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    Cognoscenti Coffee

    4.2 (175 reviews)
    InexpensiveCoffee & Tea
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Cognoscenti Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    COGNOSCENTI COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Cognoscenti Coffee

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    Vanilla latte
    Teresa A.

    The latte was excellent, but the highlight for me was the barista. There weren't many flavor options but the vanilla was tasty (not my normal go to flavor). There was decent indoor seating, along with outdoor seating, too. Lots of cute neighborhood puppies to scratch as well! Super nice dude that shared his life theories--I wish I had asked his name but he's from KC. He seemed to have a great rapport with local regulars, too. I hope KC wins the Super Bowl because of this barista!

    Kislev A.

    So glad COGNOSCENTI COFFEE has a location here in Downtown LA. They have great tasting beans and it shows in their cortado. Their CHAI LATTE is strong and sweet. Fuel for work. Their tea is in bags not loose. They have a long communal table if you wanted to sit down while you're enjoying your drink. Looks like the space converts to a restaurant at night. For the paw-rents there, they have treats for your babies. Staff are quick, accurate and friendly.

    Honey Latte
    Archie R.

    I was able to enjoy a tad before they closed. The customer service process was welcoming. I really enjoy the bagel. It was perfect for a light lunch. The music outside kept the mood of everyone upbeat. Perfect place to try .

    Latte
    Aashal P.

    Enjoyed my vanilla latte! My husband liked the drip coffee he got as well. Cute shop and has a wine bar next to it that is open tues - sat! Good service and friendly staff!

    Mushroom quiche
    Ariel B.

    Great service and amazing pastries!! I'm not a coffee lover so my coffee was just meh (like it hem all), but my friend really liked her honey latte. But the star of the show was the mushroom quiche. The crust was so buttery and flaky! We couldn't get enough. The pastry was great too. Again thst crust. They're doing something right!! Salivating thinking about it now!

    Iced Honey Latte

    Local LA coffee roaster and cafe, sourcing primarily washed coffees. If you are unfamiliar, this type of processing involves many steps and strict quality control, resulting in the most flavorful coffee. Cognoscenti aims to be as sustainable as possible, and provide a great customer experience. They have 3 locations in LA, one of which is also their roastery. This location in DTLA has a minimalist warehouse feel, with lots of natural light, and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The baristas were friendly, and knew how to prepare great espresso. My Cortado was exceptional; in fact, one of the best I've ever had. I loved their Iced Honey Latte as well, which was not overly sweet. 10/10 coffee. I dock one star because there were no food options aside from a saran wrapped bagel, and I really wanted a croissant. Even a cookie would have sufficed.

    Nathan U.

    Came for my first time, was greeted by amicable staff. Establishment was clean and the outdoor seating is a great asset. I ordered an iced Chai tea latte, flavor was good, seasoning on the top was interesting but overall pleasant to drink. Ambiance was nice, music was not too loud and plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. Attentiveness to customers from staff needs some work but overall they were friendly. For someone who came from out of the area, parking can be a bit of a pain but there is street parking and public lots to park at within walking distance.

    Amazing Sunday morning at Cognoscenti. They never disappoint
    Margaux C.

    Best coffee in Culver City by far. The pastries are also to die for. I recommend the pistachio pain au chocolat (they call it pistachio croissant, but it is a pain au chocolate). The coffee grounds to buy are also the best in town. I like the Espresso they make in house (I think its "Hoot," or has at least the picture of an own on it), and they can grind it for you to whatever machine you use for your espresso. The interior and exterior design are wonderful, feels like a famous architect designed the building. Dogs only allowed in the back patio. I like to come here to get coffee and a pastry before a long run!

    cappachino
    Mia T.

    i came in this morning and noticed they had unique options for coffee .. i expect someone who works there to be a bit more enthusiastic about the coffee.. i had asked about some of the items on the menu and she didn't like anything so i went with a cappuccino.. and to top it off it's miniature size .. total morning dissatisfaction..

    This breakfast sandwich/bagel is just BEYOND. So, so good. Photo doesn't do it justice.
    Jen E.

