Still amazing and the only coffee shop in the area open past 7pm! Love the food and drinks.

#1 Fireplace #2 Late hours #3 Tons of tables #4 Patio space - I can't wait for spring, summer and fall to get here Have been coming here in mornings for coffee on the way into work and coming back in evenings to get some work done after dinner and the gym. The late hours here makes for a great alternative to the hubbub at Java House and there's usually parking easily found here. Great coffee, Kickapoo from Wisconsin, and americanos! I've been working my way through the loose-tea menu. Earl Grey is a staple for me and the blend here has a strong flavor. The Rooibos Chai is very good and doesn't have the Rooibos after taste that my tastebuds do not like. My only recommendation would be a dish to hold the leaves after an adequate amount of steeping time. I've taken to using the to-go coffee lids to hold the mesh strainer and tea leaves. I haven't had a chance to partake in the beer and wine selection, but hope to soon. There is a quite and extensive list to choose from! Staff has always been friendly and the background music perfect in the evenings. I love that the tables are larger than the usual small cafe tables. I can have a giant textbook and a notebook spread out while working. The loveseat in front of the fireplace is popular. One of these days i'll get to enjoy with a good book and a cup of coffee. read more

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I really dig this coffee shop! I had a little time to kill before I was teaching a class at the University on a Saturday morning, so I thought I would run and get a coffee before the class to make sure I was really rocking on caffeine. I knew there was a coffee shop in the area, and the High Ground was new to me, or at least a new name and same location to a place I had been before! The set up inside was nice, lots of comfy chairs and or places to work or have a meeting, they even have a fire place to warm those toes in the winter months! The service was great, and the soy latte I had them make me really was good! I enjoyed just sitting for a few minutes using the free wifi and having a cup of coffee before my day! The bathrooms were super clean, there was newspapers to read, they had lots of yummy looking pastries... all and all this is pretty perfect as far as coffee shops go! No complaints here! read more

The High Ground Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Didn't love the taste of the coffee I got, but everything else about our experience was amazing. Super fast and friendly service read more

The High Ground Cafe - the counter and menus - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Pros - open late until 11pm - tons of tables for studying - serves beer, wine and mimosas for that much needed study break - great coffee and loose leaf tea selection! - I love sitting on their patio when the weather is nice. It's the best patio coffee shop in town Cons - I don't love the quality of their food. The sandwiches and pastries are ok. My faves are the avo slam and the turkey mango. The turkey mango panini has a great mild chutney, but the quality of the sandwich could be improved. read more

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Really good drip coffee. I've had a latte there before, and it could have been a little stronger on the espresso taste, but that also could have been a result of me getting a breve. Idk, I don't have breves super frequently so I wouldn't count it against the place. Employees have always been speedy and respectful. I've also never heard of massive employee/worker drama happening here, unlike a different coffee shop, so that is a HUGE plus. read more

Higher Ground Cafe is clean and airy with high ceilings, fresh air and giant wall-to-wall windows which is pleasant. Both lattes my husband and I received were lukewarm, watery, and tasted a bit like chocolate milk? The pound cake was also stale, the dry frosting breaking into pieces like a day old pastry, though not marked as such. I live an hour away from Iowa City, don't consume more that one cup of coffee per day, and only order it out as a rare treat so was quite disappointed. Have thoroughly enjoyed the downtown Java House when visiting Iowa City for over 30 years and will head there now for a consolation cup. The tea +/or food at Higher Ground might be nice, I haven't tried them. But the lattes are definitely lacking. read more

Pros: 1. Large open space for working with many tables. 2. Good variety of food options. They have a few bakery items, serve sandwiches, and froyo. 3. Tons of drinks, hard and otherwise. 4. Free WiFi. Cons: 1. Staff seems to always be cranky and I feel I am bothering them by ordering. 2. Coffee is good but not great. Prefer other places such as java house or bread market. 3. Wish they had a bigger selection of bakery items to fit the cafe feel. As a side note, they do have live bands on occasion. Would like to try that sometime. read more

