Such a cool experience! My wife and I walked up to Cognoscenti not realizing they had already closed. We saw someone inside signal to us that they were closed, so we figured we had missed our chance. But instead, they opened the door and asked what we were looking for. We said iced coffee, and he basically said, "Come on in!" They had already cleaned everything up and even closed the register, but they still took the time to make us two delicious cold brews. They were so cool and chill, made some small talk with us, and honestly just made us feel really welcomed. I have no idea if they were the owners (and unfortunately, I didn't catch their names), but I just thought that was such a genuinely kind thing to do. They absolutely did not have to serve us after closing, but they did--and that little gesture really stood out to us. The cold brew was delicious, but the hospitality was even better. Definitely the kind of place I'd happily come back to! read more

Overcharged for a regular iced latte - didn't realize until after I had left. Menu said $6 was charged $6.50 Taste was below average. I think a latte should be drinkable without any added flavor/sugar but this drink didn't pass that test. read more

Recently discovered this spot on our walk. We like getting a drink and a pastry to enjoy on their table on the sidewalk. It's a cute neighborhood cafe with all the usual cafe drinks, they have some delicious pastries! I like their matcha latte and ham and cheese croissant. They partner with Family and Friends at Atwater, the croissants are so flaky and good! There are plenty of tables inside, outside in the building, and outside on the sidewalk. read more

Ya girl had an early morning job in Culver City and needed some fuel to get me going. I popped into Cognoscenti Coffee to grab a bite & some caffeine. They only had one person making the drinks and handling the register, so the line was a bit slow moving. But it moved and I ended up just ordering a cold brew to not hold things up longer for the line that stretched out the door. My cold brew was solid! Person working was friendly! They had a few tables inside their tight quarters but also a few on the outdoor sidewalk. Finding parking was no problem either. I don't know if they make their own pastries or source them from somewhere but goodness! I absolutely loved my Danish pastry! The laminated dough had great croissant-like layers in a square fold with blueberries on top and a lovely cheese custard. I've been dreaming about it since! read more

See all

This little coffee house is a gem. The coffee is consistently delicious no matter what I order, and the service is always lovely. The interior is tiny, but don't let that stop you. There's outdoor seating that makes it a great spot to linger with a cup, especially on a nice day. Cozy, reliable, and always worth the stop. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

Ordered pour over ($6.25). They offered the natural process Caturra from Peru by Eli Espinoza Soberón and it was excellent. On my list of favorite LA specialty coffee roasters and will be back. Tip, it's a few minute walk from Des Croissants Paris. read more

Coffee is pretty good. Not a bad outdoor space for sitting. Limited food options. Reasonable option in this area.

Stopped in this morning, was greeted by a cool dood making some solid lattes! Grabbed a pastry as well and it was also very good! Coffee was out fast! Will definitely be stopping by more regularly! read more

My husband and I have been coming here for many years. Drew, Darryl, and Greg are like family at this point. Drew is meticulous and takes extra care to make sure everything is organized perfectly, running our favorite coffee shop like a swiss watch. Watching him and Darryl serve customers quickly and effortlessly, with smiles and laughs, is like watching a dance. Go in often enough and they will know your most requested drink, and can even intuit when you'd like to switch things up. On weekends, we talk books with Greg and savor the calmness of the space. The coffee is top notch of course, but the pastries are also delicious! Best croissant in town. Highly recommend! read more

My partner and I got the cappuccino, matcha latte, and a ham and cheese croissant. I'm not a coffee drinker, but my boyfriend said his cappuccino was really good! He also picked up some beans, and the staff gave him some helpful recommendations. I keep my expectations pretty low with matcha, especially at a coffee roaster, but I was pleasantly surprised! The matcha was smooth and well-balanced. The staff were very kind and chatty. Not a ton of space inside, but there is a patio in the back with two tables. We'll definitely be back! read more

Just fully unimpressed with their coffee. I ordered a 16 ounce cold brew, and they basically filled it 2/3 all the way up and said that they portion control their cold brew. But if you order a 16 ounce, shouldn't you get a 16 ounce? I will say the cold brew is bold and delicious. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - The cold brew they gave me - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

Cute coffee shop at the heart of Culver City, just few steps away from The Platform. Plenty of street parking spaces available on weekend afternoon. You could easily grab your cup of joe and also walk around the platform. At my visit I could see many guests who seemed to be regulars, just stopped by for grab and go. The coffee was decent and the baristas were super friendly. Also for the price, the size was pretty worthy. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Iced latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

this place rules. they we're playing ska christmas music, and the barista was real chill and friendly. awesome tasting matcha! read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - iced matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

