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Groundswell Coffee Roasters
4839 N Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60625, United States
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Groundswell Coffee Roasters
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Ch
Review №1

Top notch coffee shop. Lattes are not overly sweet and drinkably hot right after preparation. Exceptionally smooth Espresso. Cozy atmosphere with limited indoor and outdoor seating. Do-Rite donuts sold here

Ma
Review №2

The coffee is excellent! Wish it was a little less expensive for the ground coffee to take home. Had the mocha while sitting outside on a cool summer afternoon!

Iz
Review №3

I came here this morning because I felt like Id lost my appetite. The room was clean, fashionable, and relaxing. I must admit that learning and relaxing here was fantastic. The coffee and food were both tasty and sweet. Furthermore, I was overjoyed that I had come to see this place. It was both satisfying and interesting. Thank you so much! I promise to return!

Na
Review №4

This coffee shop gets a thumbs up! They responded to my inquiries in a timely manner, as planned. This is where I spent the whole day. I can confidently state that they have earned my confidence. Excellent customer service and pricing! The wonderful ambiance made it easy for me to unwind. Its a fantastic place to do research and get things done. Recommendation!

Hi
Review №5

This is a must-see coffee shop! I enjoy going to this shop because it has a relaxing atmosphere. It was really quiet and not too crowded. The coffee they drank was delicious and not too hot. They were as tasty as the cookies they had. The barista was very pleasant and courteous. They had a good internet connection as well.

St
Review №6

Not the most pleasantly welcoming experience. Cold brew was good.

Ca
Review №7

My friend and I tried this coffee place after our gym session. The ambiance is very cool and young. The serving is good and worth sharing at a very affordable price. We felt very comfortable here, the best place for relaxation. In addition, the staff is all great and exceptional. I will definitely revisit this place ion the future.

An
Review №8

The baristas are skilled and know how to assemble a good beverage. My cappuccino was the perfect balance between espresso and foamy milk. It also helps that they use the right quantity of high quality coffee that makes their espresso shot strong and perfectly acidic.Apart from great coffee the shop is really cute and peaceful. They have outdoor seating underneath the sidewalk trees.

Na
Review №9

High quality espresso and great service :)

Vi
Review №10

I dont know why it has taken me so long to write a review for Groundswell. This place is awesome. If brewing good coffee or espresso is your thing, do yourself a favor and visit. They always have fresh-roasted beans (often within 1-2 days in my experience) and different beans to try with details on the flavor notes and whether they are washed beans or not. Every time I visit, I grab a different kind of bean which is great fun for variety of flavors, and Ive never been disappointed. Just stop by, and youll see.

Jo
Review №11

Generic cafe atmosphere, coffee is decent, food is decent. There’s nothing wrong with this place, just not much to write home about either. I had a cappuccino and a breakfast wrap with ham. The coffee was on the sour side and smaller than average with a pretty but usual foam design. The wrap had a nice wheat wrap, and was handmade, but took a long time, wasn’t very warm, and the egg chunks were pre-cooked. There was also too much sriracha sauce on it. It overwhelmed the flavor on several bites. I will go back to try other menu items but not soon.

Je
Review №12

The 6oz. cappuccino does not make a good Italian breakfast. Otherwise great!

Ni
Review №13

Its a lovely coffee shop and they have talented baristas as well. The best add-ons are the latest desserts and sweet treats. We stopped here with my friends because we craved the taste of French Vanilla coffee. It tastes so good. Must have a try!

Fr
Review №14

Great coffee. Smooth and they have milk alternatives like almond and oat milk

Pa
Review №15

Great bakery and the coffee aint bad either!

Pa
Review №16

Great coffee and donuts. Lived my Cortado.

Co
Review №17

Some of the best coffee in the area. The paninis are awesome!

La
Review №18

The coffee is tasty, the staff are really friendly, and the space is very clean and taking safety seriously. But, they charge a lot for nondairy milk. I expect to pay more for nondairy, but Groundswell charges an extra 90 cents whether you order a tiny 8 oz cortado or a 16 oz latte. Other local spots, like Coffee Studio in Andersonville, charge less for nondairy milk and adjust the additional charge depending on the size of the drink. Ill keep supporting Groundswell but wish theyd take adjust their nondairy milk charge.

El
Review №19

My favorite coffee shop in the neighborhood!

