Came here to have coffee with my husband but ended up having the best Espresso milkshake everrrrr! I ordered a vegan Espresso milkshake because I am an adult and I make grown up choices :) we enjoyed our drinks in the upper level seating area where there are plenty of benches and seats to get work done. My husband had the nitro cold brew which did not disappoint, I was impressed by how flavorful it was. We will definitely be coming back for more. I really want to try all of their offerings. read more

Groundwork Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Every time I come here I have high hopes the taste has gotten better but it really is just "meh" coffee and food. Love their variety of non-dairy milk and vegan food options. I also love how big their iced drinks are, in LA I'm so used to getting the small 10oz cups. But overall, to me, the taste isn't worth the price :/ read more

Parking was terrible when I went, and I'm not sure if this was because I went during a Ciclavia event, or if this was typical on a Sunday. When I went here, the place was so busy. But my friend and I luckily got a table so we were able to study for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon. Coffee was great! I ordered their version of Vietnamese coffee because I love condensed milk the coffee was strong and had the perfect amount of sweetness. Perfectly balanced. I also got the avocado toast which was topped with chili flakes and honey. So. Good. The location of this shop is great -- my friend and I walked over to Wurst to grab a beer after our study session. There are also other eateries and little shops that surround this cafe. Highly recommend this place if you need to study for a couple of hours or you want to catch up with a friend. But if you're the type to need calm music or quietness to focus, maybe bring your own headphones. The music here is bumpin. I brought my own earphones, but I'll definitely bring my noise canceling ones the next time I study over here. TL;DR - good place to study with headphones, or grab a drink and bite with a friend - above average coffee, pretty good food. fair prices - decent seating - may be crowded on weekends read more

Horrible customer service! Very rude! I am a Black woman and I've noticed the cashier will take 3 or 4 customers ahead of me, but when it's time to serve me, she'll stop & make me wait while she finishes doing some other task or puts in orders. It has happened at least 3 times. She claimed that there's a queue and it's mere lying a coincidence that when I'm at the front, she has to clear it. Sorry, that's a load of BS! As a black woman living in the Arts District, I've experienced this at many establishments and Groundwork is no different. The female store manager (white, short haircut) has a nasty disposition as well and she gave me a very insincere and sarcastic "we hear your feedback" when I brought it up - there was no apology or reassurance from her that they'd figure out a better process so that this wouldn't occur again. I will never be a patron at this establishment again. I know "weird & unwelcoming" energy when I see it. It's sad that Go Get Em closed; I will stick to Verve on Mateo or Urth Caffe on Hewitt St (birth with better coffee), maybe give my business to Boxx Coffee when they open below my building in August 2020. To the owners of this location: train your store manager and staff. In this current social client, now is the WRONG time for black customers to be feel like they're being given lesser service. read more

I've always appreciated Groundwork coffee beans. I usually don't like coffee but I've been able to enjoy their flavors each time. I decided to go coffee-free and try the Mexican Hot Chocolate. It surprised me because it turned out a little more on the spicy side than what I was expecting. Even my boyfriend tried and agreed it was a bit spicy. It was still good, just took me by surprise. Maybe it's been awhile since my last mexican chocolate drink! Very relaxed atmosphere and there was enough seating even with it being full of customers. A plus, is that it's right across from The a Pie Hole to go and grab some dessert afterwards. read more

Groundwork Coffee - Mexican Hot Chocolate. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Big fan of the nitro cold brew here. They have a solid service staff and I haven't experienced any bad service from my multiple visits. Spacious area to study with many tables and the vibe here is quiet enough to get good work done. However, the outlets on the upper level are pretty trash to be honest. They provide power and electricity fine but the outlets do a terrible job in supporting heavier plugs like a MacBook's brick of a charger. They just fall out when you try to plug them in and do a terrible job in holding them in. read more

The environment is just the way I want it for studying! Met up with a friend and it's cozy, has good music, and good iced coffee! Thumbs up! read more

