Founded in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver as an alternative to the dominating bar scene of the era and neighborhood, Common Grounds Coffee has been a force on the Denver coffee scene since 1992. Their third location opened in 1999 in the heart of downtown Denver and ever since has been one of the major faces of downtown redevelopment. The spacey LoDo corner spot is one of the best options for a cup of joe in one of—if not the most—coffee-shop saturated parts of town.
Situated near the corner of 17th and Wazee, Common Grounds has been serving up locally roasted coffee for the downtown crowd for over 15 years now, a long time in the rather new coffee shop craze. What sets the spot apart from the rest of the crowd—besides its lengthy establishment in the area—is the unconventionally large size of the shop. The airy interior is matched with large street-side windows which pour a beautiful amount of natural light into the shop. The inside has a certain rustic feel to it, as if the shop transports you back to some indiscernible point in the past. This feeling is contributed to by the decoration and aesthetics of the joint. The walls are adorned with local framed paintings and homely bookcases full of board games along the edges. The seemingly centuries old upright piano towards the back of the space matches the heavy wood furniture and wood adorned bar, creating a great cohesion between the decorations. There’s a sense of both quirkiness and organization in the shop, as if it was designed by an OCD antique dealer.
Not to be outshined by the decoration and physical space, Common Grounds’ actual coffee is not to be missed. The shop produces all the general drinks for relatively cheap prices in relation to the surrounding area and some of the competing shops. You can get a cappuccino or latte for $3 or an iced toddy (very refreshing on hot days) for $2.95. Try one of their special “Uncommon” drinks, which include experiments such as the Liquid Oreo (espresso, Ghirardelli Chocolate, vanilla and caramel syrup) for $4.50 or the Tigger’s Bounce (espresso, milk and honey) for $5.50. The shop also serves up sandwiches (turkey club for $6.50) and fresh, homemade breakfast burritos, such as the chorizo burrito ($4.25), every morning.
This reviewer had an iced toddy, which was as good as they come and quite a treat on an 80-degree day. The coffee is delectable and locally roasted at Common Grounds Sunnyside location. The spot offers some great people watching from the outside patio seating, and is perfect for a meeting or conversation with friends; however, it can be a little loud and busy for studying.
Common Grounds is open Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
