I get the feeling that if you're a regular at the Common Cup, you get the royal treatment. When I walked in for the first time, I definitely got the feeling that the barista was annoyed at having to show me where to find the menu, even after I told her I'd never been there before. Still, it was nice to have a relatively quiet place to sit and study for a couple of hours... until some group wandered in for a meeting that they had scheduled in the side room and basically kicked out everyone who was in there. I guess I should take the hints and leave the Common Cup for the people who've already made it their place, because it certainly didn't feel like they cared much about anyone else. read more

So, I have been frequenting the Common Cup since 2008 and been moderately pleased with my experiences, but will not step foot in the establishment again based on my last experience. I am a strong supporter of local businesses and have worked in the Rogers Park community for many years. This particular day, I am meeting someone there and decide to get settled in and wait for them until I order. Within 2 minutes of sitting down, (coat still on), Ruth the owner approaches me and asks "Are you waiting for someone?" I say yes and am curious as to why she is asking me this. I wait about five minutes and my other party shows up and we chat for a few minutes. During this time, Ruth is hovering around our table, "cleaning off" the other tables - then says, "you are going to order something, aren't you?" Mind you, I have been there LESS than ten minutes and had already told her I was waiting for someone. I am LIVID especially since I have gone out of my way for years to support this joint. I decide to approach the staff about it and I speak with a gentlemen who seemed to understand and agree with my frustrations about the experience. I informed him of where I am sitting and tell him how being HASSLED when I sit down in a coffee shop after being there for less than ten minutes was extremely rude, especially coming from the owner, Ruth. I remain at Common Cup for another 45 minutes and was never approached or had my complaint acknowledged. Bottom line, there are other local coffee shops that you can frequent that won't make it a practice to hassle there regular customers and actually give good customer service. Try CHARMERS CAFE on Jarvis. Or even Starbucks would be a step up. I will not be spending one more dime at this joint and will encourage everyone I know in the neigborhood to do the same. Sorry Common Cup, you just lost a valuable customer. read more

I came in on a late Saturday afternoon and asked for what options they had for a pour over, and they said they don't do pour overs. Strike one. The latte I tried was not all that great, ESPECIALLY considering the fact that they use Counter Culture coffee. Strike two. Also, there is the appeal of the look of the place, and there's nothing to appreciate. Strike three. Here are my alternative suggestions. Sol Cafe has a much better feel to the place, and their coffee is much better. They also serve V-60s and some great latte specialties that are seasonal. Ellipsis is another good option. They are just down the road and they also serve Counter Culture coffee, and they actually do justice to having CC coffee and being trained by them. So, if you are about to head to Common Cup because you found out they serve CC, I would head to Ellipsis instead. read more

I dont have anything more to offer than the other reviewers, other than the fact that I feel great about patronizing a place that employs locals, gives good friendly service, the products are always above board and they pay their staff a fair wage and allows your tips to go to local charitable organizations. Given the choice for coffee, teas, noshes, or chilling at a coffee shop, this place is always my first choice. read more

I like Common Cup. Is it great? No. Is it awful. Again, no. It has been a reliable coffee shop for me for the last couple of years, and I regularly use it as a meeting place for work or as a place to kill some time before work. Staff can be hit or miss. Some of the folks who work here aren't always the friendliest, but there are several people who are very nice and do their jobs well. Restrooms and wifi are only for paying customers, so you'll need to ask for the wifi password when you pay. Luckily, they don't seem to care how long you stay. The other day, I spent almost 4 hours here, including having a meeting. I was never asked to leave. I was never asked to buy more things (though I did buy a couple of drinks and a slice of pie). Other neighborhood spots have asked me to leave or told me that I have to buy more items if I plan on taking up space for longer than 30 minutes (I'm looking at you, Towbar). Coffee is decent, they have a good selection of drinks to choose from, and the pastries are okay. The chocolate chess pie is very tasty, though. Some prices seem a little high, but others are fair. Common Cup isn't fancy, but it gets the job done. read more

