Located on the main pedestrian thoroughfare in coffee-centric Burlington, VT, Uncommon Grounds offers some of the best and most fresh coffee in town.

With a very wide selection of beans from most of the coffee growing countries stored right in their burlap bags in bulk in the store, they regularly roast in-house to assure the freshest cup. For people who like to watch the roasting action, the roaster is located immediately inside the entrance (don’t touch!) and roasting occurs in the late-afternoon to evening hours, filling the store (and street) with the pleasant smell of fresh coffee.

They offer each day, in addition to a moderately dark house roast, four or five brewed selections from their wide array of beans. Usually comprised of a daily roast, a decaf and a flavored caffeinated and decaf coffee, each different. For those that can’t decide between a cup of the house or the daily roast, they display in large print a detailed description of the day’s roast, from body and acidity to more creatively descriptive elements that you’d fine in finer reviews.

Also offered are a variety of teas (all loose leaf), cocoas, desserts and pastries; from bagels to cookies, cakes, croissants and tortes.

Despite the quality of the product, there is nothing “uncommon” about the atmosphere, which is unfortunate for this reviewer, as I love not just coffee but the experience of the cafe environment as well. Certainly very clean and classy, and displaying works of local artists continuously, there is nothing really very unique about this one. The tables are average-sized and glass topped, with two or four small wood-backed chairs per table. Each exactly alike, while not uncomfortable, they certainly don’t encourage lingering for hours (though this reviewer has).

There is a selection of window counter seats that afford a relaxing view of Church St., the busy shopping center of town. During the summer outdoor seating is offered, but unless you are enjoying your beverage during the early or late hours when the sun is blocked by buildings, there is absolutely no shade to be had at all.

Wireless Internet access is offered by an outside company called Soundtivity, which supplies the entire downtown Burlington area with wireless coverage. Fees are better than some national carriers such as T-Mobile, but they are still fees. Access is limited to the window seats (about ten to twelve seats) and the first two or three tables before the signal drops off to an unusable level. Naturally, the outside seats are covered well.

The staff is very friendly, prices are average, quality is superb and, though I wouldn’t call it remarkable or unique, the atmosphere is certainly clean, pleasant and of high caliber. Though some cafes in Burlington score higher on other elements, the quality of coffee alone is enough to keep me coming back.

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UPDATE: About that wireless access… This review was written several years ago when Soundtivity was just an upstart. Problems with the service at that time where constant and bothersome and I haven’t any idea if access can be had now at Uncommon Grounds.

tags: burlington, cafe, church street, church street marketplace, coffee, coffee beans, coffee roasting, downtown, food, fresh coffee, pastries, pedestrian mall, tea, uncommon grounds, vt

This entry was posted on Friday, May 4th, 2007 at May 04, 07 | 12:24 am and is filed under Coffee, Just Noumenon Posts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.