Compass Coffee

Lattes at Compass Coffee are ok. The espresso blend is fine, not a lot of flavor or richness. The syrups are pretty mediocre too, with an aftertaste. This is a chain, so I didn't expect much more. The lattes are passable, but I'd prefer a local coffee shop any day; haven't found one in Ballston I like. And the price is high. I'd probably do better with my Nespresso at home. Friendly folks work there for the most part. The atmosphere is fine, very bright and open if you are into that. I prefer a cozy local vibe.

I visited this location this morning and ordered two lattes! both were scalding hot, almost boiling! It was so hot it nearly burned my tongue. Lattes shouldn’t be served at that temperature because it ruins the flavor and texture of the coffee. You could even tell from the foam that something was off. I mentioned to the barista that the drink was too hot, expecting it to be remade properly, but instead she just gave me another cup. I’m not sure what she served me, but it was definitely not a latte or a flat white. Management, please take some time to train your baristas properly if you want to serve quality coffee. Customers deserve a consistent and well prepared drink.

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 adore Compass Coffee for its no-tipping policy and for not charging extra for alternative milk options. It's the ideal place to unwind and watch people stroll by while enjoying coffee in the afternoon.

I didn’t really enjoy the coffee; the pumpkin flavor wasn’t great, but I liked the café’s atmosphere.

I'm not sure why people are saying this place is so great. I love trying new coffee spots, but this coffee is absolutely horrible. My sandwich was so hard that I could not even eat it. I tried to give this place a chance multiple times by trying different items, but I always get the same result, disappointment. Even the free samples of chocolate chip cookies were trash. Sorry to have to write this because the atmosphere is nice (if you like loud noise and dogs) and so are most of the staff, but I will never waste my money here again.

The latte was delicious, but way overpriced for the size. For paying a venti price, I expect more than five sips out of my drink. The croissant was awful. If you don’t know how to make a certain pastry, don’t make it. The menu can go on without it. Really disappointed with the prices and the quality, but the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. I won’t be returning but the coffee is genuinely well roasted and prompts recognition.

$8 for a large peppermint mocha but only 16oz. Im a barista and it tasted nothing like a peppermint mocha, no whip cream is a disappointment. Lady was rushing to leave. Hours are bad~ stays open til 3pm.

In town visiting family.... We walked a mile every morning to get coffee. We enjoyed the atmosphere, the clientele. A cross section of Arlington. Young professionals, young families, older persons... The coffee is good, really good. Smooth and bold, without the bitterness typical in the major player in this segment. Now the fun part.... My wife was feeling low, our trip was coming to an end. Our batista put a heart in the foam of my wife's coffee. She was so very happy, she had never had that before. I don't care that she did this for everyone..she did it for my wife. Every day. I respect professionalism, the care for others. I just wished we could have left bigger tips for the crew. How often do you read that?

One of the better oat milk matcha lattes I've had anywhere. Great flavors for coffee, too. I came here every morning of my trip and tried a breakfast sandwich - the hot honey one. The bun was really tough but it was tasty! Probably not healthy but definitely tasty, and comes out very hot, which is a huge plus on cold days. Service is nice and fast, even when there are many people queuing for their orders.

Needed a pick me up before taking the metro to work and stopped by this gem of a place! It was pretty packed at 730am on a weekday. I ordered an iced matcha latte and & their hot honey sausage breakfast sandwich. Service was so nice and the food and drinks were so delicious. I'd definitely come back to try more things on the menu! If you didn't know, like me, they serve their drinks without a lid and you go to their self service bar to get a lid!

I don't think their seasonal drinks are very good-- they taste rather watered down and almost a bit flavorless. Compass Coffee is good however if you need a place to sit and want a basic coffee. Staff is also generally pretty nice, and if you have the app, they also give some promo codes.

