Venice Grind

Good coffee. Not the best I’ve had but pretty good. The bathroom didn’t lock the time I went there, which seemed to be a awkward situation waiting to happen. Lots of people are always sitting about. Cool atmosphere.

I like this café because there is plenty of seating and good coffee.
Just some advice to management, it may be good for business to offer a discount if you are ordering a coffee refill. I had to pay $ 2.50 each time I wanted a refill, where I could go somewhere else and pay $ 2.50 then just $ 1 after that.
Thank you

First time I went, I was told to make my coffee myself. Next time I went I was treated like a red-​headed step-​child. Finally the third time, the people were finally helpful and made a great coffee. Guess you need to be a regular…

I used to constant this café.
Not a lot has changed in the way of layout…
The menu, however, has grown almost lazy. It has simplified and increased in price.
I like that there is still an emphasis on art and the revolving nature of display. I do not like that the art on display was a bit sparse through the café.
I had a pourover, priced at $ 4.50. I asked for splash of almond milk, which was forgotten.
I’ll return again out of holiday season to see if I just got an off night… But for now this spot seems a little… Under-​polished and overrated.

Maybe I’m not the picky with my coffee but I liked my cappuccino. It was perfectly acceptable.
I was so sad when the wind blew over my coffee and it spilled all along the side of my car. I was actually very tempted to lick my car to get some residual slurps but I restrained myself on better judgement.

I got a message from management explaining the tip requests that apparently most coffee places (by law) will start having. That’s totally fine.
What I am upset about is the fact that the morning cash register guy automatically puts in a tip on your behalf. He will spin it and ask «how much tip did you put down». Why would you ask that? It’s to make you feel bad if you didn’t do it. Fine. People are like that. That’s ok. This is our world. THEN he will automatically insert $ 1.80 tip to your charge… That’s an 80% tip. First of all don’t assume people will tip you then make you feel bad if they didn’t. Second, don’t automatically charge a tip on their behalf. Thirdly, why don’t you come to work a little more friendly?

Been here several times now and the experience has always been very good. Staff is friendly and coffee is strong. Their snacks are pretty fresh but hurry, they run out fast. The location is great for me. Ivan walk from home. Lovely patio out back but you would never know they have walking in from the front to make sure you check it out. I don’t mind set a while and use their free Wi-​Fi. It’s a great local hang out. Good job. Glad you’re lasting thru the hipster movement!

Friendly baristas but gross coffee. Writing a review to remind myself how dissatisfied I am every time I come here. I’m not sure what it is but something about the coffee is just off here. Seems like locals love it though.

Just slurped a long ‘pincher bug’ up through my straw after drinking almost ALL of my iced coffee. I’m am SOOOOOOOOOO DISGUSTED!!!
I called the establishment immediately after discovering it (IN MY MOUTH) but no one picked up the phone. Absolutely disgusting. That was my first and LAST TIME ever supporting them.
Plus one of the baristas looked high af. The young lady was rude af and blew her yawn breath right in my face as I was signing my receipt. Also the establishment gets a lot of little kids that come in with their parents yet they play unedited versions of songs full of expletives. The only pleasant employee was the black guy but he’s the one who handed me my bug infested drink so that’s not saying much. Smh I’m so disgusted. I will never be back. Y’all are disgusting. How tf did a bug end up in my damn ICED COFFEE. HOW SWAY!!! Who has the answers!!! So gross. And a cowbell attached to a bathroom key? Who on earth thought that would be okay? «*cowbells ring* Hey everybody, I know this is the third time I’ve had to pee… This tea is really strong. I have a really small bladder… Please, don’t mind me or the obnoxious bells that I have to carry on my way to the restroom.»

I called not too long ago asking if they sold coffee boxes for business meetings/​catering. The woman on the phone, with hipster snark (could tell from her vocal fry), said they only had carts that carry four cups. Tried to clarify by saying I wanted the box like they had at Starbucks that serves 10, but would rather buy it from them. She repeated herself impatiently. OK. Went in a few days later for a coffee after a trip to the farmers market… they do sell coffee boxes! I like their coffee; I really dislike their badittudes.

Good cold brew… but quite pricey. Also, they awkwardly ask you if you want to leave a tip digitally. Kinda puts you in an awkward position which I did not appreciate. There is a jar for tips on the counter. That should be enough in my opinion. Or don’t put customers on the spot like that. The barista was not even very friendly and I felt forced to leave him a tip anyway.
Not so sure I will be going back, although the quality of coffee was good… and although I did not try one, their muffins looked delicious.

