Compass Coffee

TLDR: Tasty coffee that did not disappoint. Variety of options and plenty of space. Definitely recommend. First Impression: Not great. But it was turned around quickly. The first thing I saw was a Starbucks like menu of seasonal drinks. That’s typically a bad sign for me. It says “we cater to people who don’t care about tasting the qualities in the coffee itself. But I stuck it out. About the coffee I had: I ordered a cappuccino for here. It came in a 8/10 oz cup and had a pleasent amount of foam, but not too much. It was a great texture. The espresso tasted great and the milk was expertly foamed. About the vibe: Plenty of space to hang out if that’s your goal. I sat at a high table with high stools, but there were plenty of standard square tables and some smaller wall seatings and bars at the window and the back overlooking where I assume they roast their coffee. About the staff: The staff was amazingly friendly and as I watched the barista make drinks, she seemed to know what she was doing. I watched her make seasonal drinks and cortados and cappuccini without missing a step. they also seemed to have good rapport with their regulars. It was a great little visit.

The coffee was subpar, overpriced (which don’t mind if I’m getting premium quality drinks). Cost of two drinks was just over $10.00. Coffee didn’t have the smooth taste of well extracted espresso, very burnt even with steamed milk. We ordered a cortado and flat white - and I’m not sure if this is from management or lack of training - but the ratios for drinks aren’t standard. Cortado is 1:1 (espresso to milk) flat white is 1:2 or a bit more milk to espresso. The server has also asked me what size flat white, which is a weird ask as not case in many locations in NYC and others. Ample seating and nice atmosphere, and maybe the other iced drinks are better - most people seem be ordering them - but it’s also because the burnt taste can be easily masked with flavour. Give it a shot yourself and don’t take my word for it, thanks!

Nice cafe to work. They roast onsite and have a range of drinks from matcha powder to chai concentrate, decaf espresso, and more. They even offer some pastries. The space to work is huge though there are limited spots for plugs. The wifi is great as is the ambiance. Just wish there was more healthy / sustainable promotion and marketing for the brand. Porcelain our glad mugs for dining in. And more affordable. The small cups were about $5 each.

This is a perfect spot for a morning or afternoon cup of brew. The cafe has a light and airy feel due to its large bay windows, skylights, and simple industrial hanging lamps. I love the white washed brick walls and the use of coffee paraphernalia for decor. The staff were all very friendly and welcoming, and the music level is good for working or conversation. I got the maple cold brew, which was delicious. It's a touch on the sweet side for me, but I think it would appeal most seasonal drink audiences. The honey hot sausage sandwich was also really yummy and flavorful.

A DC classic for a reason!! Compass was one of the first coffee shops I found in DC and it remains one of my go-to spots for a quick, reliable cup of joe. Their beans are solid (not too acidic, with a nice smooth and rich texture), and their flavored drinks are indulgent but not overly sweet. And if coffee isn't your thing, their matcha is also fantastic -- I used to get their matcha almond milk latte every morning before eventually graduating to a normal almond milk latte. Service is quick and efficient, and I love that you can order ahead on mobile. I rarely need to wait more than ~10 min for my coffee to be ready, even during some of their busiest times. If you are caught there during rush hour, you might also get lucky and be able to snag a sample of one of their featured items (whether it's a sip of cold brew or a bit of muffin / scone). The shop has a great ambiance, and they have strong, free Wifi available 7 days a week (as much as I appreciate the DC trend of not having Wifi / allowing laptops on weekends, sometimes a girl just needs a place to work). It's the perfect spot for working, yapping, or just fueling up on a bit of caffeine.

Great atmosphere to start your day! You definitely want to make sure to grab a seat before ordering because it can get packed fairly quickly! The food and drinks were up really quickly.

Cute coffee shop I stumbled across walking around the city. They have breakfast items as well as drinks. Wide variety of coffee, teas, & juices. The cashier was very helpful in me picking what I wanted. I tried the Matcha lemonade & it was pretty good. I prefer plain matcha but this was a nice mix to it. I’ll have to come back to try their other drinks.

I love a good Mocha from Compass with whip cream and fudge on the top. I really appreciate Trisha who always go out her way to serve me with a smile and just make me feel extremely welcomed. Her customer service is very much appreciated. They have a worker name Sam that’s been working there for a few months.. She’s a good worker but sometime the energy doesn’t always feel as welcoming. I do know we are all human tho. However, Compass makes great drink! $8 for a mocha, normally $4 a roll

I often visit this location if I'm going to work. But I first stopped in because I wasn't close to a Starbucks one day and wanted to get a matcha latte lol. When I entered I was immediately greeted with a smile and hello. I was happy because you don't get that a lot especially early in the morning. So, I ordered a matcha latte and I begin to ask about their matcha lemonade and giving the guy with the dreads a spill about my obsession with matcha lemonade . I suggested he should try this other place for matcha lemonade as well and as I was tell him where it was located he told me he's always in the area. Fast forward because I haven't been here in about 3 weeks. I went to order my normal drink matcha latte ICED and proceeded to ask the same guy if he checked out the place I told him to check out but in the midst of me asking him a young lady who works there spoke up and said she knew about the spot I was talking about. Immediately I begin to ask if they heard of the baked bear and so on . Yes they both did and we had an amazing conversation around that. Now today I went and got my drink I was greeted like always but I was so excited when the guy half way remembered me ordered . What started talking about "National Ice Cream Day" this Sunday and other things lol Anyways they're always nice, very pleasant here. I feel loved entering this establishment and it's always nice and clean too. My drink is always delicious. I'm not sure what the guy does differently from the other places I get matcha from but his is amazing! Check them out if you haven't!

Literally would rather go to McDonald's. The only thing good here is their seating and Wi-Fi. Compass is the epitome establishment of overpriced for crappy food and drinks that monopolizes on a lack of other options. I work quite close, and unfortunately coworkers always suggest compass- so somehow I find myself here too often. But at least I am reputable when I say that my dislike for this establishment has not changed over dozens of times I've been. The service is unsurprisingly not good, because compass doesn't treat its employees well either.

Pricing is similar to Starbucks. The coffee is good (better than Starbucks) although a small is served in a child-sized cup. Blueberry scone was like a brick. Tasteless and heavy. Their attempt at adding flavor (frosting zig zagged along the top) fell short.

Stopped by here and it was pretty hoppin' with empty seats being tough to find. Tried their caramel macchiato and some power non-sweet covered fruit. The carob covered fruit (?) was not my fav, but kept them none-the-less in case of a gotta eat something moment. Months later I saw them and sure enough they were perfect to help me out with a starvation situation. Nothing special so 3 starts to start. Been here only once. Wil see if I ever return to bump up their stars.

I really needed to cool down from walking all day in the city, so I popped on over here to chill for a bit and grab a late afternoon Cafe Americano. It was definitely nicer inside compared to the temperature outside, and not surprisingly, I wasn't the only person with the same thought. The place was full and there were only two tables available. This place is a medium sized cafe, and they had the same round tables and hard chairs set-up all around. They also had a few tables outside, but I passed on that idea. I've been to a couple other places around the city where they have actual sofas and cushioned chairs, bit that wasn't the case here. Since I had already had a late lunch, I didn't opt to eat anything here, although they offer a few pastries. All in all, I had a fine time at this cafe.

The pumpkin spice latte served here is really good, it's better than what I typically get from Starbucks. The latte art was really cute. I received fast and friendly service from the staff I interacted with.

I've been here before and the coffee was great, but today was a deal breaker. I don't enjoy giving negative reviews but this is a safety hazard. The barista must have been upset that there were flies in the cafe, because she was spraying Raid bug spray all over the customer water serving station. I don't mean a quick spritz. I mean emptying the damn Raid bottle. She sprayed it all. The faucet, drinking glasses, everything was completely drenched. Then she just went back to serving folks like nothing happened. Yes, I'm 100% sure it was Raid. That stuff is toxic. I threw my drink away and left. If anyone gets sick from drinking water here, now you know why.

This cafe has a great vibe, and is the perfect spot to kill an hour between meetings while getting your caffeine fix. Great coffee, pastries, and I can't believe they came out in support of crypto too - totally awesome. Definitely a business I'm a fan of and will come back to every time I'm visiting DC.

Cute coffee shop I stumbled across walking around the city. They have breakfast items as well as drinks. Wide variety of coffee, teas, & juices. The cashier was very helpful in me picking what I wanted. I tried the Matcha lemonade & it was pretty good. I prefer plain matcha but this was a nice mix to it. I'll have to come back to try their other drinks.

Ive been to this cafe numerous times over the last two years, and I've always enjoyed the great lattes and coffee that they have to offer. I also really like the way the cafe is set-up and its for sure a great place to do work or have a small get together. There are at least thirty tables with chairs, and even on the most busiest mornings, I have always found a spot to sit down. The free WiFi here is also blazing fast,, which is a huge plus for me. Today I ordered the Cherry Blossom Frappuccino which is similar to a cold. blended latte. This is a custom- made drink that you will not find on the menu. Trish was the awesome employee who has helped me so many times in the past, and this day was no different. Both Trish and Mary Anne were on their game today and I appreciated it!

Is this how $7matcha is supposed to be? Unmixed with clumps of powder in each sip. Gross

I love compass coffee and this location didn't disappoint! The coffee itself is fantastic, plus I enjoyed the music, and availability of seating. The staff were especially friendly too. My half-sweet extra hot gingerbread latte was spot on and I had a little splash of sparkling water on the side

negative, fowl attitude on high. Things improved so much I was going regularly for the last year but things abruptly changed. disappointed. I'll find somewhere else for my morning coffee. I can't handle the negatively with my coffee. :-(

I'm not sure what happened to Compass Coffee...I used to go to Compass Coffee every single time I came to DC, which was often. The Matcha Latte pre-pandemic (early 2019) was only $3.50. It was $6.15 today!!! Furthermore, the matcha was diluted and tasted awful. Looks like the menu expanded too, we wanted to order a couple of vanilla lattes which was off the menu. The barista said they still sell the vanilla lattes but it's just not on the menu. I appreciate the effort to be sustainable but the compostable straws snap as you remove the paper. Super fragile! I was very sad today! Not sure what's going, will try another location...

I want to preface this by saying I have been a five days a week regular at Compass Coffee in Spring Valley for about five years. Walter, Teddy, Elder, and really the entire long-term crew at this location absolutely carry and curate a phenomenal experience that you will not find anywhere in the city. I worked in the service industry for years, and this crew still finds new ways to impress me. I have made genuine great friends, had thought provoking conversation, shared some amazing laughs, and started my day off on the right foot most of my days of the week in Spring Valley. When I heard about the union drive, it seemed like a no brainer for me! SUPPORT these beautiful people. This crew deserves a loud voice that WILL be heard, and cannot simply be brushed aside or ignored. Without baristas/managers/friends like these, there would be no Compass Coffee

Excellent coffee and great service. I've never had an issue and enjoy the coffee each time I visit.

I've been a Compass customer for almost 10 years now and regularly have ground coffee delivered to my home. I also frequently buy a cup from the Compass cafe near my office. That said, I am very concerned with some of the store conditions and company policies that are driving several of their cafes to unionize. As a veteran, I've always been apt to support veteran-owned businesses because veterans inherently and generally do the right thing...and this is exactly why I'm even more disappointed to hear how that's not happening at Compass and how things have turned there. A couple recommendations: 1) Hire more repair technicians to repair the equipment in the cafes (having two repair techs to service all cafes in the DC area isn't enough) 2) Offer leave packages that are equal to those of other companies. 3) Offer paid leave for employees, so they can take care of their dependents without fear of losing their jobs. 4) Don't write up employees for wearing a t-shirt with a generic picture on it, just because that employee works at a cafe that has decided to unionize. I want Compass to succeed, but it cannot do so if it doesn't take care of its employees (who, in turn, take care of their customers). For now, though, I am more likely to support some of Compass' competitors, until there is clear evidence that their employees' needs are being met.

A popular DC chain, this location is no different. I find their coffees to be a bit acidic but well extracted. I tried the lemon pound cake and it was moist and not overly sweet. The interior decor is nice and would be amenable to studying or a quick pick up. The servers were kind.

This location is across from Capital One Arena. The coffee shop is comfy. Locals seem to enjoy bringing their laptops and chatting with friends.

I tried the new one in Falls Church this morning. The staff was friendly and helpful. My order was wrong and the coffee bitter. They're more expensive than Starbucks for a lesser quality. I won't be back. Again, the employees were wonderful.

Fell in love with this local to D.C. small coffee chain while staying in the Shaw neighborhood. Service at this location is impeccable, fast, and friendly. I enjoyed the Cardinal and Shaw drip coffee blends, and took home a tin of Shaw Blend beans. Bring back the tin for $1 off your next order! The space is open with plenty of spots to get your work done, meet with friends, or breeze on through on your daily commute. Set your compass (or GPS) for Compass!

The staff here is truly the best, always so friendly and helpful! As a longtime customer, I strongly support their efforts to unionize!

peach mango drink was awful, don't get it. It was watery no flavor with chewy dried bits of something. See photo. No fruit whatsoever and no fruit juice either. Ice with dried bits. When I asked the person at the counter, she said it was a peach mango combination thing. Frankly, it tasted a lot like tofu.

This is not only a fantastic coffee provider, their coffee has such wonderful flavor and is true to its description. But more importantly they are a great member of the community. It is so wonderful to have a trans safe space where I can enjoy my coffee and conversations with friends with no worries. Thank you Compass for improving the neighborhood

Very nice coffee shop and the people working here seem nice as well! I had the almond butter latte, which I think is a seasonal flavor and it was pretty good...