While traveling I stumbled upon this cute coffee shop. The place seemed busy with people working but was big enough for it not to seem cramped and the service was still fast. I was very interested in their unique spring coffee flavors and my partner got one of these which was an iced lavender matcha latte, which they said was great and was very pretty to look at. I got a sugar free vanilla latte which was decent too. The star of the visit for me was definitely their chicken sausage breakfast sandwich which was delicious. Since giving up pork I have been hard pressed to find decent breakfast sandwiches and usually have to get boring egg and cheese sandwiches so I would come back just for the country chicken breakfast sausage option alone! They have plenty of mini cakes and baked goods that looked amazing as well. I will definitely be coming back to try more from their menu. The only reason they didn't get 5 stars was that the bun on the breakfast sandwich was a little tough and my latte although was decent wasn't as great as I was expecting.

Not the biggest coffee fan but wanted a warm beverage to avoid the cold. I opted for a sweeter drink and ordered the Nutella mocha and wow was I impressed!! Sweet enough to satisfy my sweet tooth but just enough espresso to give me a burst of energy.

Got a cold brew around lunch time and it wasn't too busy, although this place can get pretty busy in the mornings due to its location on a busy street in Ballston. The cold brew was good but prices are a little on the higher side. Good amount of seating inside and outside, saw some people working from the cafe.

Whenever I travel, I generally like visiting local coffee shops and sometimes, buying locally roasted coffee beans. Last October, a group of us visited from Hawaii, San Diego, and Norfolk, and some of us are huge coffee fans. Coming from Hawaii, I especially wanted to try a pumpkin spice latte in actual "cool" weather, as drinking a PSL in 80-degree weather still feels strange to me. Of course, in my search for good local coffee, I instantly found Compass Coffee. Fortunately, this one was located just a couple of blocks away from our Airbnb in Ballston. Overall, the food and drink around Ballston is amazing--it is a college district after all. Compass Coffee is something else, though! On our first visit to Compass Coffee, I ordered a hot pumpkin spice latte. Did I mention oat, soy, and almond milk are complimentary? I ordered my PSL with oat milk and my drink was so good! The pumpkin sauce wasn't overpowering like in some corporate shops, and you could still taste the nice espresso flavor. I loved it! The following day, I ordered the hot almond butter latte with oat milk, which was tasty. My husband, however, ordered the iced almond butter latte since he said a good amount of Yelp reviews mentioned the drink. I tried his drink, and this ICED ALMOND BUTTER LATTE WAS THE BEST DRINK AT COMPASS COFFEE. The almond butter flavor complemented the espresso so well. DC locals are lucky to have daily access to that iced almond butter latte! I'm glad I ordered a canister of Compass' signature roast, the Cardinal Blend. Hubby and I have been drinking Cardinal Blend brewed by our V60 almost every day for the past month! Coffee lovers, a brewed Cardinal Blend or an iced almond butter latte will make your day or your stay in DC!

I love Compass this location is conveniently located in walking distance to a lot of great shops in the area which is very walkable. Downside it is often very busy especially on the weekends. They do a great vanilla latte though and their pastries and croissants are always top tier.

Coffee and lattes are always TOO HOT ! you have to wait at least 20 min before it is drinkable. Lattes are too watery, the froth is not creamy at all. it was when Compass first started. there are smaller coffee shops that are stepping it up in ceramic mugs that leave a film all the way to the bottom, that is how lattes should be. Compass waters it town so much , no wonder it is so boiling hot.....it burns my tongue each time.

The BEST almond matcha latte!! Popped by to work on a few things and hands down the best almond latte in Arlington. Ordered a chocolate croissant to go Win!

This coffee shop sits on the corner of a busy intersection in Ballston and is usually packed, though the line moves quickly. I ordered a matcha latte, and when we asked for something less sweet for my parents, there didn't seem to be many non-sweet options available for them to try. Overall, we found the café a good spot for studying--they even offer dog treats. However, the pastries and drinks were a bit too sweet for our liking.

Got an offer via e-mail for a free breakfast sandwich with purchase. This is dangerous for me because I love a breakfast sandwich and a place this close could form an addictive habit! I bought the cherry blossom latte. I was a pretty pink and very sweet (a statement- not a complaint!). It was the perfect accompaniment to my savory egg sandwich. The sandwich was super hot which I liked. The egg was good, cheese perfectly melted and bun soft. I would have preferred the bacon more crispy. I really like this particular coffee shop. It's bright and never too crowded.

