Have to share... First time visit this morning, here for a work meeting. Was beyond pleasantly surprised by this coffee shop. The owner was incredibly friendly, welcoming and awesome at what he does. The coffee was AWESOME. We were here to talk business and had no idea how good it would be. The quality of the coffee and the muffins. NIU students should know, this is the best coffee shop in town. Bottom line... quality over speed. A rare mantra in the coffee World. Will be back again. Nice work!

Weve been wanting to stop in and try this local coffee shop for a while now, and we finally had the time this morning.My Almond Joy iced coffee was so incredibly delicious, and dont get me started on the chocolate chip scone 🤤 My daughter and I practically fought over the last bite. It was insanely good!The drinks are made to order, which is super impressive. Youre not getting coffee thats been sitting for hours.We met one of the owners, Jeff, and he was so kind and welcoming. I cant wait to meet his wife, Michelle (shes the one who made the scones!).Theyre in the soft opening phase, so if you stop in, just be patient because its definitely worth the wait!

People that bash this place and the speed of the drinks being made don’t deserve to have coffee from here. I don’t remember the last time anyone from nasty Starbucks cared about getting to know me or even start up a conversation. They can keep their burnt tar-tasting coffee. Jeff made my “Mama juice” coffee to perfection. This coffee tastes like LEGIT COFFEE. Anyone that goes out of their way for my child is enough for me too. Speaks volumes about a person, let alone their business. Thank you, Jeff!

What a wonderful amazing find. Superb drinks. Best we have ever had and made with such thoughtful care by the charming personal owner. Delicious scones and absolutely indulgent cookies. This is our new favorite stop. Wish we could give 10 stars

I always loved the environment and flavors of CG, but the service has become terrible. Most times when I’m in there, he puts people who come in after me first. Today, I came in and ordered a drink, but Jeff went in the back and did dishes. 20 mins later I was still waiting for him to start making my drink but he was still in the back. The people in the shop had gotten their drinks, no one was behind me, so I left. He did this often to me before he moved, and I feel terrible giving a bad review for a place I love, but I’m just telling what my experience was.

If you ever are in the area stop here and enjoy an awesome book and coffee, or even conversation with the amazing owner, Jeff. Talk about hard working, this is a very resilient man who really cares about his community and giving them an awesome comunal space. Thanks to him this has been one of the most rewarding stops Ive taken in a while. I come from NY and I wish this existed back home. Thank you for the experience. 😊

The vanilla chai is absolutely delicious! The coffee of the day (Peru) was perfect without milk or sugar. Staff is very friendly and personable. I’ll definitely be back to try more!

Had a perfect cold brew today. Great new location, and a great humanitarian mission that they support as well. Highly recommended!

Amazing coffee! The owner was great, very friendly, highly recommend! One of my top favorite coffee shops 👍

Amazing coffee, food and staff. Inside and outside seating. Fantastic organic coffee from around the world, tea too. Had a blueberry muffin and it was killer. Both Ethiopian and Guatamallen blends are must trys

We ordered the papaya smoothie and orange dreamsicle smoothie and they were both phenomenonal! The man working was very nice, as well. Its all fair trade, even the t shirts!Support local business by coming here!

You guys should add boba because i will definitely come here if there’s boba

I melted like CARAMELLO🥺

I came to the door 4 minutes after they had closed. I tried to get in, but the door was locked. The owner came to the door and opened up just for me even when I insisted he did not have to do that. Hes a really nice guy, he made me the best drink, and Irish fog I would highly recommend it! this place supports local and supports humanitarian causes. Also only serves fair trade coffee. Best chai latte Ive ever had! Highly recommend, will be back.

The owner is friendly and helpful, you order at the counter and it is brought out to you in a nice mug or glass. I always get a London Fog, but they have a ton of other options as well. Cozy atmosphere with tons of books to page through and some board games. Really a nice place to relax or have a quiet chat with a friend!

I adore this coffee house. The vibe is inviting and cozy, with lots of books stacked around. Good place to work, good place to hang. Most importantly, the coffee is great, and Jeffs handcrafted drinks are phenomenal. I appreciate the ability to customize sweetness level. My favorites include the Brown Sugar Bae, Stans Excelsior, Outlanders Grog, and the iced matcha latte.

