La Coop Coffee — Restaurant in Washington

I’ve tried really hard to enjoy this new coffee shop because the neighborhood desperately needed one but it’s not working for me. I hope the owners can take this honest feedback and apply it.

This is not a new business. They have other locations. This means they have systems in place.

I can’t tell.

Day one I was the first customer ever. Why? First because I was so excited to have a cafe within walking distance and I wanted to show my support on opening day and second the promo material they posted had the incorrect time. They listed the opening time at 7 (weekdays) but it was a Saturday. It was also their opening day which was heavily promoted! Sloppy. When I messaged them? The response had zero apology and just an explanation. Okayyy

I’ve never had a coffee here with non dairy milk that didn’t break when it was added for creamer. The coffee is over roasted and bitter. Good milk is necessary. The menu is very limited. Vegetarian or gluten free? Not your place.

And finally service - today I arrived at approx 835. There were three people in line in front of my and FOUR people working behind the counter. It took me 15 minutes to get an iced coffee. There were easily a dozen people waiting for food when I arrived and 9 people behind me in line by the time I left and four dogs outside because everyone is stick in line.

Cute and popular space based on all the other reviews and fantastic leather goods from Guatemala (my fav type of bean and why I come here) but your customers deserve better service and quality. I’m tired of wasting my time and money because you serve simple goods and it doesn’t have to be so complicated. And please turn down the music. People are trying to work. It’s not a happy hour. My wish for you is that you are open to hearing what I have to say so you can become the establishment we deserve not just...

I really really want to love this place, it is stunning and bright and large and beautifully decorated. However, the coffee and pastries were really are pretty meh. I am by no means a coffee snob, but I do expect a certain level of taste when it comes to paying five or six dollars for an espresso drink their drinks taste very weak to me. There seems to be no training on how to make drinks. Even the cortado, which should have 4 oz of milk max and thus be strong, had way too much milk and the espresso just tasted very bland.

Additionally, the chocolate croissant I ordered was quite stale and flavorless. I used to work at a coffee shop and I know that these were probably old pastries that they just kept longer than they should have, or if these were indeed fresh ones, since this was on a Sunday morning, they need to change their supplier

The Horchata drink is tasty- if a bit cloyingly sweet- and I did have a decent sandwich there in the past that was about four out of five stars.

As for the physical environment, as I mentioned, it is a large sunny and pleasant space to be in, with fabulous interior design, which is why I so wish that the food and beverages could match in quality. They have a small pretend coffee station for kids to play with, which is nice to see, and some comfy lounge chairs in addition to regular table seating.

The one issue I have with the ambience is that they need to invest in some soundproofing panels or something to help cut the reverb, especially since they encourage kids to play and there are a lot of people coming in and out, it can get extremely loud inside as the noise echos and bounces off of all of the many walls. Noise buffers, or some rugs, could help make this a more pleasant place to read a book while coexisting with...

Perched upon 1st St. NE, this 1920’s Craftsman Bungalow, turned cafe, is the highlight of Brightwood! La Coop’s ethically sourced, single-origin coffee makes its way from the Western Highlands of Guatemala and supports family-owned coffee plantations through a co-operative business model.

La Coop’s tropical decor emphasizes their Central American roots and is sure to brighten anyone's day! The cafe is pet-friendly–plenty of outdoor seating is tucked behind a white picket fence and includes picnic tables with boho chic umbrellas, along with a covered patio full of beautiful rattan furniture.

The vibes are extended to the interior, where all orders are placed and additional seating plus a gender neutral bathroom can be found. The Banana Leaf wallpaper, pops of hot pink, and aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans make for the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee...or better yet, a cup of La Coop’s Dirty Horchata!

Horchata is a sweet and tasty traditional Guatemalan drink, made from rice, evaporated milk, cinnamon and water. La Coop’s Dirty Horchata consists of their homemade horchata combined with an espresso shot.

In addition to coffee and beverages, La Coop prides itself in serving a variety of pastries locally made in Washington, DC. They also have the trendiest merchandise, including shirts, hats, and cups with their “La Coop Coffee Co.” logo and Guatemalan textile handbags and blankets.

Be sure to follow @lacoopcoffee on Instagram and stay up-to-date on their events and happenings! La Coop hosts artisan markets to boost local small businesses, submissions for design ideas, and...