Groundwork Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Groundwork Coffee in the Arts District is a great place to study during the daytime. I tried the Groundwork Chai this time, and I like Groundwork coffee. They also have food. It was busy when we arrived, but my friend and I were lucky enough to get a couple of seats. The shop is like a light, industrial loft with concrete floors, high ceiling, a brick-side wall, short set stairs with midlevel seating, wooden furniture with metal legs, community tables, and group tables for single or a small group. It's so Downtown LA. What's not to like? read more

I love this place. I love the service, ambiance, music, people and the food. It's a really cool hipster place. I love the different options on menu. read more

So far so good. This is probably going to be one of my favorite coffee spots. Came here a few times now and can say that it's great. Nice staff Fairly quiet in the evenings which is perfect Close to home And up-2date the best chai ever ! Plus I love the decor of this place . I can stay here all day. read more

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Groundwork Coffee, why did I never hear about you until now? My friend and I were looking for some coffee shops that had good coffee and nice interior to do some photo shoots. Some of the places we initially wanted to go to were out of our way, so we decided to Yelp some coffee places and Groundwork was one of the few that we both agreed to go to. We stepped in and the interior was beautiful. Its wood and brick interior drew my attention and the lighting inside was perfect. There is a long table for you to chill with friends, shorter tables for you to study alone or with a friend, and couches for you to relax and just be comfortable. I would definitely say the interior design is more geared towards the hip/trendy side. This place has free wifi, making it a great place to study or hangout with friends and family members. I really wished they had a regular cold brew but they only served the nitro cold brew. I ordered their large nitro ($4.00) and the foamy, creamy texture was very interesting and quite delicious. My caffeine tolerance is pretty high, however, after finishing my large cup, I started to feel very jittery, so knowing that, I know that their cold brew is incredibly strong and concentrated. Additionally, Groundwork Coffee roast and brew their own beans, which was pretty neat. Good luck with parking because parking anywhere in the Arts District is a serious pain in the butt. It took me a while to finally find a parking spot so be aware of this stressful problem. On a side note, the staff members were all very nice and helpful. Whenever I am back in the LA area, I'll make sure to come back here again. read more

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I was in Little Tokyo for lunch but I wanted to stop by for some coffee and I knew Groundwork was nearby and have heard of it before so I was excited to give it a try! I ordered my usual - iced vanilla latte - and from some of the recommendations, with their in house cashew milk. I had told the barista that I generally don't like my coffee very sweet to get her opinion and she didn't say anything about it going to be too sweet or anything but just in case, I had asked for more ice so that they'll use less milk (tastes more coffee). I got my drink and there was a really sweet aftertaste(?) that I don't usually taste from vanilla lattes. I usually don't try to complain or anything but I had just paid $6 for my drink so I went back to the barista to ask about it. She then told me that the cashew milk itself isn't sweetened but they sweeten the drink with agave. I asked if there was anything I could do to make my drink less sweet and she offered to make me another one with normal whole milk very unwillingly. She then proceeds to just pump the vanilla syrup, pour the whole milk, and dumped a shot of espresso on top without even stirring it or anything for me. There's a whole chunk of syrup on the bottom of my drink..... I initially felt really bad about going back to ask about the drink but after being treated like that, I'm slightly annoyed and probably not going back. There are other places with coffee just as good. I assume that if I'm paying this much, the barista would try harder to cater to my preference but.. maybe not?? -shrug- Also FYI - the vanilla latte with cashew milk just wasn't for me as I usually like my coffee stronger. The cashew milk is also not as creamy but it does have a nice nuttiness! read more

Groundwork Coffee - hunk of syrup at the bottom -_- - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Horchata Cold Brew and Mocha are super good! Great place to do work too. A little busy and loud definitely a cool environment