Bi
Review №20

I have just moved to this area and was very excited to frequent this coffee shop as I heard so many wonderful compliments. Truth be told, I often feel disappointed coming. I took a break from coming here due to the customer service. I once was a barista for 3 years and I understood that moods could reflect on my work and impact my customers. It took me quite sometime to realize that I was much friendlier to customers I enjoyed compared to customers I did not know or did not enjoy. This type of bias was something I chose to change because my job description was never to be friendly and warm towards those I only liked. I had to make sure I was always on my game. As a human, this is not always the case. I understand we are always going through moods.I encounter cold attitudes from two baristas. I never feel good during my experience with them and because they are there often I sometimes avoid coming in. There is one young woman who was a beautiful raspy voice and curly hair that is always pleasant and warm. I like to go in when she is there. I would say this particular woman has great customer service skills.I do realize my perspective and experience is only subjective and I can always choose to stop coming in. That is a choice that only I can make. Others will have a different perspective or experience. My only reason to state this review is in to shed light: When you are warm to all your customers, you attract more revenue. When you are lukewarm and choose to embrace the mood you are in, your revenue decreases. Never rely on your frequent customers to keep your job steady.And kindness is a magical tool.

Ky
Review №21

The coffee was good but the baristas act like they hate being there and are either annoyed or indifferent by my presence. I would make this one of my “go-to’s” but since the people that work there aren’t nice I don’t think I will go very often.

Le
Review №22

This is my fav coffee spot. It has calm and relaxing atmosphere. The staff is friendly and coffee is great. Its good a place to work or hang out. The outdoor seating is a bonus.

Su
Review №23

Loved the coffee. The sandwich was late BUT it was delish.

Le
Review №24

Service is always nice even when they have a full house. Had a friend come into town and she asked me to take her here again. Feels like a place in Charlotte that I enjoyed visiting.

Ca
Review №25

Dropped in on mon i think. i will be bringing family next time. prices were appropriate. food and feeling reminds me of kansas city.

ma
Review №26

Great coffee shop near the Daman stop. Baked goods are above average and the whole bean coffee is usually pretty good. They also give you a free cup of coffee when you buy a bag which every place should do.

Ch
Review №27

Coffee is pretty good and fresh, a good place if you prefer supporting local places. Always clean and a good atmosphere too.The only downside is that the baristas are always pretty rude, even when I’m the only one ordering I feel like I’m a nuisance to their day. I don’t want to be your best friend, but I’d like to feel less like an inconvenience for asking (and paying) for a coffee at a coffee shop.Edit: after more visits here the staff outside of the young man who had helped the first few times is incredibly nice, and they sometimes have vegan donuts available. Assuming you get a relatively polite barista I’d highly recommend.

Lo
Review №28

Perfection

Ma
Review №29

I love their chai tea but everything is expensive just Like Starbucks but at least in Starbucks staff is friendly Lol This will be the fourth time I went to get coffee and my coworker says the same thing they act like you’re asking them for a huge favor. Never going back.

Ca
Review №30

Love the coffee but I second that the 2 baristas there in the am have sonewhat of an attitude. I love the coffee but every time I come here I feel like Im bothering them. I asked if I could have a drink remade and I ended up leaving with the same drink as I felt like it was an inconvenience to remake it. I actually drove by today for a coffee and I saw the girl with the long hair and the one with the short black hair (baristas) in the window and I kept driving and went to Backlot Coffee.

Ho
Review №31

Friendly folks behind the counter and had a great cup of single origin from Uganda

Gl
Review №32

Clean and friendly nice decor. I had the lavender latte which was very good. I will definitely have again.

Ma
Review №33

Excellent coffee.

M
Review №34

Live this little place! 10/10 better than Starbucks any day

Mi
Review №35

The coffee is freshly roasted and the roast date is always on the bag. The baristas are skilled and there are a variety of offerings. I highly recommend Groundswell.

Ar
Review №36

Coffee is great. Outdoor seating yet no public restroom? Cmon, thats a nuisance to your neighbors.

Ma
Review №37

A huge assortment of freshly baked pastries and goods, breakfast specials Friday & weekends, and soft serve ice cream!!!! Oh, and fair trade coffee, of course.Groundswell Coffee Roasters.

Br
Review №38

Cute local spot for really good coffee. Two stars is for the staff. We stop in at least once a week and it’s quite consistently an unfriendly, unwelcoming experience. You’re serving coffee, can you greet and smile?

Pa
Review №39

Great place for a good cup of tea and tasty coffees

El
Review №40

Coffee - good. Espresso drinks - awesome. Iced drinks - perfect! Food - really really good panini.Atmosphere - very relaxed and good for pretty much everyone, especially for study and work. Staff is always nice and welcoming.One downside for me - espresso drinks are slightly more expensive than what I would like.Overall, I love the place!

