Sorry we're total coffee snobs (living in the Pac NW makes it hard to be forgiving regarding coffee). Definitely a step above Starbucks (uggh), but I didn't care much for my cold brew. Seating is uncomfortable and I was surprised to see so many people working away. It was pretty cramped seating and seems like it would be hard to concentrate. Hard to recommend, but easy locale from the Mall. read more

It might have been a new barista kind of thing but both times my mint cold brew tasted a little sub par. I really like the spot in Georgetown- they make the foam and sweetness the perfect amount. This location, the coffee tasted a little burnt. I will continue to try different locations since I know that there are several within a one mile radius! read more

So excited that I finally tried this place out. Conveniently located across from the Verizon Center, this Compass Coffee offers ample space for its patrons to enjoy their various coffee flavors while getting some work done. I was there on MLK Day and it was pretty packed, but the friendly staff did a good job at helping the line move along fairly quickly, while still answering my million questions hahaha. I ordered a small Cafe Au Lait, as well as a jar of nitro cold brew to go. Luckily their small is really small, so me not having liked Cafe Au Lait that much wasn't a problem. Their nitro cold brew is strong and delicious. Love the option of getting it to go, especially for someone who can't get to the coffee shop daily. I've also noticed how their coffee doesn't leave a bitter aftertaste - thankfully!!! For serious coffee lovers, they do sell canisters of coffee beans - each marked by region and roast, as well as their components. If you bring your canister back, they will refill it for $1 off. Overall a neat coffee shop worth trying! read more

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Why have I never tried Compass Coffee before?! We went in prior to visiting the Newseum and I ordered their Peppermint Mocha and it didn't disappoint!! You can taste the peppermint without it hiding the coffee and vice verse. I love how cozy and open their space is! Definitely a different vibe than other coffee shops in the area. They have lots of chairs and room to stand. We will definitely come back whenever we're in the area! read more

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This is my second time at Compass Coffee & I am in LOVE. I have probably tried almost every coffee shop in DC and this is by far, my favorite. Its not one of those small cozy little coffee shops but its a very nice place to sit down and chat. It has a very modern & sleek vibe to it, located right outside of the gallery place/chinatown metro station and near the Verizon Center. Its very spacious and located inside of a corporate building. In the mornings & around lunch time it can be quite busy and a little noisy as everyone is talking among themselves. If you go around 2 or 3 pm, its sort of empty and a better place to just sit at relax. The nitro cold brew is everything. I've tried it from several places including Starbucks but never felt the difference between an iced coffee and nitro cold brew till I got one from here. Its an amazing silky blend with a hint of flavor that just kind of lingers in your mouth for a minute or two. Its extremely smooth and light, perfect for those who don't like the bitter after taste of coffee. It comes with milk in it, but you can always just ask for it black. Trust me, once you go nitro there is no going back to coffee. I also got the saag paneer bun which was delightful and had just the right amount of flavor. It tastes very fresh. Only downfall is that you cant get it heated because they don't have toasters but its not very cold to begin. Prices don't differ too much from starbucks but you def. get your moneys worth. Everything here is so good. read more

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I came here on a Sunday morning to get some work done while in the area; I stayed from 8:30 to around 11:45. This place is so close to the Gallery Place metro station; it's also across from the Verizon Center. It was almost empty when I arrived, but it got pretty packed from 9:30-on. The café is clean, pretty brightly lit, and has a nice, airy ambiance, which makes it great for studying. There was plenty of seating. I got a medium lavender latte because it looked interesting; it was definitely a unique taste, and I didn't dislike it, but I might try something else next time. There were a lot of baked goods in the case, as well as packaged food. There were 2 unisex bathrooms; at one point a group of people came in and probably all of them needed to use the bathrooms so there was briefly a line, but other than that, the bathrooms were mostly available even when it got busy. I would definitely come back here if I ever need a coffeehouse to hang out at in the area. I'd love to try the sweet potato cake next time. read more

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This coffee spot has some seriously awesome options for drinks and pastries. I only had a matcha latte and my hubby had some hot tea. It's located right across from the stadium, so a great place to stop into for a great cup of coffee. It's also very close to the Downtown Holiday Market and the International Spy Museum, so would be a great option if those are on your agenda! Would definitely come back next time I'm in town. read more

