HG Higher Grounds Coffee and Cafe — Restaurant in Mesa

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to visit this coffee shop! It is tucked in the parking lot across from one of my favorite Sprouts, a little cozy hidden gem. The shop vibe is industrial meets rustic with a high wooden bar, exposed piping, reclaimed wood, etc.

They have a nice little menu with breakfast, bakery, coffee, and tea items, with lunch items starting at 11:00 (according to their website).

I tried the Sunrise avocado flatbread, which had smashed avocado, arugula, tomatoes, and medium cooked eggs on a flatbread. It was delicious! The flatbread had a wonderful texture, like a crispy tortilla (but a little thicker) with a chewy center. The prices for everything were very fair.

I had only 2 misgivings with our visit. First, I ordered a blueberry muffin, and they heated it up for me, which was nice. However, it had a strong “freezer burn” taste. I don’t know if they are bake and then frozen or freshly baked, but either the muffin itself or the batter was rather stale (in taste, not in texture). It’s possible that having it heated up accentuated that flavor, but either way - we did not finish the muffin. After a few bites, I couldn’t stomach the strong freezer taste. My other small and admittedly very personal complaint was the sugar free syrup. I worked as a barista for a few years, so this is only a guess - but I believe they use a different brand for their sugar free vanilla syrup. They have a wall full of Monin syrups, which are some of the best! But the sugar free vanilla in my latte tasted a lot like Torani, which is much worse in my opinion. I could be completely wrong about this, and again, it’s just a personal preference on taste, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the SF vanilla syrup. I would probably just go with a plain latte next time.

Overall, we were very happy with our visit! I will definitely be back to try more breakfast items, although I will be avoiding the baked goods...

Great alternative to Starcucks and Dutch Hoes. The name is a bit strange with a dash of clever; I’m unsure if it’s just a cheeky play on words, a thinly veiled humble brag, or a subtle religious reference.

The coffee shop is in an inconvenient section of a suburban strip mall with limited parking, and from the outside, you have no clue what you’re getting yourself into. Upon walking in you’ll find their little Diedrich Roaster alongside the counter, which makes you wonder if it’s just there for show or if they actually use it. It’s hooked up to electrical and ducting, so I assume it’s in use, but probably not when customers are there.

I took a peek at their espresso machine, which was tucked behind the counter and covered in a thick layer of dust. It’s a Rancilio, which is a solid Italian machine, so props to them, but it’s a shame to see their showpiece neglected and hidden away. Maybe they prefer it that way, since from what I could see, it’s pretty filthy. If they can’t wipe the panels clean then my mind immediately wonders what the rest of their machine cleaning regimen looks like….

I ordered an iced Americano, black. Their roast seemed to be medium to dark, like past first crack but maybe not quite to second? Hard to say. It was okay, but somewhat nondescript, with no flavor notes popping or standing out for me.

I didn’t try their food, so no comment there, but the customer service was great, so they have that going for them. I’d say this is a solid 3.9/5 coffee shop, not bad, not...

Such a gem! The staff are so sweet, the service is quick, and while the space is small, they do have indoor seating which is a nice bonus. The vibe is really good, cozy, welcoming, and the baristas are genuinely friendly, making you feel like a regular even if it’s your first visit. The pastry case is filled with tons of tempting bakery items, and it’s hard not to grab one every time you stop in.

Drinks I Tried: Snickerdoodle Chai (Hot): Sweet but not too sweet — perfect if you want that fresh-baked cookie flavor without the calories of an actual cookie. The warmth really sells the “fresh from the oven” vibe.

Iced Cold Brew: Amazing value! The medium (24 oz) is only $4, and they don’t overfill it with ice, so you actually get a full cup of coffee. The large (30 oz) is just $5 — which is wild when you think about paying more than that for a tall at Starbucks and getting way less coffee.

Overall, Higher Grounds has great drinks, a cozy vibe, and baristas that make the experience even better. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick coffee or sitting down for a few minutes, it’s absolutely...