The coffee was fresh and decent, and there was a nice variety of drinks and food options to choose from. I went for the cold brew and their loaded BLT. Price was good for the portion and quality of food. The atmosphere was warm and comfortable, perfect for a hang out with friends or just getting some work done - although it does get pretty busy and loud at certain times. The staff was friendly and the order was prepared quickly. It had a relaxed vibe that made it easy to stay and enjoy the space. read more

Stopped in while in the area. Parking was a challenge, but I persisted and eventually found a spot. A charming interior and a friendly staff. I got my usual iced coffee and thought it was just fine. I couldn't quite put my finger on the after taste. Almost a bit smoky or noticeable roasted flavor. There is a lot of seating available to linger and enjoy your beverage. Overall a pleasant experience but wouldn't be my top stop in the area for an iced coffee. read more

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The staff is very inviting and friendly. I ordered a vanilla iced latte with cinnamon and my mom got the coco loco- it's coconut and mocha. Both of them were good. I think the coco loco would be good with white chocolate though. I'd return if I'm in the area. read more

Clean, inviting, cozy atmosphere. Good coffee. Chai seemed a bit milky. BLT at $10.99 was delicious with thick bacon. Croissants are a bit overpriced at $6.99; I pay less for better quality in Chicago. Four trips to the bar for two coffees, a sandwich and croissant was three too many. Coordinate behind the bar or deliver the order when tips are delivered prior to service. read more

Very nice coffee shop in Crystal Lake. I enjoyed a hot cup of coffee and oatmeal. The oatmeal was loaded with fresh fruit, nuts and flavored with brown sugar. It was really good. I am looking forward to visiting again soon! . read more

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I ordered a loaded BLT and an iced chai which was less than satisfying!! The sandwich came on "regular bread", their words not mine and was presented using the heel of the bread The iced chai was mostly milk with faint flavors of chai about every 3rd drink. Overpriced and underwhelming! Would I come back, not a chance! read more

Courteous baristas and an inviting little cafe. Quaint spaces to work or chat with a loved one. Comfy seating and tables for those wishing to work or dine. I will be back to try more of their pastries as well. read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - A hot mocha and almond croissant fueled me for my day of shopping. - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

I love grounds so much! its so much better than a fast food type of coffee place, but it also is so pretty inside and the ambiance of the entire place is so good! also the service of all of the staff is so good, they're quick to get orders out and extremely kind. I personally think the iced Nutella latte and the breakfast burrito are the best! this is a place you need to go! read more

This place was good I would repeat and I would recommend it also. Service was good friendly and helpful as well. Great coffee and sides too. read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

This spot is hoppin' so I don't know how I had never heard of it before given the frequency that I'm in Crystal Lake. I am a regular at an unnamed competitor just a few doors down, but I think there's room for two coffee shops in the downtown area. Grounds is a quaint sized stop with the appropriate amount of seating... maybe eight private tables and one communal high top right at the floor to ceiling window. The aesthetic is light wood and pops of green. I would absolutely recommend this place to change up the scenery and get some work done if you're the work from home type, but I wouldn't recommend it if you need to take a call. It's not loud per se, but between the music, general coffee shop noises, and their popularity you'd have a lot of light background noise to compete with. Coming in at the end of January, they were all set up for Valentines Day. Decorations were so cute without being over the top. And they had three themed drinks so I ordered the Chocolate Covered Strawberries Latte. The latte had freeze dried strawberries topped with chocolate syrup (and even with the syrup it wasn't overly sweet). Delish. Next up: The açaí bowl. They're hard to find out here so I will be trying that next time. Their food menu is limited (but it's a coffee bar, you can't fault them for that), but a great selection nonetheless like avocado toast, lox, and the aforementioned açaí bowl. And my favorite thing... they're open on Sunday! read more

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Phenomenal. Love this place. Very clean- the Lavender Coffee? Absolutely Fantastic! Loved it and I'm a no frills guy. This kind of drill, I can most definitely tolerate. Had the Lox and Bagel and wife had the avocado toast. Both were extremely tasty. This place? Such a hidden gem.... We'll be back. read more

I visited this coffee shop for the first time yesterday and ordered my usual go-to, the 'house blend.' Having traveled widely and enjoyed coffee from all over the world, I can genuinely say that yesterday's cup was the best house blend I've ever had. read more

Great coffee shop! The staff members were extremely kind and friendly. Food was delicious. They had so many options for food and coffee. The Nutella lattes & caramel lattes were fantastic! They also had little games on the tables. Super cute! read more

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Nice interior, pleasant staff ,coffee and munchies are tasty. The price seemed a bit high, mocha and pastry was $13 but they were yummy. read more