Compass coffee is one of my go to places for coffee. What I like about compass is the fact that they still have the option to serve the coffee in a normal cup instead of a paper cup. Having coffee is one of the bright moments of my day and I really like to sit and enjoy my coffee and it sucks when it is in a paper cup. This place also is very bright and everybody there is friendly. Another thing I like about compass is the fact that they don't have tip. Even though the coffee is expensive but there is one final price. I also like how they make coffee in this branch specifically better than the other branch of compass coffee I have been. Definitely recommend this place for a cup of cappuccino and relaxing.

Seems like overpriced coffee but so worth! I got the matcha lemonade and was a smooth and interesting combo that kind of blew me away. Their coffee drinks are tasty as well. The whole experience for Compass Coffee is just amazing! Place has great vibes and spacey environment. The employees are nice and super friendly. Supplies such as napkins and lids are placed in a nice area too. Bathroom is spacious and clean. Definitely recommend a visit for any coffee/caffeinated drink lover!

Visited 8/31: Coffee underwhelming. Customer service left more to be desired. Upon entering the coffee shop, there were only 1-2 people that were in the process of receiving their order before me. I had never been to this location before so it took me & my friend a second to decide on which coffee to order. The lady at the counter was not helpful in providing recommendations for coffee. We ended up ordering an iced maple latte with almond milk and my friend ordered a hot maple latte & we provided a name for the order. We waited about 15 minutes and expected that when the coffee was finished, someone would say the name on the order out loud. That did not happen. Only after I got up to go toward the counter did they tell me that my order was done & had been sitting on the counter. Upon receiving my order, I noted that I wanted light ice in the iced latte and the barista scooped out the ice with a spoon and gave me the drink back. Neither coffee that we ordered had a lid so, it was difficult to walk them back to the table. The maple latte itself did not have bold or flavorful espresso and it honestly felt like I was drinking sweet milk with some maple syrup in it. The lattes were ~$7 each and were way overpriced for the quality of the drinks provided. After finishing my drink, I went to the bathroom while my friend stayed at the table to wait for me. During this time, the lady at the counter went to my friend at the table and said "You need to leave. We are closing." It was a bit before 6 pm, and there were many other customers still sat & drinking their coffee. In summary, our visit to Compass Coffee left a bad taste in my mouth figuratively and literally and I will not be gracing this location again in the future.

I used to love Compass -- so why a one star review? This place is infested with small flies. There were so many in the pastries on display for sale that I lost count. There were on the food items, on the glass, all around it. So unsanitary and gross. Who knows what it looks like back of house if that is what FOH has.

It's local. It's veteran-owned. It's becoming the Starbucks of the D.C. area. They have expanded fast and most areas in D.C. and beyond have a Compass Coffee. While their pastries are often subpar, their coffee menu is on point. I could drink the Almond Butter Latte all day. Their spaces are also inviting, well-designed, and come with plenty of tables with outlets and strong wifi. This location is not the exception.

Another wonderful Compass Coffee, but this time out in Virginia! The staff were incredibly nice, and even remade my drink because I had requested Oat Milk, and it did not have it. I'm only docking this place because the Tumeric Honey Latte was not very good. I heard it was good for inflammation, so I wanted to try it, but it really gave me chicken maruchan ramen vibes. Next time I'll stick to my normal americano/drip coffee.

Let me say I was a bit taken aback when I was told my large vanilla latte was $7! Oh and if you pay cash they don't make change in coins.. BUT!! one sip of this latte and I was transported to a place of magic.. the aroma encapsulates you when you walk in the door and everyone is so nice and friendly.. my vanilla latte reminded me why I love coffee so much and I will definitely make this a coffee stop when in the area!

Visiting a friend in the area and wanted to get some coffee in the morning! He said Compass Coffee was pretty good so I decided to stop by. I got the Cherry Blossom cold brew and it was indeed very delicious! The coffee and cherry blossom flavors were certainly prominent at the same time and the sweet syrup gave it an extra kick. They seem to have a lot of floral flavors (cherry blossom, lavendar etc) and I appreciate how oat/almond milk are free, which is super rare in most coffee places!! I liked how the store itself was very spacious with wooden furniture and accents of pink! It was pretty popping on a weekend morning so I had to wait a little longer for my drink but it was totally reasonable! Would 100% come back if I was in the area!

