Common Ground

I’ve had better sausage rolls at truck stops in the bush. The coffee is watery and the ambience has changed to ‘suburban deli’. It’s a real shame as this once was a great little place, but ever since the original owners sold the quality of everything has tanked.
I mean, what café in Balaclava/​Saint Kilda would give patrons a squeeze pack of Masterfoods tomato sauce for their sausage roll? Seriously?
I resent having spent money here.

After having lived in this neighbourhood for roughly a month, I finally managed to come in and check out Common Ground. I was very happy that the power went out at Jerry’s Milk Bar this morning!
After crossing under the balaclava train line, hang a left and you’ve entered a beautiful little café space. Simple and almost spartan design, and perfectly designed for either a quick commute coffee or a comfy spot to hang out for a lazy breakfast and a Unilocal.The semi exposed brick wall and old stained glass doors frame this cute space.
The coffee: I got a cappuccino as a baseline test and that was delicious. After wolfing that down, I had a macchiato which was also exactly as it should be. My wife got a teapot which was cleverly brought out on a nice wooden planche replete with a side of milk and sugar for those so inclined.
The brekky: The menu is simple, succinct, and free of the hallmarks of flash in the pan. The classics (egg with toast, smashed avo, bircher muesli, etc) are all present along with bagel sandwiches (there’s a bagel shop nearby?). I opted for a classic breaky bagel which hit the spot perfectly. Egg, bacon, cheese, tomato relish, done. Very tasty and cooked perfectly. As a side note, as a Montréalais, the bagel was more like a brioche in the shape of a bagel with a tiny hint of sweetness, but all the same tasty. My wife had fruit toast as a reminiscence of her schoolgirl days in an Australian boarding house, which she enjoyed as much as one can enjoy toast.
The service: amenable, friendly, and was totally willing to make special orders. My wife was originally going to go for the smashed avo sans feta before switching back at the last minute.
Way to go Common Ground! Another fan!

I’ve only ever had coffee here, but it’s great and I love the blends through my Aeropress, even though they’re roasted for espresso.
Love that it’s a local roaster.
Very good addition to the Balaclava strip.

3.5
I’m not sold on Common Ground, however my friends James Y. and Harrison C. are real fans of this café, so I will be sure to reevaluate in the near future.
Coffee was bland upon my first visit, yet as I said, I am willing to give second chances in my pursuit of aesthetic enlightenment.
Watch this space.

A very nice addition to the cafés of Carlisle. A clean, crisp minimalist design pervades Common Ground to provide a comfortable yet lively atmosphere. The coffee, at first taste, is aromatic and brewed well. Kudos to Common Ground on roasting their own!
All in all, a very fine establishment that is to see success in the near future.

This is a new one.
Good old James Y. suggested this place. Wasn’t certain at first b/​c I always think to myself, «If I’m coming to Balaclava, I might as well just go to Monk Bodhi Dharma.» but this was the first I’ve ever heard of this place. I didn’t even notice it walking by it two days earlier. It is a small little joint that roasts their own coffee and has that old colonial interior kind of look to it. All white with wood. Nice set-​up to say the least.
The coffee was a pleasant surprise. From the first sip, I knew it was going to be a good one. Very nice aroma and great taste. For a new café, this place isn’t far off Monk Bodhi Dharma for quality. This place is also on the street front next to the tram/​train station, so I think it is a safe bet that it is going to get a fair few customers during the opening months of business. I see this place as an up and coming café. Keep a look out for it in The Age Good Café Guide 2014. Get in early and give it a go.