Jo
Review №41

I live in the area and go in from time to time, Im rooting for them. Its a good spot to do work (if you get past the weird firewall) and the baristas are fine. However there are a few issues. The espresso is almost always over-extracted. They use stale matcha that has oxidized. Their sandwiches are good when the order is right but theyve gotten my sandwich order wrong several times.

Na
Review №42

I really like their coffee and order from there quite often.

Da
Review №43

Small shop but...it’s cozy and welcoming. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and the coffee is yum yum! Go here!!

Na
Review №44

Great coffee spot in Ravenswood.

Di
Review №45

Rode our bikes here. Love the atmosphere. They have plastic and paper straws.

Di
Review №46

Delicious chai tea latte! This place is my second office. The baristas are all so kind and they have a pride flag hanging out front! We love

Cl
Review №47

Groundswell has excellent coffee and their indoor and outdoor seating areas are comfortable and inviting. The place does tend to fill up, so plan your trip to arrive ahead of busy times - especially if you want to park with your laptop for a spell. The pastries and baked goods are very tasty but the sandwiches are just ok, IMO.

Su
Review №48

Groundswell Coffee Roasters is a breeding ground for coffee enthusiasts and earthlings pretending to work on their laptops. Its a great place to people watch because its a 2 floor paradise of ample seating.

Sh
Review №49

Very moderate in design, not too intrusive. Nice and chill place to relax, drink some coffee and read. Best job to have if you can afford it. I cant, but still do because its an amazing place. Probably the best review of Groundswell.

Be
Review №50

I have so many great things to say about this place! The coffee is incredible, they have GREAT vegan food (the pizza rolls are extraterrestrial.

El
Review №51

Nice vibe, great coffee tea and food. Can you get chairs instead of stools at the tables? One person can recline but the other slouches 🤨

Sa
Review №52

Nice cafe, the coffee was okay.

Br
Review №53

Great, clean atmosphere. Awesome prices on all the coffee drinks you could ever want, and some nice muffins and scones, too! Havent tried lunch here, but would be happy to in the future. Employees are friendly and relaxed, too!

An
Review №54

I really like this little place! They have a good tea selection and its just a warm & inviting space to work in and relax. Thanks Groundswell!

SF
Review №55

The best oat chai latte in the city. They sometimes feature special concoctions like rose latte or golden milk. Cute local cafe, well maintained, including the restroom, friendly staff.

Ji
Review №56

Get the Tea-Totaler’s Hot Toddy because it is good to have.

Am
Review №57

Nice coffee & a cozy joint. The coffee was a bit cold, but very delicious. Ill definitely stop by if Im around.

Ri
Review №58

Their bacon cheddar scones are amazing! Super nice, even when theyre really busy. Very clean and welcoming area, comfortable and bright. Perfection!

Ch
Review №59

I stop in here every Saturday. The coffee is great, and the lattes are beautiful. Ive had a few pastries and really recommend the everything croissant.The staff is really friendly, and the decor is very cool and clean.

Bi
Review №60

Excellent coffee roasted on site. Had a great pour over. Good seating, but not the most comfortable so maybe not the best place to camp out and do work. Knowledgeable approachable staff. Would come back for the coffee

Ty
Review №61

I had the pleasure to work with Jason building out all 3 coffee shops thus far. Im sure theres more coffee shops to come. Jason is hardworking and very pationate towards the companies operations. Not to mention he brews the best coffee in Chicago! I recommend to all!

Ti
Review №62

Groundswell is my favorite local coffee spot, with consistently friendly service, a nice place to hang out, read, or work, and great food and COFFEE. Its not inexpensive, but you do get what you pay for, and Ive never been disappointed.

En
Review №63

Decor is modern, simple, and clean. Breakfast paninis are pretty good and coffee is brewed with expertise. Definitely a neighborhood favorite.

B
Review №64

I really want to try to support this great neighborhood coffee shop , but for the five times I have been there, the WiFi has not worked five times (100%). There are two WiFi networks one for 2.4Ghz and another for 5Ghz, and consistently neither work. Other customers and I have bemoaned this ongoing issue. If you want consistent functional WiFi, try City Coffee at Foster and Damen.

Br
Review №65

Good Vibes. Good coffee. Enough seating for a small business to work remotely in. Plus they serve Paninis which are always delicious.

Fr
Review №66

Its a decent place to get a good cup of coffee. They have WiFi and plenty of space to work from if you are looking for a place to work from. The service was good and friendly as well.

To
Review №67

Good macchiato. Good atmosphere. Great staff!

