The espresso is delicious and the baristas are kind. Oftentimes these two things don't correlate

Good coffee. Clean bathroom. Limited food but good quality. Uncomfortable chairs. Baristas are hit or miss. I'd go there regularly if I lived close by. Certainly better than Starbucks. read more

My wife and I stopped by Groundswell Coffee Roasters during a morning coffee run on a recent trip to Chicago. We both got iced 16oz oat lattes for $6.56 each. I really enjoyed the oat milk that they use here and the espresso was strong. The person who took our order was very friendly as well. As it wasn't particularly busy on the Wednesday morning we stopped by around 8:00 a.m., our drinks were ready in only a few minutes. It's a shame I had just gotten breakfast elsewhere because the donuts in the pastry case looked really tasty, especially the apple fritters. Definitely would stop by again if I'm looking for a quick cup of coffee to go. If you're looking to get work done, there's plenty of seating inside as well. Unlike some cafes that have loud music blasting over the speakers, the background music here is not distracting at all. read more

Nice coffee spot with friendly staff. Nothing to complain about but nothing that stands out either. I like the seating options as well, open, clean and spacious. read more

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It's fine, and always nice to have more coffee shops in the neighborhood, but the prices are a bit crazy for the quality.

This place provides a real solid shot of espresso. The service was fast and we loved the glassware choice for the shot. They don't provide a side of soda water with the shot as some places do, but this was still a nice experience. read more

Groundswell Coffee Roasters - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's okay. I liked my latte, but my boyfriend's drip coffee tasted very burnt. Quick service.

Service was really kind and efficient, and I also love this location with patio seating and high top seating inside. However, my matcha latte was SO clumpy - The most important thing with a matcha latte is to just take the 30 seconds to whisk it, but that wasn't done as you can see in the photos. This was on a weekday morning around 10am, so there wasn't a large line/rush, either. read more

Groundswell Coffee Roasters - Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Server was rude. I felt like I was treated as not some one here to spend money and pay tips. From the moment I walked in and ordered the interaction was just as though I don't belong here (guess my skin color doesn't quite match). And the worse part was the place says it is opened till 5 on Saturday on Apple map (sure yeah that's probably my fault lol). And that was the whole reason I was there. The server told me that they are closing in 5 minutes. Shouldnt this be something you tell a walk in customer before hand? I'm not here to spend 10 dollars and not even be able to sit down for a rest. And the server's attitude is, you can imagine, making it even worse. read more

Stopped in for a lavender latte on a cold afternoon just before closing, The staff did not rush us, even though it was 5 minutes before closing. The staff were nice, but not overly friendly. The cafe has a clean aesthetic, with seats and tables. The coffee was good, but not the best I have had. If in the neighborhood, I would try again, but not go out of my way for. read more

Groundswell Coffee Roasters - coffee bags on shelves - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not particularly cute or comfortable, this is aimed at grab-and-go morning commuters and the Pilates set. What an unfortunate experience. I've been coming daily to this locale for over a year now, the staff are lovely and friendly every morning. But I had the unfortunate experience of meeting the owner today. Mind, this is a person of whom I had a poor opinion to begin with as he has difficulty keeping his staff in supplies: things like milk and cups. Rather important to a coffee shop. And he jerks their schedules around in a way which ought to be illegal--just HAVE a schedule, bro. But, he's also an a$$hole. On a personal level. To the clientel. The man says entirely unhinged things to people because he's a "business owner." How that's managed to last is a mystery as in any reasonable world he'd fail fast. I expect it is his general absence from the facility which allows it to limp along...without milk...or cups. (Re: Owner comment below, I've posted this review some months after the above incidents.) read more

Fresh single origin beans and great staff! I always enjoy stopping in this place to get new beans and relax with a great coffee.

