I will say this: the coffee is good. I enjoy the lavender in the lavender-vanilla latte, as it is a nice change from your typical latte flavors you may see at Starbucks. The atmosphere seems very cozy! It is quite busy in there and that is usually a good sign. This place has one huge downfall that I simply cannot ignore. I walked in this morning around 11:30 and was greeted with an extremely sour face by a girl in plaid. I asked her for a lavender-vanilla latte and to have it be made sweeter than the store would usually make it, as last time I got the latte it was disappointingly flavorless. My friend loves this place so she told me to give it another try. So I did. And when she replied, she gave me this extremely condescending expression and said with extreme snark, "Well the lavender is supposed to compliment the espresso". I told her I understood that, but I preferred my lattes a bit sweeter. Not sweet sweet, but just right. She just snarled and looked over at her friend and smirked a little bit, like she thought it was funny or something. I was honestly embarrassed. I don't care how pretentious your are about your coffee and how you think it should be made. People come back because they like the coffee AND they feel warmly welcomed back, time and time again. I am a server here in Pittsburgh. I UNDERSTAND what it means to give good service, whether it is 5 minute contact or a sit down restaurant. It is rare that I feel so offended, but I just couldn't let this one go. This girl and her coworker were both blatantly rude and offensive, and I will not be returning to this coffee shop. The owner needs to hire some people who are actually happy to be at their job and do not scoff at their customers' coffee choices. Coffee Tree across the street has comparable coffee and the baristas are much much friendlier. Don't waste your time on people who are not happy to give you the best experience possible. By the way, the latte IS much better with a tad bit more syrup. Take note. read more

The cappuccinos here are smooth and delicious. I love the atmosphere and the simplicity of the menu.

Neat little joint. We always stop for a bag of beans when we're in Squirrel Hill. Btw, you get a free small coffee when you get a bag, which is super cool. The place has a feel of an "authentic" coffee shop, if that's even a thing. Its usual pretty quiet in the place, so getting study or reading done while there would be easy. There's no annoying, in-your-face art plastered all over the walls, and everything is pretty chill. Almost bordering on too chill - LOL! I like the cool chalk diagram behind the counter. I can't tell you exactly what it is, but its definitely coffee related. This is a place you can come to learn all things coffee. Although we've only ever asked the barista/o about the beans we've bought, it seems like they'd probably be knowledgeable about coffee, how to brew it, etc. Although we've never had a chance to hang here, I would definitely do so if I lived in the neighborhood. Also, the beans we've bought have always been superb, and very fresh. read more

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The coffee here is awesome. Definitely WAY better coffee than the alternatives in Squirrel Hill. Overwhelming number of choices -- not just espresso drinks or drip coffee. There's always a couple choices of bean for espresso, cold-brewed coffee, or brewed-by-the-cup on the Trifecta, or Clover. The staff is great, super friendly and happy to help. And, its pretty cheap. Where else can you get a $1 cup? read more

Good coffee, but the wifi speed just painful and a bit cramped inside. If you're here for a chat, come here. If you're here for work, forget about it. There are much better place around Pittsburgh read more

I have never been to a better coffee shop in my life. Even after becoming a bona fide New York coffee snob over the past couple years, I love Commonplace every bit as much as any place in New York. A very underrated thing about great coffee shops is how CHEAP they can be. At Starbucks, the cheapest thing is about 2 bucks, but at Commonplace you can get a small (very good) coffee for $1. At the same time, you can have one of many more "artisan" coffees brewed with their fancy Clover machine and enjoy the experience of having them grind the beans and offering you a waft of the freshly ground beans before they stick them in the clover to make incredibly flavorful and interesting coffee. Aesthetically nice interior, great little outdoor section, and wonderfully friendly people who care deeply about their craft without a hint of pretension or condescension. They sell 1 pound bags of their delicious beans, as well. Absolutely the best coffee in the city and a great place to spend time. read more

If I lived in Squirrel Hill, I'd be here at least once a day. They roast their own beans. They make excellent espresso. They have, I believe, the last Clover machine in Pittsburgh. They are knowledgeable but completely unpretentious. read more

The first time I was here, their coffee was just okay for me. However, I really like their coffee now, and it's a nice place to hang out with friends or work. Btw, they have roasted beans coming in on Monday, so if you want some fresh roasted beans, you can get them on Tuesday :) read more

I love a good cup of coffee and I appreciate those in the coffee biz who take making that good cup seriously. That is why I love Commonplace. They know their stuff, to a PhD level, and service comes with a smile and the kind of humor that lifts my spirits as much as the caffeine. Most importantly, I always feel that the cup they prepare for you is the most important one they are making that day. No assembly line preparation here. read more

