I asked for my latte to be remade with almond milk after realizing it was made with whole milk and explained I’m lactose intolerant. They agreed, but never actually changed it and served me the same drink anyway. I trusted them and now I’m home in serious stomach pain. Mistakes happen, but ignoring a clear dietary restriction is unacceptable. Won’t be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Grace Esplin
This place has fantastic ambience, great service, good food, but the pricey cardamom latte left a little to be desired.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Regina Rizzo
Impressive cafe food. This is a great place to hang out with frienda or get work done. Relaxed artistic vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Steffi
Only the best place on earth to get a matcha and work. The vibes are always great and I am always happy with whatever I order.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kerilyn Paris
Went on a Sunday morning - nice atmosphere, but the food was cold, not very good for the price, and the service was not great. The coffee was not good. The americano was very watery.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jesse Nichols
Excellent espresso roast. Loved my cortado. Also lots of gluten free pastry options! :)
John
One of the more expensive coffee shops I've been to. But they make up for it with atmosphere and friendly staff
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Michael Collins
Communal Coffee in Nevada City has one of the best coffee spaces in the region. The open layout, abundant seating, and relaxed mountain town atmosphere truly shine. It captures that classic Nevada City vibe perfectly and makes it an inviting place to sit, work, or meet with friends. From an environment and design standpoint, this is where Communal stands out the most.
The coffee itself is good. It is not bad by any means, but it did not feel exceptional for the price point. Customer service behind the counter was noticeably lacking. Not unfriendly in a harsh way, but just distant enough to make the experience feel transactional rather than welcoming. At the prices being charged, that small lack of warmth becomes a much bigger factor in the overall experience.
Pricing is where many customers may hesitate. A small drip coffee at four dollars and a sixteen ounce black drip at five dollars feels steep, especially with no discount offered for bringing your own reusable cup. The food followed a similar pattern. It was fine, but ultimately felt mediocre for premium pricing.
When compared to nearby shops, the difference becomes easier to see. Pour Choice in Auburn offers better service, better coffee, and better food at similar or better value, and the customer experience there stands out clearly. The Foregone in Grass Valley also delivers higher quality coffee and lattes if you are seeking that elevated coffee experience for the price.
In summary, Communal Coffee excels in atmosphere and location. The space alone makes it worth visiting at least once. However, the high pricing, average food, and lack of standout customer service may keep some customers from returning regularly. With a few adjustments in service and value, it could truly match the beauty of the space it offers.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Andrey Klochkov
We waited for more than an hour to get a soup and a salad, it’s ridiculous. I ordered espresso while waiting thinking but it was barely drinkable, it was so sour and watery, like barista was learning how to use the machine! Seriously, this was the worst coffee I’ve ever got in a cafe. I’m so puzzled other reviews praise their coffee!
Adorable and classic Nevada City Vibe right in the heart of downtown. I had the turkey sandwich with fig preserves and aioli, big and delicious and it comes with a salad. Definitely worth it! I’d come back for sure.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Joel Berberena
Nice atmosphere, poor service. There's nothing special about the food. Waited near 20 minutes for a egg and bacon sandwich on a muffin. When I inquired after patiently waiting they seemed bothered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 1
Bobby Mojave
Worst customer experience ever. Coffee was burnt, they said they would give me a refund but never did. The barista was the rudest person I have ever talked to, acted like a middle school kid
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Willie
$5.50 for two pieces of bacon is insane. Not a bad spot, but my wife and I spent over $70 on breakfast. If you charge these prices, I don’t think you should expect the customers to bus their own tables. Eggs weren’t cooked very well. The toast and jam though was delicious.
Vegan + Gluten Free Donut soo good! 🍩
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I asked for my latte to be remade with almond milk after realizing it was made with whole milk and explained I’m lactose intolerant. They agreed, but never actually changed it and served me the same drink anyway. I trusted them and now I’m home in serious stomach pain. Mistakes happen, but ignoring a clear dietary restriction is unacceptable. Won’t be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
This place has fantastic ambience, great service, good food, but the pricey cardamom latte left a little to be desired.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Impressive cafe food. This is a great place to hang out with frienda or get work done. Relaxed artistic vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Only the best place on earth to get a matcha and work. The vibes are always great and I am always happy with whatever I order.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went on a Sunday morning - nice atmosphere, but the food was cold, not very good for the price, and the service was not great. The coffee was not good. The americano was very watery.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Excellent espresso roast. Loved my cortado. Also lots of gluten free pastry options! :)
One of the more expensive coffee shops I've been to. But they make up for it with atmosphere and friendly staff
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Communal Coffee in Nevada City has one of the best coffee spaces in the region. The open layout, abundant seating, and relaxed mountain town atmosphere truly shine. It captures that classic Nevada City vibe perfectly and makes it an inviting place to sit, work, or meet with friends. From an environment and design standpoint, this is where Communal stands out the most.
The coffee itself is good. It is not bad by any means, but it did not feel exceptional for the price point. Customer service behind the counter was noticeably lacking. Not unfriendly in a harsh way, but just distant enough to make the experience feel transactional rather than welcoming. At the prices being charged, that small lack of warmth becomes a much bigger factor in the overall experience.
Pricing is where many customers may hesitate. A small drip coffee at four dollars and a sixteen ounce black drip at five dollars feels steep, especially with no discount offered for bringing your own reusable cup. The food followed a similar pattern. It was fine, but ultimately felt mediocre for premium pricing.
When compared to nearby shops, the difference becomes easier to see. Pour Choice in Auburn offers better service, better coffee, and better food at similar or better value, and the customer experience there stands out clearly. The Foregone in Grass Valley also delivers higher quality coffee and lattes if you are seeking that elevated coffee experience for the price.
In summary, Communal Coffee excels in atmosphere and location. The space alone makes it worth visiting at least once. However, the high pricing, average food, and lack of standout customer service may keep some customers from returning regularly. With a few adjustments in service and value, it could truly match the beauty of the space it offers.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
We waited for more than an hour to get a soup and a salad, it’s ridiculous. I ordered espresso while waiting thinking but it was barely drinkable, it was so sour and watery, like barista was learning how to use the machine! Seriously, this was the worst coffee I’ve ever got in a cafe. I’m so puzzled other reviews praise their coffee!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Adorable and classic Nevada City Vibe right in the heart of downtown. I had the turkey sandwich with fig preserves and aioli, big and delicious and it comes with a salad. Definitely worth it! I’d come back for sure.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Nice atmosphere, poor service. There's nothing special about the food. Waited near 20 minutes for a egg and bacon sandwich on a muffin. When I inquired after patiently waiting they seemed bothered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 1
Worst customer experience ever. Coffee was burnt, they said they would give me a refund but never did. The barista was the rudest person I have ever talked to, acted like a middle school kid
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
$5.50 for two pieces of bacon is insane. Not a bad spot, but my wife and I spent over $70 on breakfast. If you charge these prices, I don’t think you should expect the customers to bus their own tables. Eggs weren’t cooked very well. The toast and jam though was delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Very expensive. $5 for a large coffee.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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