I like yuppie coffee places. It feels pretty in here, and the drinks are good. The food choices are super limited, so just come for beverages. In the summer they have a yummy lemonade drink. The only thing I don't like is the service. I don't think they've ever been notably nice...kinda makes me not want to sit inside. I recommend ordering a coffee to go. In and out. read more

Great oat latte, fresh selection of donuts, cute sailboats on their cups. I'll visit this chill neighborhood cafe again and again. read more

Groundswell Coffee Roasters - Oat latte - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped to grab a coffee, just expecting a coffee. Holy cats! This is one of the best coffees I've had in my life. The staff and decor are very welcoming. It might be a bad thing I stopped in here. Will be all the time now read more

The coffees here are always really good, and the outside seating is a nice option. The only issue is when we order 16 ounce hot beverages, they more often than not only fill them up to about 12 ounces. So we just started ordering only 12 ounce hot drinks here. ‍ read more

The coffee and food are great, but I'm disappointed by everything else. There is one cheery barista, everyone else is business only. I'm not asking for much - a thank you, a smile or even a "have a good day". I come in about 1-2/week and it never feels any different. They have a great points program, but it doesn't connect with their online ordering system. I tried to download their app but that didn't work either, so if I want points (and free coffee), I have to order on site. I once brought this up to one of the employees and they just shrugged at me. I've opted to head down to Perfect Cup more frequently because the service is much more friendly, even though I prefer the coffee here. read more

The coffee at groundswell is great. Cappuccino was always prepared properly. The interior is clean and simple. The soundtrack was a nice 2000's indie nostalgia. The place gives kind of the tiny shirt indie vibe which I like. I'm from out of town and brought some beans back with me that were honestly amazing. No complaints. read more

Big shout out to this cafe on Damen. Great crew - always fun to have a little chat with them when picking up a Java. They make you feel welcome and know your order by heart after a short time. Try their espresso tonic - very refreshing for the summer for sure. Love the outdoor patio and after a while you start recognizing regulars hanging out for a chat. Outside of the donuts I don't know the quality and taste of their food, but at least it looks good. read more

I gave it four stars before but I have been going back. I am a proud coffee snob. My partner is also quite serious about coffee. From Chai Latte to black drip coffee this place is heaven. Buy a couple bags for home if you like joy in your life. The baristas are cool, tip them. read more

A semi-gloomy, chilly, but could-use-a-stroll in a neighborhood day, with "Tell Me" by Groove Theory playing on my Pandora while riding the CTA, I felt like I needed some coffee. I was glad I had spare time before heading to work. I checked my Yelp bookmarks and saw "Groundswell Coffee Roaster." As soon as I walked, I had an instant connection with this place. The decors were quite minimalist. Pastries and merchandise were laid out nicely. Patrons seemed to be comfortable and diggin' the atmosphere. I ordered a large, 16 oz. mocha. It was smooth, calmative, yet deceptively strong. The balance of chocolate, hot milk, and espresso was spot-on. I initially felt that I wanted to cuddle with my blankets and take a nap (though I was heading to work), but their post-caffeine effect kept me energized. Overall, it was a delicious cup of mocha and was well worth the trip. I wish I could actually stay and enjoy my cup of joe. I promised myself that I would come in and relax under no time crunch on my day off. Although it wasn't ideal weather for sitting in the patio, their sidewalk patio area was delightful and inviting. This part of Ravenswood has many local shops and boutiques and is very walking-friendly. read more

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I went here when I just moved into my new apartment. It was a nice day, so I decided to walk around. I was actually headed to The Perfect Cup, but got lost (since I'm a newbie to the 'hood). Boy am I glad that I decided to check it out! The decor is chic and modern. It is a small place, but is perfect for sitting and getting some work done or relaxing. The staff is very friendly and sweet. The girl at the cash register smiled and was very helpful with the menu. I definitely felt at home. I was hungry and wanted to grab a bite, so I ordered the ham and cheddar panini. It was fabulous! First of all, all sandwiches should be panini's because they are just that delicious. As I finished up my meal, I decided to stay and admire my surroundings. One of the employees was cutting the cheese from the block so you know it was fresh and delicious. If you want somewhere local and cute, come here! Reasonable priced sandwiches and delicious drinks. read more

