Sacred has been an Edwardsville staple for many years, and for good reason. They have a wonderful selection of coffee and baked goods, as well as a very knowledgeable staff, and wonderful artwork. The only qualms I have with Sacred is the menu is vegetarian-only. I understand the need for a vegetarian-friendly menu to accommodate peoples individual tastes and standpoints. I do not however understand how someone who expects a vegetarian friendly menu at most other-restaurants would never consider accommodating a meat-eater at their establishment. Seems to present a double-standard. Check it out though, great atmosphere and wonderful baked goods. read more

Walking into Sacred Grounds I always assume I'm going to be overpowered by the smell of patchouli. This makes the smell of coffee and pastries all the more pleasant. SG sells vegetarian/vegan fare at a good price. The sandwiches/paninis are great for a light lunch in downtown Edwardsville, and the drinks are always pretty good. However, for a "coffee shop" the coffee isn't very good. It isn't bad per se, but I've always found it rather bland (and at worst, lukewarm) even though there are 3-4 varieties available. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is enjoyable for a small group or sitting solo and reading/working. Basically, even with the unimpressive coffee, everything else makes Sacred Ground the best place to read or work during the afternoon. read more

My favorite part about Sacred Grounds is the kitchen staff, particularly the bakers who make some pretty fine vegan muffins and scones. Sometimes I catch them walking around with mixing bowls and I wonder what warm fluffiness will come out next. I, however, miss some of the amenities of a standard coffee shop. Give me internet. Give me more power outlets. Give me sofas and easy chairs to get comfy in and read my book. Give me menu options that will actually fill me up. Perhaps I sound like a big fatty American....but why not offer what people expect, and let those who like moments without wifi and hard wooden chairs to choose that option if they prefer? read more

Excellent cold brew and lattes. A great selection of pastries - some gluten free. The best thing on the menu is the vegan reuben. The atmosphere is cozy. The one problem are the aluminum chairs. If guests push away from their table or drag the chairs at all they can create an unearthly screeching sound. For most, I'm sure this is not a big problem - but if you're sensitive to sound it can shorten a visit. Nonetheless, I highly recommend Sacred Grounds. read more

Laid-back vibe, rotating art installations, and great coffee and tea drinks. The staff are friendly and and knowledgeable about coffee/tea drinks and the local area. I haven't had a meal here, but the desserts are delicious. read more

Good coffee, great baked goods, dirty bathroom. So I struggled with giving this place a rating, but I knocked it down for the condition of the bathroom. Gross! Even the soap dispenser was dirty! Needs a good scrubbin' in there! Moving on: I got a latte and it was very good. However, the star of my experience here was the biscotti (we got both the chocolate and white chocolate almond) Both very good. I also got the...I think it was called a dream bar. It was graham cracker, chocolatey, coconutty, gooey delicious! Highly recommend. All in all, I would definitely go here again, but I would make it a point not to use the restroom! read more

I've been here about five times this summer. The coffee is good, but what makes this place special is the food. I highly recommend the beet burger. It's more like a sit down restaurant rather than fast food, so you can expect your food in 15-20 minutes. read more

I enjoy the atmosphere here, so far we've only had the bottomless coffee and sweet potato bread both of which were wonderful! Looking forward to going again and trying more of their options. read more

This place is PHENOMENAL! From their iced white mochas to their nitro cold brews, I've never been disappointed. The atmosphere is wonderful, and I love that they hang art to sell and have different things to buy as well (mugs, earrings, etc.). They're very accommodating. When I'm running late for work I can call in my order and they will run it out to me. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

Perhaps, The Best Veggie Beetroot Burger you could find on the Planet. Nowhere else in the US you would get it. Imagine, you go to a coffee shop a countless number of times where coffee is not your reason for your visit but only to eat this Delicious Burger. read more

Sacred Grounds - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edwardsville, Illinois

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The good: Wonderful & ever-changing selection of baked (in-house) goods. Tasty salads & some decent sandwiches Nice environment & good hours The bad: Basic espresso preparation is not present. Why is it so hard for coffee shops in the metro area to properly prepare a decent shot of espresso?! I've tried ordering single and double shots on more than one occasion and I've gotten 12 second doubles, 4 ounce singles, etc. I'm not going to order an espresso based drink (latte, cappuccino, etc) if you can't make the base correctly. Overall - great place to go for lunch, drip coffee or to hang out. Not acceptable if you appreciate a decent shot of espresso. read more

