Grounded

Need a break from your stressful day? Look no further than Grounded, a coffee house in the West Village established in 2005 by siblings Mark and Jennifer Greenberg. Order from an extensive menu of coffees, teas, smoothies, sandwiches and salads, and desserts. Enjoy your tea as you relax on one of the couches beneath the skylight, or delight in a dessert as you immerse yourself in a book from Grounded’s library.

Grounded offers a long list of organic blends, ranging from the usual coffee drinks to more exotic choices like their Mon Cheri Mocha or Nutella Latte. The outstanding house blend is made with naturally roasted hazelnuts for a bold, distinct taste. The coffee beans used to make the delicious mixes are 100 percent organic. In fact, Grounded strives to use only the best, natural ingredients. Their organic milk, for example, is delivered fresh from Evans farm in upstate New York, while their organic coffees are all Fair Trade. Bring home the magic of their coffee! Six flavors, including the aromatic Hazelnut Dreams and the Grounded House Blend, are available for purchase by the pound. In addition to the organic coffees, Grounded has a number of unique teas, such as the Ancient Dragon Oolong. Each of these teas is specially selected and completely organic. To view a full list of their offerings, visit the Basic Tea website at basictea.com.

In addition to coffee and tea, Grounded makes smoothies, such as their signature Peanut Butter Pow, which is made of peanut butter, banana, strawberry, soy milk, protein powder, and honey. Pair your smoothie with one of Grounded’s many colorful salads or flavorful sandwiches. For example, they offer a hearty pressed ciabatta with gorgonzola, apples, onions, and apricot preserve, which is – like the other salads and sandwiches, available for less than $10. Early risers start your day with the $3 breakfast special.

For those with a sweet tooth, Grounded serves decadent desserts. Beginning in April, treat yourself with their homemade ice cream and sorbet. Their delectable flavors include the rich “creamy dark chocolate sorbet” and the exotic “spicy Masala chai ice cream churned with crystallized ginger.” Grounded is proud to declare that these refreshing desserts are made of only high quality, fresh ingredients.

Take a seat in one of the couches while admiring the work, created by local artists, along the brick walls. Grounded even hosts public events, including art demonstrations and fiction readings, to help support the arts. Community is an important concept to co-owner Jennifer Greenberg, who has enjoyed watching the coffee house integrate into the neighborhood. She states, “We wanted to create a place where we would like to spend our time and provide a good service.” Jennifer and Mark have certainly accomplished this with Grounded, where the fast and friendly staff will assure quick service if you’re on the go, and where the atmosphere is perfect if you want to relax with a great meal.