You can actually smell the coffee before you even walk in -- such a nice way to start the morning. The espresso here is super smooth and flavorful without being bitter. Definitely one of the better coffee pulls in the area. There's usually plenty of street parking nearby, though it depends what time you go. Early morning was easy for me; weekends get busier. The space itself is clean and minimalist, with a chill vibe and friendly staff. Ample seating outside. Overall, great spot for a solid cup of coffee and worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Nice spot for a coffee date with many other things around. Cool seating area outside and coffee was delicious as well! The seasonal drinks were also intriguing and matched perfect for the summer. read more

See all

Delicious vegan options! The coffee was good and strong, and they had fun and unique snacks and other things on offer in the shop. Service was helpful but they forgot one of our items and we had to go ask for it. I always take a star off for stuff like that but it was unfortunate this time, we liked the place a lot. The neighborhood is a bit sketchy around here though, I wish the city cared more about supporting small businesses by making sidewalks more safely walkable. We passed by a homeless person with a needle in his hand on the way there...but the plaza nearby was cool. read more

Really great roaster. In the sea of chain coffee shops, always take the time to find the people who truly keep the industry on its toes, people like this not verve, blue bottle etc read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Although there are different locations, this is the actual roasting location. My friend likes to get his coffee beans here so I tagged along. Parking can be hit or miss. It's all metered street parking but depending when you go, there's a few people just coming in and out so if you circle around, you'll find a spot. I wouldn't recommend parking too far away though, the walk there can be a little sketchy unfortunately. The place has seating both indoor and outdoor. On a nice day, it would be nice to sit outside. They have a section of merch that is worth browsing through. As mentioned, they roast and sell their own coffee beans there. I believe that if you buy a bag of their coffee, you get a free coffee with it. I ordered an iced latte with whole milk and we also got a black sesame chocolate chip cookie. They do have other pastries in their display but the cookie sounded too good to pass up. Our order didn't take long to prepare. The latte was ok, a little too milky for me, I wish the coffee had a stronger taste but still good. The cookie was amazing! I love a good, crispy on the edges, but still chewy in the middle cookie. The flavors were nice and there was definitely a generous amount of chocolate chips. I loved it. Prices were also reasonable. Staff was incredibly friendly and approachable. read more

See all

I frequent this cute little coffee shop since it's by work & I try to support local when possible. I've never had a bad experience before this. I love their honey oat latte and their pastries too. I felt the need to write this negative review because I couldn't speak to the manager in person or over the phone. I visited this coffee shop earlier this week & introduced 3 of my coworkers to them. We all walked over & ordered our coffee with a barista I've never seen prior to this coffee run. The guest in front of us had a big order and he was the only barista there. My coworkers & I proceeded to order our drinks, I ordered a pastry and asked for it to be warmed up. Since he was the only one there we waited almost 30 minutes since the people ahead of us had ordered about 6 drinks. I was seated in a position where I could see the kitchen. As we patiently waited for our drinks I noticed that after he handed the people in front of us their drinks he made his way to the toaster to retrieve my pastry which by then was burnt. I literally sat there looking at him as the smoke came out the little oven and I was able to see that the top of it was black. He then proceeded to put it in a container. I was waiting for him to call me over to tell me that it had burnt & that it would be a few more minutes to warm up a new one. Instead he called out our drink order & handed me the container with my pastry inside of it. I opened it just to make sure it wasn't the one I had seen burn before my eyes. He had in fact given me the burnt one. I kindly asked him to replace it. He went to grab a new one and threw it down at the counter. At this point I only had enough time to walk back to work before my lunch break was over, which is way I didn't ask to speak to a manager then and there. I tried calling multiple times to let a manager know about my experience but no one ever answered. I won't be coming back. There is no reason why he should've been this rude instead of apologizing and just offering me a new pastry. I went in person in hopes of speaking to management & no one was there so I spoke to the barista that normally helps me since she offered to relay the information to the manager but not once did I get an apology from either barista for the way I was treated. read more