20min wait and they get your order wrong. At this price point you would expect good service and correct drinks. Won't be back to spend $20 on coffee again.

I have only visited one time, but this was one of the tastier hot chocolates I've had made with oat milk (since I'm lactose intolerant). I enjoy Starbucks hot chocolate with oat milk, but this was definitely a tastier option, but it was a little more expensive. As other commented, I like the vibe in the coffee shop. I like to have a nice place to read and think and Compass works well for me. Regarding service, based on my first visit, it is warm and friendly. I rank it higher than the Ballston Starbucks locations and Good Company Doughnuts. Those are the only other coffee shops I have recently visited in the Ballston neighborhood that remain open. Compass Coffee is a good place for a change of pace (for me), but I think I will still probably visit the Marymont Ballston Starbucks on Glebe more because I find the space to be a little quieter and comfortable if you like to sit and work. Starbucks has the added advantage of placing orders on your phone ( I did not see that capability at Compass Coffee). Plus, the Ballston Starbucks does offer a free refill on drip coffee. From what I've read Compass does not, but given the warm service and nice energy of the café, I think it is a nice option in the neighborhood.

Conveniently located near Ballston Quarter. Not the best iced pumpkin spiced latte ever, but not bad. There wasn't enough flavor and it had a peculiar pumpkin taste. Wouldn't recommend this place. Maybe if I was desperate and in the area, I would try another drink here.

I've tried out Compass another three times since my initial review and I have to say the coffees are over priced and mediocre. I liked the mocha on my first try. But since returning for the chai, coconut latte, and pumpkin cold brew I think I am done coming here for coffee. The chai had heavy hint of clove, was horribly sweet, and mostly tasted like milk. The pumpkin cold brew might be the worst coffee I've ever had. Imagine a chemical/candle/artificial pumpkin flavor in your coffee. I was far down the street before I took my first drink, and I had to throw it away and go somewhere else for coffee. The coconut latte again had a weird chemical taste similar to how sun tan lotion smells. I would stick to your usual coffee orders here (mocha, ice latte etc) and avoid the unique flavors.

My go to study spot. Drinks are good and there's wifi for you to do some work/study. As folks said, cost is a bit higher than average, but it's worth it.

Really cute coffee shop and great service. Unfortunately I received the worst pumpkin spiced latte I've ever had (all spice, no pumpkin) I think I'd go back for just a regular coffee though

Delicious coffee!! Our friends took us here while we were visiting and I loved their coffee! I got the iced vanilla latte and it was perfect. Service was super quick and the place seems great for working in peace or just grabbing a quick cup of coffee. Their pastries are also yummy too. Highly recommend if you're looking for a good cup of coffee and a quick bite to eat.

Got my dog groomed at a place close by and instead of going home and having to deal with parking all over, I decided to stop in and work while I wanted on him. I got an iced latte with caramel & vanilla, my companion got an iced americano. Both of our drinks were really good and it was a nice, pleasant suprise! We both love coffee and it seems like most times when you try a new place, you have to learn how to order your drink to make it taste *just* how you like. The service was cool, nothing to really rave about. Sometimes the line got long but they kept a nice pace and people moved through quickly. The thing I really liked is that they don't automatically give you your drink with a straw/lid, but they have them out if you want one. The thing that I didn't like is that the shop didn't really feel clean. I didn't notice anyone coming out to disinfect the tables between guests and the corner we chilled in seemed like it hadn't been thoroughly dusted or detailed in months. The seats and surfaces felt sticky. I'd definitely come back, I'd just take my coffee to go!