Compass Coffee is my definitely my favorite coffee in DC, Philz is a close second though! This location has a great setup and is convenient for many who work downtown. The space is also good for folks working remotely. The coffee is amazing by itself, I usually order a dark roast- the drip coffees rotate daily I believe. If you like to add a little flavor or sugar to your drink they offer many options to choose from. I'm usually an anti-syrup gal but I've tried both the lavender and gingerbread syrups and they don't have that artificial taste. They offer a pastry bar and corner refrigerator stocked with yogurts, salads, sandwiches and a few other things. Everything in the fridge seems to be a step up from your large chain coffee shop to-go/fridge section. I had the salmon salad which was relish and priced nicely around $7. You will not be disappointed on any trip to compass coffee! read more

My colleague and I met a recent graduate from our master's program for an informational interview and to provide her with advice. We sat in the large hallway, having to raise our voices a little to be heard over the moderate din, but it was a comfortable conversation. Usually, I get a perfectly made almond milk latte or the recently brewed medium/light roast. On this sticky nearly-summer day today, I instead tried the Nitro cold brew and I am so glad I did! It was subtely sweet with a slightly nutty taste. There was a nice froth on top too and it was absolutely refreshing. This is likely to be my new summer drink of choice! read more

Bottom Line: A bright, clean coffee shop with ample seating and locally roasted beans. I remember a time when coffee shops were typically small, independently owned shops. Then overtime the diva mermaid took over every street corner and it seemed like local coffee shops were a thing of the past. Now I feel like the pendulum is slowly starting to swing the other way and small, local owned businesses, like Compass Coffee, are making a comeback. Hooray for small business! Since the only place in the United States where coffee beans can successfully be grown in quantity is Hawaii, the beans aren't "DC Made" but they are roasted in DC. In fact, the beans are roasted in the Shaw neighborhood but there are three other Compass Coffee shops in DC including this Chinatown location. Something I like about Compass Coffee is that they focus on quality beans, rather than the quantity of coffee in your cup. They buy their beans from a few handpicked regions and focus on getting beans harvested during the perfect time. I like coffee but I don't need a huge cup of it so I appreciate that a small coffee is a dainty 8 ounces (I believe), a standard serving size before Americans started super-sizing everything. A few of my Marine coworkers like to say, "It is the Navy's job to make coffee and get the Marines to shore," but in the case of Compass Coffee, it is two Marines who are making the coffee and doing a fine job! Oorah for a small, local, Veteran owned business! read more

If you are in the DC area and need a place to sit/work/read/etc, this Compass Coffee location will do. It's conveniently located right by the Verizon Center/Chinatown metro stop, has ample seating, lots of servers/cashiers for quick service, and is just a pretty big store overall. As for the drinks, my husband ordered a regular latte and I tried the nitro cold brew. IMO, both beverages were just OK. The espresso shots for the latte were pulled maybe a little long as they had a slight bitterness to it. Overall, the bean they use for their espresso drinks (the Emblem espresso) just doesn't contain the flavor profiles I enjoy in my shots, so I am probably a little biased. It was not full-bodied enough to my taste and tasted a little weak, though bitter at the same time. The latte art was well done though! The nitro cold brew was more disappointing. After having a cold-brewed latte on draft from a competitor coffee roaster (that will stay unnamed!) that was incredibly smooth and tasty, I expected a lot more from this nitro cold brew in the same regard. I really did not expect it to have any bitterness (since it's a cold brew after all), but unfortunately I found the underlying taste of the drink to be weak, but bitter again. This could be due to the bean type used just not really being my preferred taste, but I expected the cold brew to at least not be so bitter. I had to add lots of simple syrup to get through the drink. A positive note is that they do offer the simple syrup and honey rather than just sugar packets which sometimes get really gritty when drinking cold beverages. Since I don't live in DC and don't get out to the Penn Quarter area that often, I don't see myself coming back here or even trying the other beans they have (which is a lot of different flavor profiles!). They are sold at other places that are closer to home, i.e. Whole Foods, but my first experience with this roaster didn't leave me dying to try more at home. Seems like many other Yelpers enjoyed the flavored lattes, so that might be the better route to go! read more

