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    Compass Coffee

    4.2 (321 reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Closed 6:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Compass Coffee Takeout or Delivery

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    COMPASS COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Compass Coffee

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    Double espresso
    Tami D.

    Stopped in for an early morning espresso and think I'll make this a frequent stop. Coffee was great, service attentive, and everyone in line seemed genuinely happy.

    Kate P.

    *review for events* This is definitely an overdue review, but I saw they were advertising hosting events in their cafes and I just wanted to share my experience. Three years ago I reached out to the compass team to host coffee for out of town family the day after my wedding. After coming to an agreement with the team on a fixed deposit, a few tables held and paying for my guests coffee on one card we thought we were all set. The morning after our wedding, my husband and I made our way over to the cafe to get set up and the staff had no idea what was happening. They wouldn't let us put down our card for a tab either. On this I don't blame the staff obviously, more of a corporate/mgmt issue. Our guests all paying for coffee themselves and we tried to order and pay for as many pastries as we could. We essentially paid compass a few hundred dollars for a fee to "host" and the then brought a few dozen people in to their business. The event was completely chaotic and with only two baristas working, guests waited forever. We were so disappointed. I had emailed the team that morning to tell them what happened and then they followed up offering a tour (??) of their roastery. Lol. Just our deposit back would have been nice. My now husband and I still frequent Compass, but this experience will forever leave a bad taste in my mouth. Pun intended.

    iced cherry vanilla latte with oat milk
    Tara W.

    Pretty good experience, nothing too special about the cherry vanilla latte, could be creamier. Overall, a tad too expensive for a latte from a chain company- if it's nearby and you need coffee right at that moment, it's a safe bet.

    Iced vanilla latte. Half decaf and with oatmilk.
    Kathy M.

    This review is for their iced vanilla latte (half decaf with oatmilk) Rich in flavor, great espresso-milk ratio and the vanilla flavor stands out beautifully. I'm usually not a big fan of vanilla, I lean towards mocha but I would get this again in the DC area. This is about a 15 min walk towards the National Mall and the museum of national history. Nearer to the Capitol, and further away from the Washington Monument/ Lincoln Memorial.o

    Pleasant interior to the cafe.
    Gilbert G.

    This is a great location (across the street from the Capital One Arena south entrance - close to the Hotel Monaco). The interior is bright and modern. It's a local DC chain with delicious coffee. I particularly enjoyed the Cardinal Blend (medium roast) coffee! Two minor blemishes are the reason for 4 stars (instead of 5). On a Saturday afternoon, the service was less than stellar (but perhaps weekend staffing has been challenging in many parts of the country in early 2023 due to the Great Resignation). Also, prices here are about $1 or $2 higher than at Starbucks due to inflationary changes which took effect on January 1, 2023. That said, if you're looking for a higher quality roast than Starbucks but do not have the time to wait 20 minutes at an independent cafe, Compass Coffee is a "go-to" destination for an enjoyable caffeine break in the greater DC region. The fact that it's a local DC coffee chain is a plus as well!

    Patrick M.

    This coffee shop is an excellent spot to relish the perfect cup of coffee. Their coffee is always delicious and robust, and I like that taste. Unlike other coffee chains, I like Compass Coffee for its no-tipping policy and for not charging extra for alternative milk options. It's ideally located in front of Capital One Arena, where you can grab a tasty coffee before the game.

    Front of cup.
    Doug T.

    Hands down the best coffee we've had in DC. While I'm a big fan of local DC coffee shops, we decided to stop here while walking to dinner, and we were very happy with this decision. We purchased a Pumpkin Spice Latte and two Maple Lattes on a cold Fall day. The coffee was nice and balanced. The added flavors did not overpower the refined coffee taste, and the milk was frothy and creamy. By far, this was one of, if not the best latte I've ever tasted.

    a cup of coffee on a counter
    James H.

    I truly wish Compass Coffee existing on the west coast. I opted today for a Gingerbread latte and instantly I wanted another once sipping at the bottom. WOW. The atmosphere was chill, but warm, staff friendly, and no codes or cards in order to just grab some coffee. Great option, can't wait to enjoy more!

    Katarina L.

    First coffee of the day was so good I found a second location later on and had to get a second cup. I've never had Compass before but they are literally everywhere in DC and I am a big fan. All the good: the coffee was hot and strong the vibe of the shop - nice and airy and bright lots of seats, high tops and tables I love that they use their cans as little pots for their spider plants! Makes it feel like a lot less of a chain But again and most importantly, the coffee was great. When I find myself back in DC, I know to turn to Compass for good coffee.

    Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte
    Shakira W.

    Cute little coffee spot where you can also post up and do some work or just chill for a bit. I had the iced pumpkin spiced latte and it was decent. I think it had the color of pumpkin but not so much of the taste. It didn't taste bad, but it just didn't taste like a lot like pumpkin spice. But I'd still revisit and try other drinks for sure...

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Vanilla cream cold brew was fine but a little watery. Service is slow, and the coffee is left on the counter without announcement.

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    2 years ago

    Good spot for a pick me up. Cold brew was refreshing. Service was fast and courteous.

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    3 years ago

    Great coffee and customer service. Tarrin proactively adjusted my drink when I made a mistake ordering.

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    Dolcezza - Amazing gelato.

    Dolcezza

    (633 reviews)

    $$

    Yum! The shop has incredible desserts inside City Center DC. The gelato is delicious. There are so…read moremany flavors. The choices are unique and change from time to time. They also have coffees. This is a fun place to end date night or visit with friends while sightseeing seeing in DC. Dolcezza is inside Palmer Alley, a fun place to take pictures. Visitors will find upscale shops and other restaurants in the immediate area. Chinatown Metro or Convention Center metro are a few blocks away. Paid metered parking is hit or miss. There are garages nearby. This place is worth a visit (or more).

    Famous Chef Thomas Reviews: Dolcezza (Washington, DC)…read more The Famous Chef Thomas visited Dolcezza in Washington, DC, expecting a proper café experience, especially at the prices being charged. When a place is asking $4 to $7 for tea or a latte, there is an obligation to deliver something above the level of a bargain counter operation. Instead, the Famous Chef Thomas was handed a tea cup with the tea bag resting on top, wasting valuable brewing time and shifting the work onto the customer like some cheap do-it-yourself setup. That may be understandable at McDonald's for $1.79, but at Dolcezza it is unacceptable. At these prices, the worker should have already put the tea bag in the cup, added the honey, and served a finished product with care. Do not charge premium café prices and then behave like preparation is somehow the customer's responsibility. And to casually tell the customer that the honey is over at the stand only adds insult to laziness. Hospitality is not pointing. Hospitality is serving. What makes it worse is that this place has clearly declined from where it was when it first opened years ago. The standards are slipping, and it shows in more than one way. The table was dirty, and because this visit was early in the morning, that dirt had to be left over from the previous day. That is not a small oversight. That is evidence of poor closeout, poor maintenance, and weak attention to detail. Then came the final insult: too many bugs. The Famous Chef Thomas had to kill them or dodge them just to sit there, which made it impossible to enjoy the experience without feeling like he was in a battle against being bitten. A café cannot expect customers to relax, sip tea, and enjoy themselves while swatting pests away from the table. Dolcezza is charging as if it still deserves a premium reputation, but the service, cleanliness, and overall execution no longer support it. Premium prices require premium standards. The Famous Chef Thomas did not receive them here. The verdict: lazy service, dirty conditions, bugs, and a café experience that has fallen far below its old standard. The Famous Chef Thomas is not impressed

    Compass Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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