ing space shuttle????? SERIOUSLY? They just kept going on and on... It was like I was in the bizzaro world. I've never had such an involved discussion about milk in my bloody life! You'd have thought we were discussing vintage wine!! IT WAS A BASIC, THE MOST BASIC OF REQUESTS, AND THEY MADE IT A 5 MINUTE DETAILED EXPLANATION OF STRICT PROTOCOLS ON STEAMING MILK. Bloody hell.... read more

COVID- no outdoor seating. Limited indoor seating. Place has super tall ceilings and is very airy inside, although it's small. COFFEE- I got the Chicago smog. I can't really taste my shot of espresso and almost 4starred in it but I love the combination of lavender and earl grey. OTHER- lots of baked goods and breakfast sandwich/ croissant egg sandwiches type things, sweets, protein bars, other protein shakes. They even sell the protein powder shaking bottles. OVERALL- I really liked it! Super friendly staff, too! read more

See all

Cool Chicago afternoon called for a warm beverage. We saw GUC had good reviews and was only mile walk away. I know it's a coffee place but hot chocolate just sounded good. And as good as it sounded, it tasted even better. Enjoyed sipping it while sitting at the window and just relaxing in the quaint atmosphere. Definitely worth the walk and even a repeat. read more

Ground Up Coffee - Creamy Hot Chocolate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Spinach and feta pie -4/5 (really good!) Iced latte- 1/5 (not tasty at all) Regular latte - 3/5 (decent cup) read more

The hand pies here are phenomenal! They import their phyllo dough from France! My favorite was the three cheese followed by the ham and cheese but the spinach is also good :) they have a golden chai latte that used tumeric and ginger. The ginger is a little overpowering but they recommend using coconut or oat milk. The oat milk makes it creamier but I preferred it with the coconut milk! Definitely check this place out read more

Ground Up Coffee - Golden Iced Turmeric Ginger Chai Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing coffee and vibes! Plenty of parking nearby. The coffee was so strong and delicious. Black and gold decorations. I love it here. read more

See all

This is such a cute spot in the west loop! Service was really quick, and everything we got was good. We came here on a Saturday morning to share a croissant, iced mocha latte, and a macaron! Definitely a good place for a quick pick me up. read more

Great coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Much better quality and taste compared to Starbucks or any major chain and it's a local option to support! Staff is amazing and always ready to help! read more

Amazing vibes and service!!! really enjoyed my coffee and pastry and absolutely plan to come back

Love Ground Up!! Alex and his crew are always so friendly and helpful! The nitro is amazing and the pastries are drool-worthy [love me the fritters and the flaky croissants]. Eat local and drink local - need more local coffee shops! read more

Love this coffee roaster. I'm not a complete coffee snob, but I always try to support local companies whenever possible. Good bakery selection, croissants were fluffy and not stale. Breakfast sandwiches were passable. Coffee drinks are pretty unique and they experiment with different roast profiles which is admirable. I usually go to the one one Erie, have not been to the other location pictured on the photos, but the ambiance is cool and a good place to chat and have a cup with a guest or your significant one. Added bonus: usually people walk their dogs along this trail so you can always find a fur-bearing customer to interact with. read more

Such good coffee! I am not an avid coffee drinker but will occasionally have a cup for a burst of energy. I was craving a cappuccino lately and wanted to give this place a shot after glowing reviews. I was not disappointed. Using Uber Eats I ordered the almond milk Cappuccino with honey cinnamon flavour, as well as two French croissants one regular and one chocolate. The cappuccino was sweet and flavorful, would definitely get again. I believe if I ordered earlier or went into the store the croissant would be a bit fresher but it was still nice and flakey. Looking forward to trying this small shop when I'm in the area! read more

In a nutshell- if you want a grab and go coffee and snack this is the place. It's small, keep that in mind- that's why I prefaced it with "grab-and-go" I highly recommend getting any of their "pies." I was told that they are from a family Greek recipe. WHICH IS WHY THEYRE SO GOOD. The ham and cheese pie is literally the adult hot pocket of your dreams- BUT BETTER! The crust and texture is nothing that I have ever had before. You will definitely want to leave your pies in their little sleeves when you eat them because they're so flaky they practically melt in your mouth. Also: great locally roasted coffee ! The ginger tumeric beverage is also mind blowing! The people are nice, the coffee is good, the snacks are delicious. read more