Compass Coffee - Latte + nitro cold brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I came for a kolache and walked out with two: a half smoke and a saag paneer. Both were $3.75 a piece and really delicious, when heated up. I think it would have tasted fine without a temp change, but when I saw the kolaches, I thought that a temp change would improve things. Too bad Compass Coffee didn't offer to heat them up. (I think I read another review that said they wouldn't do that and since I live around the corner, I just did it myself.) That's why it's a three star from me. That and a 15+% tax (sales tax 5.75% and consumption tax 10%). Is that common practice? I've only seen a 10% food tax. On top of that, if you search "consumption tax dc", one of the results is the DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer's website explaining a five-tier structure. Seems like we were double taxed. No drink was consumed; no food was consumed on the premise. No food was heated. A kolache a meal it does not make. Just saying. read more

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Love Compass! Great staff, great coffee, owned and operated by Vets, and tip is already factored into their pricing. Also rewards here rack up very quickly. Best nitro cold brew in town. read more

This is my favorite coffee shop in Washington D.C. Tried their lavender, caramel, and Nutella latte. My favorite was definitely their caramel because it was just the right amount of sweet and roasted/savory. Their lavender latte was easily the most powerful lavender latte I've had, which was nice. I found the Nutella latte to be the most tame, and not POW hazelnut/chocolate. Just kind of muted mocha. Also this location has really helpful baristas so that was a plus read more

Compass Coffee - Caramel and lavender latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I just wanted to get out of the 25 degree weather for a cup of coffee; sure try someplace new. Overpriced cup of coffee and every time the door opens everyone shivers. Hard seats, dull croud with smelly people, cute displays. Oh I'm suppose to buy something here? read more

Compass Coffee - Oooh DC Smart seating - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We Stumbled upon Compass Coffee while strolling through China town. The vegan blueberry muffin was phenomenal. The baked goods were beautifully decorated and delicious. The almond milk chia tea latte was the perfect morning pick me up. read more

Compass Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I bookmarked so many shops to visit during my week in DC, alas, I never got past Compass. TL;DR: Local roaster. Incredible coffee. Amazing baristas. Nitro is a must. Let me start by saying, I love that this shop is open at 6am. In New York the only coffee you can get before the crack of 7am is Starbucks. The location is great, there's lots of seating, plenty of food options, but I came for the coffee. Over the course of a week I tried a cortado, americano, the medium and dark roast drips, and the nitro cold brew. The baristas are so friendly, and not in the grin-and-bear-it way. Baristas are first responders. They keep the world awake and functioning. I have a tremendous amount of respect for them, and I think it's one of the hardest and most under appreciated jobs out there. I digress. The coffee. I'm not even sure how to describe it other than completely unique and delicious. The espresso was full bodied, it tasted like toasted coconut to me, no idea if that was one of the notes or not. The drip coffees were on point, but the nitro. It was hands down the best nitro I've ever had, and I don't say that lightly. I was prompted to try it when I kept noticing how many locals were ordering it in the morning, which is not something you see a lot. Oh and they have three Modbars. I might've obnoxiously taken a picture of them. Possibly multiple pictures. read more

Compass Coffee - Nitro - the nectar of the gods. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Love how spacious and tidy this Compass is, particularly in such a crowded party of the city. Fills a much needed void

Staff was super friendly, loved the vibe and got my order within practically seconds. Beautiful location. On a super hot and muggy day, I ordered a iced hibiscus tea. Delicious. Haven't tried my cross ain't yet but visually appealing! read more

Compass Coffee - Iced hibiscus tea and a ham and cheese croissant! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Spread throughout DC, and fortunately in the same building as one of my clients. I've had there overnight oats. They were tasty, but not my favorite breakfast choice. Staff is always friendly and efficient. I suggest getting a getting a Nitro Cold Brew. It's one of the better ones I've had! read more

