Social Grounds Coffee & Tea

It was fine. I think I must have got a new employee because although nice enough she really struggled. Did look cute as a button with her flashdance off the shoulder shirt though. We had to ask several times to get plates for a large Cobb salad. Same with water, had to ask twice and eventually sought out another employee to help us. And they charged a quarter for the cup! The first employee seemed to get distracted and forgot to bring what she promised.
Doesn’t jibe with what people have been writing about the engaging counter people so I assume she was just getting her sea legs. It would have been nice to have been asked «How are you?» or told good afternoon or have a nice day at the counter. Frankly, I do not even remember her speaking. Just took our order, turned the IPad around for me to sign the credit card (and tip) receipt and left.
As to the food and coffee: Cobb salad was nice size. Light on the ham, heavy on the blue cheese. Cherry tomatoes were good. Bagel was warm but not toasted. Not sure how they did that. Microwave? Chocolate brownie was great. Just had drip coffee and it was perfectly fine.
Overall a pretty average coffee shop. Not great, not terrible. Maybe the green aspect of the shop is a big selling point? My favorite part was the bench made out of a truck tailgate. That was cool.

Great iced Americano with plenty of seating and parking. This is my go to study spot.

Mediocre coffee with expensive price. They charged me the same amount of money for a refill. I’ll give 3 stars for its decoration and AC.

Love this place. I go there at least twice a week to set up shop and get some work done. The employees rock– friendly and attentive, they knew my drink after just a few visits and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. Doesn’t matter if you’re there to get some work done, meeting a friend for a chat, or you’re killing time with the kiddos, this is a great place to kick back with a beverage.
One of the real draws – for me, at any rate – is the fact that they not only have quality coffee, but great local beers and wines available. Excellent salads, too, if you’re hungry (lots of other breakfast, lunch, or snacks items, as well). I was happy to learn that the salads are made to order, so it’s no issue to ask for something vegan. I’m happy to be a regular here, and while I may be soft-​spoken in person, I’m happy to see the familiar faces each time I return.

Excellent coffee and service. The staff is always super friendly! They have some very good snacks to compliment their coffee. Very easy on the environment, because almost all of the paper and plastic ware are compostabke. Yea!

Ugh yet another coffee place with Starbucks-​like plastic pastries and muffins on display. These coffee shops are making so much money off the coffee they don’t need to think about FRESH baked pastries and muffins. Yawn. But… wait for it… the coffee is exceptional.

Best latte around. High quality coffee (better than stump town in my opinion), great milk options, friendly staff and cute coffee shop. Will be back again and again. Great addition to the growing community.

Nice local coffee shop. Can get pretty busy at times, but you can also park in the covered lot around the corner just check the time limit but I think it’s 90 minutes.
They really strive to keep everything fresh and compost able as possible. I believe all of their milks are organic or what not.
Seating may be limited at peak times.
The value is pretty good for the area and what you are getting. If you are in Bothell near BECU then give them a try. Most days they stay open fairly late and they probably have another location too just ask.

So I’ve been ordering macchiatos recently and using them as a good test drink whenever I go to a new café. Recently I’ve had good luck, but always at cafes in Seattle. I’m trying to find a café closer to Lynnwood that I can work in.
I tried Social Grounds today because it’s one of the only places that showed up (other than Starbucks) when I searched for macchiato and had a 4.5 star review.
The macchiato had a good looking crema, uninspired latte art and, I have to admit it, tasted bad. The milk and espresso didn’t come together at all. It just tasted like bitter, watery, amateur espresso with some foam.
I returned my macchiato and asked to pay the difference to get a latte instead. The barista had no problem doing that for me so I paid an extra dollar and change and got a latte instead.
The latte looked great, latte art was on point, and it tasted good. It didn’t blow my mind but it was good and had no glaring detractors to it.
In review, I like the atmosphere and the intentions of this café, though it is overrated, but I understand the enthusiasm for this place based on the lack of other local options. I hope the baristas keep working their craft and practicing the execution of all their drinks, especially the more technical drinks. (P.S. I had an excellent macchiato at Analog coffee in Capitol Hill yesterday) I would definitely come back based on the location — I hope that my next visit makes me a regular based on their coffee, not their proximity. I really want my next review to be a 4 or 5 star review.
My marketing fortune cookie for Social Grounds:
A great product sells itself. If you don’t have a great product yet, outstanding customer service and atmosphere need to make up for it.

Went into Social Grounds at 9pm last weekend on Saturday night. Even though it was late, the cashier was extremely friendly and seemed happy to be there. I ordered a chai latte with two shots espresso. It was so delicious! Best chai I have ever had, not kidding. It tasted like a Little Debbie oatmeal cookie.
I also loved that they had little stickers with cute sayings at the counter. This will definitely be a stop for me whenever I am in downtown Bothell. I really loved everything about this coffee shop!

Pretty good coffee shop in a convenient location if you live nearby or are visiting McMenamin’s or Main street. Their lattes and caramel macchiato are all very good. Smooth flavors with just the right amount of kick. I have also had sandwiches and salads that they make and all were very good. The regular (smaller) size salads are huge and worth the money. I wish they had more food options, but at least what they do have is good quality. The staff is always friendly and competent.

Wow. This place is amazing. It’s cozy, clean, and the coffee is great. They also have raw kombucha that I have not yet tried (but will be going back for). The company is striving to have zero waste which is a great goal to support.
I ordered a pumpkin spice latte with a little less syrup.
The barista kindly told me how they make their own pumpkin syrup! They use coconut milk and coconut sugar, which, again, is GREAT. The foam on top was several inches of pure heaven.
They also offer a variety of loose leaf teas, if you don’t drink coffee.
If you enjoy looking around coffee shops, this place is great for that. Their water dispenser is shaped like a tear drop, the spices that you add to your beverages are in mini mason jars with handles. They also have fresh herbs on display, as well as a baby coffee plant.
Oh, and their coffee cups have beautiful, vibrant designs, which is always a bonus.

