Grounds of Being: The Divinity School Coffee Shop

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Hyde Park
E 58th Street
Grounds of Being: The Divinity School Coffee Shop

Grounds of Being: The Divinity School Coffee Shop, located in the basement of Swift Hall on E 58th Street, has been a coffee mainstay on the University of Chicago campus for 50 years. Serving locally-prepared food, Colectivo roasted direct trade coffee and natural and organic products from Testa Produce at reasonable prices, this coffee shop is committed to sustainability, environmental care and community responsibility in myriad forms. All proceeds go towards funding the Divinity Students Association's student events, grants and scholarships. Stay up-to-date with your favorite basement coffee shop through their website.

Recent social media posts

05/18/2026

Come grab one of our spring specials before we close for the season! 🫧🌺💚 Grounds of Being will be closed during finals week but will reopen on Friday and Saturday for graduation. Congrats, grads! 🎓

06/05/2025

Congrads! Grounds of Being will be open tomorrow and Saturday from 7:45-3:00 to supply you and your loved ones with coffee, snacks, beverages, and merch. We will be accepting cash and ZELLE and will also be running a simplified menu to keep the drinks flowing. See you there!

09/23/2024

We’re excited to open up again this coming Monday AND to introduce everyone to Fall Quarter’s Battle of the God’s: Deadliest Sin???

Cast your vote when we open up next week! See ya’ll soon!!

08/01/2024

GROUNDS OF BEING: The Divinity School Coffee Shop is looking to expand our staff for the 2024/2025 academic year.

BARISTA/COUNTER STAFF
Responsibilities include: customer service, register operation, coffee and drink production, opening, closing, cleaning, and sanitation procedures. Service-related experience is preferred, but not at all necessary. Counter Staff are required to work a minimum of two shifts per week (8-10 hours), with a maximum of 19.5 hours per week. Compensation starts at $16.50/hour plus tips.

Please use the Google form in our bio to submit your application, and make sure you limit your resume (not an academic CV) to relevant work experience.

We look forward to hearing from you!
— The Management Team

07/28/2024

09/13/2021

New year, new god battle

08/13/2021

We’re reopening…and, we’re hiring! Scroll thru to read about the open positions and application instructions. ☕️ Looking forward to hearing from you soon and to caffeinating you this Autumn quarter! 💞

07/24/2019

Can you find your favorite barista?

Courtesy of the talented and

07/10/2019

Now that summer’s officially here, so are the summer specials! Our Hibiscus Arnold Palmer mixes our Letterbox Gala tea with lemonade for delicious semi-sweet refreshment on a hot day...come thru and get it ☀️☀️☀️☀️

06/24/2019

After long discussion, Grounds of Being has raised prices across the board (literally, pictured here). We take our mission to serve the community of undergraduate and graduate students seriously, and that means that as we continue to financially support the Divinity Students Assoc., our parent nonprofit, we must also pay our student workers a fair wage. Cost of living in Hyde Park, and Chicago generally, has been going up for years. Wages must increase to meet that cost, which is a good thing, but means that our payroll also increases. Raising prices incrementally allows us to remain responsible to the community that makes us what we are. Thank you all for supporting us, and we look forward to seeing those of you who summer in Chicago 😘❤️ ☕️🧡☕️ 💛 ☕️

06/19/2019

😢😢😢😢😢

06/15/2019

Congrats to all of our graduating divinity students! Come by before 2pm and “Hold out a drink to those who search for truth” as Clement of Alexandria (trans. Kelly Holob) once wrote ☕️❤️☕️🧡☕️💛☕️💚☕️💙😘💜

Address

1025 E 58th Street
Chicago, IL
60637

To get to the coffee shop on E 58th Street in Chicago, you can take the public transportation. The nearest bus stop is located just a short walk away from the coffee shop. If you prefer to drive, there is street parking available around the area. However, it is recommended to check for any parking restrictions or regulations beforehand.

Opening Hours

Monday	7:45am - 4pm
Tuesday	7:45am - 4pm
Wednesday	7:45am - 4pm
Thursday	7:45am - 4pm
Friday	7:45am - 4pm

Website

https://divinity.uchicago.edu/grounds-being

Alerts

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Food Inspection

PASS

Food safety rules last inspection date: 2025-11-13

What people say

Grounds of Being: The Divinity School Coffee Shop is a hidden gem located in the basement of Swift Hall on E 58th Street in Chicago. This coffee shop has been serving the University of Chicago community for 50 years and continues to be a favorite among students, faculty, and staff.

One of the standout features of Grounds of Being is their commitment to sustainability and community responsibility. They serve locally-prepared food, Colectivo roasted direct trade coffee, and natural and organic products from Testa Produce at reasonable prices. All proceeds from the coffee shop are donated to the Divinity Students Association, which supports student events, grants, and scholarships.

The cozy atmosphere of Grounds of Being makes it an ideal spot for studying or catching up with friends over a cup of coffee. The friendly staff is always welcoming and happy to help you find your new favorite drink or snack.

Overall, Grounds of Being: The Divinity School Coffee Shop is a must-visit spot for anyone looking for delicious coffee and food while supporting a great cause.

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