Great people, great atmosphere, great coffee! I was bummed they didnt have sugar free sweetener, but found the stevia packets eventually. Shoutout to JOSH for the cool heart design. Made my rainy day! read more

Compass Coffee - Love! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

As soon as I walked in I could tell that this coffee shop was unique! The menu is an artsy take on a typical coffee shop listing. The mint nitro cold brew is creamy, minty, and sweet without any added sugar or cream. It's really quite amazing! I couldn't resist but to buy a slice of their cookie butter bar which was perfection. The prices are decent and the baristas are kind. I will be back next time I'm in DC! Well done Compass Coffee! read more

Compass Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is the Second time I've been in a compass coffee, and I've been extremely excited about the shop both times. The staff was nice, energetic, and helpful. I initially stopped in just to use the restroom, which I could do without being a customer, putting a code on the door, or any other such nonsense that is common in downtown D.C. Anytime I needed help an answer was quickly available and I always felt that the staff had really good energy. The drinks were good as well, freshly made, a nice flavor profile and extremely refreshing. The place was very clean and comparatively to starbucks, very bright as opposed to the dark blacks and greens, making it a much brighter and nice environment to just sit in. I highly recommend it, it's one of the better coffee-shop experiences I've had in a long time in DC. read more

Not only is this place vet friendly, the coffee is fantastic. An open area for brewing allows for you to watch your cold brew or hot coffee simmer into your coffee cup. The cold brew was fantastic. May have been a seasonal item, but I ordered the cherry blossom cold brew. Little notes of sweetness coupled with the smooth taste of cold coffee. What I find best about this cafe is how awesome the branding is. The owners are former marines and the service, decor, and great coffee certainly represent them well. The venue has snacks and treats for those that are hungry. Very quick turnaround time. read more

I heard great things about Compass Coffee, but was disappointed. First, this location is not the spot to go if you need to do some"coffee shop work" A few minutes after opening my laptop and getting ready to blog, I had to close my laptop and leave. The shop is extremely loud, I felt like I was at a nightclub. Also, the tables are so close to one another, I felt like a sardine in a can. As far as the coffee, it wasn't anything to brag about. I ordered a dry cappuccino. It was smooth, but bitter. I also decided to try a nitro brew, and I had better. The nitro was filled halfway with ice and my nitro became so watered down. The one plus is Compass doesn't charge extra for almond milk. What was weird was I asked for a refund after sitting down at the table and deciding I just can't drink the cappuccino and was told because I hadn't ordered within the last 4 transactions, a manager would have to refund me my money later in the day. I had to write down my information on a paper bag and expect a refund later. read more

This was my first trip here and I was generally happy! My colleague recommended the Nitro iced coffee so that's what I got. I was happy to see almond milk in a milk carafe which is currently not something all coffee shops do without an up charge. The coffee was flavorful and not bitter. It was strong but not overly so. Looking forward to trying other things too... next time! read more

It's small, but it's got outlets for charging and coffee for charging (see what I did there?). On a five-day visit to DC this past week, we visited Compass Coffee at least twice for coffee and a little a charging. It's a great place to rest your feet, caffeinate, and plan your next move. It's close to about a million things, so we often found ourselves here after finishing up at a nearby museum. Great coffee, lots of seating for what is a small space, and just a nice place to relax. read more

I had a hot peppermint mocha and gingerbread cake. Came to $12. The mocha was a little too hot and burned my tongue a little. I didn't think it had enough of a peppermint flavor. The gingerbread didn't taste super fresh to me. It was a little hard to peel off the paper. I was hoping to get a mint cold brew, because I think I had one before. , but it was not on the menu. Also I think there used to be prepared foods like overnight oats and a cookie bar, but I didn't see those, either. Service was fast. read more

Quintessential hipster coffee place. Skip Starbucks and come here. All we had was the cold brew, but it's excellent. On nitro, very strong, and great flavor. Both times we went, they were crowded, but service still friendly and quick. read more

I don't understand why they charge $1.95 for a small cup of tea and $3.15 for a large cup of tea when you are getting the same amount of leaves (1 Tea Bag) . So you pay $1.20 for 8 more ounces of hot tap water. Had the latte instead and it was fairly bland and lacked any rich coffee flavor that is present in other boutique coffee shops. read more

My favorite place for a vanilla nitro brew or matcha latte. The lines move quickly and the coffee always tastes great. No frills, just good coffee. read more

Pretty decent cappuccino in this semi-crowded shop... I would go back if in the area.

