When I arrived in Lexington a year ago, my moving van was a few days behind me, so I couldn’t even fix coffee in my new home.  Before I left Kansas, I had checked out what Lexington had in the way of coffee shops.  Of course, there’s always Starbucks, but I was looking for the character and authenticity that’s hard to find in a chain. 

I fell in love with Common Grounds Coffee House, Lexington’s oldest coffee shop.  It’s located downtown at 343 E. High Street.  They also have a drive-through kiosk called The Daily Grind at 4772 Hartland Parkway in my neighborhood in south Lexington and a newly opened coffee shop on the University of Kentucky campus.

Common Grounds…started in 1992 as just a local coffee shop and has grown into the largest locally owned coffee business in Lexington. Besides the 3 stores, Common Ground’s has a warehouse facility where coffee is roasted fresh every week and  the warehouse is where the majority of the food products are made in the company’s commercial kitchen. http://www.commongroundsoflexington.com

I’ve been back many times since that first cappuccino and it never disappoints.  It’s a great place to hang out with a book or laptop and a coffee.  There are several seating areas inside, as well as outside tables.

Common Grounds is the epitome of what a coffee shop should be!