Groundswell Coffee Roasters - Iced green tea latte and a book. The perfect combo. - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The coffee was decent but I like to do work at coffee shops and there wasn't a large seating selection available, the wifi was slow and it was cold. read more

I have been eyeing this café for a while now, but I hadn't given in to trying. Today was my first day. My overall thoughts were that it's super cute in there, the barista's were nice, and the coffee was good. I would definitely come here with a friend for the café experience, or to study. But I'm unsure how I feel about the price for a 9oz to-go cappuccino which was 4.75$.. Perhaps due to 2023 inflation prices? Either way, I would come back for studies, to hang out with a friend, or just for the café experience. read more

Groundswell Coffee Roasters - 9oz cappuccino - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's a coffee roaster and the drip coffee was balanced and smooth, but this place got the breakfast panini just right--and it's a small twist that makes it. Instead of scrambling eggs which become sorta bland, they hard boil eggs and then smash them into a spread on the sandwich with cheese, ham and grill it. The result is a lot stronger yolk and egg flavor. Nice. Staff friendly and efficient. Seating is limited but long rail and long bench make good use of the smaller space, and the full panel glass windows let in a lot of light. read more

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Stopped in a couple of times over the weekend while in the neighborhood. The location is great, and it always seems to be pretty busy. The WiFi password is posted by the drink pickup area, and the place seemed to be filled with people working or catching up with friends. Tbh my only issue is they played what I assume was the Bruno Mars Essentials Spotify playlist on repeat. I've gotten cold brew every time I've gone (bless you unseasonably warm January!), and I haven't been disappointed. It's pretty good. Better than Starbucks at least. I've also tried the breakfast panini with ham and the veggie breakfast wrap. Both were OK, but I could probably make something better at home. The main reason I'm giving 5 stars is because latte art! Finally a place that does art and isn't bad at it! I was pleasantly surprised to see the snickerdoodle latte my companion ordered had a nice leaf design. read more

Groundswell Coffee Roasters - Snickerdoodle latte with art!!! - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Made a special trip up here today for their breakfast panini. Also ordered an iced coffee and they made me a cold brew instead, which is NOT the same thing. And can someone please tell me when it became "cool" for employees to be aloof and edgy, rather than warm and engaging? I'm clearly not cool enough to patron this place. But god damn I love that breakfast panini. read more

Groundswell Coffee Roasters - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pretty good coffee over here. I like the inside of this place... it is very modern and the people are extremely nice and friendly. Even with multiple locations, this place has a cool small business feel, in my subjective opinion. BATHROOM REVIEW - located near the back, it is a one-staller that was pretty clean. Sit or squat? Sit! read more

Only had the mocha coffee but it was good. I'm happy. My partner that morning I had a breakfast sandwich and he didn't complain. I would go again if I'm in the area read more

Groundswell is a neat little coffee shop just outside of the metro downtown area of Chicago. It's rather small, so I don't recommend bringing more than 2 other people with you, though. They have a cool looking mural on the big wall when you walk in, and the space is warm and inviting! The people working are kind, and when Iw as handed my cortado, the girl working behind the bar had a warm smile and made a point to say thank you. The coffee itself is alright. It's roasted a good amount, so it'll inherently be pretty bitter. If you're a fan of lighter roasted coffee, I'd have a hard time recommending this place to you, because I like the lighter roasts as well. However the espresso shot that I had was extracted well, and probably the best that you can do with darker roasted coffee. They have a good selection of pastries, juices, and breakfast items, too. I had the sausage and egg burrito, which was pretty average. The employees are very kind, but the product they serve is alright. 4 stars because of the people, took a star off because of the coffee. read more

I am a hardcore coffee beans snob. Not espresso drinks but always in search of the best beans I can find either at home in Chicago or any road trip. Groundswell has the best coffee beans in the city. And boy, I've looked. Roasts are light which means brighter, multi-dimensional flavors. Plus, more caffeine, if that's your thing. Staff is always super nice and the space is beautiful. read more

This place is great! Located in Ravenwood, it's a cute little coffee shop with super friendly staff, vegan options, and the space is just gorgeous. The nonfat latte and almond milk latte were so good (as was the beautiful latte art!). I noticed people set up with laptops and they weren't disturbed and plenty of baked goods if you get hungry. Two more reasons they get thumbs up? Great selection of music played in the background and gender neutral bathrooms! read more

Groundswell Coffee Roasters - Nonfat latte complete with beautiful latte art! - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious latte, vegan pastry options, and cool & calm vibe for dine in! Definitely a repeat customer.

Best coffee in Ravenswood, if not all of Chicago. If you're still going to the Perfect Cup you're missing out. The vibe is chill, the staff is friendly, nice little outdoor patio. What's not to love? read more

I used to go here often when I lived next door at the Madison. After a while, I simply stopped going and eventually moved to a different neighborhood. However, groundswell is still on my way to work (Madison St location) so recently I thought "hmm, I can't remember why I stopped coming here, let me give it another try" and now I've been reminded why. Every single time I've gone recently (more than once, and this is why I stopped going in the first place), my mobile orders were never ready. Never ready, wrong, simply gone, and I'm sitting there for an extra 15-20min. The whole point of mobile ordering is supposed to be the ease and quickness that provides. If that's just not possible for your location, I would stop doing it. It's beyond frustrating, as many people mobile order because they are in a hurry. read more

Coffee is good but the employees are the least friendly people ever. They especially are unkind to children. Considering the neighborhood, they would be wise to have a little more patience. The last straw for me was an employee scolding my 3 year old for touching a piece of plastic designating the pickup spot, and he wasn't even hurting anything or getting in anyone's way. My son cried the whole way home asking why they weren't nice there. I'll be taking my business elsewhere from now on. read more

Coffee is good, service is lacking.. Walked in on a Sunday morning and stood at the counter for several minutes while I patiently watched the barista put away pastries in front of me. All the time wondering if this place was even open. She eventually took my order but placed three doughnuts DIRECTLY in a paper bag! Not the kind with wax lining but a bare paper bag with a handle! Imagine tossing a bunch of cinnamon rolls in a paper grocery bag from Whole Foods. Would you eat it when you got home? I wouldn't. Since I don't enjoy scrubbing grease off my car seat, I asked for them to be placed in wax paper bags which she complied. I tried to give this place a pass. But on my way out I noticed an online order on a table with the same type of paper bag with food items INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED! Idk I got a sense I was being treated differently from the moment I walked in. If you like good coffee and can turn a blind eye to bad service, this is your place :) read more

Looking good, what a nice spot, looks like it has been worth the wait. This is a great addition to the growing Damen N of the Brown Line station shop options. Solid service and a welcoming atmosphere. Will be back to try some of the sandwiches they have on their menu. read more

What a great new addition to the neighborhood! I came here with friends with our toddlers on an afternoon and was pleasantly surprised. The coffee is strong and flavorful, the food delicious, and the people so nice! I don't want compare it to Starbucks because it definitely is not one. The vibe is way better. Yes, there are people working on their laptops but the music was loud and I felt like you can talk without worrying about disrupting your neighbor. I will be back, and will tell more friends about it. Good job, Groundswell! read more

Groundswell Coffee Roasters - Coffee, cake, flowers and a kid :) - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I loved them pre-Covid, but now I love them even more. The staff at their Damen location is amazingly good at making coffee AND lovely to boot, and their online ordering platform is smooth and quick. Everyone is masked, you can just dash in to pick up your cup from the counter. My toddler loves their pastries. We stop by as often as possible, because we hope they stick around. read more