Great coffee, fresh pastries baked every morning, friendly staff, ample seating indoor and outdoor, but paid street parking only. I love to come here with my toddler in the mornings when it's nice and quiet so she can run around the courtyard while I enjoy my coffee. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Freshly baked goods made in house daily - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Came at 8 when they opened before stopping by the flower market. There wasn't anyone here and I possibly though they are running late or wrong hours ? I waited about 10 mins to walk around in hopes someone came and right as I was ready to leave someone came to open, thankfully. I order a chia which was good, the barista was sweet to let me try the concentrate. Their concentration is good not too spicy and has a licorice touch but when it was made into a latte it lost that good flavor. Next time I'd ask for a little more chai but that is my preference I orders an shot of espresso on the side to taste the body and flavor without the mix of the latte.good pulled shot As much as I wanted to only give 4 stars because they didn't open on time, I would be doing wrong because there is not context, maybe an emergency or some business issue who knows but life does happen. I will say when the barista come, she came in quick and got down to it. The area needs a place to just drink coffee and I'm glad they are here investing read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Single shot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Cool place! Big windows, lots of light, feels spacious. Nice little courtyard shared with Rossoblu. Cool location! Fashion district -- quiet street, lots of street parking, felt a lot safer on a weekday morning than expected. Bring pretty close to DTLA I completely overlooked this neighborhood. Weak matcha though. For $6 (w oat milk) it was pretty small and it tasted mostly of milk. Dawww. But a good coffee shop is nice in this area, so I give a support star. read more

See all

I came here looking for a big bag of espresso beans. The owner was super friendly and went right to the back to help me bag some fresh beans, since they didn't carry big bags in the front of the shop. As I was waiting he also offered me a cup on the house and a sample of their fresh out the oven focaccia bread. Both were delicious. Great coffee, great people, highly recommend. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - House coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Adorable staff. The man who took my order was beyond sweet and had a lovely attitude. Got a cappuccino. The beans are dark but not acidic which is a nice change from a lot of LA coffee. Almost has a wood taste that is actually really enjoyable. read more

I was looking for a local roastery near my workplace in DTLA to pick up beans for my French press and found this nearby. My goal was to try their coffee and if it was good to pick some up for work. I got a black cup of coffee and a salad. The coffee, their Colombian, at first blush tasted a little bland and a bit watery but it actually grew on me as I drank the rest. It wasn't amazing but also wasn't terrible (I do like a strong cup of coffee so this is somewhat objective) I'd have left this review at three stars, however the salad, arugula and grated parmesan cheese with red and black pepper flakes (at least that's what I think was in it) was excellent...simple with no protein but very enjoyable. This bumps it up to 4 stars. Service was great. Ambiance was nice too and the new brewery just across looks intriguing. I'll try it again and perhaps they'll have a different coffee bean and I may update the review. read more

This place has an aura to it. It feels like a peaceful place to conduct business and enjoy and nice cup of coffee as you read the newspaper. It's a small little gem that has a heart beat that pulsates the area. I can tell this is a great location and a nice place to start the day. Now that COVID 19 has taken over Los Angeles I'm thankful this place is still open because I needed to wake up before my dentist appointment. The lady that worked the counter was very helpful and kind. I got a large Americano and it is rich and subtle. I'll definitely come back here later because I have a lot of typing to do today. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Coffee :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A neighborhood gem! I was so happy to find them and leave happy every time. Very helpful staff and a great variety of drinks and pastries.

This cup of joe I had at an LA restaurant was so incredibly good I later called them to find out the details. When they said Cognoscenti I was elated and proceeded to order almost $100 worth of beans. Needless to say by my one star review I was over confident in the product because it sucked. The beans were so old or so over roasted, probably both, my fancy burr grinder couldn't cut through it and it almost killed my machine. What I was able to use was gross. I didn't even realize it was the beans at first. How could a product they just sold me be so bad. Until I pulled the machine apart to unclog it and tried the other beans I purchased also - one worse than the other. What a waste of money and time and almost damage to my beautiful espresso machine. Y'all should be embarrassed by selling garbage to people. read more