Ma
Review №68

I have tried dozens of cafes in Chicago. Consistently the best latte I have had. Great cafe

Ja
Review №69

Wifi: Espressoso hip. The coffee didnt knock my socks off but it certainly wasnt bad. seems like a great place for the kidz to hang.Fresh beans are consistently two weeks old :(

La
Review №70

One of my local hangouts. Perfect for a chill rainy morning.

Ma
Review №71

Excellent macchiato, though they only pour single shot ones.

Mi
Review №72

Quality coffee and love the atmosphere, only wish they were open a bit later.

mi
Review №73

Most the time the music that they play is spectacular and when its not spectacular its really good

El
Review №74

Great patio and comfy couches against an aesthetically pleasing wall (indoors). The menu is clear and features several tempting panini options.The coffee is good too. I tried the pumpkin pie latte this afternoon and it far surpasses the Starbucks PSL. I recommend it. Only downside: the bathrooms are gender neutral. I was particularly offended by this seeing as I identify as a chimichanga. Hopefully we will get to a point in society when bathrooms are open to people like me.

El
Review №75

Really good coffee and incredibly friendly staff. Also can recommend blueberry muffin, its something absolutely amazing:)

Br
Review №76

Delicious drink and food options. Their nutella panini was awesome. They make a great chai latte too. Staff is super friendly and they give great recommendations.

pa
Review №77

This cafe has great coffee and a comfortable vibe.

Gr
Review №78

Groundswell is fantastic. Not only a nice menu and phenominal tea and coffee, but the service is friendly, helpful, and they seem to know their stuff. Cant beat staff like this.Service is king in this type of business and everyone Ive run into here really seems to get it.Tired of the cool crowd ignoring certain people and copping attitude at far too many places on the northside. Groundswell is a breath of fresh air, professional, and inclusive. I wish these guys well and hope they expand!

Ch
Review №79

Good coffee, really love that they have V60 pour over as an option and that they sell beans that they roast themselves on site.

Ma
Review №80

It was quiet and a nice seating arrangement! Great to get work done!

C.
Review №81

They know how to roast and prepare coffee; I have been here several times and its always a treat.

Mi
Review №82

Scenic view, and the interior designs are amazing along with great taste of coffee.

Er
Review №83

Comfy, but not necessarily cozy, coffee place with their own roasting and brewing to hand.

Kr
Review №84

Awesome drinks and food. You can also buy freshly roasted coffee beans and they will grind them for you

Br
Review №85

I pretty much just drink black coffee, and I love the roast here.

Em
Review №86

Some of the best coffee I’ve found, and so friendly!

Ka
Review №87

Iced chai latte is amazing!!! Sandwiches and staff are great!

Cl
Review №88

Great, great coffee. Real baristas. Real coffee

Ca
Review №89

Awesome place! They do a great Chemex!! 👌👍

Je
Review №90

So far Ive had the macchiato, cortado, apple muffin and turkey panini. All have been great. Its located between Dolce Casa and Perfect Cup on Damen and compliments them both: The quality of Dolces food, the seating availability of Perfect Cup, and fantastic coffee all its own. Awesome addition to the hood.

Aa
Review №91

Enjoyed my latte, but that blueberry muffin tho!

Ed
Review №92

Friendly baristas and great espressos.

Me
Review №93

Good food and service.

Ch
Review №94

Fantastic new specialty coffee spot.

Ja
Review №95

Solid coffee shop everything was good.

Ta
Review №96

Stellar coffee! Great environment.

Gi
Review №97

Good coffee and a nice place to work.

Ri
Review №98

Cool vibe and perfect cortados.

Ja
Review №99

Great coffee great blueberry muffins

He
Review №100

Great flat white!

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.7 Rating
  • Address:4839 N Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60625, United States
  • Site:http://www.groundswellcoffeeroasters.com/
  • Phone:+1 773-754-7590
Categories
  • Coffee shop
  • Cafe
  • Coffee wholesaler
Working hours
  • Monday:6:30AM–3PM
  • Tuesday:6:30AM–3PM
  • Wednesday:6:30AM–3PM
  • Thursday:6:30AM–3PM
  • Friday:7:30AM–5PM
  • Saturday:7:30AM–3PM
  • Sunday:6:30AM–3PM
Service options
  • Curbside pickup:Yes
  • Takeout:Yes
  • Delivery:No
  • Dine-in:No
Highlights
  • Fast service:Yes
  • Great coffee:Yes
  • Great tea selection:Yes
Popular for
  • Breakfast:Yes
  • Solo dining:Yes
  • Good for working on laptop:Yes
Offerings
  • Quick bite:Yes
Atmosphere
  • Casual:Yes
  • Cozy:Yes
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