I only spent about 15 minutes in here as I just had to kill some time. It has been years and years since I have spent really any time in this neighborhood and I am glad to see that it is coming along nicely so this place is a great addition. The place is not that big but it is a very comfortable place to sit and relax for a while. The decor is not at all overwhelming, but more welcoming. The staff was great: super friendly and they serve up some good coffee. What more can I even ask for? The next time I am in the area, I will be back. read more

The place is really nice and coffee and food are very good, some of the best in the neighborhood. Unfortunately the guy working behind the counter seemed overwhelmed because I needed a fork for my sandwich and acted like he was doing me a favor. The service could have been better. read more

At first, I was impressed when I walked in and placed my order and received my meal - then I went downhill. The person (gentleman) working the morning/early afternoon shift was wonderful. I also thought it was cute to see the sign "Friends don't let there friends drink at Starbucks" but I know why "we" go there. They don't care about the customer 1st and you don't have to pay for refills of coffee and they are just as pricey. I was on my computer and the window behind me had a shade and I placed it down (I was there for 45mins) no problems, however the owner (very rude woman) decided to put up the shade. I said to her I have it down so I can see the screen and to please keep it down. She just blew me off like I was nothing and proceed to let the blind up. Then she was speaking to the nice gentleman behind the register to say "what a nice day the sun is shining" Then after running back and forth she leaves! The nice gentleman apologized and place the shade down for me. Since I am a paying customer who is staying after you leave owner - leave us paying customers ALONE. Oh, I won't come back, you lost my business. read more

Lately I've been in Edgewater a lot. So, I often find myself cafe hopping. Not so much for free Wi-fi, but coffee drinks and baked goods and well, my favorite sandwich of the moment....Breakfast sammiches. I like to stop into them during the early mornings and could you believe there are some cafes that don't open till 10:30 am! I know, I find it strange as well. So about this Common Cup. I like their coffees and the latte's. The place is comfortable as well. I also liked the service with a smile. Baked goods are alright and their breakfast sandwiches are.. well, I dunno. Just a mere okay. If getting one, go for the croissant. I've had the bagel and been less than impressed, mainly because I could make a better bagel breakfast sandwich at home. I don't like to be snarky but when I see that the meat looks like deli style out of a package (I.e. Sara lee) and what looks like microwaved cheese, my hopes for a great sandwich are, well.. kind of splat. Price-wise though, I liked that I could get a couple lattes and sandwiches for less than what I've overpaid recently in Ravenswood. (Just for the sake of sharing, in Ravenswood recently, two breakfast sandwiches and a plain cup of Joe, put me back $18 bucks! And no, it wasn't organic or foo foo.) read more

******Update 9-26-07******** Get a coffe card here if you are a regular visitor. 10th cup is free AND the 5th cup is 1/2 off. ******************************* Common Cup is a much needed addition to Morse Ave and, with the many ice cream choices, just in time for the summer. Intelligentsia is sold by the cup or pound. A decent selection of baked goods (bagels, pastries, etc) are available as are soups of the day. Prices are average, maybe a little bit less on many items when compared to major chains. I like that they are fully stocked with china in order to cut back on waste for the drink-/eat-in crowd. There is a also a stand-alone water dispenser, bathrooms, a few comfy chairs and about 8 tables. An "overflow" room has seating for about 30 and can be used for special events (a church service is held there on Sundays). Local artists have their work on the walls available for purchase, and artwork will be changed every 6 weeks or so. If living in or visiting Rogers Park, be sure to grab a coffee from CC--we want it to stay! (earned that 5th star, 6-27-07) read more

I've been in a 5-star mood lately and fortunately I can keep the trend going with The Common Cup. I live in Rogers Park only a couple blocks away and it was heavenly to have only a 5 minute walk to this place vs. having to walk to Metropolis or get on a train and head up to Evanston to get my work on. In fact I'm sitting here right now enjoying a cup of piping hot tea and fast wifi. Watching people come in and out giving this place business and making it successful almost gives me the chills because it's NOT Starbucks. Like the new Stella on Devon, someone had the guts to open this place up with a proverbial f-you to anyone who said this neighborhood was down and out and couldn't be successful. As for the environs themselves, they've done a nice job of keeping things simple and tasteful and not too cliche. Lot of marble and wood, they keep good music on but not too loud so you can enjoy your own stuff if you want, and they have a nice selection of baked goods. My only complaint is besides a few pieces of rather suspicious looking fruit, there isn't much healthy stuff snack-wise. They've got a small fridge - they could easily do some yogurt, some bagged organic veggies, whatever. Just no more muffins and bagels made for the giant-set! read more

