There are so many great reviews for Higher Grounds that my (bad) experience must be unique. I had the most expen$ive and SMALLEST cup of mocha that I've ever purchased...and it was the only time I've ever thrown away a mostly-full cup. The only way I can describe it was "sludge." Maybe it was the mocha part that was an epic fail? My husband ordered the same thing and his was fine. Mine was so gooey it was literally undrinkable; into the compost sleeve it went. Another note: there is no food here. It's a COFFEE place. If you're looking for breakfast (or even a tiny snack) you'll have to go somewhere else. On the up side: we sat outside in the beautiful courtyard with our dog and enjoyed the lovely morning. The location is why we picked it. I might try it again if I want straight coffee without added flavoring. read more

Updated Review! I've been back since my last review and they have removed the issues that were brought to their attention and were very apologetic about those individuals who made the experience bad. They still have the two best baristas there and they always make it a great and friendly experience for us! I look forward to coming back in to see their progress! Coffee was okay, I suggest adding some more sweeter options for the season, but there best one yet is still the Lavender latte, which will be back next year sometime. Thanks so much for caring about the customers Higher Grounds!! read more

Wow, what an awesome experience! I wish I dedicated more time to be able to spend here. We swung in here on our way to a beer festival, as I am not only a beer snob but a coffee snob too and needed to check them out. Even though they were pretty busy the baristas were more than happy to walk me through a couple things, I was able to ask questions about their coffee and they were very friendly and informative. I went with the nitro cold brew, because I can just never really turn one down. I actually caught myself debating between the nitro and the cold brew for once because the coffee beans I was interested in taking home, they brewed the cold brew with. Alas, I couldn't turn down the nitro and still bought the beans. As I was sipping on my nitro the guy actually slid over a little bit of the cold brew to try-so rad of him. I loved it and look forward to using my beans for cold brew at home! The outdoor space is pretty cool too. You kinda feel like you are a gnome up in the hills/garden but don't think that mystical. They have little walkways you can walk through and lots of options to sit around and let the day escape you! If you are in the area, I highly recommend you check them out! read more

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After buying their beans downstate for years, I was thrilled to be able to visit their shop. Great cold brew!

I'm not a coffee drinker, but my parents can't live without it, and while we were staying at the Hotel Indigo they had some Higher Grounds coffee. The waiter kindly told them that there was a location at The Commons (in an outbuilding, not the "Mercato"), and since we were going there anyway to shop we swung by so they could take some home. There are only a couple of tables so you may think about taking your coffee to go. We did manage to snare one on a hopping Sunday morning, though. My parents enjoyed their coffee and took more home! Higher Grounds is a cool local spot for caffeine fiends in Traverse City's unique shopping center. read more

My sexpresso shot was on point. The little fire outside was cute. Kinda cold to stand outside long but confiding the times qe had a fantastic experience. The coffee was Supreme. Will be beack read more

So this is just a coffee shop, but don't let the looks of it fool you. This place is amazing! We booked a coffee tour for a Friday afternoon and it was time well-spent. The coffee experts really know what they're doing and had lots of great tips for making better coffee at home, too! There are a few neat concepts that make this place stand out. I loved the "to-go" mugs. You know that cabinet your mom has of random mugs? That's the wall of to go mugs and the sign says you can take it and keep it or bring it back if you want. I'm sure there's no shortage of mug collections at the thrift store, and I think this is a great concept! They also have free refills on a couple of their brewed coffees. Good deal! read more

Seems like Higher Ground takes great pride in every cup of coffee they serve. Opt for the pour over coffee, it takes a bit longer but each cup is individually brewed and worth the wait. I need to try the Nitro Cold Brew next time I visit. read more

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Made an online order for the pick up window- very easy process. Walked up and it was perfect timing for my pick up. It's in a cute location with outdoor space to sit. Iced latte was excellent and exactly as hoped for. Highly recommend a visit here as it's outside of the tourist area and provides great quality coffee. read more

Coffee, beer, wine, sandwiches, bagels, soup, quiche, croissants, scones, muffins and smoothies. Lots of good choices in a really nice open atmosphere with more private wood booths, bar seating, tables in the windows. The lemon blueberry scone we ordered was fresh and very much like in muffin in texture. Dark roast coffee was very flavorful with cocoa notes. We also had ice coffee and Americana and a cappuccino. The cap was well-crafted with minimal milk, good foam and flavorful espresso. They have bagel sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches ready to go in the sandwich case so they are quick and easy. We came in at opening and snagged a scone. When we returned at 1pm, they were all gone. read more

Very good coffee. Friendly staff. Wonderful sandbox outside for kids to play in. Highly recommend!

Cute little place! I had the Salted Caramel Latte and my barista put a heart in it, loved it! Thank you! The latte was delicious and we got our coffees to go, and they came in real mugs that u can choose to take or bring back. I think that's a cool idea since it cuts down on the waste! We decided to finish them outside on the picnic table because we didn't want coffee to slosh around in the car. They have bags of coffee for sale too, as well as French Presses and other things! read more

Even during Covid, a business can't lose sight of customer service. 5 signs on the windows stating that the wait will be around 3 minutes and we waited 15 before leaving for another coffee shop. read more

Loved this place 7 years ago, and couldn't wait to visit again on this trip. I missed going in the store, but sitting outside in a shaded spot did the trick. Mobil app ordering was convenient. Good late and loved the Lavender Late the best. read more

This place isn't bad. They don't have a ton of options as far as sitting down and drinking a coffee in house. My wife and I got the daily brew and an espresso. Daily brew was far better then the espresso. Fair prices, just not the best coffee we've ever had. read more

Higher Grounds Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Higher Grounds Coffee is awesome. They have gourmet, organic coffee that they hand roast and brew. Multiple brewing techniques are available and they really know what they are doing. If you want it to go, make sure to bring a travel mug or use one of their donated ceramic mugs. Such a great find, with fantastic coffee. Definitely try it black, as the coffee is so good, it does not need anything else. read more

Higher Grounds Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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A wonderful place a little off the beaten path in Traverse City Michigan. The staff here were very friendly and helpful. Definitely worth the five minute drive from downtown TC. I tried the Grasshoppa Latte which is cold brew blended with some local milk and mint-infused vanilla syrup and poured over ice. I would get this again anytime! The drink was $5 once tax was factored in, but was worth it to enjoy a great drink from a local MI business. There is tons of outdoor seating and good places to walk and enjoy your drink close by. I also bought a pound of the Funky Mamacita blend coffee which I used to make cold brew at home. Highly recommend! read more

Wish i come here all the time but sadly we were just in the area for vacation. The barista was very kind and my oat milk latte was perfect!

We had their decaf at one of the local restaurants and asked where we could find the whole bean. Wow this is the best decaf we have ever tasted! We went directly here and sat out on the nice patio with a pot of decaf :) Very cool place to check out! read more

Higher Grounds Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Customer service was great with the young fellow with nice puffy hair and glasses! Super sweet and knowledgeable of his coffee super zen!

Small and slow. Not my kinda place. Quiet a few different coffees but very bland and boring

Great service & coffee. Big fan. This visit we tried the Marigold Latte & Vietnamese Coffee . read more

Higher Grounds Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Ok to be honest never got a chance to taste the coffee how can you not have paper of plastic cups for Togo drinks? And I'm suppose to donate for a used mug that's on the wall? I don't think so. For that alone 1 star read more

The best mocha I have had in my life. If you are anywhere near Traverse City you need to drive here and get coffee or espresso. If you choose not to you will only be hurting yourself. They dont have to-go mugs. They have real mugs people donate. You should bring one and donate it because that is awesome. read more

Okay, the guy who was working this morning quite possibly had the kindest eyes and the nicest demeanor I've ever experienced at at a coffee place, restaurant or store. He didn't even kick me out or belittle me when I asked for Splenda (Oy to the vey). He had to school me (again) when he asked if I wanted it to go and then asked if I had a cup....of course, sigh, I didn't - so he gave me two of their "real" cups. I have since washed them and will return them. The music that was playing was great. The fair trade gifty type items were cool - including $3 finger puppets (ram, monkey, octopus, turtle, ladybug, etc.) and fairly priced musical instruments (pan flute, flute, drum, etc.) for your kiddos. read more

This is the BEST FAIR TRADE COFFEE ROASTER I've experienced! This is a neat location at the Historic State Hospital Grounds ... always something to see. They have lots of fair trade items, not just coffee. Bring your own mug ... $1 Monday ... EVERYDAY BRING your own mug! read more

I bet the coffee is amazing, and I'm sure/hope/maybe? I'll be back to find out! Any reason for me to head to the commons is a good one, whether it be coffee or wine. Butttt when I wanted a cup of coffee to go with the delish scone I purchased at the indoor farmers market, I was disappointed to find out they don't do to-go beverages. Which resulted in A) walking back through the entire market for Cuppa Joe or B) continuing in my car to McDonalds drive-thru, since I was passing it regardless. I'm lazy, B happened. That's fine, I respect the green initiative and will know next time to have a travel mug on hand. So if you go, go to sit down and enjoy the brew (not a lot of tables though, which makes it hard to do in the winter), or set an ical reminder to take along a to-go vessel. I don't think it would be the worst idea if they had some 100% recycled products on hand just for these instances... and I'm sorry, I can't take coffee to-go in their donated ceramic cups. Spillage everywhere. (I'd even purchase the said recycled container for at least .25 cents! ) read more