I have a love/hate relationship with this place. I've been going here since 2002 and it's had lots of ups and downs. Currently the food is good and the environment is nice. It's a decent place to get food or tea and work on your laptop or meet with people. But I wish they'd bring back their old BLT. It was pretty solid. The staff is usually pretty nice although there seems to be a lot of turn over. There is often people from the neighborhood just smoking weed at the tables though which is really off putting. I know it's legal now but it's not fun to have to smell it when you don't want to smell it and also when you're trying to eat. They're better than they used to be years ago and it doesn't feel all sterile like when they renovated it this time around. So kudos. read more

Super Cute spot for arts district!!!!. Unfortunately tho, they are rude AF and not friendly. Lack of smiles and Customer service is the reason for 1 Star! Please do better, please! read more

COST: $3.50 (Iced Americano - 24oz) Great coffee. Subpar, non-existent service. I can feel the world is slowly gravitating me towards Arts District and once again I found myself in the neighborhood one lazy Sunday afternoon. I needed a pick me up and other Groundwork Coffee Co locations have always served my needs well. Upon walking in this place however, I was met with a literal equivalent of a heavy sigh from all of their workers. Granted I'm sure they're at the tail end of their shifts, so seeing a customer come in must've not been the most exciting thing. I'm not expecting a cult like Philz Coffee style warm welcome (which I adore), but there are plenty more friendly baristas and cashiers at your local Starbucks. This place looks amazing and the coffee was as delicious as ever. Too bad the service leaves much to be desired. read more

I have a Starbucks gift card but yet I have found myself stopping at Groundwork's everyday for the past week! The Nitro Brew is insanely smooth! I add a hint of Agave and it's like dessert for breakfast! The place itself has a very cool vibe to it, the perfect place to meet up with a good friend. I have tried a ton of the food here and each meal has been great! This place is a gem! read more

Groundwork Coffee - Nitro Brew on a rainy day to get me started! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've been wanting to swing by Groundwork a long time ago and finally decided to take the ride. I ordered an iced passionfruit tea (Yes, it's a coffee place but I had already had a couple cups before heading to this place) and it was good, not out of this world but good. Staff were rude, they acted as if they really didn't want to be there. I understand they're allowed to just be themselves but man, they didn't greet us when we went in, they didn't care if we had any questions on what to order. The restoom was filthy. The trash bin was packed with soiled paper, it smelled terrible and even asking for the code was uncomfortable. The seating area on the back is comfortable, and the music selection was great! Overall it's a place with a lot of potential, but, in my opinion, it's not even close to its best operation. read more

I remember being kinda sad when the coffee shop that was here before closed and became ground work (again). The other one had a more ma and pa vibe and I was sad to see the character of it go. Then there was a brief period where it seemed whoever was hiring was trying to staff the place with the disinterested barista types. Fortunately, it seems they learned quickly that even tho this is the arts district, the stereotypical hipster jerk is not really the vibe here. Not sure if it's the nicest place to work cuz turn over seems kinda high but that's not particularly unusual in a coffee shop. The nowadays it's been consistently good friendly service and I really love the coffee. I also really appreciate they're generous loyalty program. I feel like I'm constantly earning free drinks and I probably go there 1x week at very most. read more

Great drip coffee I like how they sell food as well very clean spacious location . Good luck with parking! (The wall seating can be uncomfortable go for a chair or stool) read more

Groundwork Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is one of my usual study spots if I need motivation to flip through the pages of my GRE exam books and pretend like I'm retaining information. As expected, parking can be a nightmare since this location is in the trendy Art's District by DTLA. There is no private lot, but I usually find parking if I stay optimistic and circle the block a few times. The interior is decorated in a casual, hip and clean way. I sometimes wish they would make it brighter so I don't have to hunch over my book to read, but I guess bright lighting isn't as sexy. The tables are on the smaller side (think Starbucks-sized but slightly larger) but they have a large communal table in the center of the bottom section. Outlets can be scarce but I never had to charge my laptop there. Now the most important part- coffee! I love love love the coffee at Groundwork. My usual is a hot medium roast- simple and effective. The baristas here are always consistent in brewing coffee and I've never had a cup that tasted burnt or old. I also tried a few of their herbal teas if it's later in the day but I usually gravitate towards their coffee because it's so good. I tried a few of their vegan brownies and snacks and they have all been good but a bit on the pricier side. I haven't tried their breakfast or lunch dishes but I see many people ordering their quinoa bowl. There is only 1 unisex restroom in the place and you need the key from the barista counter. The restroom seems to always be occupied and getting the key is kind of like playing the Game of Thrones. The restroom is ALWAYS super gross so I advise you to have tunnel vision and just get in and get out. Do not look around if you have a weak stomach. If the parking situation and bathroom cleanliness were improved, I would rate this place more stars. read more