Real good coffee, real good work space, real good jams, real good vibes. Up until the pandemic, I had always enjoyed their early morning baristas with the happiest smiles, despite it being 6 or 6:30am. When you need a pick me up later in the day, you still encounter real good vibin' baristas. There's something about having a sip of something made by people who enjoy doing what they do. Their assortment of drinks are also splendid. Their honey turmeric latte is a favorite, as well as their vanilla cream nitro brew. You won't go wrong with any of their caffeine options, IMO. Baked goods are also delicious... they had a raspberry granola bar that was theeeeeee best. I could eat like five of them in a sitting. Regardless, any of their granola bars are usually on point. To wrap it up, stop by Compass if you get the chance. Their Shaw location has a sweet place in my heart... and I'm grateful they're open and still jammin', despite the current conditions.

For fresh coffee, this place hits the spot. Cans are a little expensive but overall (I am drinking their coffee today) I like the quality of the brew. I visited the 7th street location a couple weeks ago intending to buy the cherry blossom roast. It was gone. I found a couple other light brew varieties and bought 5 cans. Folks are friendly and they ground the coffee beans for me; saved me a bunch of time as I have a small grinder at home.

Absolutely loved this coffee shop! I got one of their special drinks, the almond butter latte with oat milk and it was so good we went back the next day and ordered it again. Their other specialty drinks also sounded amazing (they had a lavender latte which was tempting to try!) but ultimately I had to get that latte again because it was so delicious - the flavor and the coffee inside of it. They also had a bowl of espresso pods near the register for you to take home and try the espresso they sell in house. I got one of both flavors and they were both so delicious that I might have my brother send me some! I've never been to a coffee shop where you were able to leave with a sample to try at home but I think it was a great idea to sample their amazing coffee. I live in New York but any time I visit my brother in DC, I will definitely be stopping by to grab coffee from Compass Coffee!

Ordered an iced coffee with vanilla (was 8 dollars) thinking it'd be quick on my way to work, waited 15 minutes, after two other women came in ordering hot coffee with the same flavoring and got their orders right away. My name was called for an iced latte, which when told was the incorrect order, "they taste similar." No, would like my original order. Offered a refund for the mistake but at this point I'm already 10 minutes late for work lol.

The Good Plenty of Parking. Big windows and lots of natural light. The Bad Either they cheapened out on furnishing the place or overdid it with "cool" vibe--most seating is uncomfortable stools and low coffee tables. Seems like a popular studying destination which makes it hard to find a table to sit with a friend and chat. Most tables are occupied by one person who brought their laptop to work/study. The Ugly I ordered drop coffee with a splash of oat milk. Without exaggeration, it's the worst tasting coffee I've had in a long time. It has ZERO flavor, depth, and aroma. I felt I was drinking diluted oat milk. I might come back to meet friends, but not wasting another dime on this flavorless coffee again. I hope they work on improving their bean sourcing.

love the drinks at compass, but it's way too hot and needs better air conditioning. I also think the choice in music could be improved.

Have you even visited DC if you haven't been to Compass Coffee?! What a staple! My boyfriend and I LOVE going to Compass Coffee during the cherry blossom season because they always have a fun cherry blossom themed drink! You can't miss it - there are locations all across DC so don't forget to add it to your itinerary before you hit the museums and the mall! Highly recommend the turmeric honey latte if it's in season!

Dannia is the sweetest! Smiles and all! What a great way to start my day. Coffee is great but the location is convenient. Lots of space to post and study or hangout with friends.

This Compass Coffee is located directly underneath my office so I have counted on them many, many times to provide me with the mental pick-me-up that I need to function like a human on a daily basis! My husband must have realized how much I have been missing them during these trying times because he surprised by placing an order of their Meridian Blend and single-origin Ethiopian beans. Shipping is free and we were very surprised when two canisters of beans arrived from their personal delivery truck at our doorstep a few days later! The coffee perked me up and their cute white box doubled as a cardboard house that my daughter has been playing with for the past few hours. I feel like I won the lottery! Love this local, veteran-owned shop and so happy to support them during this time. PS: They sell hand sanitizer too! PPS: Their tea collection is pretty epic as well!

Went here, they had a location next to where I grabbed breakfast from. Service was great and the iced coffee was delicious, they will make things not on the menu, just ask!

I got quick and efficient service at Compass Coffee, along with polite and kind customer service. I forgot to mention that I needed a dairy-free option due to dietary restrictions when I ordered, and the barista let me switch our regular milk for almond or coconut milk instead. The drink itself was also a delicious treat and energizing pick-me-up on a brisk day walking around the city. Very clean and trendy interior that matches the cute expose brick on the outside.

I am by no means a coffee drinker, but they never disappoint me here whenever I'm in a strange mood for a coffee drink. I usually stick to the chai latte because it's my favorite coffee drink (please don't judge true coffee drinkers haha). Today, I tried the gingerbread latte. It was smooth, and the gingerbread flavor was a perfect compliment. They're usually really fast and super nice. The barista even spelled my name right. Trust me that's very rare. I only give it 4 stars because I can never find parking near by. It's located on a small street that doesn't have a lot of parking spaces.

Compass Coffee is a local chain that I found to be pretty solid. Nitro cold brew was great. Berry bar and plain croissant were also decent. Super friendly baristas!

Good coffee especially cold brew -- always. David is the new supervisor at this store (near DC convention center). Mindful, kind service is his signature. His mentor/other manager KT is inspiring and talented as well. Experiencing their attitudes as shops re-opened from shut-down continues to bring hopeful life & hospitality to this area.

Obsessed with the nitro cold brew, reminds me of the creaminess of a Guinness without the bitterness. I always go with the large because the value is so much better than the small or medium. Plus I'm a coffee addict and the more caffeine the better. I also love their dessert bars - I had the Bethlehem bar which was OMFG GTFOH good. It's like a cookie/brownie/blondie/caramel gooey deliciousness. For $3.95 a bar - it's ahhhmaaaazzzzinnnnng! Their sweets crushhhhh other coffee spots. They said their cookies are from Uncle Chips. I can't wait to stop in for a warm cookie at their location on N. Capitol St.

The knowledge of the barista in charge was quite bad. Fact they do not serve pour-over coffee yet they charge close to 3 bucks for a drip version that is supposed to be lite roast but comes off as a Starbucks blonde roast profile. Add to this the coffee is piping hot. Shouldn't be for a third wave coffee shop as such. Needless to say, may be good but personally wasn't a fan.

Excellent coffee shop with helpful baristas and lots of seating. The barista let me try their nitro almond chai (very smooth but also very sweet). When I said it was too sweet for me, he immediately offered to make me an iced chai (without the nitro) that was to my liking. He did, and absolutely succeeded. They also have a nice array of baked goods. I tried the half smoke kolache, a delicious mix of chorizo and cheese wrapped in a rich brioche. I also loved the Poppy's cinnamon bagel bite - a bit of bagel dough stuffed with flavored cream cheese. It worked really well - the bagel dough was a little tough but it worked well with the cream cheese. There's plenty of seating, some outlets, and lots of staff members working so orders come out quickly. I would definitely study here if I was a student or take coffee dates here.

Compass has become a STAPLE in DC. I love the company's founding store and easy to navigate (get it?!?) coffee roast varieties. All of their locations are wonderful, especially their spot in Georgetown, but I loved visiting the original 7th Street roastery in Shaw where it all started - and the namesake of one of their roasts. Definitely give Compass a try if you're looking to upgrade from Starbucks and support a local DC company!!

The mint nitro cold brew is just the best. I like all of the locations - this one is spacious, with wifi and available plugs, but it can be hard to do work here, since they're usually grinding coffee beans. They recently raised prices - a barista told me they all got raises and removed tipping, so the price hike allows everyone to have a better, more consistent paycheck. The coffee is expensive, but that was really great to hear!

Good coffee but not great by any means. Would stop by to get a cup instead of going to a Starbucks but that's about it

The og store is really the anchor of the block, and the seeing the large roaster where it all began just makes this location that much more special. I could see a speakeasy popping up around the back sometime in my lifetime

Love this local DC coffee shop! Seasonal maple latte is my favorite. Staff is wonderful and very helpful. I wish Compass would put back the option to tip their awesome team members!

Great customer service! Great coffee and very clean environment!!!! I will recommend to anyone!

I cannot express how terrible this coffee experience was. Friends, the coffee tasted horrible (espresso & drip coffee), the service was mediocre at best, and the space is over decorated with cans of coffee (im talking hundreds). New management is almost essential after seeing this place in the shape it is in currently. I have been to roughly 100 coffeeshops around the US and unfortunately this shop would take the easy win for dead last. To the Owner: please don't take this as defamatory because I genuinely want this shop to be excellent, but something has to change for that to happen. Please consider doing quality control testing (taste the espresso), staff reviews, and interior design reconfigurations. Kind regards.