Cool Spot, Outstanding Coffee! Stopped here while in the Ballston-VA area visiting friends. For a weekday afternoon, the place was buzzing with patrons and it was really busy with people hanging-out and/or studying. Clearly this was a sign that the coffee is good here. The vibe is really cool too...very open, bright and a relaxing-casual atmosphere....with much of the decor featuring their brand's coffee. The staff was friendly, helpful and welcoming. I came in for a quick cup of coffee, but for some odd reason the "Matcha Tea Latte" caught my eye. And, man!....so glad it did. I was one of the best matcha green tea lattes that I've had in a long time. You never really know how good you have something, until you try something else. I thought all matcha lattes would be similar to any other place. I couldn't have been more wrong. It was a deep matcha flavored liquid that was well balance with the coconut milk I requested. Each sip was warmth, comfort and heaven rolled into one. It wasn't the steamed almond milk and watered-down matcha that I have experience at SB and other local coffee shops around the DMV in comparison. A thumbs up and must try. I even ordered a medium roast for my drive home, called the Meridian, and it was nothing short of perfect....full-bodied, smooth with hints of chocolate/caramel. I enjoyed it black, no sugar no creme. In all, a great experience here. I was a newbie and it was my first time trying Compass Coffee. Will not be my last. Glad to know there are locations in DC as well. I certainly and definitely will be going back. * PRO TIP: I had a conversation with the Barista and was told off-the-menu drinks are the name of the game at Compass: For a creative caffeine kick, sip on an Espresso Cola!....an unholy combination of Mexican Coca-Cola and two shots of espresso!! Another suggestion mentioned was the: The Nutella Mocha. Yes, Nutella!

Nice place for coffee and pastries. The coffee was nice in mug and the seating area is comfortable.

I still think Compass is no more than a four star coffee shop. The cherry blossom coffee is amazing. Totally worth a visit. But two things were annoyances today during my visit. One is the ridiculous stools by the tables. they're very low stools and completely unsuitable for anyone with bad knees or mobility issues, not to mention people of size. Not at all accommodating to many people over 50. The other is their cold drinks are served in plastic cups. But there is no recycling for plastic cups so I had to take mine home. really? how many people are going to be lazy and just throw it in the trash. come on!

I want to like this place but I really don't. It is so overpriced and not at all worth it. $6 for a small mediocre drink. No change given if paying cash.

Compass Coffee is a chain but it's better than Starbucks. It's slightly over price. The Ballston location is spacious & a good spot for a meeting or to chat with a friend. I had the almond butter latte with oat milk and it was delicious. Highly recommend. I also had a ginormous almond croissant that was delicious & covered in powdered sugar. It was a quick order process although there weren't many folks in there. Street parking is abundant but don't forget to pay the meter!

Love this place and the coffee. The atmosphere is amazing and there is always people there! I'm the summer months the garage doors and outdoor seating makes this place look like the place to be. Milk and sugar are in the middle of the store if needed and the employees are always pleasant. I might frequent this place a bit too much!

Compass is always a favorite of mine! Plenty of tables to get work done or catch up with a friend. The coffee is great no matter what you get! Great spot for a quick to go cup or to sit down and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

Interior & service: Lots of space and table to study, work, catch up with friends. Not super loud when I came here on a Saturday afternoon. It's clean, too! Also friendly baristas. They were giving out "gingerbread cold brew" samples while I was there. Great service! Coffee: If you're a snob looking for good coffee, this is probably not the place to go. I didn't want to order any espresso drinks since I haven't heard anything amazing from other snobs. So I got the "Cardinal" drip coffee instead, which is a medium roast with "balanced, milk chocolate, and toasted nuts" tasting notes. It was only $2.85, so the price was pretty reasonable! There's not a strong after taste or super delightful flavor - typical average medium roast. Nothing extraordinary but not bad either. The "gingerbread cold brew" samples they gave out was creamy but much too sweet. There wasn't much coffee taste; you know the coffee is there but it's not very strong - perfect for people who aren't into black coffee and need a bit of a sweet kick to their coffee. I'd recommend it for those who like a nice and sweet gingerbread syrup. Overall, the coffee taste is not bad. I'd come back but more so for the vibes, not the taste of the coffee.

Nice, modern coffee shop with indoor and outdoor seating. They make a good cappuccino! A bit pricey, but good overall.

My go to coffee shop to work from, people watch, and just grab a cup of good espresso! I love the location in the heart of Ballston, which means I can just set up at my window seat and watch the neighborhood walk by. The espresso tastes great, wifi fast, and great service. They even remembered my name my 2nd week going! Andrew is great!

Compass has some of the best coffee in my opinion. I was super excited when I saw there was one near my new office. I was going to Starbucks but now I can get better quality. On top of good coffee the staff is always pleasant. I have gone to this location 4 times already in the past week and the customer service is amazing.