Commonplace caused a crisis for me in my review methods. Why is it that if I have an excellent experience at a coffee shop, I have no problem writing a 5 star review based on a single experience? But if I visit a place and the drink bombs, and I feel it deserves only a star or two, why hesitate? What if I'd gotten the yucky drink at the other place and an awesome drink here? I went midday on a weekend, and it was crowded, as expected, but I sat on a stool at a bar facing the street. This made for excellent people watching, which was probably the best part of my experience. Forbes was frequented by many, many musicians that day, all walking to the left. But my drink was a bummer. I ordered cold brew. It was so bitter it would be considered undrinkable by others. But I am stubborn. I went back to the counter and got cream. It didn't help much. I did not complain. I just tool tiny, tiny sips for two hours, trying to understand it. As the ice melted, it mellowed a little bit and got a little less awful. I will confess that I don't know the intricacies of cold brewing methods but it tasted like tea that's been oversteeped. Such tea can sometimes be rescued by dilution with water, as the ice did to my coffee, but it's never going to be the same as something properly prepared. So it would be a no-star drink. Hence the wondering about fairness of yelping and whatnot. But I'm just going for it. I have two other comments. True, had I not been facing the street, I would not have this complaints, however... One is that I didn't care for some of the other customers. People brought food from elsewhere and ate it (maybe that's ok?), took over tables for groups and only got 1 drink for 4 people, etc. But then there were these people that brought their dog and their baby. Full disclosure: I like babies. I do not like dogs. The problem with the baby is it was in a ginormous SUV style stroller and folks, let's face it, when you drive an SUV it's not a peach to park, especially if you're not going to take the baby out. So they sat at one of the little outdoor tables with their SUV. Had they taken the baby out and um, like held it or something, they could have stashed the stroller out of the way. But this is not even the bottom of my complain about these people. My problem is with their dog. They had this full-size dog, equivalent to a lab, probably, and they parked it next to their table also. Problem was, Mr. Dog was then lying in front of the door. People going in and out of the door literally had to step over the dog. This went on for an hour. The staff were aware of said dog in the doorway because they also stepped over it when they went out or in the door. So I know it might be tough to speak up to a customer, but I felt that the staff should have asked the people to move their dog. Because they saw it but did not ask for it to be moved, I take it that they either don't care or they liked the dog being there. So it's not a place for me. My second peeve was seeing the barista smoke in front of the shop and throw the butts on the sidewalk. Nuff said. read more

Great place for a quality cup of black coffee. With their brew, you really get the chance to taste the essence of the basics. (Though I do have a weakness for their Lemon-Vanilla Latte) There is limited outdoor seating, but plenty to watch on busy Forbes Ave. It does have a minimalist layout but is is always clean inside with new local art on the walls almost every time I stop in. I've only ever been waited on by two of the guys that work there, but both of them seem polite, answered my questions, and made my order correctly, so I forgive them if they weren't up for a conversation. I always make it a point to pick up a pound of beans to take home. read more

The coffee here is really nice and I just moved from Seattle so it's harder to impress me now. The pour overs are well done with high quality coffee varieties that they rotate from different locations. The person who made me coffee I could tell put care into doing it properly and it came out very nice. This place is always super crowded though and often not enough seating, especially if you want a table to bring your laptop and get some work done. I've also had trouble getting the wireless internet to work there on my computer. There is some outdoor seating which is nice when the weather is good. Atmosphere is good but nothing particularly unique about it. read more

Great little coffee spot with a good vibe and friendly staff. Within walking distance to lots of other great shops, restaurants, etc.

Coffe is great, the place is great, staff is great. The o my thing is that internet is super slow all the time, so working here is not recommended. read more

So far my favorite espresso in the city. They usually offer 2-3 different roasts and describe the notes that you will pick up in each one. The guys are super nice, and helpful. So glad they took over for Voluto Coffee on Penn. read more

The lavender vanilla latte is one of my favorite lattes in Pittsburgh. The syrup is homemade, and it is never sickeningly sweet. I love the beans here. I use them in my Jura Capresso all the time, and find them to be comparable to La Prima, as well as some of my favorites in San Francisco and New York. read more

Commonplace has some of the smoothest pour over coffee I've had in Pittsburgh, and their beans are roasted to perfection. The fruitiness of the coffee is still evident, something that over-roasting ruins. Their tea selection is great as well. It's one of my favorite places to choose a new tea and sit for a while. Typically they have a nice selection of treats available...I've even seen gluten-free donuts before! It gets crowded here with grad students and couples on the weekends, but that's to be expected when a place is as awesome as this one. read more

Commonplace is my favorite coffee place to camp down to get work done. The atmosphere is lively and their drinks are always on point. Tip: get there in the morning so that the tables don't fill up. I highly recommend any of their pastries for breakfast! read more

Best beans in town, imo, as far as taking them home and getting a consistently good brew whether it's the moka, french press, or espresso machine. The coffee of the day is almost always fantastic, and as I've been going there more often they let me taste more of their brews as their perfecting them in various machines. I usually just order coffee (upon coffee upon coffee), but their lattes are great and their cappuccinos are one of the best in town. Pittsburgh really has some great coffee shops in town and it's hard to compare this one to some of the others who are on the same level (and it's hands down the best place in squirrel hill), but this has become my go-to. Plus they have lots of seating, including window seats and plenty of outlets for laptops if you're one of those types, and are usually playing music conducive to productivity, which I could certainly use. read more

So, I've given it a few more tries and there's no denying they make great espresso. They're also very friendly. The only thing holding me back from a higher rating is that I'm not a fan of live music in coffee shops. It's a bit intrusive and awkward, however, that's simply my opinion. read more

I'm updating the review I wrote almost a year ago when I first moved to Pittsburgh. Either I've gotten used to the hipster inspired service, or the employees have become friendlier. Bottom line: Great place to study and good coffee. read more

An nice example of neavou 3rd wave American coffee house. Went with my girlfriend. She had a lavender cappuccino and I a quality sun dried double espresso. Looking forward to checking out the north side location next... read more

The lavender cappuccino is excellent - not so sweet. The shop is in a comfortable location and is tastefully decorated.