I'll start off with the positives of this place and then go into the negatives. The coffee is absolutely amazing. One of the best I've had in awhile! They have homemade in house cashew milk which is incredibly delicious and high quality espresso beans for lattes. I come here every week for coffee if not more. They also offer free filtered water another major plus! And I take advantage of this as well. Service has generally been good although the employees do tend to take their sweet time doing things! The negative part about groundwork in my experiences so far has been the food. I ordered a breakfast burrito while studying for school It took almost an hour to come out, it was not unbearably busy inside. It seemed as though the cooks were messing around in the back and again taking their sweet time. When I got the burrito they had forgotten the chipotle aioli that it was supposed to come with and I had to ask for it. But benefit of the doubt and hungry as I was I proceeded to eat the burrito. The burrito was well put together and presented well. I paid $2 extra for bacon and instead, the burrito was full of large pieces of bacon FAT, and very little actual bacon. It was absolutely repulsive. I will not be ordering their food again. Another downside if your choosing to study here or stay awhile is that there is only one bathroom And it's for both men and women, oftentimes people take a long time and you have to wait a long time. It's also not the most cleanly. So in my opinion of Groundwork go for the coffee don't go for the food. read more

Groundwork Coffee - Breakfast burrito? No bacon FAT burrito. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Groundwork Coffee is a low key, friendly, coffee joint with a wide variety of beverages. I ordered the Vietnamese ice coffee which was top notch. Additionally, I tackled the delicious and filling smoked turkey with Swiss sandwich which was topped with garlic aoli, roasted beets and bacon onion compote (holy moly!). This place is busy and full of patrons but there are plenty of available seats. Wish they had more accessible electric outlets. Overall great spot for studying, chilling and enjoying coffee in the heart of the art district. read more

Been 5 stars since forever in my recollection. I've been coming here off and on for over 10 years and it only gets better. Food has improved from awesome to totally awesome ! Coffee always flawless in preparation and execution. Good vibe music and smart hipsters frequent this OG spot. Keep it up - way up ) It shows @groundworks staff read more

Groundwork Coffee - Mc Luuuvvvin all the way - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Best coffee in Downtown LA, the Staff is great and very friendly. I was there on Monday and this young girl by the name of Ashley was very helpful and very nice to my entire family. read more

I love coffee so every time I see and coffeehouse (not Starbucks or Bean Coffee) I always stop by and get one so I can try it. This place looks nice and clean but didn't blow me away but it was good. read more

Groundwork Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Yummy food, small portions, quick and casual. Good for vegetarian, vegan options, classic breakfast or lunch spot. Also good place to bring your laptop and do work read more

I think I may be making more frequent visits here... I love the outside look and feel it has -- great on a nice sunny day! I came in for a double espresso over ice, only to find that they already add two shots into their espressos so I opted for just a regular one to start. The interior seems like a great spot for me to write or read. I was sitting at one of the high bar tables along the wall facing the street. I didn't get to stay as long as I would have liked because I was meeting a friend shortly thereafter. Nice and quick service. Clean shop and polite peers. read more

Love their coffee and great customer services most of the time. Their beans are fresh and it's one of our favorite at all time. Their pastries are great too but we normally just grab and go for drinks only. Don't forget their new reward system to earn free drinks. read more

Groundwork Coffee - Fresh but this one is strong! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Awesome stop for coffee and grub. The avocado toast is a must have. Topped with cheese, corn and a splash of sweet chili. Yum! read more