Tremendous service from a friendly barista. The Barbed Wire is phenomenal, as others have said, and I cannot recommend this place enough. I will certainly be back; I have left far too many books unread and too many coffees untasted.

As soon as you walk in, you know its a place to sit and enjoy a coffee or a book. Half of the profits from books go to help stop human trafficking and the coffee is ethically sourced.The atmosphere is perfect for a little quiet time. Check it out!

Grateful for a place like this. Amazing coffees, teas, snacks, and some talented art work for purchase.

Small town. BIG ❤!!!This place is what you need in a town full of coffee shops. If you are a die hard coffee fan, or just want a filling breakfast, this place will NOT disappoint you. Just walk in and be amazed. Grab a book and sink in.

Common Grounds is a great place to hang out on a Saturday or during the week. The coffee is fair trade and all products that you purchase is as well. Jeff and his staff is very friendly and they will take the time to get your order right. And... if you want, buy a book to support Set Free Movement and create community to battle human trafficking.

Really lovely atmosphere, great coffee and the owner is just a lovely and invested guy. Highly recommend it if you want a cozier atmosphere and better drinks than the local Starbucks.

The atmosphere was lovely, coffee was delicious and service was great! So many options to choose from, coffee, smoothies, food and baked goods.

Awesome cozy place with incredible specialty drinks (try the spicy cortado with ginger and turmeric!) and super friendly and engaging barristas. Jeff and his crew care deeply about growing roots in the community and giving back. This is exemplified in a nifty lending library and tons of community engagement. The coffee desserts and food are all top notch, too.

Incredible! Make sure you stop here if you are staying in the area or just passing through. I would study here during college before Covid-19 restrictions were in place. I feel very welcomed and relaxed here. Every drink Ive ordered exceeded my expectations and would definitely order again. Jasmine Dragon and Emerald City are my favorite drinks so far! Jeff is so kind and his passion for crafting drinks and serving the community really shows!

Ive been here 3 times now and I love it. Jeff, the owner, is so friendly and amazing to talk to. You get great customer service, great atmosphere, and consistently great drinks. Ive had the peanut butter mocha twice and loved it both times and the pumpkin spice chai was amazing as well. Totally better than Starbucks or dunkin any day. Recently Jeff has added the breakfast club menu and I highly recommend it especially to the college students in town who are tired of the dining hall and want a delicious breakfast.

The best scones i have ever had. Everything was SOO good. And the owner is such a nice person. Definitely coming back.

Incredible! Certainly coming back as soon as I can. I rarely spring for fancy teas — Im an English Breakfast devotee — but the Ciderverse is wonderfully spicy and sweet. The atmosphere is so welcoming, and I was able to find several books to take home with my tea! Im so glad Dekalb has such a fantastic little coffee shop. Ill be sure to visit more often!

The owner is very kind and friendly. Such great hospitality. The establishment itself is filled with art, which combines with the music being played to create a peaceful environment to study, have meetings over coffee, enjoy time with friends/family, or just to have some time to yourself. Sandwiches, muffins, cookies, and slices of cake are among other things available if you want a light snack. 10/10!

I definitely recommend this place to anyone and everyone!! The owner was so sweet to us and the drinks were fantastic. (I got the chai steamer and I recommend). And I feel good about going here because some of the proceeds go to a charity to stop human trafficking, I believe, how cool is that? Will be coming back!!

Many negative reviews have been removed.Like many people, I was initially drawn to Common Grounds because of the owners promise that it was giving back to the community. Unfortunately, often things that sound too good to be true are exactly that.I have witnessed and experienced the owner being inappropriate to staff and customers. Inappropriately aggressive, inappropriately sexual. The more you get to know him, the worse you will be treated. There is a reason staff turnover is so high.There are also many health code violations that the owner has been informed of and has no interest in addressing. I believe other laws are being broken, specifically related to the money he claims is being donated to charity.Take everything you are told there with a grain of salt. Use your best judgment and look for evidence of the good supposedly being done.

