Back To The Grind

This place has a vibe that is hard to match, a vibe and aesthetic that truly inspires. Classic for writers and artist. The owners got it right, and I'm glad they've been open for so long. The crowd is generally chill, and friendly if interaction takes place. The atmosphere doesn't take all the heavy lifting. The food and drink options tie a nice bow around the perfectly wrapped gift. Sandwiches are made to order, and the pastries taste fresh and satisfying. I don't know if they're homemade or outsourced, either way, they chose quality. The two primary men there always seem to be hustling. Treat them with human kindness, and they'll take care of you.

Thanks Backtothegrind for having us and for having so many things for me to look at and observe. We found this place on accident on a late Sunday afternoon while traveling back from a road trip. Our vanilla latte's were top notch and staff were gems. This place gives you the cool, relaxed, everyone is welcome and curious, college-like vibes we could all use more of in our daily lives. Especially in this late stage capitalism, fall of the mask, hellscape we are living in. They also have some killer events. We are about 1 hour away but plan to travel back and checkout open mic night for my musician partner and maybe even science night for my nerdy sociologist marketer brain. This place is really the bees knees. Check it out, I promise you'll love it! 🖤

Bagel with cream cheese is $2 on their menu but I was charged $3.75? I had to wait for 10 min even though the place seemed empty. Update: Downgrading the review to 1 after seeing the owner's response. An honest mistake would have given you a 4 or 5, but the owner is trying to cover up. From your own menu, see the snapshot I added, a bagel with cream cheese is $2, not $3. There is no confusion there. A 4% charge on $3.50 is not $0.25. It is 14 cents. You also added tax on my bagel which is not allowed in California since it is just a take out and no utensilils were provided . I included a snapshot of my credit card statement showing that I was billed $3.96. Certainly do not appreciate a cover up from the management as a matter of principle.

I LOVE COMING HERE!! I frequent this place all the time for their low-price brunch, dessert, and milkshakes! I recommend this place to my friends often whenever we're around downtown. The music and events are a treat to see. Great place to study too!

10/10 hot chocolates & chai! It's hard to find a great place to chill & enjoy your drinks. Everything made just right 👌🏾 my mom really enjoyed this place

I brought my brother here for chess night on Thursday and this is what he has to say: great place to sit down, chill out, and have a really good snack or drink. Fun events and really nice place to bring your friends. Highly recommend !!

Great place to get your day started. Friendly staff and inviting atmosphere. They Outside seating in nice little patio. I really enjoyed my visit.

Loved the atmosphere of this shop. Reminded me of what old school coffee shops used to be. Went on an open mic night which was also really fun . The customer service though was not it and it's major downfall was the matcha. DO NOT ORDER THAT. I don't know why they even offer it instead of just sticking to coffee. It was literally just slightly green tinted milk.

I recently visited this coffee house for a special event and was amazed by establishment's layout as well as their variety of vegan food and beverage offerings for customers. As we walked up to the coffee house, I liked the variety of outdoor seating as well as several types of indoor seating including small tables and longer tables. I was most pleased by the large amount of vegan options available consisting of sandwiches as well as deserts. After looking at the menu, I decided to order a vegan bagel melt and an orange blossom outrageous smoothie while my hubby decided to order a grilled cheese a radical raspberry smoothie. Initially the ordering process was a little confusing since it wasn't clear where customers needed to stand to order. Once we were told by an employee where to go to order, the process was quick. Our smoothies were created in front of our eyes and our food and drink were hot and flavorful. As an avid reader, I throughly enjoyed how the coffee house was filled with several bookshelves containing a variety of books along with.much CDs and other assorted items. Although I wanted to pull a book off one of the bookshelves, since I didn't see an signage saying this was okay, I decided to not browse through the books. The coffee house experience was pleasant, the food was great, and considering the abundance of vegan menu options offered, we will absolutely plan to visit this coffee shop again soon.

I was super scared by the reviews. Luckily I didn't encounter the problem barista, and instead was helped multiple times over by two nice and energetic baristas. Outside the great service, the place itself is amazing. Ideal study and work cafe with plenty of seats and great ambience. There was no ACs but the fan did enough work to not be bothered. Next time I'm in Riverside for family stuff, I'll definitely stop by again to get work done.

