Common Grounds

First time in Waco! Good place to stop for a drink. Free visitor parking on the Baylor Campus on weekends and a short walk to Common Grounds. Cute campus kitty hanging out around the corner from the coffee shop!

I had a very disappointing experience at this coffee shop. My boyfriend and I visited around 6:00 PM, ordered our coffee, and had been sitting quietly in the corner for about 10 minutes when a male staff member came over and told us they would be closing in 15 minutes. This made no sense because the shop’s normal closing time is 11:00 PM, and there was no public holiday or special event that would explain an early closure. What made the situation even more upsetting was that we seemed to be the only customers who were approached. Other customers were left alone. We were polite, respectful, didn’t make any noise, and simply wanted to enjoy our coffee. As visitors from another country, it honestly felt like we were singled out because of who we are, and that experience came across as discriminatory and deeply unwelcoming. I can’t say for certain what the staff member’s intentions were, but the way we were treated was unfair and disrespectful. No customer should leave feeling unwelcome after doing nothing wrong. This café came highly recommended, which is why we chose to visit, but based on our experience, I cannot recommend it to others. Customer service is just as important as the quality of the coffee, and treating every customer with courtesy and respect should be a basic expectation. I hope the management looks into this and ensures all guests are treated equally in the future.

The interior is super elegant and cute, it’s a blessing to just sit in any of the sitting area inside/outside. Their amazing seasonal drink (Gold rush) is very rich-tasting and has a nice savory flavor! Will definitely visit back again!

I decided, as a former BU alumni, to stop by and try out the old coffee shop. There was not a single parking spot so I was forced to park in one of many mangers spots for maybe 5mins to use the restroom and order a cappuccino. I get back to my car and there’s a huge green tow warning sticker on my vehicle. I’ll never stop here again! Plus the restroom was filthy. I’d recommend some to-go spots for customers to use. Magnolia Press will continue to be my go to on my way through town.