The owner Jeff is super nice and he has a great selection of drinks. Not the typical stuff you find at Starbucks or other coffee shops. His baked goods are also pretty good. Theres a nice selection of used books for sale, and he has board games if youre looking for something to do while youre there (pre-covid).

I just stopped in quickly on my lunch break to explore and I could not have been more pleasantly surprised. Places that are seeking to expand perspectives and make new, eclectic books more widely read are so refreshing, and Common Groundss commitment to this idea brings a smile to my, and hopefully your, face. Ill be back shortly!

Possibly my favorite place in the world

Amazing drinks, great atmosphere, and friendly conversation. Definitely the best coffee shop in Dekalb!

The only place in town with great Smoothies! Awesome quiet environment. Great cookies too!

Delicious paninis that the owner makes fresh himself! Same with the iced coffee and smoothies!! I’m a new regular after all my nail clients kept recommending this place to me. Now they gave an outdoor seating arrangement so you can enjoy your food outside

Such a welcoming space!

Friday 9:20 AM. One other patron present. I ordered a regular coffee and a breakfast sandwich; less than $9. I was told the coffee was still brewing which I thought was odd. But, I said, No worries. I was told my order would be brought out to me. I watched 4 patrons come in and two take-out customers get served. After 20 minutes I left without asking for my order or my money back. Personnel exhibited a lack of organization skills. I will not go back. I got the feeling that I am invisible since I am a senior citizen.

So good, staff is super friendly. Love it!!!

This is an excellent space to relax, get creative, or just cozy up with a book and cup of your favorite drink!They have great coffee, tea, drinks, and food!!!This place is really a diamond in the rough; a Seattle style coffee house nestled in downtown DeKalb. They have cool bands play acoustic sets, solo artists do their thing, fun games to play, and tons of books to read!!!My kids love it, my wife loves it, and so do I!The owner Jeff has really brought his vision to life and has created a space where ANYONE and EVERYONE can come and find some common grounds...and some AWESOME COFFEE!!!

Very cozy and comfortable shop!! Love the coffee called irish dream. So good!!!!

Common Grounds is the absolute best, with a specialty menu of not only drinks, but food also. It is a nice feeling to know you are a valued, & appreciated customer. The atmosphere is very soothing.Amy K.

Jeff runs a great local shop here. Love their drink options. Always delicious. Have great bakery treats too. Cozy atmosphere with great music in the background.

Ive always had great service here and even better coffee! There is also a wonderful selection of games and books available at this coffeeshop. One of my favorite spots to visit on the weekends to relax!

The owner is one of the nicest people Ive had the pleasure of meeting, plus the drinks are to die for! They use glass mugs AND metal straws! A really great place to chill with some friends, or maybe even a first date!

Love this place. Great drinks and great company.

Great coffee and amazing atmosphere. The owner Jeff makes a wonderful cup of coffee and takes a lot of pride in what he does. Had some great conversation while I was there and definitely plan to return.

It is such a welcoming place. Its like going for coffee at your cool friends house. I could spend hours hanging out there! And to top it off everything is organic. This may be my new happy place.

Not super cheap but you get what you pay for. One of the best mochas Ive ever had.

Best coffee. Best baristas. Best coffee shop vibe.

Excellent coffee and baked goods all in a welcoming space.

A little coffee shop with a lot of options. Better quality then most places but there can be a wait from time to time. They have both coffee and tea options that can be made hot or iced. They are also starting to add chocolate drinks for the kids. The food options are limited but usually good. It is a good place to do work or read.

Amazing coffee, tea, and sandwiches. The new Red Wire Chai drink is phenomenal. The service is awesome! Jeff is a great owner and makes sure every experience is perfect. My barista, John, was wonderful and super friendly. I recommend this place all the time. Common Grounds is one of the best businesses in town. Keep up the great work!

Worth the price and short wait. The avocado chicken salad is delicious! Ive tried a few smoothies and juices so far and havent been disappointed.

1st time there! Loved the atmosphere. Owner was very attentive and gave suggestions. Great book selection they had to share too!