Great service stopped in between appointments...picked up a watermelon protien smoothy....knocked it out the park. Well done

My husband and I were walking and he wanted to check this place out so we went in. They have a bar and ice cream, some coffee drinks and food items. Service was okay, ambiance was lovely. I enjoyed looking at everything but it was hot! There was an outside and had an upstairs we didn't explore. I would like to check out open mic night.

To me this place seems a little generic compared to my typical cafe setting. Nothing really stood out to me as over the top as it did take a little bit to get my coffee. It is very good tho and I would give it a try.

Before reading my review, please imagine that I am a beautiful woman or handsome man who meets all of your visual criteria. This way my review will get more likes & reactions. See also: The Halo effect. Speaking of the effects of beauty, Back to the Grind is a palatial coffee house loaded with rococo furniture & sturdy wooden chairs. The walls are adorned with bookshelves full of trendy books that people pretend to have read to impress a date like The Alchemist, Harry Potter, The Stranger, etc. The rules at Back to the Grind, albeit few, do not cohere or make sense just like most places. For example, the staff will not allow people to put their feet up on any of the coffee tables. However, people are permitted to bring in dogs of any size. The tables are spotless at Back to the Grind. Unfortunately, the wooden flooring & some of the couches are redolent of kennels and dog food breath. I ordered a large hot chocolate. When I got my order, I was pleased to notice the barista properly prepared a large hot chocolate. The large here is much cheaper than a Starbucks because price gouging is not pervasive in Riverside. 5 stars for being the biggest dog shelter in the city of Riverside that also sells coffee. I would suggest that anyone who brings in a dog heavier than 60 lbs. should receive a free bagel, and one of those hand sized plastic bags for throwing away dog crap. Thank you Back to the Grind for being you in the most offbeat, passe way possible.

Beautiful inside. My drink was also really good, and top quality. I went during open mic night and it was a mood. Now the downside - I came to this place because I saw a lot of people complain that this place has horrible customer service and I always like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt... but the people online were truly correct. The person I dealt with (and I assume from descriptions, is the same Person I dealt with), had a horrible attitude. I can only speculate that this is a part owner or at least a very needed employee. I went in and stood by the counter patiently waiting when he saw me he pointed me to the cash register and i waited a few, which I really didn't mind. I literally started with "hi.. can I get a sandwich..." and he immediately scoffed and sighed, I just said you know what never mind, and he responded "it's just that I've made a lot today..." Idk just kind of hit me the wrong way, I understand everyone has tough days, but the fact that (I assume) this person is the person who everyone complains about, does it so blatantly, just rubbed me the wrong way. But that being said, this establishment is a hidden gem and I will be back.

Thanks Back to the Grind for having us and for having so many things for me to look at and observe. We found this place on accident on a late Sunday afternoon while traveling back from a road trip. Our vanilla latte's were top notch and staff were gems. This place gives you the cool, relaxed, everyone is welcome and curious, college-like vibes we could all use more of in our daily lives. Especially in this late stage capitalism, fall of the mask, hellscape we are living in. They also have some killer events. We are about 1 hour away but plan to travel back and checkout open mic night for my musician partner and maybe even science night for my nerdy sociologist marketer brain. This place is really the bees knees. Check it out, I promise you'll love it!

During a recent visit to downtown Riverside in the university area I discovered "Back To The Grind" coffee shop. It would appear to be a local hangout for college students, coffee affancianados, and tourists due to the diverse collection of patrons enjoying a cup-of-joe while chatting or studying. The establishment has a library or den decor with various artifacts and artwork adorning the walls as well as the random furniture which resides within. Offering the usual iced or hot beverages in various flavors and sizes, the shop further offers some delicious doughnuts, pastries, pies, cookies and sandwiches to enjoy. My iced coffee with a dash of cream was perfect! Flavorful dark roast, with the perfect amount of cream over solid ice cubes. The atmosphere is typical for a college study spot with a noise level that is tolerable. Outdoor seating in the rear and as well as curbside in front. Highly recommended.

Service was great! Very fast! I ordered a smoothie and iced coffee and it was ready minutes after my order was taken. My bagel melt came out quickly as well. Good vibes lots of people laughing and enjoying each others company.

Great stop just off the 91 freeway, it made it easy to reenter the freeway. My friend and I enjoyed mochas and we were thrilled with the high quality ingredients used. We also bought some tarts. Looking forward to visiting again. .