I ordered a cup of their dark roast. The coffee was very good and only $2.79 for a 12oz cup. But they only had cardboard cups, no mugs. Really a shame to see high quality coffee ruined like that, but at that price and for such good coffee I can't complain too much. read more

This is one of my favorite local coffee shops that is right next to my house that I frequent all the time. The service is top notch, the staff is always friendly and will make very delicious drink suggestions if you ask. I am in an out within 10 minutes or less most times. The quality of the coffee is superb. I've never had a bad experience here. Also the vibe is super cool and the lighting is nice for photography! I will keep coming back for sure! read more

Ground Up Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great atmosphere/vibe. The staff were accommodating and knowledgeable. Yummy seasonal beverages and pastries. read more

Ground Up Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Do yourself a favor and don't go here. I have been going here about 3 times a week since they opened. One day I ask for an extra cup so I can share the coffee with my wife. The clerk rudely refuses and said she will have to charge me. I was shocked and walked out. If this is how they treat customers this is not a store that you should patronize. Luckily Fairgrounds is opening just down the road. Never again. read more

Amazing coffee shop! Lots of speciality drinks teas as well and delicious bakery pastry items. The place itself is the perfect atmosphere and the staff couldn't be more helpful and enthusiastic about giving you a good experience. Never any intimidation when trying to order something new. Would definitely recommend! read more

Ground Up Coffee - Light roast hot coffee. Fun cups always smooth, crisp, and balanced! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gave this place three tries. No good. Coffee is just ok, specialty blended drinks give me a terrible stomachache and I don't really have any food sensitivities. I wanted to like it there, but can't. Also everything is overpriced. read more

I recently went to the new River North location for the first time. This is an excellent coffee shop. The physical space is small, and inviting. The set up and paint job is bold, hip and dramatic. I love the color scheme of gold and black. However, the star is, of course, the coffee. I ordered the iced latte with oat milk. The coffee was great. It had a rich flavor and the latte was made to perfection. It was very creamy. They also have great pastries. I tried their chocolate donut and two of their croissants, the nine grain croissant and the chocolate croissant. They were very good. I also tried one of their specialities, the spanakopita. It was warm, flaky and delicious. The spinach flavor was very good. I heard it's a recipe straight from the mother and grandmother of the owner who lives in Greece. There is a lot to love about this coffee shop. The new River North location is a must visit. read more

See all

One of my buddies recommended Ground Up to me. I trust her judgement, especially concerning coffee matters. We've stopped in here a few times, every time I have been pleased with my drink and service! The staff and owner are very friendly and do their best to make sure each experience is met with professionalism and friendliness. This last visit I got the "not pumpkin pumpkin spice latte " w/ oat milk. (Or something like that...) delicious. Chefs kiss. 5 stars. read more

This place was just wonderful. Good was great. Staff was very friendly! Coffee was incredible! Definitely recommend & would go back OFTEN if I lived in Chicago! read more

Ground Up is the perfect little shop that this stretch of Erie needed. Everything here is amazing and served up fresh with care. Anything on the menu is good, so you can't really go wrong, but my personal favorite is the iced coffee with a spinach hand pie. I'd also like to shout out the younger fellow with medium-length black hair who works here. He is always so kind and sincere when taking orders and making the drinks. It's obvious that he works hard and gives it his all. I appreciate you! read more

Went there for the first time today and it was incredible!! Coffee was super strong, fresh and tasty! The owner was super friendly and took the time to explain the menu. He seems to genuinely care and want the best for his customers. He also recommended we try one of the pies which is his grandmothers recipe and it was fireeeee. Wide variety of breakfast, coffee and tea options. Super cute inside too. This is def my new spot !! read more

Stopped in this morning for the first time and I was impressed. I ordered a London Fog (almond milk, tea and vanilla syrup), which was super yummy! Staff was also super friendly and helpful. I'll be back for sure. read more