My Cognoscenti coffee mission is finally complete! Today, I completed the trifecta that eluded me for couple of months. I can finally say I've visited all three locations (Culver City, Olive St., and San Julian)! Plus, it was a treat to finally meet the owner. Historical Fact: This establishment is located where the oldest produce market (City Market) in Los Angeles use to be. Credit Cards: Accepted! No minimum! Wi-Fi/Outlets: Wifi is available and there are some outlets that you can use to plug in your appliances. Location/Parking: Located at the new City Market South Plaza (multi use complex) in the fashion district. There is no signage so it'll be tough to spot. Keep your eye pealed for the word "Coffee" and a distinguishable cog. owl logo. Parking can be tough. Meter parking available ($1/hr). Ambiance/Decor: Save the best for last! This shop screams out great vibes and the floor plan is quite amazing. It's quiet now, but once City Market South is fully operation with additions of Charles Phan's Slanted Door and Steve Samson's Rossoblu... there will be more patrons. Entertainment: PING PONG TABLE! Knock yourself out and play coff pong. I kidding! If it's not busy, you can play a game or two with the owner! How sweet is that! Service: Service was great. Yeekai is very personable, friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about coffee. You can probably talk to him all day about coffee if you want. Coffee Beans: They rotate coffee beans. Heart coffee beans this week. They're waiting for their big giant roaster to come to roast their own beans. Drink Of Choice: Get whatever coffee drink you want. Everything is fairly consistent with the other locations. I usually get there cold brew and is quite refreshing. Pastries: Partnered up with Proof bakery! Haven't had any from them yet, but I heard their pastries are quite yum! read more

See all

Food is bomb. Service is awesome. Coffee is top notch. Daily sandwiches are super underrated. I come here weekly for lunch. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Double cheeseburger and acai bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

they have so many options. I was able to concoct a vanilla iced matcha, charcoal, oat milk latte with two shots of espresso and it was delicious. read more

Cute place, lots of space, outdoor seating. Can come here and study! Came back a second time and their Ethiopian pour over is amazing read more

See all

My downtown LA safe space. Best matcha and really good food. They always have the best service.

Stopped in for a quick latte before work. It was delightful! There was a bit of a line because only one lady was working but she was trying her hardest! They also have plenty of breakfast options. Nice open wooden seating with tons of plants. Reasonable prices. They were even accommodating when I needed to change my order shortly after to include coffees for my coworkers. If I'm in the area, I'll be back! read more

Such a cute hidden gem in this busy area. Has indoor and outdoor areas to sit at, some yummy food, bomb ass coffee, cool kind staff. Great place to stop by to grab a coffee or more and chill or work read more

Worst cognoscenti coffee in LA. Bad service and attitude. 1. No hello just I will be there x 3 2. Coffee 3/4 full without asking if I wanted room in my coffee. 3. Charged me twice cuz the barista doesn't know how to count. 4. Didn't tell me that they needed new batch of coffee. She saw me waiting and said nothing until I asked where is my coffee. 5. Lied to me by saying new brew coffee will take 2 min. I waited and it took more than 5min. She should have been honest with me. I could have gotten something else. She wasn't apologetic at all. I was grabbing coffee before work, 5 min makes a huge different . Never going back there again! Its little out if the way but go to Verve coffee roaster or Maru coffee. Friendly staff with great coffee. read more

I work around the area and have been coming for a while. I suck it up and pay the overpriced weak coffee because I need the morning get up and the staff is usually nice and offers great service. But today def not going back. The short haired soft spoken barista was rude from the beginning and I chose to ignore it as I know how work can be stressful and working service can be overwhelming. I mistakenly gave her the wrong amount of change and instead of communicating it with me and that I was in the wrong, she proceeded to give me an attitude. A simple "hey actually you're missing this amount" instead of being huffy. While giving me my order she went on in a snarky attitude to say "Next time if you don't have enough I can't give you a discount." Obviously I apologized because it was then when I realized that I was at the wrong but she gave off the wrong vibes. So rude and unacceptable. read more

I go often to the Culver City location and now its nice to know they have one 10 mins from USC! Ordered a big box for our holiday party which had about 10 cups; I must say it did steal the thunder from the baked goods people brought in. They also provided cream, sugar and branded Cognoscenti cups. This location is pretty big, not only do they have a wide variety of pastries but it smelled like they had a kitchen as well. Plenty of metered street parking in the not so busy part of the Fashion District. Definitely looking to come back and work here with the team! read more

I been a fan of theirs for years, a regular at the Culver City shop. This place is not only a coffee shop but also a hub for coffee aficionados, small crew all super nice friendly and personable, there is nothing pretentious about this place they love and have passion for what they do. Lunch try the egg sandwich or an açaí bowl all coffee drinks are made to perfection. read more

A cute study spot! They have multiple lattes & iced drinks to choose from, as well as, non-dairy milk to make them vegan. I love that they have great WiFi and a lot of table space for doing homework. The only downside is that there are no plugs to charge your laptop or phone. read more

