Common Grounds Coffeehouse

I came here super excited to try one of their speciality lattes, however after viewing their 3 menus I noticed they don’t have a specific section for them. So I came inside bc coffee shops usually have a chalkboard with lattes of the month or just the specialty ones - there wasn’t any here. So i kindly asked the barista what the specialty lattes where and she rudely pointed at the menu and said everything was there, and then tried to leave the order counter. She had to make two lattes before whatever my order could have been. it was NOT SUPER busy (i came in around 8PM!) The menu inside STILL did not have a section for specialty lattes so i had to ask CHATGPT for specialty lattes i could order at this place. AI was able to give me a few suggestions and i went with the the spicy dirty chai which was great. But why did it have to happen this way? The barista could’ve kindly said “i’m sorry we don’t have any specialty lattes or drinks of the month” but instead I got a look and quick, rude reply. I added a screenshot of what chatgpt suggested (what the barista could have suggested). Another weird thing I noticed was that despite I order my drink TOGO it was given it to me without a lid and since it was my first time here i didn’t know where to get it from or the straw. AND when i asked WHERE the straws were she pointed to where they were in a way that let me know how i was INCONVENIENCING HER.. like OKAY. great coffee but bad vibe.

Wonderful peaceful place to spend some time with fairly priced coffee and food! There is lots of seating and the environment is friendly but not too loud. The coffee it self is not as gourmet as most places in Portland but still gets the job done. Love the personality of this space.

Absolutely delicious! The Peanut butter surprise toast was so good! The Avocado toast was also great! Loved the shop. The games stack in the corner was great! We spent a lot more time there than we thought we would because we played a few games of Snakes and Ladders and Chess!

Good coffee, good environment, super friendly staff. I really enjoyed this place. I have missed it for years somehow, but it was nice to find a coffee shop with decent coffee open late. It is a very Portland aesthetic. I recommend them.

We stopped by this coffeehouse while visiting Portland for the first time for our anniversary. The atmosphere was so cozy and welcoming. I’ve never received coffee in a mug at a coffee shop before, that was a nice touch! My latte was DELICIOUS, the perfect pick me up! ☕️

I cannot say enough about this coffee shop. Super menu of baked goods and paninis and delightful espresso. Good quality oat milk when I dont want dairy. Good vibe. Nice location. Keep doing what you're doing. Highly recommend the oat milk latte with easy vanilla. They even had a button for easy vanilla and it was so good.

Wonderful coffee shop located in the Hawthorne neighborhood. Ambience is great, small tables throughout and staff is always friendly. The coffee is delicious. My go to is the cappuccino paired with a scrumptious pastry. One of my favorite coffee shops in PDX.

I am so happy this is our neighborhood coffee shop! The people, the shop, the food and of course the coffee are top notch! I usually call my order in and pick it up but on days I have more time it’s so nice and cozy grabbing a table or comfy seat. Every food item I’ve had is delicious! My favs are the savory muffins, avocado toast, or bagels. Their lattes and mochas are my go tos. 🥰

One of Portland's old institutions, this is a great place for community, good coffee and... a hidden secret! We've been coming here since the 90's. It hasn't changed much... a very hippy vibe, lots of bike parking, a comfortable space, very good coffee and some awesome and unique rotating pastries. I love the marionberry coffee cake, but today, I tried the thoroughly unique Savory Pesto Muffin. You read that right... savory... pesto... MUFFIN. And..., it was great! OK on to the secret... They have this tiny alley to the left of the shop with tables, lots of greenery AND a window for ordering and pickup (see my picture). This is such a wonderful addition.

I love this place. The lattes and drip coffee I've gotten here have been consistently excellent. The baked goods are amazing, I love the pumpkin muffin and chocolate chip cookies. I think they're reasonably priced for such good quality overall. Review of their take home beans: My adoration of their service and drinks lead to disappointment in their take home beans which I had high hopes for. They offer one kind of coffee and neither the bag label or staff could say if they were light or dark roast. There's an overall blandness as well as a sour, metallic and burnt aftertaste. Bummed cause otherwise I'm a huge fan of this spot and trust their house made drinks. At $15 a bag though I can't recommend their beans.

