Ancient Grounds Coffee Co
1022 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL
Crema's Take
“Ancient Grounds is a cozy Lakeview spot where the owner Paul creates a genuinely welcoming atmosphere that works equally well for a quick caffeine fix or settling in with a laptop. Their standout signature drinks are playfully themed around cereals—think Biscoff and Cinnamon Toast Crunch lattes—that deliver on the indulgent sweetness, and the pastries and hot breakfast sandwiches land just right alongside a reliably excellent cold brew. It's the kind of place that feels slick and intentional without losing that warm, neighborhood-coffee-shop soul.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
My partner and I finally had the chance to pop by for our very first visit today, and we were really looking forward to seeing what it was all about! To be totally honest, I was a *tiny* bit let down that my coffee wasn't quite as piping hot as I usually prefer – it was just a touch lukewarm, which was a shame. But hey, on the upside, my partner tried one of their sandwiches and he was absolutely thrilled with it, so that made up for it! What really struck me was the fantastic atmosphere. Even though it was pretty busy with lots of people, everyone seemed to be enjoying their time in such a wonderfully calm and quiet environment. It made for a really pleasant and relaxed vibe.
What a fantastic shop! We had the pleasure of meeting Paul, the owner, who’s such a wonderful person. The vibe was cozy enough to work on some homework or to get out of the office, but lively enough to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend. We tried their signature lattes, and our favorites were the Cinnamon Toast Crunch and the Lucky Charms. I also sampled their pumpkin spice chai with oat milk – absolutely delicious! Overall, it’s got a great atmosphere, quality coffee, and some fun twists on classics. They serve Counter Culture coffee, which is excellent and one of my favorites. Highly recommend! Plus, it’s right off the red line, making it a perfect little escape from downtown.
Small coffee shop with a slick interior and a lot of nice specialty drinks themed off of cereals. Service was quick and both the hot sandwiches and pastries that we got were good. Definitely worth stopping in to try the specialty drinks if you're nearby
We visited on a Friday at 7am. My son ordered an egg and bacon croissant and a cold brew. I decided to try the Biscoff latte. I expected the latte to be sweet and it was extremely. I would get it again as a rare treat but not a daily. My son loved the cold brew, said the flavor was great without bitterness. The sandwich was good too. They have a variety of seating options and friendly staff. Very relaxing atmosphere. We would go back.
Ancient Grounds is the perfect coffee and breakfast spot in Lakeview. Their signature cereal coffees (we got the Biscoff and Cinnamon Toast Crunch) were delicious. They make them on the sweeter side, so specify if you’d like yours to be made that way. The Becky Egg & Cheese sandwich was absolutely phenomenal—top 5 breakfast sandwich for me. The croissant is perfectly cooked to have enough crunch but still soft at the same time. Their customer service is top-notch and they were very accommodating for our requests. Do yourself a favor and stop by this place for coffee and breakfast to enjoy their pleasant and relaxing ambiance. We will definitely be back to try other menu items. Side note: Mon - Fri 11a-1pm they have coffee flights of their signature coffees.
Crema Reviews
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