I started working in Culver City last September. Since I'm a coffee snob, I immediately had to find a coffee shop. I found this spot and was instantly hooked! Seriously, this is the best coffee I've had in LA. Usually when I order an oat cap it's either has no foam or very little. This is just right. Also, the vibe here is super chill. Always good music playing in the background. If you're looking for the BEST coffee spot in Culver City, then definitely stop by here. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Best oat cap ever!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

The matcha is eh. Not very flavorful. Not very good. The shop has great vibes though. Cute indoor and outdoor seating. Tip: 25 cent parking out front, or drive behind the Main Street and park in the suburbs for free. read more

See all

This was both my first and last time of visiting this coffee shop. I ordered an oatmilk latte, hot and the drink itself was pretty good but there are too many great coffee spots in LA to have to deal with staff who are rude, unwelcoming and just unfriendly. Immediately after walking in, the older gentleman behind the counter advised us that dogs are only allowed in the patio area. Ok, no problem. The door sign was so small and low that neither my husband or me noticed it. I have no problem following rules but you don't have to be rude in your delivery. This person just seems unhappy and miserable to be working and in my opinion, shouldn't be dealing with customers. Interior is minimal with a long community style table and seems like a locals spot. read more

Ambience// Really nice spot with chairs outside to sit and chat with your coffee. They also had wonderful pastries but I didn't try them.9 Drink// Got their popular honey oat latte which was great, perfect amount of sweetness and somewhat creamy. Would've liked clearer image or poster of available and popular drinks though but the menu was on a board that added to the nice cafe vibes. Service// Really nice, welcoming staff. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Honey oat latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

This is a great, no-frills coffee shop. They really know their coffee, and you can tell by the regulars who keep coming back. The space is small, with one table inside that seats about six, plus a couple of tables outside. Not the best spot for working remotely, but it has a warm, friendly vibe that makes it worth visiting. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

See all

This is a great neighborhood spot with standard offerings. I ordered a hot matcha latte and an amazing blueberry cream cheese danish that was so flaky and flavorful! Love the modern industrial look of the cafe with chill music and laidback and friendly staff. Metered parking on the street, watch out for those neighborhood street signs, several of which may have restrictions. read more

Super friendly service. Coffee had a very unique flavor. I got a cappuccino. Cool artsy vibe. I'd go back. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

My girlfriend and I usually go for a creamy cappuccino after Church on these "cold" SoCal winter days. Thus, we looked into the DRIFT magazine and found ourselves in the arts district of Culver City for Cognoscenti Coffee. Service was great, as an older man was available to answer any questions needed while sharing a little of his life story with us, which is always fun. The cappuccino was great; just a very solid balance of espresso and chosen milk with a nice ambiance to walk around within and outside of the shop. What else can I say? A solid place to get a solid cup of Joe! I would recommend. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Cup art - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

See all

Never encountered such a rude barista or felt so unwelcomed at a cafe. Policies make 0 sense. Says they dont allow dogs inside where you have to be to order your coffee and that they're only allowed in the patio. How am I supposed to order my coffee if you won't even let me inside with my dog, this is ridiculous it should only take you 20 seconds. Instead of giving your customers with dogs attitude and having this conversation, a simple 'dogs are allowed in the patio' would suffice, AFTER YOU TAKE THE DAMN ORDER. read more

All around a great coffee shop! Iced americano was very tasty, all the pastries looked yummy and were selling fast even at 9am on a weekday - I got a lovely coffee cake which was crumbly in the best way. They didn't seem like generic coffee shop pastries, which I always appreciate. Strong community vibes, and it seemed like a lot of the customers were regulars based on how friendly their convos with the baristas sounded! One of the customers came back into the store to say that the drink he got was the best coffee drink he's ever had! Indoor and outdoor seating - not too huge but there was always at least one empty seat while I was there in the AM. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Iced americano and coffee cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

Great service. As soon as I got here I was greeted with big smiles and told about their specialties. I got the lavender latte, which was pretty good, I wish there was a stronger flavor of lavender. They have both indoor and outdoor seating! read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

Cognoscenti has been in Culver for over 10 years. In that amount of time, third-wave coffee has become the norm and Culver (as well as greater LA) has changed *a lot*. I only found out about their history because of the print on their wall of OG 3rd wave shop coffee cups. This spot has ample seating, an incredibly friendly staff, and the fairest prices for quality of maybe any cafe in the greater LA area. Their pastries are super good, their service is outstanding, and I never have to worry about getting a table. I'd highly recommend to anyone in the Culver area! read more

The moment I walked in, I felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave. The staff is not welcoming at all and there are basically no options on the menu. Bummed that I wasted a trip on this place. read more

Coffee space is cute and good quality coffee, very minimalistic and neat. Good place to do work or catch up with friends - pastries looked delightful as well. read more

Small cafe with a pastry selection and excellent coffee. My wife loved her decaf latte. I loved my V60 pour overs... Friday had the Gesha, and a Guatemala on Saturday. Fueled us for a warehouse sale down the street. I highly recommend this place. Reasonably price pour overs of better quality that I've had anywhere farther down the street all the way to Lincoln. read more

Cognoscenti Coffee is a local small business shop that we love frequenting! They have great baked goods, the only croissant I'll eat in the US, Baristas that know how to make expresso drinks & are no nonsense straight forward guys serving from 7am-4pm, they also good house made seasonal flavors. There is seating inside and out & patio area (dogs welcome, not in the shop due to Culver City rules!) read more

Best experience! My tech, Tamara, was so sweet and really brought my nail idea to life. Thank you I'll definitely be back the ambiance was perfect and the whole staff was amazing! read more

Love the coffee here. It's one of my Culver City's go to spots! Seating is ok - not a huge indoor seating and slightly bigger patio though mostly get the coffee on the run. read more

As a local of the community it is a shame that I can not simply go into a cafe to do my work without the employees interrogating me, seeing if I'm going to buy something, hovering around me when I'm simply minding my business and not causing any sort of disturbance. One of the older white man that works there had a very pointed attitude with me and seemed to be prejudice towards me as a black woman. Very very very very unfortunate. I eventually left because the employees were making me feel very very uncomfortable. While I understand it is important to buy and support these businesses, I had my computer, books and a lovely attitude on very minimal funds trying to enjoy my day. Had I had decided to buy something then the cafe employees true colors would not have shown. How I would label my interaction with this cafe is giving discriminatory, prejudice, and negative energy. read more

Cute coffee spot. Friendly staff. Visited while in town and they appear to have a ton of regulars. The matcha latte was good but matcha appeared to be premade vs made to order. read more

- Locale Destination - It's on Washington Blvd and Roberts Ave in Culver City. Ambiance: Modern, simple. Lots of seating inside and outside. Menu: Simple coffee menu, some pastries. Service: very friendly Parking: street meter - Gluttony Expedition - Cortado: bitterness is mild, more creamier side. Pretty good! Cappuccino: creamy, mild, smooth, well rounded, light. Very good! Cappuccino (w/soy milk): cappuccino was so good and they had a soy milk. So I had to order. It makes cappuccino tastier, which I like. It's hard to see coffee shops that carry soy milk nowadays, so this was extra point for me. Great. - Conqueror's Deduction - 4.5 star. This coffee is pretty good! In Culver City, so far this was the best (if there's no bluebottle here). read more

See all

On the hunt for the best iced americano and pastries in town. Personally, the americano was a bit light and watery. However, the gentleman helping us out was super informative and kind. They carry a range of savory and sweet pastries. I got a biscuit and croissant~ they're both sourced from a local bakery in the East Hollywood area. They definitely don't cheap out on the ham :)!! Next time, I'd love to try their berry danish and churro croissant. Parking was easy to find right in front. It was 50cents for 2 hours!!! read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Biscuit & Ham/Cheese Croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California

See all

Great service and excellent coffee! I would agree, one of best coffee around, and I've tried at least 10 different specialty roasters, coffee shops in LA! Maru is another great place, and happy to find another great place in Culver City! Coconut and cashew cookie, also perfectly crispy read more

I've been here about four times. The ambience isn't anything super exciting or sexy but the friendliness, customer service, and sense of community are everything! There is cute seating inside and outside and the vibe is super relaxed. There are all sorts of coffee on hand for purchase and a beautiful selection of pastries. Also, my flat whites are always perfecto!! read more

See all

Finally tried this spot during a Culver City block party. I had always heard great things about this spot, but I wasn't ever able to go when it was open. Cognoscenti is a very cool shop and the coffee menu was great. I got a seasonal coffee and it was delicious and smooth. The baristas are super nice and helpful. Would definitely return! read more

Great coffee....But a bit rude. I waited until after several visits to make this review to see if maybe it was just a bad day they were having.. The guy taking my order(grey hair shoulder length) literally shook his head in disgust when I ordered!! It was almost like my business was unwelcomed. I do make large orders when i come in but I shouldn't be scolded for that. I'm a paying customer. Its like the mean soup guy on Seinfeld. I would've given it one star but the coffee is very good..Cogniscento?? More like "Condescending ". read more

Great coffee, friendly service, good prices. Came here to work for a couple of hours on a Tuesday morning. While the space is small, I enjoyed that I found a spot to sit outside in the back area, which is somewhat enclosed and shaded, but still outdoors. The cold brew was really good, but this was all I got so can't comment on the other drink and food items. If I recall correctly, it was $4.50, so pretty standard for the area. The service was friendly and quick, so I appreciated that as well. Overall, fantastic experience and will definitely be back! read more

Cognoscenti Coffee - Outdoor patio - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Culver City, California