Let's start with the coffee, cafe mocha and a cherry latte... delicious, no complaints. Customer service... much to be desired! Not even a "hello", "welcome to Grounds" "how are you today?" Mind blown. So I tried to lighten the mood "hi, how are you?" To the barista, barely a response and not a smile. Maybe she had a bad morning or needed a hug? read more

This place came up on my Facebook timeline and the cinnamon roll latte was the first thing that caught my attention in the ad, so naturally I asked my husband if he wanted to go on an adventure with me to Crystal Lake (lol). My cinnamon roll latte was good, you can tell the coffee is fresh. My husband got the Nutella latte which for him was just okay. Would I travel back for the coffee? Maybe not. What I would travel back for though is the chocolate croissant! WOW. It was so good. They warm up the baked goods and it just so warm, buttery, flaky, delicious! The cinnamon roll was also good but the chocolate croissant was definitely our fave. A bit on the pricey side but that's most smaller coffee shops these days so it was expected. Inside is setup very nicely and the staff greeted me warmly when I walked in. Overall a nice experience. read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Chocolate croissant and cinnamon roll - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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Was looking for a spot to have a great cup of coffee, a small bit to eat, and scroll my social media. Perfect. Lots of seating options. Every latte flavor you could want, lots of muffins etc. read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Great Place to enjoy a latte and organize my holiday list... - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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it's hit or miss with the sandwiches. sometimes the sandwich is a great value for $11-14, sometimes you get scammed like this... :( read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

This was my first visit to Grounds Coffee Bar in downtown crystal lake. It's in a great location and is really cute from the outside. Walking in was a nice warm inviting atmosphere together with really nice people. They have a full case of baked goods and snacks, local apple juice and of course a wide assortment of coffee and teas. I wanted to trying something a bit different and decided to try the Honey Bee Latte. I looked around while waiting for the handcrafted drink to be ready at the bar. The have some nice soaps and other things available and checked out the shop. Nicely done inside with some comfortable seating a areas as well a great sidewalk seating area to hang out. Okay now back to most import part... the Honey Bee Latte you ask... omg this drink was fabulous. Nice smooth but mild sweetness and just a quality drink. Honestly - this is amazing! To keep it simple- this is a must if your looking for a spot to enjoy some amazing coffees, conversation with a friend or just on the run for a quick coffee to go. read more

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Back again after a year away. Great coffee, pastries and service. Love the relaxing atmosphere. read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Coffee was delicious and the staff was very friendly. It's very small coffee shop vibes and they have an outdoor seating area. I got a vanilla latte with local honey. read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Vanilla latte with honey - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

This is a return visit and it's even better than I remember it! The staff is fantastic and sooo nice!!! Super comfy chairs as well as functional tables if you want to stay and work. Cozy vibe and fun seasonal drink options! Delicious looking baked goods!!! Several sandwiches as well! Options for the whole family! Totally worth the 35 minute drive! read more

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Support your local caffeine dealers ! Lol that's the slogan for this amazing coffee spot , yes I'm a frequent Starbucks drinker but this spot is amazing and so is the staff , you can tell they have had their coffee! I love buying the coffee beans for my espresso machine, they are delicious and fresh with a date on them! Always look for freshness dates! It's not overly crowded unless you go early on a Saturday and it's located in the heart of Crystal lake ! Downtown! You can walk around see the lights absolutely gorgeous town! I love all the decor and merch they sale. They have cute little small business soaps and more inside the store for sale. I do need to go back and grab a hoodie they are so cute! Clean and friendly staff with lots of coffee selections! Yassss!! Okay that's all buh bye! read more

Found another great coffee shop near the Crystal Lake train station. This one is across the tracks. Ha ha. Nice meeting place with a big seating area in back. read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

I've been to this place probably three or four times and everything I've tried is great and the staff is always super kind and helpful when selecting what I'd like to try. Highly recommend this place! Glad they are here! read more

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This place had a trendy yet comfortable vibe. They have a good amount of seating inside as well as about 5 two-top tables outside. Everything seemed clean and kept up including the restroom. I ordered an iced caramel vanilla latte and an açaí bowl, and my husband ordered a blue lagoon drink and breakfast sandwich. There were a couple people waiting ahead of us but our items were ready in about 5 minutes. We both felt our items were "good" but not great. If we were in the area again I'd probably try another spot first before returning. I found it a little off putting that there were no prices listed for the food items or the specialty drinks. We ended up spending a little over $30 for our 4 items which is fine, but I like to know the price of items I'm ordering up front. read more

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Cute little coffee bar with good customer service and nice selection of vegan and gluten free bakery. They have a great lavender latte that is really nice. Cute cozy atmosphere with comfy chairs and games to play. read more