Love the kombucha on tap, the coffee is super great as well!
Love the decoration inside the place. Amazing. Just what bothell needed :)

Cute family owned coffee shop downstairs of the apt! So convenient to be able to walk downstairs to get coffee, teas, and amazing salads!!! Their Kale salad was soooooo good! Their staff is always friendly and smiling, and they have really good hours too!

I give it a 4 star review based on its overall presentation. A VERY clean and organized group. The staff was friendly and made you feel welcome. I’d say that the quality of baked goods left me disappointed and if it were a rating based off of that, then they would have gotten a review of only 3 stars. The coffee was presented to me with art which told me immediately that it was a craft to the barista and a labor of their love for espresso.
Unfortunately, the breve latte I got was just average in my opinion. When I say that, I mean that there was nothing noticeably exceptional with it. The only thing that stood out between my drink and the London fog that my wife ordered was that they over steamed the milk on both drinks. The baked goods too were only average and a little on the over baked side when it came to the biscotti and cookies that we got. We purchased a bag of beans, and love the stamped verses on the bag. If I were in the area again, it’s not like I wouldn’t come back but I would definitely explore the other coffee establishments in the area.
Cleanliness is a must in the food industry and they hit the mark, but if it’s quality that you’re looking for, it’s worth the stop but it also wouldn’t hurt to keep browsing the area as well.

This location has only been open for a couple of weeks but seems to be doing very well, and I can see why. They have a great spot off the busy intersection near 522 and right off Bothell Way near downtown Bothell. Since there aren’t many coffee café options nearby, I am very thankful to have this establishment open so close to home. The reasons are pretty obvious once you give it a try:
1. Staff is very welcoming and friendly. They are very helpful with making a selection. We mentioned that one our drinks wasn’t exactly how we expected and they lady remade the drink without any hesitation.
2. The selection is great for coffee and tea lovers even if you want a hot or cold beverage. The English Breakfast Tea or Matcha Tea Frappé is amazing.
3. Food options here range from snacks/​treats with their pastries and baked goods to meals with their salads. I have had a few items, and I’d say the favorite is the breakfast sandwich.
4. The interior is well decorated and clean. The seating maybe an issue in the future because it’s a bit limited but hasn’t been crowded yet. They also have a good number of outlets around, so if you need to study or work it’s great.
I’d highly recommend this place to anyone really especially for those wanting a place meet up or even get some work done.

Great atmosphere! I love coming here to study, sit back and enjoy their French roast. The staff is super friendly and smiles all the time. They are highly eco friendly and have a great variety of salads and other teas. Their black drip coffee is wonderful. Not too bitter or over brewed. Love coming here. And their hours are perfect for early morning or late afternoon coffee lovers who need to study or work from home.

I have visited twice now since the Grand Opening and have been very happy with my experiences so far.
The location is super cute and convenient. Parking is not too difficult to find but may become a little more of a struggle once the surrounding construction projects are finished (Town Hall, McMenamins, and others). The décor is very clean, modern, and minimalistic– just like I like it. The fresh flowers were a fantastic touch. Seating, table space, and lighting is plentiful if you prefer to stay for a bit. The staff happily informed us that all of their cups and packaging are compostable.
I had a hot, blueberry loose leaf tea and cobb salad. Both were fresh and delicious! I resisted the urge to get one of the yummy sweets but will definitely indulge on one of my next visits. Everyone working behind the counter was super nice and eager to help and answer any questions. The payment system is super easy and modern and after suggestion of the staff I immediately downloaded the Perka rewards app and look forward to my future benefits!
Overall I’m very happy to see another friendly, local option that focuses on more than just coffee and I look forward to seeing them grow!

The simplicity is what gets me when I enter. The grounds two colors of orange and green evoke a powerful sense of life and freshness. What they produce, by the way, is nothing short of this idea. Their selection is simple; coffee or tea and then you go from that step into the variety, which I assure you is fresh and compostable. Their goal is unvarnished: provide the best possible product without the fluff that most people invest in and cater to an audience that both want to relax and enjoy a quality beverage with family or friends in a comforting environment that brings people together and ushers a new word into the Eco– café scene: humbling. It’s a fantastic vision and I wish Darren and Wendy the best in accomplishing it!
Check out their Tea Spritzer and loaded salads.

Exciting to have a brand new café open so close to home. The store is located in the East facing retail space below the relatively new apartment community, Six Oaks. Parking spots are available right in front, but if those are full then plenty more retail spaces are available in the garage behind. It has a staff that provides speedy but courteous service, but I’d recommend engaging the customer more. For example, I am accustomed to hearing baristas offering assistance in making the selection, especially at new establishments or if I am new to that café. From what I observed, the staff was distracted from the excitement of it being the Grand Opening. Their conversations were mostly among the staff more so than engaging the customer. They also have a rewards program that only later discovered after noticing it on my ticket (not receipt). This is another example of what I would have liked the barista to draw my attention to and preferably highlight some information about it.
I ordered the caramel macchiato and the breakfast sandwich (English muffin with ham, egg, and cheese). Both were very delicious. While I waited, I checked out the café’s interior, and it is well done. The furnishings and décor are new but rustic in style, so it gives the café a cozy and warm ambience.
I intend on going back and trying some other items, and at this point I highly recommend it to others to give it a try.