Great local business serving delicious food, coffee and smoothies in a cozy atmosphere!

Cant beat the atmosphere. The owner, Jeff, is a tremendous guy. Oh, and the coffee and food are amazing, too. 😁

Great place

Lovely staff and great atmosphere. The coffee was great and even when I accidentally ordered the wrong thing, they offered to replace it for me! Highly recommend

Very chic place! If youre hipster, and looking for a new environment to hang out and get some coffee (and other treats!) this is a sweet spot for you. I admittedly did not try any of the drinks or food yet. I just happened to be walking by, and saw the sign for low priced books. While their collection may be smaller than a full scale library the store is covered in shelves upon shelves of different genres of books. I picked one out, and went to pay at the register. Apparently they have a name your price sort of deal. I spent $7 on a newly released book because there was a bit of pen on the inside of the cover. Sweet deal in my book! (pun intended)

Awesome local cafe. Don’t come expecting a fast in and out. Perfect place to get some work done, meet with a group, etc. My cappuccino was perfect and so was the atmosphere.

The owner/my dad is very nice, I promise you you won’t regret going there, it’s a very nice place to be! Me myself not just cause he’s my dad, thinks it’s a great place to hang with friends, study, read, and they have great drinks!

What a fantastic gem in downtown DeKalb. The coffee and baked goods are delicious and at a great price. My boyfriend said it was the best muffin hes ever had! Jeff is friendly and a conscious business owner with a mission of bringing awareness to human trafficking and raising funds for area non-profits. I highly recommend visiting soon and often.

I love this place 🥺 its so cozy and cute and homey. All the stuff that Ive tried so far is very good and the owner is amazing

I really enjoy this place! Jeff, the owner, is always friendly. The food here is great and the coffee is even better. So, no matter if your coming from out of town, need a place to study, or even just want to hang out, Common Grounds is the place to go!Thanks Jeff for your hard work and wanting to make a difference!

What a cute coffee shop to grab coffee or tea! Lots of tables and comfy chairs to sit to read, study, or hang. Lots of books for kids and adults which is really nice so if you forgot a book your covered. Its in a great location downtown which is literally down the street from NIU campus

One of the best chai teas Ive had in a long while. Love the books. Great conversation starter re: genre, characters, etc.

Love this place! Recently discovered it as I moved into the building across the street and I will definitely be back often. I’ve been telling all my fellow friends at NIU that they have to check this place out. Cozy and inviting place with even better coffee makes for the perfect study sessions!

My husband and I visited Grassroots for the first time and had a great experience. We were greeted by a very friendly and funny man who was very helpful in explaining what different drinks were. We loved our drinks! I really recommend the Hawaiian Smoothy! Tasted great, and the only thing missing was the beach! A little sneaky to find if you dont know the area, (thanks GPS) We will definitely go back and order some snacks, too. I love supporting local business, instead of huge chains, and Grassroots is a place I added to my list of fun, friendly and yummy places!

Great drinks and even greater people. Definitely 5/5! This place is so amazing. It is SUCH a friendly and welcoming environment. The owner introduced himself right away and the tea was PHENOMENAL. plus its all fair trade. I am not in Dekalb very often, but from now on when I am, you can find me here.

Great vibe, good coffee

Best coffee shop in Dekalb County! ☕️ This place has the such a unique and local vibe. The owner was sharing with me that he locally sources his coffee and all the books on the shelves are available for people to take home (with a small donation). This place even has a section for small children to read and color. I can’t wait to come back and support this local business!

I love coming here to get my juice or smoothie. The environment is very Zen, which is refreshing since some use their business as a platform to promote political agendas. Just PURE RAW NUTRITION!!!😊

Great tea! Love the owner. He is very friendly and customer service is a priority. I will definitely be back!

Comfy atmosphere for quiet talking or solo contemplation. The girl at the register was willing to share information and very pleasant. The coffee I purchased was delicious. I even took a bag of grounds home with me.

Lovely little cafe with a small town feel. Always love finding fresh places with fresh ingredients that make you feel great

This place is amazing!!! Their coffee is the best that I have ever had and it does not taste burnt at all!!! Compared to starbucks (which I love) they are awesome!!! The owner, Jeff, greats everyone and introduces himself. It has a very friendly/homey atmosphere. On top of that they support some amazing causes and a percentage of the money they earn is donated to a charity (forgive me, I forgot which one). I would highly recommend this place to anyone that is a fan of coffee.

If you dont know about Common Grounds yet, you do now. This coffee shop has seriously one of the best tasting coffee combos that I have ever had. It is not as fast as Starbucks, but Sweet Mother of Marbles, the taste is worth the wait. The staff are friendly, and the atmospere is relaxed. Definitely a place to stop if you have the time. Cannot recommend this place enough.

Love this place! All are welcome and the environment is suitable to get work done, read, or hangout with friends. The owner is fantastic and works hard to remember your name. He provides options for all types of diets. I hear the coffee is great, but I know the tea is amazing!

Came at 8am today as was really in need of something healthy but it was closed. Not sure if the opening hours are correct?

The owner pours his life and love into this beautiful business. Great place to sit and enjoy someones company, the tasty drinks and the goods, or read a book which you can purchase and proceeds go towards fighting human trafficking. Great hometown coffee shop!

Great coffee, free wifi, and good seating. A fun place to visit. My only beef is the price. A bit too high for my wallet. Would also like to see more transparency on prices before picking something out.

This is a lovely coffee shop. The owner is very nice, and makes delicious drinks. Its also a book store! Great for book lovers! Theres board games, movie nights, etc. Much needed fun and calm place to relax.

The owner gave us a delicious sample while we waited for our Caramel Lattes! Cozy & inspiring place to get out of the cold!

Great atmosphere, stellar coffee, and a recently expanded menu make this a wonderful stop for any student or business worker.

I have serious regrets about not visiting sooner. What can I add that hasnt been said yet? Jeff is such a warm and friendly person, who can whip up one of the best cup of coffee ( try to barbed wire breve) Ive ever had. His drinks stand strong against the heavy hitters in the Chicagoland area. Easily earns a five star review.

Love this cafe! Great selection of healthy, whole food smoothies, wraps and juices with clean ingredients. I had the acai smoothie bowl and chicken avocado wrap. Also love that they support local artists and have art for sale in tne cafe. A must visit while in Sycamore!

Excellent variety of juices and smoothies. Everything is made fresh right there up front. Local raw honey available too. Staff is very friendly. A place worth stopping at for sure.

The owner is nice, the drinks are authentic and awesome. Pleasant place to just hangout and chill

Great coffee and bakery goodies. Jeff, the owner, is very friendly and makes you feel at home. Im not able to get to Common Grounds very often, but when Im in that part of town, I have to stop in for a little me time!

Owner is the nicest guy ever, love going here for amazing coffee and teas, as well as his commentary on interesting topics. Never change!

Quality establishment, warm atmosphere and authentic people. The best place in DeKalb for a hot beverage and exceptional service. Jeff is a real dude and hell take care of you.

The owner is a friendly guy and the coffee is very good. The atmosphere is better than any chain; its a good place to do work or meet someone.

Great coffee shop with friendly service and relaxed atmosphere. They have drinks and sandwiches.

Warm, friendly atmosphere. A real treat. Coffee choices and goodies are tasty. All of the used books that are all over are for sale with the proceeds going to a good cause. The gentleman that served us was such a nice guy. It is a destination when we get back to DeKalb.

Great coffee. Nice manager. Slow service. Worth the time though. Delicious wrap.

Great coffee and baked goods. Personable owner who really cares about his customers and community.

Great espresso, cozy setting, free wifi, and the best ambiance music Ive ever heard in a coffee shop—nice, mellow, atmospheric indie stuff. Lots of tables for laptop work, though there are a couple of couches as well if youd like to curl up with a book.If only the parking on the street were longer than an hour. I think theres two-hour parking not too far away, though.

Best coffee place in town! The drinks Ive had were all very tasty but what really sets Common Grounds apart is the warm and welcoming staff. Whenever I go downtown for anything (usually Gaming Goat) I end up stopping by here, its just a good place to spend time.