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I discovered this great gem when I was in town visiting my boyfriend's parents for Christmas. We went back each morning because it was so good! Located in historic downtown Crystal Lake, it's conveniently situated just steps from the train station, which I imagine must make it a popular choice for commuters into Chicago. The space is quaint and bright, with an inventive menu that includes a CBD latte, nutella latte and lavender latte, plus basic drip coffee. In the back is Reclaimed, a beautiful reclaimed wood furniture store with additional seating. Coffee and food prices reflect the excellent quality, with specialty drinks ranging from $5-$7. A bonus: They have a small bodega area with locally made soap, candles, apothecary, and their bagged coffee, mugs and apparel. They even offer free "puppachinos" for your four-legged friends (homemade whipped cream with a little Milkbone treat). I already can't wait to visit again! Shop small and check this place out! read more

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this is our go to coffee shop. It's about 18 minutes from the house, but worth the drive. they have an excellent nitro, cold brew coffee, and an excellent cold brew coffee with quite a few pastries to choose from and always a friendly staff. read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - this green shamrock lemonade, my son loved it, mostly because it had pop rocks on top lol - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Super cute and not only will you get a great cup of goodness but the employees are knowledgeable, approachable and just plain kind. I was torn on what type of tea to get... I landed on the almond loose tea per the recommendation of the cashier. As I was waiting, I impulses purchased some $6 soap that everyone (customers included) reassured me was so! worth it. They smell amazing so I'm looking forward to all that I walked out with. read more

The ambiance of the cafe is amazing l. The people are very friendly and the coffee is delicious. I tried the matcha tea latte also for the first time and it was great. I highly recommend Grounds! read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Coffee bar area - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

The regular cold brew and nitro are smooth and flavorful! No bitterness. The space is designed well, the staff was very friendly. Our kiddo had a lemonade and was able to add in some boba from the menu that's usually in a caffeinated drink. We did not get anything to eat-outside of a cake pop and I find all of those too sweet for me, but kiddo loved the lemon one. Such a great space and area of town in general. read more

Soooo cute feels like entering the emerald palace from Wizard of Oz. Great music selection I wanted to Shazam every song. Got the lavender latte and it was wonderful. Fast and friendly service. They greet every guest as soon as they walk in. Feels brand new and so clean. Loved lounging in the comfy green felt arm chairs enjoying drinks with my cousin and her baby. Didn't try the food but menu looked good! Very close to lots of fun shops! read more

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Nice place, awesome environment, cool people but it's 2023, they don't have mushroom coffee options.

Ample seating inside and out, with reasonably priced beverages and edibles. My only request is that the tenants on that block hose down the sidewalks in front of their business periodically, as I caught a strong whiff of urine while enjoying my iced coffee and croissant in the outdoor seating area. read more

Such a cute local coffee shop! Their amazing job on social media got me to go! The staff was all super friendly and recommended different specials to me. I ordered a cinnamon roll latte. It was amazing!! I will definitely be back and love supporting local! read more

Unique independent coffee shop across from the Crystal Lake train station. The back area is a quirky handmade furniture store, the front is a very good coffee shop. Skillful barista with pleasant demeanor, the place has good WiFi and a pleasant atmosphere. The pastries are good, I'm a fan. read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

This cozy little coffee shop is a must try. It's was very busy on a Saturday afternoon when we visited but the staff was so nice and our order was done quickly. We enjoyed the pumpkin bread latte, peppermint bark latte with a chocolate croissant and a banana bread muffin. The seating along the wall is so nice. The chairs are very comfy. Love the atmosphere!! read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Pumpkin bread latte and chocolate croissant - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

I've been here a few times before after taking the metra. The coffee shop has since changed locations. their new location is fantastic. The interior design is amazing and really establishes this coffee shops personal identity. At the baristas had cool rustic aprons. Menu was clean, clear, and had all the basics of a good coffee shop. I ordered a lavender latte and as always, it was delicious. Can't wait to come back here and sit outside with a nice cup of coffee! You should definitely try this place if you haven't already read more

Grounds Coffee Bar & Cafe - Lavender latte - Cafes Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

This coffee shop is a neat find! It's a coffee shop (with some bakery items, food items, and even beer) that doubles as a reclaimed furniture shop. You order in one room and then walk through to the furniture showroom and sit at their tables that are also for sale. The music is slightly loud for my taste, but otherwise, it's a good atmosphere. We ordered a large lavender vanilla latte, a small caramel cappuccino with oat milk, a gluten free lemon blueberry scone and a bacon cheddar spinach scone. This cost $19 and some change. I guess this is expected for a local coffee spot, but still pricey. I ordered the lavender vanilla latte based on other reviews, but didn't think it was as amazing as stated. It was definitely good, but I like something a little more flavorful and sweet. I would have liked to try to chai latte. However, the gluten free lemon blueberry scone was amazing. read more

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