From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was welcoming and exciting. I've never been in a place like this before. The ambiance blends the charm of an old school library-like scene in perfect combination with a cozy feel and eclectic decor. I chose to browse the menu and instantly the Caribbean smoothie caught my eye. The menu provided the fresh ingredients being used which were: Banana Pineapple chunks Crushed ice Orange Juice I then swiftly made my way over to the pastry section where I was greeted by a cashier who promptly informed me there were other pastries on the other side of the bar area. My eyes scanned for a potential (unneeded) pastry to purchase when my eyes met a delightful, glazy cheesecake like pastry that included fruits such as kiwi, blueberry, strawberries and even raspberries!​​ The visual appeal of this dainty pastry was absolutely heavenly. Fortunately for my vegans out there they have incredibly diverse vegan options to choose from as well. For those of you who prefer a night with a bit more of a buzz they have options for customers 21+ And to address the eager coffee enthusiasts... there are over 10 different otions to choose from including their signature back to the grind coffee! I on the other hand, am not a coffee enthusiast so please refer to other reviews for more in depth thoughts and descriptions on coffee served here :) I cannot forget to mention the phenomenal jazz music being played by the college students at RCC. The vocals, the strumming of chords, the passion, the music... WOW. They all performed with heart and did not miss a single beat. My heart was full of joy watching fellow college students perform with love and undoubted elegance. It was quite the sight to see and one must be watching live to truly understand the effect the music they play has on your mind, body and soul. What a life changing experience! I will without a doubt be back to enjoy another pastry, try a new beer, and listen to some tunes! Overall dope vibes, unforgettable pastries, entertaining live music and absolutely recommend to creatives or students!

Ambiance was ok. Food and coffee was ok. Service was terrible. Spent $60 in coffee/ matcha showing some friends around. Should not have come here and won't be returning.

when i walked in here i was so excited to try this place bc the pictures looked cool. i should've looked at the reviews bc i wouldn't have driven up here knowing id experience what a lot of other people were experiencing. When i walked up to order i asked if i could have oat milk in my latte. they said they didn't have it so i said okay that's fine i'll do a little bit of whole milk and extra ice. i had specifically asked for a short latte with less milk and extra ice. i get my drink back and it was made with a regular amount of milk and light ice. so when i went back up to politely ask if they can remake my drink i was told that "they can try to make it with less ice but that's not how they usually make it". i stood there trying to understand what he meant bc i just asked for extra ice and less milk. the employee with the tattoos and blue tank top was truthfully dismissive and made me feel like an inconvenience for asking to remake my drink. i then notice that there was oat milk this whole time and the other employee didn't even bother to check. i was hesitant to leave a review because i didn't know if maybe they were having a bad day and they just needed some grace but as i see other reviews and how other people stated how they were treated i can see it clearly now experiencing it. regardless, i still didn't get what i ordered as i said less milk but i did get extra ice. i unfortunately had to throw out my drink bc the thought of being another inconvenience to the employees was not even worth it anymore. update the man in the blue tank, his name is Max i believe.

Food - Service - Ambiance - It's all so good. Never have I had a bad drink: coffee, smoothie, or tea. Everything that comes out from behind this counter is always superb. Keep an eye out for their bulletin to see what events are going on.

Server was rude. I came in was very nice and said hello, while I was looking at the menu he came around and asked "are u ready yet?" I said yes and said I wanted to order a sandwich. He sighed loud as hell and asked if that's all I said a water bottle too and he sighed AGAIN. Unprofessional and rude I wanted to come in today (Wednesday) to sing for open night but just the interaction I had with them made me not want to sing anymore and go home.

The coffee shop has the most amazing ambience. I mean, to the point where it could be in a movie... like a Harry Potter movie. If I lived closer, I would definitely be here more often. I don't know anything about the problem employee. I have met Nicholas and we exchanged names weeks ago. I saw him this week and he remembered my name. I remembered his too. Can you imagine? I've seen nothing but friendly, professional people here eager to serve. I'm in the for open mic nights. I do think it's the most creative place to be in Riverside County on a Monday night. Great vibe, great people, just a joy to be a part of. I really like this place and highly recommend.

Worst attitude ever :( love this place dislike the workers The girl in the bun was the only sweetest person might want to change the team with less attitude if this is a constant complaint ! I can only say karma to the attitude because they dropped my drink on the way from removing it from me when they made a mistake they did it so rudely , I only hope this business makes better profit that way they can change the team asap

Came with my friends after a morning hike , we loved it . They were low staff and it was super busy but overall great staff.. we tried the champagne smoothie lol Will be back !

