The Hamden Planning and Zoning Commission has approved plans for Common Grounds to open a second location in the town's Spring Glen neighborhood. The expansion faced some local pushback from residents concerned about market saturation and competition with existing independent coffee shops.
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Branford, Connecticut · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive
Common Grounds
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Limited public info
TagsCommon GroundsConnecticut coffee roastersCosta RicaBrazilKenyaColombiaIndonesiaPeruGuatemalaIndependentRoasts in-house
Visit Common Grounds's site Common Grounds is a Connecticut-based specialty coffee roaster and cafe chain that has served the local community for over 25 years. Founded by Wilson Jara, who brought his roasting experience from Ecuador, the company focuses on providing a welcoming gathering space alongside their in-house roasted coffee. They operate multiple locations across Connecticut, maintaining a reputation as a neighborhood staple.
Ownership
Common Grounds is an independent, family-owned business co-owned by Dena and Wilson Jara.
Founded
1999
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
Common Grounds is known for being a long-standing local specialty coffee house chain in Connecticut that emphasizes community, cozy atmosphere, and locally roasted coffee.
Sourcing countries
Costa Rica · Brazil · Kenya · Colombia · Indonesia · Peru · Guatemala
Farm-level sourcing
The brand sources coffee from various global origins and maintains an organic-certified catalog. While they emphasize the importance of origin on flavor, they do not publicly list specific farm or producer names for their offerings.
Notable coffees
- — Brazilian Rainforest
- — Colombia Supremo
- — Guatemala Antigua
- — Hawaiian Kona
- — Sumatra Mandheling
- — Organic Peru
In the news
Recent news and media coverage about Common Grounds, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.
2025-06-30 · New Haven Register
Caffeine clash in Hamden's Spring Glen as Common Grounds plans second café on Whitney Avenue Sources used in this deep dive
- https://www.commongrounds.com/
- https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/ct-hamden-common-grounds-coffee-shop-spring-glen-20396898.php
- https://www.premiumroast.coffee/roasters/common-grounds-branford-uz8588
- https://www.commongrounds.com/our-shops
- https://www.dandb.com/businessdirectory/commongrounds-branford-ct-25192907.html
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-19. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the brand's website and third-party profiles confirm they roast in-house and source from specific countries, they do not provide detailed transparency regarding specific farm or producer names.