If you're in a hurry, this is not recommended, one of the things I like about Sacred Grounds. The food is made fresh in the kitchen. They use beans from a local source roasted fresh. Service is friendly and tables kept clean. Local artist on display rotating works frequently. The prices are very reasonable. I always leave feeling satisfied. The coffee and espresso are above average, always good and sometimes great. The muffins are to die for. Five stars for the laid back atmosphere. read more

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Amazing aura of this place! So calm and cozy. Coffee is great! And this place is super famous. Great place for doing homework or reading. read more

Best coffee house in town, and good food, too. They usually have some good artwork displayed and plenty of reading material. It's a fun, very casual place. Love it. read more

Great place to sit and work, but not much in the way of variety. The sandwiches are good, but don't come with a side, so it's difficult to justify the price, especially in a place like Edwardsville. Nothing special in the way of coffee. Acceptable quality espresso. What would bring me back? Get some chips or other sides to go with the sandwiches. It will add variety and spice, and make the $9 price tag worth the sandwich. read more

Cute & quaint little vegetarian cafe in the middle of Edwardsville. They offer a large selection of baked goods, including scones, breads, muffins, and little sweet potatoes cakes! They also have a large amount of coffees and lattes. Free wifi read more

Sacred Grounds - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edwardsville, Illinois

I can't give it ANY stars! I went there last sunday and we walked in at 10:50 am -it was uncrowded but there were a few tables waiting for food. We were a party of four and in one hour WE HAD RECEIVED NO FOOD and no one seemed to care! It was crazy -- we had ordered quiche which should be just cut and served. When we asked about the food, we were told it would be another 15 minutes! We walked out - they would NOT refund the money for the coffee that I drank while waiting. Will NEVER go back. It seemed as if teenagers were working except for the guy who took our orders and refunded our money the others were incompetent. CJ read more

I came here with a friend after a nice relaxing day of yarn shopping. With sooo many dietary restrictions, I was disappointed with this place. I wanted something to snack on. They didn't have the ingredient list for the only vegan item they had. Not cool in my book. I can't eat flax & wanted to see if the item in question had flax in it. What eating establishment doesn't have ingredient lists for everything they serve to people????? The ambience was awesome. Umm, the next time I'm here I'll do what I did last time which is to only get something to drink. read more

So we went to Sacred Grounds on Thanksgiving morning for a post Turkey Trot pick me up. Not only were they open, we got amazing drinks, and the owner refused to take any payment! She stated, "it's on me, I haven't taken money all day. Have a wonderful day." Amazing coffee, and wonderful service! Thank you Sacred Grounds!! read more

As a commuter student, Sacred is my go to place to grab lunch when I either forgot mine at home or simply didn't bring one. The prices here are so low it's insane! I get a full sandwich, whole salad, and tea for under ten bucks. Food is pretty good, too. The menu items are pretty simple and all vegetarian (thank you!). Coffee is pretty decent and there's a nice tea selection. I've never had anything here that was absolutely amazing, but for the prices, everything's pretty dang good. The staff are very kind and I always enjoy making conversation with them. A very laid back and quiet atmosphere make a great place to enjoy some coffee and a book or do homework. read more

The honey nut latte is amazing! Have had their paninis before and theyre quite delicious especially for vegetarian. Their chocolate truffle cookie is to die for too! We go there all the time with friends and love the atmosphere. They always have local artists on the wall and a diverse artsy crowd. read more

Cool cafe/coffee shop but I am not a fan of the coffee they serve. They use Mississippi Mud beans which seems to always result in a bitter espresso. These beans my be good for drinks with flavors and sweeteners, but on their own, they do not result in a quality drink. When I noticed they used beans from Mississippi Mud, I was going to get a pour over or cold brew but the barista said she didn't know what those were. This surprised me for place that has an urban hippie feel. So go to hang out, go for snacks with friends, and try their coffee....just don't expect to be wowed. read more

Great latte in nice location. Dropped by on way to Peoria As good a latte as on can find. Looked like a few nice restaurants nearby

My five stars are placing this coffee shop in the context of Edwardsville. I grew up in and dearly love Edwardsville, so don't take that as a condescension, please: what I mean is, this is the best coffee shop in Edwardsville, though I could wish for a few things to be different. There are several good places to eat in town, but not many good coffee shops. (222 actually counts now that they have grudgingly decided to have seating, but Sacred Grounds was already right on the mark.) This is an excellent coffee-and-baked-treat place, or brunch or lunch place, or hangout place. I think the menu is actually ovo-lacto-vegetarian, but my very-non-vegetarian-senior-citizen parents and their similar-profile friends go there every Sunday--religiously, if you will--after church for brunch, and they don't seem to care a bit that there is no bacon or sausage. Why would they? The food is fresh, creative, pleasant, and filling. My kids love the waffles and pancakes with fruit and nuts, and I love the quiches and eggy-veggy-cheesy dishes. It's not ideal for a big group, though. I wish they owned more forks and cups, and I wish they had more seating so there was room for everything on the table and so we wouldn't always feel a bit guilty when there are more than four of us together. We scooch tables together and nobody complains, but still. The baked goods range from good to stellar, with sweet potato cake being heavenly almost all the time, and the apricot pound cake amazing when it's fresh (beware of slight staleness if you go at night--these are actual baked goods made from actual food ingredients, which means that they can in fact get stale when they've been out awhile). The scones--hooray for the whole-wheat ones!--have been absolutely delicious every single time I've had them. And the coffee is great: We always buy a pound of whole-bean Jen's Blend to take with us, and that's all we drink at home when we're in Edwardsville. read more

This was the first cafe I ever had a "real" coffee drink: raspberry mocha. These days I don't really like that drink, but Sacred Grounds turned me onto other tasty sips. Whenever I'm back in town I enjoy stopping in and grabbing a cup of joe. read more

The cook, who looks like she has been smoking crack for 20 years, messed my order up. I quietly walked up and asked the cashier if he could fix it. The cook stormed out, yelled at me, and said that she was going to make me a new one and I would be lucky if she didn't poop in it! Haha! Then she proceeded to tell me about how offended she was and that she had been cooking for a long time; I apologized and tried not to laugh. She was arrogant and rude, but it was funny so I'll let it go. They make a great latte and usually have good food when the crack head isn't working. I have changed my review from 5 stars to 1 because it is absolutely ridiculous to treat customers like that :) read more

Sacred Grounds has its specialties, and they are dependably delicious. The baked goods are the main attraction for me. The sweet potato cake (with brown sugar frosting, a heavenly combination) is the best, and the apricot pound cake never ceases to amaze me with its humble appearance and buttery rich flavor. These cakes have dignity! However, my rating is for not only for the cakes, but also the espresso and the breakfast and lunch food and the French Roast and Jen's Blend beans. We buy them regularly and grind them at home. This is a friendly place, with polite counter and server staff who will do their best to help you. They are not professionals, for the most part. They are young and well-meaning and hardworking young folks. Sometimes they get flustered, but generally they are smart, mannerly, and efficient. Service can be slow in busy times, and they struggle to have enough silverware available when they get really packed. It always works out, though; you get your fork when you need it. I'm sorry to hear that the bathroom was dirty once, but having been there over a hundred times, I must say that normally the whole place is very clean. Tables are bussed quickly. I've spent many a long study session there. If you do your work in a chair at a table, you're all set. I don't know about the wifi situation. Last I heard, Jennifer, the owner, was intentionally avoiding having wifi. I don't know the reason. But I don't really care, since working without wifi helps me stay on-task! :-) You'll find it very busy at lunch time and on Sunday during brunch hours. It's not a great place to come with a large group, unfortunately. I wish they could get some additional space and expand a bit, given how loved they are. But consider this: Edwardsville is the kind of town where people are polite and neighborly. They will good-naturedly stop and wait to let you cross Main St. even when you're not at the crosswalk, and they will wait for a table at Sacred Grounds without grumbling. That's what I do, and it's what you should do, too, when you're in town. Peace, friends! Regarding the vegetarian menu: Fortunately, people who eat meat also eat vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, eggs, butter, and cheese. You will find all of these fine things on the menu at Sacred Grounds, in delectable combinations and preparations. So, no worries about "not accommodating meat eaters." There's something for everyone! Disclosure: I'm an Edwardsville native. I've been all over the world and eaten at some of the best places in the US, too. The cakes and scones at Sacred Grounds can compete with the best, from Salzburg to Paris to Seattle to NYC to San Francisco. The other pastries are good, too, though for the best of the best of Edwardsville pastries you should just cross Main St. and go to 222, if they're open. But aren't we blessed to have TWO such excellent breakfast/lunch/coffee places right on Main St.? read more

Love this place. I don't know why I haven't written a review before as I have been here lots of times. It's the default place to meet someone when going into Edwardsville. Every sandwich I've had is good and always well made and the desserts (baked goods in general)... some of the best anywhere as far as I am concerned. I can never pass them up. No meat served here and you would never miss it. Go here! Cool comfortable space (but no Internet I think) and plenty of parking (there is the street and a lot right across the street). read more

Really sweet little place. I had a veggie beet burger and it was one of the best I've ever had.

I've been going to Sacred Grounds for several years now. It has a great atmosphere: there is a wall that regularly rotates artwork from local artists, great coffee, a baked goods case with some really good cake slices and (the pumpkin bread and ganoche are two of my favorites) read more

Love this place. I usually just get a coffee to go in the mornings, but occasionally get a piece of pumpkin bread or a brownie to take to work. I need to make it back in soon for lunch. Love the atmosphere. I've heard that they have free wi-fi, you just have to ask for the password. read more

This coffee house is AMAZING. First of all, the vibe/atmosphere of the place is absolutely cozy and welcoming. It has such a gorgeous collection of art and music and fun sketchbooks to write in. In addition, the staff is wonderful. They're always very welcoming and kind and fun, and they're honestly part of the reason I go so often. They really make you feel at home. Food: I'm a vegetarian, so this place is a godsend for me. Their Greek salad (keep in mind that I usually hate salads) is one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted in my entire life, and the portions are generous. They offer delicious varieties of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options-all very yummy! Their pecan bars are one of my favorite things on this planet. I get one every time I go in. They rotate their menu fairly frequently, which is very nice for new options. Drinks: They have delicious coffee. It's very reasonably and affordably priced, and tastes delicious. The offering of mugs and cups that they have is, for some reason, very endearing to me. It really makes the place feel like home. In addition, their Italian sodas are phenomenal. It really depends on the person making them, but usually they taste like a gift from heaven. And their abundance of flavors is delightful. All in all, this place is one of my favorites for studying/reading/catching up with friends. What really stands out is the atmosphere and amazing prices. I recommend this strongly. read more

I miss this place. The coffee is really good and the ambiance is awesome. This place is good to start a conversation with friends or strangers and just relax . I live in Rockville MD and i am surrounded by Starbucks and Dunkin donuts chains i hate it. read more

What a unique cafe! They had shoes & men's neckties up on their walls for decoration. The coffee I tried was really good. The eggs and toast were average though. I like that they had a chess board to play on too. I'll try it again some other day to try something from the lunch menu. read more

We always make it a point to stop here when we're in town. Excellent coffee. Nice art on display.

I've seen multiple reviews that say Sacred Grounds doesn't have Wi-Fi, well, I'm happy to report that I was there last week and they do now. I simply had to ask the guy at the counter for the password. read more

I was looking for a little downtown coffee shop today, and found this place on Yelp. The reviews were good, so I decided to give it a try. Besides, the line at Starbucks was ridiculous. I worked in a small coffee shop back at home, and found this place to be fairly similar. I ordered a small Turtle Dove Mocha latte, which was delicious. It had hazelnut, caramel, and chocolate in it. As others, I wish they had wifi, but it's not a big deal. I'm anxious to go back and try some of their food! read more

Great place for a delicious pick-me-up. The oatmeal cake may look modest but its flavor is anything but. Moist and just the right amount of sweetness. Highly recommended! Thankfully, the portion size isn't modest. read more

Found this cool place on Yelp while heading down I55. I'm really glad I did. Very cool place. Spacious, comfortable place to work and visit. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The coffee is excellent and they have a good variety of delicious menu items. If you prefer vegetarian or vegan their menu offers a lot of choices. read more

Been twice -- great latte, especially the large triple shot. Use Mississippi Mud beans, and that is truly as good a coffee as you can get -- it rivals or beats any bean I've had in Seattle or Portland! The wraps and paninis are good, but not perfect -- although the cucumber sauce on the falafel wrap is homemade and amazing. The eggplant panini was good, but the grated cheese hadn't melted. The baked goods are surprisingly good. A lemon-coconut bundt cake yesterday looked so plain, but tasted amazing. The chocolate biscotti are great, but the other biscotti were ok (but not great). Some good art on the wall in rotating exhibit. Otherwise the decor is sparse/spartan. I like it. read more