Hello to everyone!!! I am the pervious owner of the coffee shop (Arefa's Espresso) Andrey. I just have read the reviews about Commonplace Coffee House and really happy for the owner of it CJ who made good investment and doing great. Keep up with excellent work. By the way the last year being in the business we were using their coffee beans and got more information about brewing coffee and different techniques. Their coffee is always great. Keep coming to this place and if you will have a chance please say hello to their staff. Next time I will be in Pittsburgh my first stop will be Commonplace Coffee House. read more

Lavender vanilla latte is perfect. Highly recommended any espresso drink here. No food or baked goods available, just coffee.

Easily my favorite coffeehouse in SqHill. Their coffees are reasonably priced and high quality. I used to be a big fan of another SqHill coffee institution (that shall remain nameless). One morning I had to go to said place in stead of Commonplace, and, no lie, I almost spit out my coffee it tasted so bad in comparison. read more

I was thinking this place would be fairly good, given the previous reviews. I got a regular cup of the Colombia, because that was the only kind of coffee they were brewing (which is fine) but it tasted horrible. There was no sugar in sight, to even add to it. I usually only add sugar if I have to, in this case it was needed. After two sips of it, I had enough, so I threw away the $2.50 worth of a cup of coffee. By the way, $2.50 to fill up a 14oz. Sustainable cup that I brought in?... A little pricey. read more

Definitely had a decent selection of coffee. I was impressed by the smoothness of it, which I find important when drinking black coffee. I loved the cozy atmosphere and comfortable chairs. My only complaint would be the dirty stains on all the chairs and carpet as others have stated. Other than this, Commonplace is a great place to study! It's very spacious, offering two levels, and lots of tables and chairs to accommodate patrons. read more

This coffee shop has a great little area outside if its filled inside. The coffee is good and its a quiet place to read. Sometimes it can be difficult to park, but aside from that, great coffee shop. Snacks are available. read more

Really great place to work. I spent a few hours here and loved the chill ambience (as well as the free Wi-Fi, awesome art work, and amazing coffee). I had an Autumn latte, which was this really lovely blend of pumpkin spice and other assorted flavors. Not too sweet, perfectly textured, and quite beautiful in presentation (latte art on point). I will be back for sure. read more

I love this place! The coffee is some of the best in Pittsburgh, and the homemade syrups they use in their lattes are always delicious (my favorite is lavender vanilla!) The music is always pretty quirky and cool, which I like, and the baristas are always friendly. Oh, and they have free WiFi! The only downside to this place is the seating is somewhat uncomfortable, so you sort of have to be prepared for that if you plan on staying for awhile. read more

Since being pregnant I've had to order decaf coffee everywhere I go. Usually baristas get annoyed, but the baristas here didn't even care. Super friendly staff and excellent pour over decaf. read more

Walked in on a Monday afternoon and the ambiance was nice and cozy. Warm lighting mixed with some relaxing tunes helped to set the stage. I ordered a decaf espresso since it was late in the day. The barista was friendly and made my drink right away. Once it arrived, I was pleased to find that it was paired with a small shortbread cookie and a glass of seltzer water. I became disappointed, however, after tasting the espresso. The shot was incredibly sour. As a former barista, I recognized that the barista most likely pulled the shot too quickly and probably did not taste it. I'll return, but skip the espresso next time. read more

Hubby and I went here on our visit to Pittsburgh because we were told they have really good cold brewed iced coffee. I was not let down. Hubby also liked their espresso. I also like that they have little signs people can use to share their tables if they are so inclined. Great community building idea. read more

My partner's favorite mocha. One of my favorites. Gets very crowded, but good place to go to.

This coffeeshop has amazing coffee! I thought it was the best coffee I've ever tasted. The atmosphere is chill and makes for great studying. I just wish that there was more seating. It's hit or miss. I don't know how they could add more seating, though, seeing as it's a small space. Other than that, I love Commonplace! read more

Wonderful latte, very friendly barista, beautiful latte art. Decor is "eh" but I'm here for the coffee anyway.

Commonplace is the best coffeeshop in Sq.Hill area. Perfect cappuccino every time I order. Stop by if you in the area, they also have outdoor sitting area! read more

Commonplace Coffee - Best coffee shop in Sq Hill - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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quite straight forward, great coffee and attention, friendly atmosphere read more

The coffee here is lovely. The milk is smooth and the espresso is well chosen and ground. I have tried both the Lavender-Vanilla and the regular Vanilla latter. The lavender was too tangy or my liking, and the regular vanilla didn't have enough flavor or me. Still a great cup of coffee though. read more