Compass is consistently amazing! Grateful to live in walking distance so I frequently visit the Ballston location. The staff has been friendly and the coffee is always amazing. A new summer favorite is the blended coconut cream frappe. I really also like the almond butter latte. The new points system has gotten me some free stuff so that's cool too.

God awful, and by the way it's $5 for a 12oz burnt, nasty over roasted brewed coffee. That's latte prices at Starbucks whose quality is on par with this place (not a good thing). All they had going for them was them handling high volume well as the line was long but moved quickly.

Got the matcha latte. Great flavor and quick service Straws are too weak for their lids but its okay, the third straw survived. Will be back Service 5/5 Drink 5/5 Aesthetics 5/5

I went to Compass Coffee while I was visiting family in Arlington. I saw this cute little cafe and decided I wanted to give it a try. When I walked in it was empty, I asked the barista if the almond butter latte was any good. He assured me it was probably one of their most popular drinks so I got an iced almond milk almond butter latte! They don't charge for alternative milk which is rare and super awesome (it should be like that everywhere!!). It was so so good, the coffee is delicious and the almond butter flavor is definitely there and the uniqueness makes it even better. If I lived around the area, I would definitely go back and try their other speciality drinks but for now I'll go back when I visit again!

Wow this place is awesome. Customer service was stellar. I love that there are so many options of non dairy milks for your coffee. They also have a pretty good bakery section too. Definitely a nice change from your average coffee shops. Give this place a go!

Officially my new favorite coffee shop with Philz Coffee coming in at a close second. I've always heard of Compass Coffee, but didn't get a chance to try it out until recently. When I went last month, I got their lavender latte and it was SO GOOD! I loved the uniqueness of the drink and how I could taste the subtle hint of lavender. They only have this in the spring though. When I went today, I got their iced mint mocha and of course, it was AMAZING! Although a bit on the sweeter side, I quickly got used to the sweetness and enjoyed the mintiness (not too overpowering and just perfect). Such a smooth coffee. The whole combination of coffee, milk, mint, and chocolate was heavenly! I highly recommend this!! The workers are so nice and it's a great atmosphere. They have their big sliding doors/windows open, so you can feel the fresh air while sipping on your coffee inside! They have outdoor seating too. Lastly for parking, you can just park at the main Ballston Public Parking Garage for just $1 for 3 hours.

Love this coffee shop so much!!!! Ordered a cherry blossom espresso with oat milk and I will say it was worth driving all the way here for this!!! So amazing

I have two Compass shops that I go to regularly. What I love most at compass is the iced coffees. I'm not a fan of iced coffee at most places because I like to drink my coffee slowly. With an iced drink, if you're drinking it slowly the melts down and the coffee loses its flavor. But Compass has some special secret in their iced foam. Even as the ice melts down, the foam keeps that drink nice and creamy. It's fantastic. Compass Coffee is the only coffee shop that I will get an iced coffee from.

I enjoyed a delightful cappuccino on a Sunday afternoon (2:30pm) in mid-November. The high-quality of coffee here is definitely a step up from Starbucks. Also, the spacious interior is pleasant and sleek. The staff was professional and courteous. Compass Coffee, founded in 2014, is a local chain based in downtown DC. This Arlington branch is part of the Ballston Market plaza (which has a public parking garage that only charges $1 for 3 hours). Also, the plaza is a short walk to the south from the Ballston metro station (Orange line). The cafe entrance is at the intersection of N. Randolph St. and Wilson Blvd. Although it's not accessible from inside the Ballston Market plaza, you can take the escalators down to the street level and will see the cafe after a very short walk (it's right next to Union Market). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, facial coverings are mandatory. Would highly recommend a stop here for caffeine if you're walking near this area or visiting the Capitals Iceplex.

Ordered a Latte. Baristas we're kind. They always over-steam and burn the milk. Scolding hot, the milk proteins change and ruin the taste. I asked them why they burn the milk? They said because nearby office interns do "coffee runs" and drinks were cold at arrival. They got complaints, and now burn the milk hoping drinks will be warm for office employees. Hmmm.