It took a lot for me to not do this sooner. But here I am updating my review on VG thanks to a mild incident that I feel merits some attention.
On August 10^th, I swung by for a cold iced tea. There was a barista, and another gentleman at the register, whom was in and out of sight. The barista seemed to have been taking care of everyone, and even took my order while working on 2 drinks ahead of me. Gave him my order, all seemed good.
The other gent returned, and to make a long story short there was a small misunderstanding between whether my order was taken, or it was paid, etc. Not being fussy about the incident, I replied to the register gentleman, «Awww, well I totally apologize for the confusion. It’s all good…»
His reply, and I kid you not, without sensing an ounce of sarcasm or irony, said, «Well, I don’t apologize.»
Me, being optimistic about everything in life basically, said, «Ah, well you shan’t apologize for all things in life!!!»
His reply, stone faced was, «No, I dont.»
For years I loved VG because of its down to earth employees and lax attitude. It’s what kept me coming all this years, until that day. I waited for a pun, a zinger, anything that would save the guy from being blatantly rude and apathetic. There was NOTHING.
Many things came to mind. «Maybe he’s having a bad day… maybe he did mean to be terribly dry at his attempt to be humorous… maybe it WAS me who screwed up.» But it didn’t add up. It was I who initiated an apology i didnt need to make.
I came to the conclusion that this guy did not have the right to speak to me that way, or any other customer. Whatever the circumstance was or is, you do not speak to a stranger customer in that form.
Sad to say, this sole experience made me feel unwelcome to ever frequent VG ever again. Maybe I will go up and personally talk to this employee in the future, because I feel he should know to never speak to a customer that way ever again, despite of his intentions.
This is not an ego thing, this is a work ethic and people thing.

Their coffee is so legit. Aromatic espresso to the T. I had a vanilla latte here and it was amazing! Their espresso is definitely strong and not made for those who are used to the mild flavors of starbucks espressos

Asked for a latte with almond milk instead of regular milk. Pretty sub par; I’ve had almond milk lattes elsewhere that are much better.
Their regular drinks are probably better, but I haven’t had them.

Decent coffee, strange staff. Mediocre pastries for the price.
They’re rarely very customer-​centric, but today I came in here an hour after opening l and lights were off, no music playing, two customers sitting, and the one employee there was laying his head on the counter.

A few weeks prior to visiting Venice Grind I was emotionally traumatized by Profetta (a Westwood coffee shop which employees terribly rude baristas). I was missing the non-​chain coffee shops that had an artsy flair and employed decent human beings like my home state of WA. I had just signed a lease on a new apartment a mile away from Venice Grind and celebrated by checking my new neighborhood.
I walked up to Venice Grind with its Lit up arrow Coffee sign and saw two people sitting out front visiting while drinking coffee. I walked in to find a somewhat narrow, but spacious sitting area. The male and female barista’s were friendly. I chatted with them about the Stumptown cold brew coffee they serve (Stumptown being a Pacific NW fave) and decided upon getting their own cold brew coffee. I told them that I wanted to try theirs since I will be moving nearby, and hope to frequent this shop often. They welcomed me to the area! As I waited for my drink I noticed that they had a shelf with various flyers/​postcards for community events and volunteer opportunities.
Venice Grind has an outdoor back patio area. I also saw a small dog on lease in the back area, which is great because I often walk my small dogs.
When I left the baristas waived bye.
*Good coffee
*Good vibe
*Good people

I went to this place about a month ago and forgot to review it! The coffee wasn’t good at all, but the patio out in the back was pretty nice. A ton of people come here to study. I would go back to try something different, but I wouldn’t recommend the coffee. Just a heads up!

I came in here randomly since I found myself starving, in need of coffee, and in Venice. I had a medium drip coffee and a piece of the spinach quiche (food options included croissants, bagel, some granola bars, packaged cookies, bananas — not a bad selection for a coffee shop). My total was $ 9.50. The quiche was a very overpriced $ 7. They warmed it in the microwave but the eggs were runny and overall I found it not terrible but not good. They shouldn’t charge more than $ 5 for this simple quiche.
The drip coffee was good and priced fair. There were two options and one was not hot anymore (which made it an easy decision for me) — the cashier/​barista was super chilled out but nice and quickly removed the lukewarm batch.
Super Venice vibes here but seems like a good place to meet up with people and chill over coffee or to sit alone outside and enjoy the weather.
So for a simple cup of good coffee– I vote yes! if you want any other bells or whistles you should go somewhere else.

So we entered the place today around 6:00 pm and there were no one behind the the counter. We wait, and wait, and wait… After 5 long minutes the barista shows up! We smile and say hi, that’s what my mom taught me to do to initiate contact with another being. Well, apparently this guy’s mom and mine were very different since we got a laconic «hi…“and a look that was not better.
I like to tease people, in a nice way! The «meaner» you are the nicer I’ll be! But this guy is my absolute nemesis! Maybe he just wanted to close the place for the night, but with this attitude the place will be closed for good sooner than he thinks! I mean, I didn’t want him to hug me or anything but being enthusiastic really makes a big difference.
About the drinks, the coffee itself was overall decent but his attitude gave it a bitter taste.

Yikes! What is up with the customer service here?!? And the discomfort of ordering?
Figure out a better way to set up your lines! It was a mess… You order in the middle of the shop, pick up your order near the front door, and go back to the middle to get the cream/milk/lids/sugar…oh and good luck if you are seated out in the patio out back cause then you have to fight all that to just get back outside, Ugh! There were at least 4 people who asked me if I was in line and I asked 2 people the same question as well…
It would also be great if the guys would know what was on their menu, cause I got a blank stare when I asked for one of their drip coffees from Kenya. Seriously?!? Know what you are making dude! :(Plus, would a hello kill you?
So unfortunately that they really have horrible customer service… Maybe they are trying to be more like the coffee shops in Venice… not a fan.