Stopped by this coffee house since I was walking in the neighborhood. Looked like a normal coffee house, lots of people. Ordered a simple hot vanilla latte. They didn't ask for my name or anything. Got my drink pretty quick. Only thing dinging my review is the experience I had with the barista. Because they didn't take my name, when they called a hot latte, I went up & grabbed it. It was my fault for not double checking with the barista if it was a vanilla latte but she seemed busy & stressed so I took the coffee & left to go add some sweetener to it. I took the wrong drink & found out after she asked me if I took the right drink & I said I ordered a vanilla latte & she said the latte I had was actually for another person. I apologized & she seemed very upset about it & made me feel really terribly. She was sighing & it felt like she took my honest mistake personally.

Fantastic espresso! The inside gives very cozy, 90's beatnik vibes. But not too chaotic. Lot's of local advertising for events. The latte was perfect, I added one pump mocha and one pump orange blossom (house made.) So delightful, I sipped slowly to enjoy it longer! Very friendly barista who was knowledgeable in what they served.

Spacious coffee shop with plenty of space to work and chat with friends. They also have games to play on the tables. Tried their tea and coffee, both were good! Common Grounds offers a large variety menu with plenty of food & drinks to try. Peaceful & welcoming ambiance.

Wonderful coffee shop located in the Hawthorne neighborhood. Ambience is great, small tables throughout and staff is always friendly. The coffee is delicious. My go to is the cappuccino paired with a scrumptious pastry. One of my favorite coffee shops in PDX.

Been latte shopping for a while and have been disappointed... till we found Common Grounds!! Perfect foam, perfect HOT temp... perfect!! Loved the punk, opera music. Clean and cozy.

They are rude to other folks in the service industry. I will never return when there are so many other great places to go.

Great little spot for coffee and a snack. The staff are super friendly and the savory muffins are delicious.

very cute vibes, love the couches and comfy seating with some books laying around. can totally grab a drink and get comfy for a while here. didn't have any fun specialty/seasonal drinks but lots of flavor options and the coffee itself is really good!

Get the orange anise mocha. Love that they stay open late. That's unfortunately rare for coffee shops in Portland.

Been here before and was disappointed last time I went. I ordered an Americano. Poured in heavy cream and put the cover on. Got in my car and drove off it tasted a little off. Took off the cover, the cream was all curdled! Gross. Drove to the nearest Starbucks. Too bad. I like the pastries here but yuck on curdled cream.

Very cozy little spot, excellent drinks. Would love to check out a production at the little theater here sometime!

I just went here while waiting for my car. I stood at the counter for 5 minutes while 3 people were working behind the counter and not one acknowledged I was there. So I left. Pretty rude.

Very good coffee. Nice space to sit around if you have time to kill. Steel cut oatmeal was good.

Good coffee and open late which is tough to find. There are a fair amount of tables but it's very packed so not a lot of seats, but can't blame them. Pretty load so tough study spot. Will have to try the food next time, menu looks good.

Love this local Portland spot on Hawthorne. Simply said, they have a great selection of drinks and fresh baked goods. I mean as a Chai lover they have three options - spicy, medium and sweet. My husband likes his chai typically more sweet and mine I like medium. Staff is also super friendly as well! P.S. - try their freshly baked chocolate chip cookies

The coffee is amazing. I am a decaf only coffee drinker but I really appreciate a rich deep cup of coffee. I ordered a decaf cappuccino and it was truly one of the best I have ever enjoyed. It was made promptly and beautifully with a design on the top. I also ordered the avocado toast which was quite good. I would have appreciated an option to add an egg to it but I didn't ask- it may be possible and that would be perfect. It's a really nice, comfortable cozy space. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

This place is not friendly to service animals and asks questions that go against the service animal protection act. It's happened to me on three separate occasions.

Stopped in after a run for some breakfast. Everything was delicious, especially the Marionberry muffin. Coffee was solid, and having it in a mug was a nice touch. There is outdoor seating and ordering available in an alleyway next to the main building, but it's right next to a parking lot. Beware of cars starting up right next to you and blowing exhaust on your food!

Carefully prepared coffee and tea, delicious panini and deserts, and a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere. One of the nicest, most welcoming coffee shops in SE Portland. That alone would give Common Grounds five stars, but what puts Common Grounds truly over the top is its support of local artists. The cafe's back room (the Back Door Theater) is the home of Defunkt Theatre (Their slogan: "No net. No fear. No excuses."), which puts on impressively engaging shows that are edgy and experimental. Also using the space is Word Warriors, a popular local writers showcase held on the first Wednesday of each month. Go for the really good coffee and stay for the equally good theater and local writer readings. Here's another vote for Common Grounds as one of Portland's best coffee shops.

Great place to get some studying in. There is plenty of street parking outside, seating, hours are nice, couches are comfy, and reasonably priced coffee and pastries :)... there is a solid number of outlets and power strips available for use. Overhead music playing but everyone here is here to get work done so it is a fairly quiet place! I got a cold brew 16oz for $3.25. Very great dea especially since there isn't any tax in Portland :) Would definitely recommend if ya gotta get things done!!

The baristas weren't friendly, not sure if it was racism or if they hate their jobs but the vanilla latte was good.

Location: I will not give advice on the location because I am visiting Portland. But I will give my observations: It looks like a safe area, and parking seems moderately easy to find. The People: Friendly barista. The Drinks: - Non-caffeinated herbal iced tea: A solid choice! Work/Study: Great study spot. I got solid work done. The Venue: Nice venue. Has plenty of indoor seating. Upshot: A good spot to get some work done in Hawthorne Blvd.!

The coffee is always good here. Barista is playing New Order and Bauhaus and Cocteau Twins and I feel at home. It def gets pretty full but the vibe is always good. I like how they do food and drinks well without all the BS pretense. It's just a chill very Portland spot. Also thanks for not making my Irish Cream mocha too sweet.

Wow! The avocado toast was finger licking good! The bread was bombdotcom. Visiting from out of state and I will probably be back just for the avocado toast. The iced matcha w a hint of vanilla was exceptional! Definitely one of the best I've had thus far. The outside seating area is a plus.

I really enjoy the ambiance of this little coffee house. Maybe something about the warm wooden interior, option of indoor and outdoor seating, selections of caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages, a great gluten-free chocolate chip cookie, friendly staff, and an old fashioned spot to pick up business cards for local businesses or flyers for upcoming events.

Such an amazing breakfast panini! The bread isn't too hard or soft. I tried their pumpkin latte but didn't like it and they gave me a vanilla latte no sweat! So nice. Really great environment and music too.

This is my go to coffee shop cuz I can always count on the best desserts and iced coffees. The atmosphere is relaxing and chill. It's best when I'm with Humam T. If you see a handsome guy studying here... Hands off he's mine

A nice relaxing place to go after an overnight shift. A place to meet up with a friend for a long chat. A breakfast or lunch spot. A spot to read a newspaper or surf the internet or even do some work. Common Grounds is all of these things. They also make a pretty good cup of hot cocoa. I have graced Common Grounds doors on a few occasions. I've had some food here but mostly cups of hot chocolate. They make a pretty nice version that is smooth and not overly hot. No spoon required. CG is a comfy coffee house with random tables, chairs and couches where one can while the day away. Just clean up after yourself and shoot, the hours will just pass. The staff is friendly and there was some nature oriented art gracing the walls on this visit. This is one of the more homey spots in town and not sterile like how some of the bigger chains tend to be. It's a good local business that knows what they are doing. Go support small businesses. Enjoy.

I love this place. Great coffee and delicious, freshly-baked pastries and food. The ambience is homey instead of hip and sterile. I find the baristas are very nice if you're nice to them, but you won't get fake smiles here. If you want a relaxed space where all comers are welcome and no one is pretending that the world is perfect, try it. I drive out of my way to visit this genuine, neighborhood gem.

A neat and relaxed café nestled near Mt. Tabor Park (within walking distance). The coffee is fresh and sharp. I recommend. The ambiance is comfortably casual. The interesting thing about this café is the fact that they appear to host some diverse, artistic events on a weekly basis.

Common Grounds is your vibey relaxing neighborhood coffee shop. What This place has going for it: 1) Great coffee 2) Friendly baristas 3) Great service - quick, well made, attention to detail 4) A selection of pastries and breakfast items. What this place doesn't have going for it: 1) I wouldn't change anything about this place.