Favorite place to grab a coffee and sit down to do work, haven't been in a while due to COVID, but have been to multiple locations in DC and they never fail to disappoint. The staff are always friendly and always looking to enhance your experience. My favorite thing to get is an iced vanilla latte read more

Compass Coffee - a person holding a cup of coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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-This coffee is really excellent. I usually get caramel lattes and cold brews, and they are always exceptional. -It's usually pretty busy, but service is fast -Their flavored cold brews have not been good, in my experience. i.e., the cherry blossom cold brew and the mint cold brew were terrible. Avoid those. read more

I came here during President's Day weekend when I was visiting DC. Their pound cakes go along with their coffee read more

Compass Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came here for the first time when my friend asked to accompany her to study off campus (she didn't want to walk back home alone and wanted company). My second home is the library, so I begrudgingly accepted. I generally can't focus in coffee shops because they feel so crammed and, I don't know if this is the new craze, but the hipster spots always have fifty different types of chairs and tables that are too low and too small to work on. Luckily, Compass Coffee was not one of those places. They have a few small tables near the front, but the table in the back is long and wide, so if you need the work space, they have that available. There's also this alcove that connects to the hotel, but I'm not sure if that's part of the coffee shop. Sure, Compass Coffee is sort of like a "cooler" version of Starbucks with their hibiscus sweet tea and odawalla-like fruit juices, but some of their goodies are seriously off the chart. Their sushi rolls, though pricey, are really delicious. They range from the typical spicy tuna and salmon to the more fusion-y stuff like tofu and steak. But the best part of Compass is their baked goods. If you have not tried the Cookie Butter Bar yet, that thing is honestly heaven. It's like eating a stick of butter but in cookie form. The minute it touched my teeth, the bar melted into my mouth. The icing on the top gives it the oh-so-sweet punch that it needs. I would go back just to eat those. Overall, a nice place to study and eat snacks. I'll be back every once in a while! read more

As popular as Starbucks but as familiar as the local bag piper in front of the White House, Compass Coffee is the prevailing coffee shop in all of the District of Columbia. I visited this place on several occasions when I lived in DC as an intern. I loved this coffee shop primarily for its clean and composed atmosphere, a good change from hipster-esque coffee joints with low lighting and uncomfortable seating. This place was made for the productive individual. Compass offers plenty of seating (although it may fill up fast) and bright lighting to keep you awake. The stations are always very clean and composed which, I feel, de-clutters my mind and allows for a more organized environment. The coffee is pretty great! I usually order an Iced Vanilla Americano for warmer days and a Hazelnut Latte for the cooler days. Their coffee is always done to perfection, and the staff is always receptive to my requests. read more

Came here with my hubby and I had a latte. The environment is comfortable, modern and laid-back. I appreciated that the seats in the perimeter of the shop all had outlets and the lighting was perfect. It's a great place to sit and do work for a little while. As for the latte itself, it was tasty and did the job but I thought the espresso was a little under-extracted. I know this place gets rave review for its coffee so I will give that a try next time I come. read more

My friend and I were looking for a place to get some work done. He recommended Compass Coffee for not only the space but the coffee as well. Since it was a Saturday the coffee shop was quite busy however not so busy that we couldn't find seats. I was told this place was known for their ice coffee, which I still need to try! It was a cold day so I went with the cortado for concentration and warmth. It was the perfect blend of heaven and the heart design was a plus. I'm a sucker for cutesy details. We managed to get 15 minutes worth of work done. I was distracted by the space, there was so much to look at as a first timer. The temperature was perfection which is rare on cold days. I always find myself either not quite warm or breaking a sweat at coffee shops but not this one. I'm working up the courage to brave the cold and try that ice coffee! read more

I got a almond milk iced latte and and it was pretty good. Sizes are pretty small . I got a medium but medium is like a small and small is extra small. read more

Compass Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia