Cognoscenti Coffee Roasters

Had a coffee hangout with my friend whose daily coffee spot is Cognoscenti. I wasn’t having high expectations to be honest. So I ordered for a cappuccino and boy, I was pleasantly surprised. 💯 recommended. Heard their coffee too is really good. So if you are in the neighborhood, stop by!

Saw this cafe across Creature Comforts brewery in a little business park on Olive st downtown. The space isn’t much to look at, and it was rather warm inside making it uncomfortable. There is more seating outside but it was a hot day so we chose the lesser of two evils and stayed in. Tried their signature Latte Noir which I found to be just meh. Even with the extra shots of espresso I didn’t find it to be too strong but also nothing stood out about it considering the other ingredients they added. We got a matcha and a cookie. The cookie was good the matcha like any other. Overall, serviceable for those living or working downtown, though plenty of other spots I would choose first. But they do have a secure courtyard area to work in which is nice.

SPANISH TORTILLA!!!! It’s soooo good 🤤 I came across this coffee shop, working across the street window tinting and WOW I’m completely shocked by the amazing flavors in their food. We got the açaí with strawberry and granola, the Spanish tortillas and a bread thing. All soo good I ordered one to take home. Went to complement the food and then the owner gave us a cookie to try and it was delicious! Great experience

I couldn't imagine what a coffee shop would look like in this part of the Fashion District, and I was happily surprised to find out the cafe in a plaza that almost feels like an oasis, shared with a few other restaurants. The shop is spacious with a full view of the roasting area. Good flat white, and really nice people too.

Found this spot while looking for LowKey burrito. Love the aesthetics of the shop and their menu looks very tasty. The coffee was amazing as well however I gave a 3 star for lack of customer service. The shop was not busy at all and I told the young lady it was my first time hoping she can kinda give me a run down of what they have and all i got was has pointing to the menu. Not very friendly.

Great Coffee. Got the Iced Mocha with Oat and is exactly the amount of sweet I want on a Mocha latte. Also got a flat white and coffee is superior! Will definitely come back again. Great vibe and open atmosphere with roasting in the store.

I arrived ordering a cold brew and left asking about wholesale. They were very friendly all the time and explained prices, quantities and origins of coffee. I love your service, I hope to return soon. Thank you very much for your time. 🤎🤍🤎🤍🤎🤍🤎🤍🤎🤍🤎

There was plenty of street parking around and just a few blocks away from Santee Alley. They had a solid coffee menu, but I feel like their iced latte was too milky. However I like that the drinks aren't overly sweet. I also tried their peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies which were excellent. There's plenty of outdoor shaded seating and standing space. If you wanna buy whole beans, they roast in house on Mondays.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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. )

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

The coffee here is great! However, what really makes this place special is the surrounding area that looks completely out of place for DTLA, in a good way. I definitely recommend grabbing a drink and taking in the scenery!

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.

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.

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

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...

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.

Great coffee shop slightly off the beaten path at City Market South in DTLA Fashion District! They also have a few really good lunch items on their menu plus good baked items from quality local bakeries. The space is really cool with high ceilings, big windows, lots of seating, free wifi, a ping pong table and outdoor area with a bocce ball court. Topping things off is a staff that is friendly, attentive and there to make sure you are well taken care of. Overall a great addition to this neighborhood.

I got matcha latte which literally tasted like plain milk and they won't even fix it without extra charge. Nice place but service or quality of the drinks were definitely not up to par.

Everyone is super nice every time I come in, the shop is clean and bright, AND they have oat milk!! Bless!!!

Cute place with descent coffee but I don't know why they bother listing food. I work next door and the last three times I asked for one of their sandwiches and they have been out of bread. Not just at that moment but all Day as if there is no bread left if in the city of Los Angeles. It's bizarre Update now they randomly close earlier than their stated hours on Saturdays? Just went by and it's locked at 15m Please someone else open a decent coffee shop in the fashion district!

I was at the restaurant Rosso Blue last night and had this coffee for the first time. It is superb. I'm from the East Coast and I'm going to be ordering it online!

Love this place! Hidden gem in the garment district. Love their breakfast sandwich, cold brew, latte. So happy they're near my work!

Found this place by chance and fell in love. The people here are so nice and welcoming, were patient with my husband's questions about the coffee machine. The coffee with almond milk was the best I had and the avocado toast with egg is really awesome (according to my son)

This place is totally creeping by in a good way. It's so airy, so bright and so..... coffee. They actually do roasting and grinding of beans so it's like you're witnessing the birth of your coffee or your future coffee. This means it gets a bit louder at times but really, it's like you're seeing coffee babies being flown in by coffee storks as they are brought into this world to power you through the morning and in writing that email. What a miracle. The people are nice and of course, the coffee is good. This is my new favorite coffee place in central LA.

Great coffee and a very nice space! The owner roasts his own beans. Good pastries, food and friendly service! Highly recommend.

It's nice that people can choose latte with many other choice such as almond milk. I enjoy the coffee here. Atmosphere is nice. However, banana cake is not my type

First time here today and had a pretty negative experience. The place is pretty cool, especially because it's in the middle of the downtown fashion district where there's nothing else really.. I order my coffee with the female barista with short curly hair and as I'm ordering my coffee I also add on pastry that's in the glass beside the counter. As I'm about to choose which pastry I want, I see a huge fly buzzing inside the glass on top of the bread that I was about to choose. Obviously I'm not going to take that one so I ask if there is anything else I can get to eat. Before I can finish my sentence she says that that's all that they have in there. I got that that's all the pastry they have but I wanted to know if there was anything else to eat there because I haven't had any food at this point in my day. I try again, and she doesn't even let me ask and says "there's nothing i can do, we don't have anymore." Annoyed I just order my coffee, because at this point she had an attitude. I look over at the glass again and see fruit flies as well. She doesn't do anything about the pastries and just shoos the fly away. That's pretty gross that she left those pastries in there without throwing them away. The fly was all over the 6 pieces of bread that was in that casing. It was gross. I will probably never go back. That barista needs to learn what customer service is like. Also needs to learn how to be sanitary. It really grossed me out that someone out there ate those fly infested pastries.

Arguably the best coffee in the area by far. A perfect double espresso that was made the right way. i saw they had food too, a small food menu, but just what was needed. So i had an amazing breakfast brioche that had top notch meat, aged cheddar cheese, and run all over egg yoke sandwich. Really great way to start the day! Played a bit of ping pong to help digest. Soon this whole area will be taking more steps in the right direction, it's good to see the coffee already has.