They have really good coffee drinks. I really like their soups and sandwiches a lot. I love that they are so close to my house. What I don't love? Wanting my two shot Americano half-decaf and being told that because the portfilter pulls two shots at a time and they will only be using one of each, I have to pay for 4 shots. WTF? That is, without a doubt, the most absurd thing I have ever heard. I don't get coffee drinks there any more. And yeah, I know, only wusses drink decaf, but some of us can't have that much caffeine. But still love the taste of coffee. I still go there, but really? Not unless someone I am hanging out with wants to go there. Until the half-decaf fiasco, I was making a point of going there a least once a week. Frack it. I get my free pound a week from Starbucks and have my Pavoni they gave me for 15 years of dedicated service. And if I feel like leaving the house for coffee I would rather walk the extra 6-7 blocks to the Starbucks. I know Dan and the gang at the Roger Park Starbucks won't make me pay for shots I'm not consuming. read more

Well, I feel like I should update this a little, as I have been in a few more times and the service (from different employees) has been a little better. So I'm upping them one star for that. Thing is, though... while I'd love to support local business, last time I was in there, I had a slice of quiche and a medium mocha - over $7. I could have taken the train from Morse to the Loyola McDonald's and had the entire #5, with cheese and LARGE coffee, for less, el fare included. See what I'm saying? Crazy expensive. read more

The coffee here gets the job done, but it isn't stellar. Pretty average cup o' mud. The brownie I ordered was a bit on the dry side, and overpriced. The atmosphere is a bit off, perhaps even bordeline seedy. But that could be attributable to the neighborhood it's in. The outdoor patio with a cutesy wooden fence around it is nice. They also have a selection of paperbacks to peruse while you slurp your joe, and the indoor tables appear to be marble-topped. Classy touch. read more

The blueberry pie is packed with blueberries, sans gelatinous glop that often ruins pie. Crumbly top crust, buttery bottom crust. De-LISH. The cheesey enchilada soup is a bowl of queso dip featuring chicken and beans and vegetables. Thick and comforting and tasty. I felt sinful eating it with a spoon all by myself instead of splitting it with 3 friends with chips! Generous tea portions...I like it strong, and that's what they do here. The jasmine green picks me up. I have found the staff to be sweet or smarmy, but always with a sense of humor. I'm a bit smarmy myself, time to time. Fresh muffins, fresh cookies. Coffee card for reduced/free drinks. Yes and yes to Common Cup. read more

I needed to find a warm spot to read for an hour and Common Cup was the only coffee shop nearby. I paid more than $4 for a small soy steamer with syrup (pricey!--I could buy almost a gallon of soymilk for that price!) and it didn't come with any smiles from the baristas. Maybe that costs extra? The front area where I was sitting was also crowded, with narrow tables too close together. I'm giving it three stars instead of two for filling a neighborhood need of a decent coffee shop. read more

First off I LOVE the Common Cup as an establishment... the coffee is great but the FOOD is amazing! On Thursday night beginning tomorrow, January 15th from 6-7 I will be teaching an all levels Hatha yoga class at The Common Cup. The first class is free (tomorrow night) and the following 8 weeks each class will be $8 for a single or $50 for the 8 week session. 10% of all proceeds will go to the Common Cups tip jar which all gets donated to a non-profit charity. In addition, they have chair massage on Thursday nights from 4-8 pm. So come out and join us for some movement, breath awareness, relaxation, and fun!!! read more

I, like some other reviewers, would love to love this place, so I will give the good things first: owners/staff, all of the food, wifi, availability of outlets, willingness to take a credit card for a $1 purchase. Unfortunately, the downsides so irritate me that I swear off the place every other visit for a few days, until my irritation abates enough to mosey on back. Today is one of those irritating days. The downsides of the place are: #1) Terrible acoustics in the front room; it is so loud that one must go to the back room to read or study or concentrate on anything. #2) The back room offers only short term solace; it's much quieter there, but the community groups that use the room or the staff or someone is not AT ALL reliable about writing the schedule on the wipey board, so you can't go in there with any expectation of staying, even if you religiously check the schedule when you arrive. At any moment, some group can walk in, tell you that they've reserved the room, and you are booted; then you are stuck moving out of the room to the front room with the ten other people who have been booted. That essentially guarantees that you cannot find a seat or find a seat with an outlet, so then your little plan of drinking coffee and having breakfast, lunch, and dinner while studying at The Cup is TOTALLY SCREWED and you have to go home. It sucks, sucks, sucks. So I'll be at Charmer's up the road for a few days; but I'm sure I'll mosey back here before a week goes by. It's just too close to home to stay mad for long. But, GD, I wish they'd write the back room schedule on the board! read more

Kind of pricy, but so friendly! They're kind of slow in the mornings, but the staff is personable and accommodating. Their pesto mayo is the bomb, and they make some pretty tasty sandwiches. I don't like that they rarely ever have the ingredients (aka bread) to make the sandwiches early in the morning. Sometimes I like to kill two birds with one stone and get my lunch before I go to work. read more

4-stars for having pumpkin spice syrup for my latte when it was long past PSL season!!! I found Common Cup while walking through my new neighborhood looking for a place to have lunch. The staff was friendly and the latte was delicious. read more

I love almost every single thing about the Common Cup and will continue to patronize and support them beacuase i think they are a great business. Their coffee and tea has always been good and food has been yummy both pastries and quiches alike. But I have one pet peeve at this place: there is some weird "drain" smell that seems to always be lingering around which tints every one of my visits with a slight 'ickiness'... I hate to point it out but maybe it is something that can be addressed. I don't live too close to this place but I would like to enjoy it more when I come over. This time of year I just sit outside :) read more

I go here for one main reason - there's no other option in the neighborhood. HELLO STARBUCKS FRANCHISERS!!! The coffee here is "ok" - nothing special. However, I've several times tried an espresso here and it's not bad - it's downright horrible. Not sure what they're doing to it, but it's nasty. I tried it a few times because I though maybe it was the day or the person making it. But even on different days and a different person making it, it comes out the same. Awful. Well, IMHO. :) The other coffee is not bad - thus the 3 star vs. 2. They have some food there and I've had a couple of things which aren't bad. The people that work there are pleasant and the do offer free wifi (you have to get the password from the person working there). There's an outdoor seating area and generally a quaint place for coffee. read more

I started to be The Common Cup's regular after Ennui went out of business. I regretted that I didn't give The Common Cup a chance earlier. I've been going to this place almost daily for the past two years and never once had a bad experience. Food & Drinks: They got plenty of choices. After exploring their menu, I've established several 'the usual' orders and they have not disappointed me yet. Their quality of food and drinks always remain steady. Few of my favorites; banana muffin, cranberry muffin, cinnamon roll (SINFUL!), brownies sundae and their 'create your own sandwich' (pesto and chipotle mayos are delicious) Staff: I adore them all. They're laid back and super friendly. They never failed to acknowledge my arrival and say to "HI!" Also every now and then, I'll have a brief 'how are you today?' convo with them (I'm an American Sign Language user) They tried and willing. They're awesome, Cafe: To be honest, it took me a while to be find my zone in The Common Cup. After discovering my zones, I became addicted to going in and do my daily readings and play some crosswords. Once in a while I do some of my web work in there... free wifi and cheap refills... I can easily stay in there ALL DAY LONG! Bookworms, there are an excellent variety of FREE books for anybody to grab (make sure to donate yours to keep the shelves full) It is located in the back of the cafe. read more

The common cup is a great addition to the neighborhood. The staff, owners are very friendly and love to chat. The coffee is very good. I especially like their mocha's. It's true what they say about donating money to a local charity every month. It's a nice way for residents to be more connected to the neighborhood. read more

I'd say 4 and a half stars to be completely fair! They serve Intelligentsia...and have giant brownies! Stopped here one night after work to have a quick snack and some coffee. I was impressed because even the decaf was hot and fresh (a lot of the time the decaf just sits for hours and hours cuz only senior citizens drink it, and yes, i'm old and drink decaf...) Free wi-fi, hot coffee, a good assortment of baked goodies (we split a giant brownie!) The ambience was good, I'll definitely be back! read more

I live in Evanston, but decided to make the trek out here to see if the place lives up to its 4.5 stars. It was OKAY. The coffee: Can't go wrong with intelligentsia coffee! It's awesome! The food: Had the bacon and swiss quiche which was pretty decent. I'll probably give it a 3.5 stars. It didn't feel too heavy and portion was just right for a small snack. I tried the sandwiches and they would've been great except the bread was slightly stale. The lady behind the counter did say that they weren't known for their sandwiches so I'll give her that. I really enjoyed the chicken and rice soup which had the right touch of creaminess. The setting: The furniture looked like it was picked up at a garage sale. That's not a bad thing, but mismatched furniture can either give a place a certain charm and personality or just look like a bunch of furniture thrown together. This place fits the latter description. Most of the chairs were white plastic ones and were not very uncomfortable. The place is pretty open and airy though with lots of space for you to work. Also...there is free wifi!! read more

Nice neighborhood coffee shop. Super impressed with the baked goods -- haven't gone wrong yet! The plain croissant is especially good. My picky eater of a husband wakes up on the weekends asking to walk here just for that. The coffee is good, not great. read more

Convenient and fast. Come here when you have to, never 'cause you want to. The seating is limited and cramped in the main space; just sad and cheap in the side space; nice outdoor seating, though. The coffee is decent, a la carte breakfast sandwiches get the job done, and the prices are standard. Very nice people. So much that I would live to love Common Cup more. I've been trying for many, many years but can't fall in love with it. For a quick cup of coffee on the way to the train, it's the only option on Morse. Otherwise, there are better options within walking distance. read more

I live in the area and work from home, so coffee shops are a much-valued escape to get work done away from the distractions of home. I've only been to Common Cup 5-10 times so far, but that's more because I like variety when it comes to work settings, and not because they're not great. In fact, they are great. The guys behind the counter are always helpful and fun, Trevor especially. As for the coffee, they've transitioned (as of Sept. '11) from Intelligentsia to Counter Culture. I'm not a coffee expert, but I've enjoyed Counter Culture, and from what I can tell, they're a company that really cares about community as well as coffee. Common Cup also has a great, if somewhat limited, menu that is perfect for snacking while working/studying, but not if you want a whole meal. I haven't had the quiche or the cookies, although they look great. I have had the apple crumble, the blueberry crumble, their wonderful muffins, and yogurt. All the baked goods are baked fresh in-house, and they're pretty tasty. Nothing beats a cup of good coffee and a blueberry muffin fresh out of the oven on a crisp Fall morning. The atmosphere is comfortable, but it isn't as warm and cozy as a place like the Bourgeois Pig, but there are benefits to that, in my opinion. If I feel too much at home, I tend to be less productive. Common Cup is clean (including the bathrooms, which is nice), relatively quiet, it's got a few stuffed chairs, a fair amount of table space, and floor to ceiling windows that let in a nice amount of sunlight. read more

I love this place! I find myself caffeinating myself here on almost a daily basis. While I don't often munch here, when I have, the food has been quite satisfactory. Instead, I usually stick to coffee, espresso drinks, and teas. The coffee here is perfect, they always have two regular (one house blend and one rotating special blend) and one decaf hot varieties, as well as iced. I usually go for the special selection, but the house variety is smooth and tasty. Espresso drinks are rich, with a much more intense espresso flavor than you'll find at a Starbucks. The tea selection is quite varied, and i have yet to find one that wasn't delicious. The staff is very friendly, they always seem to know and acknowledge regular customers. Music is varied but always appropriate for a coffee house. I love supporting local businesses, and this is one of my favorites. They're really good about giving back to the community, which is so important up in Rogers Park. Hands down my favorite coffee shop! read more

best Coffee house that I've ever been to in Chicago... and that's saying a lot since I've been to about a billion since I moved here. friendly staff meant a relaxed visit. great coffee meant a great feeling. small and quaint meant no starbucks living. this place is my new favorite :) read more