Stepping into this place felt like walking into a live art installation called How to Disappoint a Customer in 10 Minutes or Less. The bathroom? An aromatic horror show -- no soap, stench for days. The staff? Olympic-level coldness, with extra points for making every customer feel like an unwelcome houseguest. No AC, because apparently suffering builds character. And my coffee? A tall glass of "meh" -- mostly water with a whisper of caffeine. LA spoiled me, and this place just reminded me why.

I came here last week. I would come here years ago (like in the 1990's) and I remember it being very charming and relaxing. I cane here with a few friends and it was still charming and relaxing. I noticed the back yard area was much cooler and very clean and cute. Cooler like it was such a hot day and the back yard area was very cool and shaded. I love the plants and lots of places to sit. Okay so for the drinks, two of us got an iced americano and two of us got the Chai iced tea. All our drinks were SO good. And OMG the lemon tart thing was Delicious and the fruit tart. Everything was really good and the customer service was great too. I appreciate the cafe feel with so many drink options from coffee, tea- hot or iced, smoothies, italian sodas and the option for different caffeine levels. I really appreciate that! The offer snacks and yummy desserts. It's a cute place to meet up or read your book or study. I know they do poetry readings and art shows here as well. It's definitely a cool place to come and very charming still. Thank you Back to the Grind

Good study spot, kinda busy though. You have to make a purchase for the WiFi code lol. Bought a bagel and later an ice cream. Their ice cream was very yummy and the perfect study pick me up.

Great ambiance and the coffees are delicious. They also have great pastries and the gentleman working here is so kind and friendly. Definitely coming back!

A nice little coffee shop if you need to get some work done or need to wait for your event at the nearby theater. I got an oatmilk chai and it was good. Wish it was more concentrated though. They also have a 2 bathrooms,which is great if you're spending a lot of time there. However, the bathroom is pretty dirty and the toilet is suuuper slow to flush, so def keep that in mind. The ambiance is cozy and pretty quiet. I would stop by again if I was ever in the area.

This place is a special vibe at any time. It's so cozy. Staff is wonderful and the coffee is great. Lots of activities throughout the day. Saw some ppl play dnd once. That was awesome

Back to the grind was very unique , that is what I loved the most. They had alot of random, old items with an array of books on their shelves. The coffee tasted great and the barista was helpful when choosing a coffee since it was my first time. The building seems like it's a bit on the older side , you can definitely smell that as you walk in. I would give them an opportunity to see how unique their shop is in downtown riverside

Cute establishment. I came for poetry night which is held in the basement. I wish there was more ventilation down there, it would definitely make the space more comfortable, airy, and smell better. Parking is an absolute nightmare but this can probably be said for many establishmentsin the area.

The menu read that a small Matcha is $4.50, she charged me $6.75...unfortunately I didn't say anything because I was in a rush and thought maybe I read something wrong. So heads up, eye how much they charge you. Other than that the ambiance is pretty cool, looks cozy on a rainy day. They have scheduled events throughout the week, lots of seating. They even sell beers which is a cool addition to a coffee shop. Kind of leery on going back to purchase since it came out so expensive but I'd go back for a place to hang out.

Coffee 2/5. Coffee is not good here tbh. Long wait. Ambiance is nice. High ceilings and a lot of tables. Seems to serve as a gathering place for the community, which is important.

Easily my favorite coffee shop in Riverside located right downtown. Staff are friendly and not pretensious. The place has a positive, friendly vibe. Food is affordable and they have lots of vegan options (sometimes vegan donuts, vegan cheesecake, vegan cookies, hummus and crackers, vegan sandwiches...). They also serve beer and cider. They have different events in the evenings so check their FB site for info.

Stumbled into this little gem by complete accident while running an errand in downtown Riverside. Was just looking for a much needed coffee and maybe a muffin but this place exceeded my expectations. Such a cozy, eclectic, and fun place. Love, love, love. Extra brownie points for great service, food options and ambiance. The brew of the day is sure not to disappoint.

Service was just okay. Food was not impressive. The inside of the establishment was very dusty and smelled terrible.

The best vibe of any coffee shop in Riverside. Great drinks, cool regulars, a great hang.

Chill workers, chill food and coffee, and best of all place to just chill, read, and study.