This updated review has been a long time coming and the stellar customer service I had a few mornings ago finally pushed me over the edge to write it. Gal with the purple hair, I wish I knew her name; she seems to be a newer barista but she's already rockin' it. The hair, the espresso shots, the friendliness. She made a top-notch americano after several weeks of duds from other cafes. The internet does drive me a little nutty at this cafe though. Fantastic one minute, moving at a turtle's pace the next. And, to throw in some details I didn't encapsulate into my last review: -gotta love all the windows - so much natural light! -always a fantastic music selection -the outdoor patio is still fantastic. Since it's North-facing, it's always cool and shaded. read more

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The spiced muchacho! Such unique drink choices here. A nice working space. This cafe probably has the most diverse array of drink choices of any in the Iowa City area. From the lavender latte to the spiced muchacho, this is the go to spot if you want to try something unique and flavorful. A friend recommended the spiced muchacho to me and it's now one of my favorite orders! Their sandwiches are also super fresh and they make their chips in-house, so they always taste amazing. It's a nice, open space inside, so it makes for a good place to get some work done. The tables and chairs need some upgrades though - it's always hit and miss whether you get a wobbly table/chair. The seating is kind of cramped in some areas and outlets are a little sparse. read more

Good coffee, big windows, and they have WiFi, What more do you want when you are looking for a study spot. When I'm in the area and have work to do I'll be sure to stop in. read more

While the atmosphere offers a fine place for a work meeting or book club, the beverages and baked goods are nothing spectacular. The menu has very few specialty recommendations for a unique espresso drink but instead relies on traditional lattes and the like. I did try one of the specialties--"The Mountie" which includes maple syrup--and it really wasn't anything special. An iced vanilla latte was also pretty average as was the banana bread which didn't offer that rich and comforting homemade flavor I look for in banana bread. It almost seemed artificial. As a whole, the place is clean, spacious, and simple, but the food, drinks, and vibe don't offer much of an experience. read more

The High Ground Cafe - Mountie Latte and Banana Bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I got a smoothie and witnessed the woman who made it not wash her hands or put on gloves (when the box of gloves was an arms length away). When it was ready, she told me she made the wrong smoothie. I was going to tell her to make the right one but I couldn't see her handle food again. Smoothies are $5.30. I'll give it another shot but if I see this again, there'll be hell. Lol read more

The High Ground Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Who doesn't love a solid cup of coffee in the Northside Marketplace? High Ground has an awesome space, great patio, and good coffee and lattes. They do live music and also have beer, as well as some tasty sandwich offerings. Seems like a good study or work spot. read more

The High Ground Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Love the space (we're talking a fireplace, large patio, plenty of seating) and location (close to downtown/campus but not TOO close). The menu was expansive and had an impressive number of food items to choose from. Considering they have free wifi as well, I feel like this is a great place to lug your laptop and books and get some serious studying/work done. The crowd definitely included plenty of people on laptops, but also a surprising number of locals just reading the paper or hanging out. It didn't feel overrun with students the way some of the other coffee shops often do, but maybe that changes when it gets into the school year. The baristas were friendly and patient while I did that whole "let me peruse your menu for five minutes even though I already know what I want" routine. My only gripe is that I felt like the latte was a tad overpriced for what I got--I feel like Prairie Lights or even Java House gives you more bang for your buck. I definitely want to return and try their food, but I'll probably wait until I can take advantage of the fireplace! read more

Good coffee, great atmosphere. I especially love the fireplace. If you're looking to catch up with friends or study, this is the place to go

The food was great and the place has a nice atmosphere! I was disappointed that my iced coffee had very little ice, while my friends was half ice. Went around 5 and it was pretty crowded with a lot of people just sitting on their laptops so was hard to actually find a table. Other than that its a nice place. read more

The High Ground Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I frequent this awesome coffee shop and the staff is always super friendly. But today was on another level. In my half awake, super stressed state I ordered a chai and forgot to specify which sort of milk I wanted in it. When I realized, they practically pleaded to let them fix it so I wasn't sick to my stomach from drinking the wrong kind of milk. Really thankful for them and it was definitely above and beyond when I was my fault. read more

When I recently moved to Iowa City from Chapel Hill , one of my first goals was to find an interesting coffee shop that *gets* the coffee experience. Not just a place that pumps out burnt drippings like Caribou or Starbucks. A place that brews coffee to order using artisanal techniques like pour over, sources ethically responsible beans, and sets up a place to savor the coffee with the appropriate ambiance (music, intelligent conversation, and spots to reflect). High Ground is that place. Don't get me wrong, Java House is nice too... but it gets a bit crowded and tight. Here, there are available tables, outlets, room to spread out (and I personally haven't had issues with flies). And good music and conversation to boot. Plus the coffee is from an environmentally responsible roaster (Kickapoo) and both the espresso and pour over are spot on. Only recommendation would be to add French press to the brewing styles, which I've seen at Bread Garden but nowhere else. If you're a coffee nerd, this is the place to go. read more

One of the best macchiatos served anywhere, and I've been around: Berkeley and SF in the 70s, Starbucks in Seattle in the 80's before it was franchised, dozens of draws in Italy.... Everything done with care here, panini included. Lots of natural light and great vibe for quiet conversation or surfing. read more

Love their lavender love lattes! I always get it iced and add honey! My favorite treat! Their scones are also yummy! I like how they serve alcohol too! Something different if you're in the mood for booze while at a coffee shop! read more

not worth your time or money. the menu is inconsistent and popular teas, flavorings, coffees, lemonade, and chai lattes are very often out of stock. salads and sandwiches made with limp lettuce and often missing ingredients. this shop is generally gross. tables, bathrooms, floor, windows, and even walls are grimy and under cleaned. the quality of your drink will vary by the barista as some baristas struggle to properly steam milk. this means hold your cappuccino orders, a latte is a gamble. the owner has not taken covid measures and has called the virus a scam. overall a gross coffee shop owned by a gross person. take your business elsewhere. read more

A really nice place for studying and hanging out with friends. Was there for the first time yesterday and ordered the white rose tea. It was very good. All natural! The only complaint I have so far is that the lighting by the window can be quite dim, more so for yesterday since it was raining. Hopefully they can improve the lighting by the window. read more

The High Ground Cafe - Cute tea pot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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My favorite coffee shop in town, I love their cinnamon rolls, banana breads and scones, sometimes I ask them to heat them for me, because I like pastries warm, I love the London fog, cappuccino and their tea served with pots, sometimes they will do latte art! Which I think it's cool, depends who serves you (guys make better drinks than girls, except one petite curly short hair girl she is the best!) very big space, I don't like setting by fireplace because there are no electricity outlet in that area, some Friday's they have some events like movies or poetry etc, it's a little bit pricy but they serve very good drinks and food. read more

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I've always been a fan of the High Ground Cafe. Though I haven't tried their food, their coffee, tea, Chai, and caramel apple have always been delicious. My favorite thing about the Iowa City location, though, is how spacious it is. It's also relatively quiet, so it's a great spot to meet for a drink (they do have alcohol!), study for a test, or simply relax for a few minutes if you need a break from it all. If you're in town, this is a great place to get that caffeine boost we all need right around 2PM... and I hear their baked goods are delicious! read more

No lie, this cafe has been my favorite in IC since it opened. Even when I was closer to other cafes depending on my class schedule/where I was living that year, I would go out of my way for HG to get actually GOOD coffee. It's been the cafe where I've gone from getting the same ol hazelnut latte every time(still great mind you) because I didn't know what else to get, to branching out and learning more about coffee. Speaking of, highly highly recommend the cuban cortado as well as the seasonal pourovers (named for whatever equinox/solstice is current): the seasonal blends are the first coffee I've ever genuinely LIKED black haha. The atmosphere is super cozy and there's plenty of spots that feel "hidden" if you're socially anxious like me. read more

High ground is easily my favorite place to grab lunch and study a little or meet up with someone for lunch. The atmosphere is laid back and relaxing, and not crazy like most coffee shops. The coffee is great, some of the best I've had and at a fairly low price. The panini sandwhiches are also fantastic. I would recommend this place to anyone! read more

The High Ground Cafe - Turkey Mango Panini and lentil soup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Coffee and food is excellent. I had a latte and spicy turkey bacon panini and wow! Delicious! Wish we had this in Gainesville! read more

The High Ground Cafe - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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High Ground Cafe is my one of my favorite coffee shops ever. If you're a student who likes studying with a little noise and need some coffee motivation, it's the perfect place. My favorite drinks are the americano, iced coffee, lavender love latte, and chai latte. I love the space (lots of seating options inside and outside, a fireplace, and art for sale on the walls), the location near campus (though the proximity makes me spend too much money here), and friendly baristas. I highly recommend checking it out! read more

I only stopped in to get a mocha, so not much experience with them yet. The mocha was overpriced and the place didn't feel very friendly. On a positive note, they seem to have opened up the back seating area, allowing more butts in the seats. read more

Only got a pour over but it was delicious. Friendly staff. Cool atmosphere and great location. The Ethiopian pour over was the excellently done at the perfect temperature. read more

Everything that High Ground Cafe has to offer was excellent. Whether it be their drinks or food. However, I would strongly encourage their staff to be more lively and less rude. From the moment I stepped in, their "head barista" was incredibly brazen. He has a shaved head, you probably know him. So, note to management & owners. He sucks, or was having a really bad day. read more

It's a clean place with a nice staff and good espresso but not a great pastry selection. It had a very large dining area however, it was completely compacted with students. This place had great potential to be an exceptional experience, if only it was less crowded. read more

I love the atmosphere of High Ground. Plenty of space, a fireplace and couches near the counter, and lots of natural light coming through its tall windows. It's pretty crowded with students around finals time, but otherwise, I've had no issue finding a seat. The hours are really flexible also, so you can stop in any time, even on weekends. It's a cool spot just a couple of blocks from downtown in the Northside Marketplace - I like to give the Northside some love, plus have a good cup of coffee while I'm at it. read more

Nice spot for coffee or lunch. We sat outside. Excellent tomato bisque. Very good blueberry beef brisket panini. Coffee among the best in ic. read more

Extremely rude staff; ordered an iced latte waited 15 minutes while watching people who ordered after me get their beverages. When I came up to the counter and inquired about it, I was given attitude and was told there's a "line system". If you forget about an order a simple apology would have been just fine. The coffee itself was decent, but I will never go back because of the staff. read more

Very disappointing in this coffee shop . Staff wasn't friendly or helpful. We ordered our latte to drink there in a coffee mug not a paper cup, they told us they were out of mugs and clearly I see many mugs sitting around and plus they weren't busy at all. Latte was ok and the banana bread was ok nothing outstanding. read more

Love the strawberry banana smoothies. Soups great too. Tried the turkey bacon sandwich and found it most satisfying and filling. Place had been discovered so it's busy now. I'm a regular! read more

I love the atmosphere of this place, very large space, and board games. Love it! I got their half and half soup and sandwhich. Tomato bisque is good. I was disappointed in how little a portion I got for the price ($7 with tax). I also got an italian soda, which was awesome. Wes, the manager, made me a custom one, which I thought was even better. They care about their customers. I got a white chocolate raspberry scone another time, it was great and very big! The only thing I dislike about the place is the price for the food. read more

Slow, under-staffed. The coffee is good but not worth the wait or hassle when there are many other choices in the area. Staff is not trained for speed or efficiency. A poor woman next to me waited 45 min for a chai. An un acceptable way to run a business. Our hot chocolates tasted like water, and the lattes were weak. read more