It's funny that I read the first review of this place and what was listed as favorable in that review is exactly what I don't like about Common Grounds.
The shop is filled with Baylor faux hipsters (the real hipsters are down in Austin), who are there to see and be seen, which is fine, not what I'm looking for in a coffee shop.
Parking in miserable.
I don't want to drink any over priced, over sugared drink, of which there are many to choose from here (they know their market), so I haven't been going to Common Grounds all that frequently. However, I recently heard that they have switched to Cuvee for their espresso and would be switching to some of Cuvee's offerings for the brewed coffees as well. Now anyone that knows coffee in Texas should be familiar with Cuvee, who is the big dog of the high end roasters in Texas. I think their Meritage espresso can hold it's own next to Intelligentsia, Counter Culture, Verve, etc. So, I went down there last week to try a cappuccino. While the drink was better than it has ever been at Common Grounds before, it still wasn't where it should be considering they are using a premier roaster. The foam was too loose and simply piled on top of the drink.
As long as they are staffed by baristas (if they can even call themselves that), that are more concerned about their ironic t-shirts, cool tattoos, and bandanas, than they are coffee, they aren't going to be able to take that next step and make truly great coffee.
I am hopeful however, that they may indeed put forth more effort now that they are serving Cuvee...and at least there's a place in town that I can buy some espresso for home when I run out.