Back to the Grind coffee shop is a chill downtown hang out spot. I find myself grooving in my seat while sipping on a perfectly crafted latte. Simple drinks and music make Back to the Grind special. The food choices are limited and basic but I am okay with that. Because the place is like being wrapped in a warm coffee-scented hug. The cozy seating, the friendly staff, and the eclectic decor create a happy place.

Found a good place in dtr to chill and "study" before class! Coffee (iced americano) was great; strong as i like it. The employees are lovely and real friendly. I came early in the morning (~9am) so noise was minimal with only background conversations and music. Perfect environment for college students in the area! I will be visiting every week before my classes :)

This place has such a cool vibe, I could hang out here all day. The staff is super friendly and helpful, which makes it even better. Seriously good energy, I felt so comfortable right away. Definitely coming back here again soon. Highly recommend checking it out! This place is my go-to, haven't found anywhere better. Been coming here for over two decades, crazy to think about. Always a good time and consistently great. Definitely recommend checking it out if you haven't already. A+ experience every single time.

Great place to get some work done, or read a book. It can get a bit noisy in here, also people tend to bring dogs frequently. If you have allergies this may be an issue. The coffee is great, and the pastries are also pretty good. The ambiance is awesome, very cool decor and design. You really don't find places like this, it's a hidden gem.

Cool chill spot with affordable coffee. Great space to read a book, sip on a coffee or study.

The iced mocha latte and matcha were so delicious i practically INHALED them! As a vegetarian (i love animals, especially cats), they had a plethora of mouth watering options. I settled on the hummus veggie sandwich which was very filling surprisingly. Service was great, and i waited a very short time for my food. I completely fell utterly in love with the atmosphere in there! The eclectic decorations and trinkets had me staring around in wonder for hours. There was something captivating in every corner you turn! This place is great for studying and i will be wandering through these doors again. P.S. The music was also #fire as you can say

Worst customer service ever. It was my first time there and immediately started getting attitude by the cashier. Had to cancel our order because of how rude he was. Plus... it wasn't like there was a rush of customers.

This is a Riverside classic must! Whether you're going to college or university or even visiting go get your delicious coffee! So much room to sit and study as well!

Good tasting food with a lot of vegan and vegetarian options at a very affordable price. The coffee is really great as well. And a very classy ambiance.

Took a break from a long drive to take a break from the heat and grab something cold. The space is huge and with such an eclectic decor and taste. I enjoyed the random items and antiques on the wall. As well as the various painted tables and art! This time around I enjoyed a couple cold draft beers - a honey blonde and a hazy IPA. Very refreshing on this hot day. While I appreciate the high ceilings and the various fans, it definitely would be nice to have A/C on such a sweltering day. Nevertheless, the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Pretty chill on a Friday, but people continued to come in and grab coffees, smoothies and sammies. What was so nice to see was how the staff knew many of the customers. I saw that they host various events throughout the week - would definitely love to come back for the music.

Real coffee, cool atmosphere, friendly employees. I've been a semi-regular here for a while and have never had a negative experience.

They wouldn't let me order a coffee to go because I had a sandwich with me that I was not planning on eating there. Didn't even give me the time of day. She said they'd lose their liquor license. Really? over me carrying a sandwich? I was on my lunch break and was short on time, so I was trying to grab a coffee. Pretty disappointing cause I wanted to try this place as I'm new to the area, and as a Trans queer poc, there aren't a lot of welcoming places in the area. Saw they had a rainbow flag outside but I guess there aren't as welcoming as I assumed. Definitely take your money else where. She could've been nice about it, asked me to put it away, or wait outside on the sidewalk. Nope just ask that I leave... It literally is not that serious, girl, acted like I walked in with a gun.

It's a great spot here in dtriv! Local shows from local bands and plenty of options from the menu to choose from. Service is great they are super sweet and accommodating. The seating and space is beautiful with indoor, outdoor and upstairs seating. Can't go wrong here

Super cool place to find after our tour of UC Riverside! The staff were so friendly and the drinks yummy. I only wish we were able to stay to watch a poetry night.

Ok, I haven't been to Back to the Grind in a looong time but I'm glad I'm Back to the Grind Stopped by on a Saturday afternoon for some weekend work and was pleasantly surprised to see it was so lively, there were 3 people behind the bar AND THEY HAVE BEER AND WINE NOW! The service was so friendly and they genuinely looked like they were having fun working there. I am coming back here more often!