See all

This is a cute little coffee spot near the fashion district. The place is very fresh and decorated super hip. They have amazing coffee and the service was great! I had a lovely conversation with the barista and she was super sweet. I ordered two vanilla lattes and they were so so good. They were currently out of CBD, but it's good to know they have it and it can be added to any drink! Also they have cactus on their tables! Which I love and is always super cool to look at! read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Go for a visit now for third wave coffee and to see City Market South before it is fully developed. Cognoscenti is now open with its launch party set for tomorrow (9/29/16) with a Latte Art contest, food truck, and more. In this same area, you will find the future home of the Slanted Door of San Francisco, a modern Vietnamese restaurant from Chef Charles Phan and Chef Steve Samson's (Sotto) Rossoblu. I once asked one of our city's most talented chef, chef Gary Menes, a while back for his favorite coffee shops in LA being the coffee nerd he is. He mentioned Cognoscenti. Every since then I've been a customer and fan of their coffee often visiting their Culver City and Atwater Village locations. They're now roasting their own beans at this much larger sleek and modern space, designed by owner Yeekai Lim, who is also an architect. I love that they are serving Proof Bakery goods at this location -- my favorite bakery in the city. Parking might be in issue. There are yellow loading zones where you can park for 5 minutes while picking up a drink to-go. You can also find free parking down San Julian (one way street) or park for free right in front of the screened fence. There's coffee beans you can buy to take home with you from handpicked coffee roasters or try their house-roasted coffee beans. You'll also find Cognoscenti Coffee merch here as well. read more

See all

Wow. You need to check this space out. Amazing. Oh the coffee is spot on as usual. Great coffee. Love the look and vibe of this place. It will also be a coffee roasting location. Loved my breve cap. The smells that will be coming from this place will be amazing here. This place is getting ready to blow up. Many new food spots are being built. read more

See all

Wonderful space that is dog friendly with delicious coffee and polite service. My guy and I enjoyed the peace and tranquility of this space and the robust flavor of the Columbia blend. I highly recommend this place for those who want to meditate, relax, and have a nice cup of joe. read more

This place just recently opened. The plaza that it's located in is still under construction. However this did not stop them from serving us some excellent lattes. I can't wait till the plaza gets up and going looks like it's going to be a fun place to hang out and get coffee read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A DTLA cafe with open space, high ceiling, outdoor/courtyard seating, chilled pop rock in the background, good roast, surround windows, and a ping pong table? Yup, it's Cognoscenti located on the east side of the fashion district. Frankly, it's an oasis away from the bustling DTLA. I came here on a Thursday afternoon to do some reading and editing. The cafe was quiet with just a few customers. The staff was friendly and quick with the iced coffee which had a nice chocolate aroma with a bit of citrus crisp kick. There was plenty of bench style seating, so it was easy to spread out. With the so cal sunshine beaming through the windows and a nice cup of iced coffee, Cognoscenti was a good afternoon hideout from the office to get some quiet work done. (Oops I think I just gave away my secret hideout... but I'm still coming back here. ) read more

See all

did none of the offered burgers I had to try it chef kisses . Highly recommended 10/10

Found this spot by chance as I looked for a place to hang out while waiting for shops to open. Fantastic coffee and the parfait with honey was phenomenal. Small but all ingredients were so flavorful. A nice treat to start my day. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Coffee is terribly weak here. For the price, I'd expect coffee to be strong. The theme and look and ambiance is great, but the coffee doesn't back up. Nice packaging, but terrible filler. So sad because it has such great potential... read more

Stumbled across this place randomly and figured I'd give it a shot. Love the very openness of the place. Lots of natural light and so much outdoor area to enjoy. Coffee is pretty tasty. I got my regular cold brew and it tasted almost sweet which I liked and also very fair price for what you get especially in a place like downtown LA. I'll definitely have to try the pastries next time I'm here but I recommend if you're in the area and want to try something different. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Excellent service and the food it's great!! I love the avocado toast and egg sandwich read more

Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great coffee, was pretty chill with industrial vibes and lots of seating, maybe like two outlets? If you go in the morning I think you can snag em if ur trying to do work...which it is a great place to do work in unbothered with occasional people watching read more

Great tea, REALLY great service, wifi, TONS OF SPACE... everything you need to be honest. Was happy to have been greeted when i entered and departed. read more