The Grounds Espresso Bar
462 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC
Crema's Take
“This upscale Chapel Hill spot run by UNC grads brings a sophisticated speakeasy vibe to Franklin Street, where espresso drinks get the craft cocktail treatment—think perfectly balanced espresso martinis and creative offerings like their "death by chocolate" drink-dessert hybrid. The sleek, cool interior makes it ideal for lingering over a thoughtfully made peppermint mocha latte or settling in with your laptop, all backed by bartenders who clearly care about consistency and execution. It's pricier than your typical coffee shop, but regulars agree the quality of the drinks and the pleasant atmosphere make it worth the splurge.”
What to expect
Espresso-focused, with creative signature drinks. A slow-sit, laptop-friendly spot, good for meetings.
Google Reviews
I LOVE the grounds!! The staff are genuinely the best people ever and are patient, kind, and always smiling. The honey cinnamon latte is FIRE. Will definitely be coming back to study, yap with friends, or read.
The sweetest staff! And my raspberry honey latte was delightful. I’m hoping to go again soon :).
I tried their espresso martini and it was absolutely delicious with perfect balance of bittersweet with just the right kick of alcohol, finished beautifully with coffee beans on top. They also offer several different martini varieties, which is great if you’re a martini lover.…
Fantastic drinks! Tried the classic espresso martini and the old fashioned and both were excellent. The bartender was pretty new but still gave excellent service. A bit pricey, but worth it for the consistent, specialty cocktails. Will be visiting again.
I stopped in here for some coffee before going to Cat Tales Cat Cafe (across the street). The peppermint mocha latte I got was wonderful, and it was a pleasant atmosphere to spend a little bit of time in.
The drinks were really good and I loved the death by chocolate as a drink and dessert in one. This is definitely more of your “upscale” college speak easy vibe due to consistency of the drinks/service. Ordering was a bit all over the place as the bartenders were very busy and…
Crema Reviews
You might also like
MunchiLove
★ 4.9 (38)
MunchiLove is a warmly curated Chapel Hill gem where the espresso drinks are…
Perennial
★ 4.7 (256)
Perennial strikes that rare balance between serious coffee craft and genuinely…
Caffè Driade
★ 4.6 (1,172)
Tucked into Chapel Hill's woods, Caffè Driade feels more like a secret garden…
Quickly - Chapel Hill
★ 4.6 (208)
Quickly in Chapel Hill strikes an inviting balance between a dedicated bubble…