Grounds’ prices are the dregs
November 18, 2004 by Contributed By CHANTAL STEPNEY
Filed under Variety
Chocolate-covered strawberries, cinnamon nut strudel and Snickers ground up in a cup?
It probably sounds a little strange, but you can enjoy the taste of these and other treats in the specialty drinks served at the grounds.
Located on Baxter Street, the grounds offers the traditional coffee and cappuccino, along with a creative mix of teas, flavored coffees, espresso and mocha drinks, smoothies and freezes.
Tucked away on the side of Papa John’s, the grounds looks like your average neighborhood coffee shop. Golden brown walls display photographs and paintings as modern-looking chandeliers hang just above guests’ heads.
The shop provides a place for Internet lovers to sip apple cider or their cafe au lattes while they work on their computers, but there are also stacks of newspapers and magazines for guests to leisurely read as they enjoy their beverages at the metallic tables inside the restaurant or at the antique iron tables outside of the shop.
There are even displays of thoughtful quotes that put beverages like hot tea into perspective.
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“Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you. Now, tell me about hundreds of things,” the reflective quote by Saki said.
While I did not find myself a cup of tea, I chose an iced O’Mally’s espresso with whipped cream to drink as I skimmed through my magazine.
As I headed to the table, I stopped by the drink station topped with liquid sweetener, sugar cubes, raw sugar crystals and other drink additives. I resisted sprinkling any sugar or spices in my drink and sat down with the cool beverage.
The drink, a blend of chocolate, Irish cream, espresso and steamed milk, was rich in chocolate and cream. I loved it — which is why I was extremely disappointed to learn that I had finished the 16 ounce drink in less than a minute.
Apparently, the employee who made the drink went a little overboard with the unusually large ice cubes.
Despite this setback, I did enjoy the beverage and would have ordered another had it not cost $4.10 with tax, a high price to pay for such a small drink.
Most of the drinks and products at the grounds are relatively expensive.
The chocolate-covered strawberry mocha is $3.11 with tax, while the banana cream and tropical rage smoothies are $4.60, and the vanilla and chocolate shakes are $4.10.
Specialty order whole beans like their mocha java blend start at $5.99 for half a pound. Their regional selection begins at $5.99 for half a pound but can go up to $22.50 for half a pound of their Tanzanian Peaberry.
If you save your receipt, you can get a 10 percent discount off of your next drink, but don’t come between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week — the grounds is closed during these hours.