    Love thy/my neighbor! Cognoscenti is a cute li'l spot that I may have bypassed one too many times...knowing Starbucks and Dunkin' are just a block away, it's been too tempting to go the basic route, knowing that I'll be shelling out what I feel is for the same thing here. Well, paid my first visit in awhile late last year and was reminded of why it's really worth its while. The latte I got was just divine and I have to admit, worth the extra $ you pay over other chains. You can just taste the difference. But let's talk about their 'breakfast sandwich'...the egg/bacon bagel...it is quite literally one of the best versions I've tasted, ever. I can't explain it. It just tastes decadent without being heavy at all, and the quality of the bagel and the toaster setting they got going on there must be next level! Try it for yourself. The photo I took in no way does it justice. I found this review sitting in my drafts, completely forgot to post. Support your local coffee shop, especially if it's Cognoscenti. Even more important in these times.

    Menu
    Carly R.

    Mild dark and smoky espresso. Love the space here with fun baristas. There are so many coffee shops in DTLA but not many that actually does coffee with knowledge and passion. Well, glad to say I finally found one here! I've been to so many different shops in DTLA but most of them are chained (lost their passion in coffee and more for the business) or just there for people to study/work at. So I'm glad to say I found this charm with baristas that care how they make their coffee! Also this place is spacious and chill, you won't feel to crowded with people working here which is awesome. I will definitely come here more often for their tasty coffee and chill here! Great place!

    Melissa W.

    Cute little trendy downtown coffee shop next to Soul Cycle, below the LEVEL building. Just with those two establishments, you know it's gotta live up to the hype! They offer some food there and even make simple syrups from scratch! Came for a meeting and seating can be close proximity to others but not a big deal. I ordered a cup of coffee which you can get for "here" or "to go." If you have it "here" they give you unlimited free refills!!! Then when you are ready to leave, you can get a refill in a to go cup. The coffee was smooth and tasty. And that unlimited refill and filled up to go cup def makes the price worth it!

    Banana bread

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    1 year ago

    Got a hot americano and it was good for the price. Cozy vibes inside and good outdoor seatings. I'll be back.

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    1 year ago

    Cute little spot, great coffee, friendly staff. Good place to sit and do some work/study.

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    3 years ago

    Great maple coffee! Cute place, super nice staff. Will be back! Dog friendly. Nice outdoor seating.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Cognoscenti Coffee

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    Alibi Coffee - HONEY LAVENDER LATTE

    Alibi Coffee

    4.5(284 reviews)
    2.3 miPico-Union
    $$

    I was headed to dinner at the fabulous Holbox, but driving there from Hollywood at rush hour is…read morenever a good idea. So I looked for a coffee spot closer to the restaurant at which I could do some work. Alibi Coffee is only 10-15 minutes from the restaurant, which made it a good candidate--and off I went. It sits on the corner of Washington and Raymond Avenue. While there's one-hour parking on Washington, Raymond seems to offer unlimited parking (other than street cleaning days)--the friendly, helpful barista directed me over there. Inside, it's a tranquil, clean and comfortable environment that mixes contemporary touches with brick industrial vibes. I'm in my cream top era, so I decided to get their Trademark Cream Top Latte, which uses cold brew and house made cream with a hint of brown sugar. The drink was smooth and not too sweet and, all in all, extremely enjoyable. Next time, I might try the Salted Caramel Cream Top Latte. I was warned it was a bit sweeter, but I'd like to see for myself. Wi-Fi seems solid, and there are plenty of outlets (yay!), so this was a great work spot. I'd definitely return anytime I needed to be in this area.

    D E L I C I O U S!!! Silky smooth cream and coffee with no acidic aftertaste. I don't like my…read morecoffee sweet and this is the perfect balance. Espresso with cream to counter the bitterness simply divine. This cup of coffee brought me so much joy! If you're in the area give them a try! This might be my new favorite shop!