Groundwork Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Very chill coffee spot in the Arts District. It's a great spot to do a little bit of studying and reading. They don't have too many wall outlets so make sure your laptop is fully charged before. When I came around 1pm on a Saturday we were able to find a spot, but it definitely got a lot more crowded as the day progressed. The baristas here were friendly, but it wasn't overly welcoming. After ordering, I was confused where I needed to wait to get my drink. They seemed to be in their own little world behind the counter. It's good that they like what they are doing, but it would be nice if they were a bit more personable. At the very least call your name when your drink is ready. Instead they just yell out what they made, if it's a bit busy, this can be really confusing. Got a cold brew and a latte here. Both were good, but not very memorable. There are definitely better coffee spots in the Art District. read more

I love to come here every weekend. I love all the baristas making coffee. They are very professional. To to be honest I don't like put any complaint on Yelp for any business because I think no one perfect. But this time, I have to. I understand that this guy (he looks chubby with glasses) wants to do his job but I don't think he like his job. Every time if I see him working. I wish he won't making my coffee or taking my order. I love all other baristas they are so nice and friendly. But this guy when his turn to work in front of registration, he always having attitude. read more

Came here on a Saturday night with a group of 5 people after eating dinner to grab a quick late night energy boost prior to going to Angel City. I really enjoyed the coffee and definitely would love to come back. I'd say it seems like a solid place to study or just come and enjoy the vibe. The service was okay and the atmosphere was aesthetically pleasing. I heard they sell their coffee beans at whole foods too, so I'll have to go pick up a bag if I'm not able to make it back soon. read more

I haven't had a bad experience here yet!! Every coffee from the team here has been excellent, cold and hot! Not to mention that their prices are relatively cheap; 3.25 for an 8 oz hot drink & 3.75 for a 16 oz cold ice latte etc. (Also, the hot drinks automatically come with two shots - YUM!) The staff are really nice and up for a chat !! Atmosphere is great in the store, super chill and lots of space too for work ! Wifi is a bonus. Parking is a potential issue, but I've been lucky enough to snag a spot every time. Also- each time you buy a bag of their beans you get a free drink! I'm a fan. read more

Glad I gave groundwork a chance They make the best chi latte Found a new favorite coffee shop. read more

Groundwork Coffee - Excellent chi latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I can no longer take much caffeine anymore. But I break my rule for their soy latte. Both hot and iced are excellent. I love their half off pastries after 3pm. This is the coffee shop I go to in my neighborhood despite the numerous options! read more

Groundwork Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is one of the greatest coffee shops in downtown LA, I love this chain. I usually get my coffee here almost everyday. Before I use to go to the one on Venice Beach right on the boardwalk back when I worked by that area but now I am closer to downtown and I enjoy it here as well. I love the coffee and the consistency in how its always made. Carly has superlative customer service every time I go I am always greeted and she is very welcoming. I also want to point out the other outstanding "A's" Ash, Aly and Andrew always deliver excellent customer service and that's also one of the main reasons why I come back. Great coffee and great customer service is not easy to find now a days so I am glad Groundworks has it all. The only thing I wish was that there was more parking options but hey can't complain being a downtown LA resident/local there is never parking anywhere. Anyways, thank you for everything you do. read more

I always want to try new coffee joints in my area but ALWAYS go back to groundwork! There just so much space inside to sit and work on things. I love the staff here too! They're literally so cute, funny, and friendly! One of them always compliments me or makes some sort of conversation which is so comforting and different from the stereotypical "LA coffee snob". Such great vibes and energy here. read more

THIS SPOT IS THE SHIT! I love coming here. It's a great place to study. The coffee is good. Food is ok. Music is bumpin forsure. It's spacious and they have FREE wifi. It's my new spot to chill and get some studying done :D read more

Been a while since we've walked around the Arts District. Stopped in to Groundwork. BLTA, breakfast burrito, two lattes. Everything was perfect. Food, coffee, service, vibe. Thanks. read more