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Hi. I got some constructive criticism for Ruth the owner: Last time I was at Common (7/21/12) the ambient music was BLASTING. So loud that even with my ipod on with isolating headphones, I could still listen to the beats of that "chill out music" that you like to play. I looked around and noticed that all of us customers were wearing headphones too, then some lady from another table looked at me, smiled and pointed at the speaker. I smiled back... I guess I'm not the only one. I like Common Cup. I like that the tables are big and that it keeps cool in the summer. But that blasting weird "lounge" music really ruins the experience. (You could have more pastries too!) Thank you. read more

A cute little coffee/tea shop with large glass front windows adds a certainly needed light to Morse Ave near the lake. As the previous reviewer mentioned, this place is very clean. I love the marble slab that lines the windows giving one the peaceful feeling of sanctuary that comes with stone decor. While waiting for another shop to open, I had the pleasure of hanging out here with a personal pot of Organic Raspberry Green Tea. I am remembering it to be only about $2.35 before tax, and that came with a second steeping for free. Clean, quiet, and introspective! The perfect environment to read my magazines. read more

Best espresso and oatmeal in Chicago or the North Shore. And a great neighborhood spot to boot. I commute between the North Shore and downtown every day. I've stopped at most coffee places on the way. Many of those places are fantastic - Links and Alchemy in Wilmette, Peet's in Evanston and Metropolis in Edgewater all have first-rate coffee. But I am an oatmeal in the morning guy.. and you can't beat the oatmeal at Common Cup. And the coffee is every bit as good as Metropolis or Alchemy - even though they don't roast it themselves here. read more

Really nice/fun place. Coffee was great. Egg sandwich was fresh and tasty. Cinnamon roll was probably the best ever. Relaxing seating. read more

The Common Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Common Cup is an awesome place to hang out with a delicious beverage, and if you like a scrumptious snack as well. The free wifi is handy and makes it a preference over other places with more complicated setups. We've been using the Common Cup for mini-meetings as they have the space, and the courteous service. If you are going to use it as an informal meeting place - please encourage everyone to buy at least something! read more

Tags: local, WIFi, low key, good hangout/work place Stopped here before my Chicago CS host got home from work. Great little place in Rogers Park. When walking in the place feels more like a cyber cafe than a coffee shop, but sign of the times. The Barista greeted me right when I walked in and it was obvious the shop was mostly locals. Order an Americano (my stand by) and some pumpkin bread. Wandered to the back where they have water and some comfy couches with magazines and other reading material. Once my bottle was filled I found a table up front. Started munching on the pumpkin bread as soon as I got a table. Barista was nice enough to shout the password of the Wi FI to me and I got to clacking on the keys. The bread was delicious, very moist but not cakey. Went well with the americano which had some real kick to it. Definitely stop by if I'm in upper Chicago! read more

Really good coffee here, but I'm most impressed with their selection of gluten free pastries. And they offered some kind of blueberry power ball thing? Yeah, it was darn good. Great vibe too. read more

I would give it 4 stars, except for two facts: 1) They are not true to their posted hours and twice now I have wandered by for a cuppa only to find the doors closed and bolted. 2) They serve intelli-blech-sia coffee (which is only decent when brewed VERY strong, which thankfully, it is here). The place is clean, the staff is happy, the coffee is reasonably priced as well. I hope it survives! Oh, one more thing, they staff donates all tips each month to a local charity/NPO. Very, very cool. read more

Love, love, LOVED the latte I had at Common Cup! This place is on par with Metropolis in terms of creamy, well brewed lattes, but ranks much higher in terms of foam art. Yes, the barista took his sweet, sweet time creating a lovely heart circled by foam dots on the top of my very yummy drink. And, the best part? The tips are donated to a local charity! read more