Vanessa Reviews Common Ground
You’ve probably heard about it by now, but Common Ground Coffee (or simply “Common Ground”) is a very popular cafe in Edmonton, and for good reason!
I found out about Common Ground just over a year ago. They’re a Korean owned cafe that offers a blend of your typical cafe drinks and treats with occasional Korean twists (as I’ll discuss today!). One of my favorite things about Common Ground is their place in the city’s music scene. For example, they often host mix nights, where special guests will mix a certain style or genre for a couple hours. Guests are invited into the cafe after close to socialize and enjoy some fun drinks (the alcoholic kind ;)). This really makes Common Ground stand out as its own little community hub.
The variety of pastries offered.
Located in the Keswick area, Common Ground can take some time to get to depending on where you live. It takes me about 20 minutes or so to get there by car from the west side, but it’s worth the travel I promise!
The interior offers neutral wood tones mixed with greys and comforting lighting. The space, though somewhat small, feels spacious with the tons of seating options available.
Inside Common Ground’s cafe.
Although I’m a die-hard latte girlie, I’ve been on a little bit of a matcha grind lately. I got the strawberry matcha on my most recent visit. They often add more matcha items in the warmer months, and the mango option is typically my go-to! The matcha is incredibly smooth and flavourful. I’ve never been served overly-grainy matcha here. The puree is rich but not too sweet. This is good because when mixed into the drink, the matcha still tastes like matcha, with delicate notes of strawberry.
My strawberry matcha ($8.50 before tax) & almond croissant order (I forgot to get the price!). Pictured is a Lazybones business card, which is a Korean owned tattoo parlour on Whyte. They have some very talented artists there!
I also am a big fan of croissants. I typically get the almond croissant which is always fresh and a great treat to start the morning with. On this past visit, my boyfriend tried the bulgogi salt bread. It was so yummy! Their salt bread on its own is very light but still packs a punch. The bulgogi version was no different — savoury, soft, and super flavourful. I was pleasantly surprised by the additional seasoning that was added. It had a very peppery taste that I have never had with any bulgogi dish before. All the flavours made this small snack feel much, much bigger than it actually is.
Bulgogi salt bread. I forgot to grab the price :(
I will say that for some menu items, like the matchas, you can see that the prices are slightly steep. In Common Ground’s defence, you are paying for the craft. The owner has had a lot of barista and cafe experience, and it is clear that he 1. knows what he’s doing and 2. is very passionate about his job! You can always spot him working himself, especially during busy times, which is very nice to witness and adds to the community vibe this space offers. The team is also very kind, and I’ve never once felt bad for stopping in for a quick visit (if you’ve had bad cafe experiences before, hopefully you know what I mean). It has been so lovely getting to watch this business grow and flourish over this past year!
Common Ground’s drink menu.
Overall, I rate Common Ground an 11/10! You should definitely go there, even if their location is sliiiightly inconvenient!
Written by GAPSS VP Internal Vanessa W.