    Photos
    Alibi Coffee - Pastry

    Pastry

    Alibi Coffee - Inside

    Inside

    Alibi Coffee - Pastry, HONEY LAVENDER LATTE, HONEYCOMB SUGAR LATTE

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    Pastry, HONEY LAVENDER LATTE, HONEYCOMB SUGAR LATTE

    Memorylook - Brown Sugar Hojicha Einspanner and Matcha Latte

    Memorylook

    4.1(1.4k reviews)
    2.3 miKoreatown
    $$

    I had a day to spend in LA, and my local friend insisted that I try Memorylook's hojicha…read moreeinspanner. She let me know that Memorylook is known for einspanners and they have their own parking lot. When there's a parking lot on-site, say less.. Parking wasn't too difficult to come by, and there are even a few electric charging spots if you need it. I stopped by around noontime and there were people inside/outside chatting, working, taking pics in the photobooth, etc. The line went by quickly and I had my hojicha einspanner in no time! It was so tasty!! The cream top was light and not too sweet. The hojicha was smooth. I really enjoyed it, and the latte definitely helped me keep cool while driving around LA on such a hot day. If I lived in LA, I could see myself coming here to do work on my laptop or to meet a friend. Such a cute, spacious spot!

    This cafe has a nice ambiance and free parking! Something that you don't really see in ktown…read more I visited during the weekday so it wasn't packed. Their photo booth is really cute and easy to use, but you do have to pay $10 which is not bad at all. They have their pastries facing the street entrance to the cafe (not the entrance from the parking lot). I didn't know that they had pastries on display until after I had payed for drinks and had to make line again. Can't imagine how frustrating it can be when it's a bit busy and having to make line again. I ordered a regular matcha latte with oat milk, the color was promising but once I took a sip of it I was disappointed. If you're a person that likes sweet matcha then this is for you. I personally I didn't like it just because it was sweet and grainy. I could see matcha but could not taste it. My sister got an iced vanilla latte and said it was really good! Not too sweet and not bitter either. I would have to go for an iced latte if I ever come back to visit!

    Photos
    Memorylook - Strawberry cream puff

    Strawberry cream puff

    Memorylook - Matcha einspanner

    Matcha einspanner

    Memorylook - Matcha Einspanner

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    Matcha Einspanner

    Cafe Dulce - Roti

    Cafe Dulce

    4.2(515 reviews)
    2.0 miUniversity Park
    $$

    MATCHA: When in LA , be kind to yourself and get a Blueberry matcha from Cafe Dulce ! Got there…read moreearly after my morning walk and there was a bit of a line but nothing compared to prior days . I was tempted by the amazing selection of pastries but am staying away for Lent! I ended up just getting the Blueberry matcha and it is delicious !! 10/10 and highlight recommended! Lots of parking in the USC village garage ! Come here early because the line is always long !

    Coffee O' clock in the evening hours? Yes please! A female must have while being productive. It's…read morean urge, an eagerness and a joy. I was pleased to get some Cafe Dulce nearby while I shopped at Trader Joe's and Target in the USC village. This cafe does have a top of the range Vietnamese coffee...a joyous cup that does no harm. I ordered a limited time drink they were promoting. A salted caramel latte. Now I know myself too well...that I should always stay loyal to my coffee choices and stick with the minimum sugar intake. The coffee was good but I wasn't thriving with the amount of sugar it had. I will continue to stick with the Vietnamese choice or a sugar free vanilla latte with almond milk. Those are always on my inviting side for Cafe Dulce. Their Little Tokyo location is also a great visit experience. They have some tasty breakfast burritos there. Other than that, a great cafe to check out with plenty of college students here minding their business.

    Photos
    Cafe Dulce - Service counter

    Service counter

    Cafe Dulce - Pastry

    Pastry

    Cafe Dulce - Ranchera burrito..

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    Ranchera burrito..

    Alchemist Coffee Project - Basque cheesecake

    Alchemist Coffee Project

    4.3(1.5k reviews)
    2.2 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $

    Drinks: - Matcha einspanner has a good balance of sweet and…read moreearthy flavors - Tiramisu latte is alright, too sweet Parking: - If you come before lunchtime, you can park in the lot for free! - If you come after/during lunchtime, good luck finding street parking or you can pay valet Seating: - Plenty of seating all throughout the store - Many outlets! Of all the alchemist locations, this one is superior because of the abundance of parking and seating

    While the coffee was undeniably delicious, it's the experience--and how it made me feel--that will…read morelinger... I ordered a pour-over to enjoy in-house. When I went to pick it up, I grabbed a saucer to avoid spilling on my way back to my seat. Before I could even walk away, one of the baristas snatched it from my hand and said, "You're not allowed to use that. The saucers go with the latte mugs!" I paused, glanced at the empty café behind me, and replied, "There are plenty available--surely I can use one." He continued, in a dismissive tone, speaking to me in a way that felt unnecessarily disrespectful. I chose to walk away and still enjoy my pour-over. But it's not just about serving good coffee. As Maya Angelou reminds us, people will always remember how you made them feel. And in this space, I felt unwelcome. As a paying customer--one who tipped in advance--that behavior felt undeserved and unwarranted. For that reason, there's no need to return.