One of the few coffee places super close to my house open early (7am). I usually call ahead right as they open and then jog across the street to pick it up before work- usual order is the classic panini (delicious!!) and an extra shot vanilla cold brew w soy. the atmosphere inside is nice and cozy; they have photographs for sale hanging up all over the walls. Right now they have stickers on the floor to enforce social distancing, all workers are wearing masks, and there are plastic barriers up between the eating area and where they make the drinks. all the baristas that have helped me are very friendly and kind. the coffee is good and they've never accidentally given me dairy and that is a pluuuuuuuuus for me their hours are also super nice- open all day! ilyall

Not much to say as this was mostly a quick stop and purchase because I had to pee & I was too full for anything from our last meal. There seems to be a lot of coffee competition in this city! Wifey ordered a Mocha to go - I had a sip and it was done nicely plus the barista was very friendly. Such a quick stop I didn't even take a picture :(

Been coming to this place weekly for about 6 months and their avocado toast and pastries hit it out of the ball park every time. It's nice to have a treasure of a cafe in the neighborhood

How this has so many good reviews, you got me. I came here because of the reviews, and it makes me question people's judgement in Portland. First of all, it was the hottest day of the week in Portland, and the AC was not working. It was so hot and uncomfortable, and people are just sitting there all sweaty, drinking their coffee. The barista was cool and was able to make my specific drink, and I appreciated it. He also pointed out a place to plug in my phone to charge it. Every table had dirty dishes on it, and I assume it is bus your own tables but people here don't realize it? When I went to plug in my phone, it was clear that they don't sweep this place much. I wonder if this is how the front looks, how does the back look.

This place is like an old friend, always there for you. It is reliable, and you know what to expect. Even the chairs are comfortable. Everyone is always nice too. I wish they had better tables for working.

The coffee was pretty decent. Had a mocha latte. The service was indifferent, if anything. Not friendly, kinda surly but not mean either. Tried their everything bagel. Definitely did not taste like a real bagel. Had a weird aftertaste to it. Yet another in a long line of bread shaped like bagel but not a real bagel. It does get crowded around noon . Does begin to thin out later.

Great local coffee shop in Portland. The space is roomy and includes a number of tables with chairs. There are also multiple large comfy couches so seating is readily available. My boyfriend and I ordered an americano and a 'dirty' matcha (matcha and espresso). Although the barista did not know what it was she was willing to make it for me and it tasted delicious! They do have almond milk available if you prefer that. I thought the cutest part about this place is they repurpose their coffee bean grounds so that customers can use them for their home gardens! I thought that was so smart and such a great way to use the grounds vs just throwing them out. The location is on a quiet block. Prices are normal for coffee and they do low you to share local events you may be hosting on their community wall.

This place has been around for decades. I came to Common Grounds a couple of times in the late '80s and considered myself fortunate when I moved to the Hawthorne area a few years later and realized they were just around the corner. I have recently become a once-again regular after some time away that was first due to their several-month-long closure followed by a change of ownership, and then a rocky start as the new owners "got into their groove." When they reopened in the fall of '09 I had been so disappointed by the inconsistent service, mediocre drink quality, often-incorrect orders and shorter hours that I didn't think I would be back again. Despite the convenient location, I stayed away for more than a year. I stopped in a while back after finding that my intended breakfast destination was closed, and was pleasantly surprised. Came back a bunch more times, and all is as it should be. Common Grounds is Back, Baby! My favorite food on the menu is their amazing grilled breakfast sandwich, which can be ordered half or whole. A whole is big enough for two people to share, however these sandwiches are So Good that you might just want half for breakfast and the other half for lunch. They are made fresh and take around 10 minutes to prepare...just enough time to catch up on your Facebook news feed (free Wi-Fi) and get your Willamette Week fix. They also have a massive selection of magazines as well as community newsletters and various newspapers. Excellent baked goods are made on the premises each morning. The scones are a standout; they usually have two flavors that rotate daily. Try the ginger scones, you will not be disappointed. If you arrive early they may still be warm from the oven. Mmmmmmmm, heaven. The current owners and baristas are welcoming and exceedingly friendly. Their quick, efficient service is a definite plus if you're like me and always running just a bit late for work ("I'm already late, might as well stop for a scone..."). Other notables: Big comfy chairs and couches with side tables, laid-back atmosphere, interesting local artwork that changes regularly and sometimes there's live music. You can sit outside and people-watch on a sunny day, even bring your dog. And oh yeah, great espresso drinks! I cannot think of a single reason not to give Common Grounds five stars. I'm so glad I gave them another try.