Like the concept but my drink was weak. I had a chi tea latte (iced) that tasted mainly like water. I like the idea of mugs that you take with you rather than paper or plastic ones. You can then bring it back or they get more donated. Very green concept! They also had some handmade shopping bags and olive oil from Israel for sale so pretty eclectic mix! read more

Easily one of the better lattes I've ever had. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the flavor options were all made in-house rather than a Torani syrup or some other such thing. I chose vanilla, and it was pretty heavenly. It was also the perfect temp for sipping -- not too hot, not too cold. My husband had an iced mocha, and he actually said, "Holy ***!" when he had his first taste. If you have a sweet tooth, definitely get that :) I dig the zero waste concept, too, so that definitely plays into the rating factor. read more

Stumbled on this shop on a breezy Saturday. If you're a real coffee person you could learn a lot from the baristas here. We had the forced cold brew and the marigold latte. Both were delicious, smooth coffee flavors. Highly recommend! read more

Awesome place! Responsible use of waste. To-go drinks are given in an actual reusable mug with no obligation to return the mug. This is a great way to get us all thinking about how our niceties impact the world. I'll be supporting this business in the future! read more

Enjoyed a great cup of coffee after a nice hike in the trails behind the building. Coffee was hot and had a lovely taste - not burnt or bitter. Love that they use recycled mugs! Looking forward to coming back to try other things, and to buy some beans! read more

I ordered the Pour Over Coffee. It was just a couple of dollars for a cup, not a bad price. Though I didn't really like the coffee, it was too weak or watery for my taste. We stopped here early in the morning before our drive home, and was sorta thrown off that they don't have to go cups. Yes it is very cool that we get this mug and we can take it, but for travelers it's a very big inconvenience. Also didn't like the fact that you can donate mugs, I would rather only getting mugs from the business versus a stranger's home. I am only giving it 2 stars versus 1 because several of my friends loved what they got and I'm glad they did. read more

Higher Grounds Coffee - Pour Over Coffee in a To Go cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Love this little coffee spot. Delicious espresso, great beans to brew at home. Oat milk available for a vegan/dairy free latte.

I love it here, so I don't know if that means that I should work at Higher Grounds, move in and squat on the premises, marry an employee, or just be a very enthusiastic Yelper on the subject. Let's start with the last option. This place has great fair trade coffee. Done. But...Higher Grounds is more than that. Local products for sale (jams, nut butters) and local art on the walls (when I was last in, the owner was talking about the kites that were hanging colourfully around the space)...this place is committed to community, both locally in Michigan and also through non-profit initiatives like a run through Ethiopia. The coffee is killer. Every time I get an americano, through I switch up iced with hot. The barrista has always talked me through the bean options, and got some extramegasuper points for having some almond milk on hand. A special shout-out for their green initiatives. On my last morning in Traverse I stopped at Higher Grounds to get two americanos for the road. Except...Higher Grounds (I belatedly realized) doesn't do take-out cups. So I was given two ceramic cups courtesy of their recycled mug program. I'll return 'em happily next time I'm in Traverse but, 'til then, I look forward to rocking my "Charming and Witty; Best Lips in the City" and "You're in the Dawg House"-emblazoned mugs and thinking of Higher Grounds. Yelp note: the grounds around Higher Grounds are beautiful, and wonderfully shaded on a hot day. Highly recommended that you take your coffee outside and take in the calm and beauty of the space. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped at Higher Grounds recently and both enjoyed our drinks. My iced mocha was refreshing and not too sweet, and his Americano was perfect-- rich but not bitter. They roast their beans in-house. We loved that they have a wall of to-go mugs and don't use paper or plastic to-go mugs. Don't worry if you aren't going to be stopping in the next day to return the mugs-- they'd rather you keep the mug than hurt the environment by using disposable containers. read more

Sometimes you just know when you walk in to a business that's it going to be a great experience. Higher grounds coffee is one of those places. Knowledgeable friendly staff, and true local coffee shop. Awesome! read more

LOVE this place! Came back for the Marigold. It's creamy and smooth with perfect espresso and chilled local milk. Plus a sprinkling of delightful orange zest to perfect the acidity. So refreshing. Grabbed a bag of seasonal Sumatra Silk. Really excited to try this! On The Ground, their nonprofit helps their farmers gain access to education and ensures they have clean water. Learn more here: onthegroundglobal.org read more

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A truly excellent coffeehouse with great coffee and amenities. It seeks to be as eco-friendly as possible by supporting multiple charities, fair trade coffee growers, and it has no paper to go cups. Instead, it allows you to take an actual mug of coffee to go. You can also look at their coffee roasting operation which is cool to see. read more

Asked the employee at the window if we could order with her as we didn't have our phones to order online and she said "I'm kinda busy right now". Who says that to a customer?!?! We said woooooowwwww ok and left read more