    Photos
    Alchemist Coffee Project - Inside

    Inside

    Alchemist Coffee Project - Iced Misugaru Latte!! (Misugaru is Korean traditional mix of whole grains blended) highly recommend.

    Iced Misugaru Latte!! (Misugaru is Korean traditional mix of whole grains blended) highly recommend.

    Alchemist Coffee Project - Matcha Latte

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    Matcha Latte

    DAMO - Strawberry matcha einspanner and latte einspanner

    DAMO

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
    3.0 miKoreatown
    $$

    quality is TEAAA (literally..)…read more There are so many cafes that serve matcha lattes, but as someone who is VERY picky about their matcha blend, I can tell when the cafe uses ceremonial grade matcha. DAMO 100% uses ceremonial grade quality and probably 5-6g of matcha per serving!! I prefer my matcha unsweetened (occasionally having some sweetness added from the syrup/puree/cloud foam a cafe uses) and whatever blend DAMO uses..chef's kiss!! I've been here 4 times, and the quality is consistent each time! Service: quick Parking: lowkey horrible (but that's all of k-town...) Shop design: aesthetic--very minimalistic and pretty. They also have a restroom and free WiFi! Limited seats when busy :c Drinks: BOMB.com will always come back :)

    I don't often get matcha, but when I do... I make sure that it's somewhere good. DAMO had really…read moregood reviews, so here I am! Parking here may be difficult to find on the street, but they do have valet, too. On a Saturday afternoon, this spot is packed and quite hard to find a place to sit. Wi-Fi is available, though note that plugs and seating may be another issue. Not every spot comes with a plug, and it's going to be full, so you may need to wait 15-20 minutes. It is indeed a small spot, so if you're looking for a quiet spot to work, this might not be it. The interior decor, though, is quite clean aesthetically and is relaxing to work in. The Matcha Latte, though, let me say if you're in need of an afternoon pick-me-up, this will keep you energized, even without the sugar! A few sips in and a half cup later, I had so much energy I could probably run a marathon if I had the right shoes (and I don't even like running).

    Photos
    DAMO - Matcha einspinner

    Matcha einspinner

    DAMO - Matcha Einspener | Strawberry Matcha

    Matcha Einspener | Strawberry Matcha

    DAMO - Chestnut Einspänner

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    Chestnut Einspänner

    Kaffee Bohnen - Strawberry cream and iced chai latte

    Kaffee Bohnen

    4.6(116 reviews)
    2.2 miPico-Union
    $$

    First time ordering the strawberry latte einspanner. I was initially excited to try this new…read moreflavor, since Ive tried their einspanners before. This is the first time I didnt have a good experience with the flavor. :( Top of the einspanner - fantastic. However the strawberry puree was too bitter for my taste. I wanted to call to just let anyone know if they could just check the batch. But unfortunately theres no number to contact. Honestly it just needs to be more sweetened is all. Hopefully owners/staff is able to see this so they can taste test the strawberry puree. Otherwise, still love this place!

    The start of the semester means homework and that means locking myself at a study cafe. Kaffee…read moreBohnen is tucked away on Olympic across from Surawon, with a small garage and plenty of street parking. There's very good bus access from USC via 754/204 and a short walk after. The tables are huge, filled with outlets and it doesn't really get too crowded. The menu is largely einspanners but can be customized to be without cream. I got the black einspanner, which is basically an Americano with a cream top. It was the perfect creaminess without being heavy, and the coffee was fairly strong and leaned a little acidic, which was promptly washed away by the cream. My friend got the strawberry matcha sans einspanner, which didn't have added syrup but real strawberry. Their unsweetened drinks were well-balanced and I will definitely return!

    Photos
    Kaffee Bohnen - They charge sales tax for togo

    They charge sales tax for togo

    Kaffee Bohnen - They charge sales tax for togo

    They charge sales tax for togo

    Kaffee Bohnen - Inside

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    Inside

    Cognoscenti Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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