Nice little coffee house along SE Hawthorne. Can't comment too much about the coffee or food itself but what others were ordering definitely looked good! I ordered a ginger tea which was very tasty and perfectly spicy. Upon walking in you are welcomed with tables and couches for your lounging pleasure. There are free magazines to read and internet as well. Great place to study/read/do work/etc. They are open until 10pm which is convenient. It was a little annoying that people from back door theater kept walking through to enter through their designated door in the back. Found that a bit odd. All in all it wasn't a bad place. Lots of coffee houses close too early I feel and it was nice to find this place open after 6pm.

Turned out to be a good place to study on a winter Saturday night. I really enjoyed a cup of mate with some kind of roasted rice, a delicious unusual flavor. It's a cute place with those classic curling wood backed chairs and cute art with warm, mellow lighting. They have a few couches as well. I'd like to give three and a half stars. I like it more than a-ok.

This is one of my favorite coffee shops in Portland. It's old portland, with old portland prices and a great crowd - all ages, tending to the counterculture and intellectual and artistic, but low key. The couches are comfortable and clean, there are lots of tables and some benches outdoors (sometimes people play guitar or chill with their dogs). They have beer, wine, and mimosas as well as food. And they hold community events and have a theater in the back- this place is a gem to the community and is worthy of our patronage!

I love it here, fun workspace and very cozy. I sat by the air purifier at the bar and did computer work with a tasty drink. Also their stickers are cute

Nothing to dislike. Pastries, coffee, warm, calm atmosphere, huge magazine selection. Good selection of food items left even at night. We went here to avoid falling asleep while waiting for our last dryer to finish up. I sat with a hot chocolate and avoided the drenching downpour and read the new issue of Mental_Floss. I now know the theme song for the Harlem Globetrotters has a name and it's Sweet Georgia Brown. SCORE! And I read an intellectually stimulating article about the Arctic Circle melting. Totally worth $2 (the price of my beverage). The hot chocolate (- whip, + caramel) was hot and yummy. It was cold by the time I was done but that wasn't their fault. A very nice, chill-tastic place. Parking was somewhat of a problem (even on a Sunday night!). No complaints though. And I love that they're open late. Til 10! PM! I can see myself coming here to catch up on the magazine reading I've been missing. I saw NatGeo, Wired, Mental_Floss and a bunch of others...I love magazines but can't really reason myself into purchasing them anymore. Maybe if I had a kindle...but that's another day. My boyfriend read Amazing Spiderman so they have comics too. I would be interested in the wifi setup here. I didn't bring my phone (for shame!) so I couldn't tell you if there was a network available or not.

This place is cozy and nice to study in, as it stayed fairly quiet even though it was busy. The barista that I chatted with, was nice and friendly, and steered me in the right direction for the perfect chai latte. I like that they have a selection of chai, and not just one. I had the lemon bar, and it was very good. A little sweet for my palate, but then again I like my lemon bars slightly tart. I would wholeheartedly recommend this place. Give it a Try!

Stop 3 of my sunday Hawthorne Coffee place exploration project. This place definitely looks more hipster and comfy. Got the Hazelnut Iced Mocha which was a little too sweet but good nonetheless. Service was prompt and friendly and wifi speeds were good too. Nice place to hangout on weekends over a cuppa coffee!

After catching dinner with my best friend on a Saturday we both had a huge brain fart - we realized that we both had assignments due for our online courses that night!!! We had to find a coffee shop with wifi ASAP! So YELP helped us out and brought us to Common Grounds were we had some great coffee and wifi. Our barista was kind and in reasonable amount of time got us our breve's. One thing I noticed is that this place has a great amount of outlets, lots of space and good music! Down side was this funny aroma in the shop itself, it was like coffee mixed with something unpleasant but other than that, thank you for saving us in our desperate time of need.