Emissary, Washington DC

I really enjoy the coffee quality from Emissary; however, the customer service has been low quality on each of my visits. The staff are seemingly rushed - they could provide better service if they listened more actively and asked questions from customers, especially those who might be first-time visitors. For example, I've never been to a coffee shop that assumes you want a small cup if the register staff didn't seek clarification/forgot your answer; is this just the business model here?

The iced caramel latte with oat milk was very flavorful and not overly sweet. Service was friendly and welcoming.

Great vibe! Not very crowded, good place for studying, catching up with a friend or meeting some new!

Best coffee shop in DC. Used to go there on the daily. They serve Counter Culture coffee in a wide variety of drinks, and do it the right way. Grab-n-go coffee, dine-in breakfast or a quick lunch, can do all that here. They have 2 bars inside and the mood changes after 5pm from a day coffee shop with people working to a hangout spot with a wide drinks and cocktails selection. Good music playing all the time. The servers and staff changed a bunch recently but overall, they know the menu and have good service. The egg and cheese sandwich on brioche is fantastic. They have 2 or so salad options. But the tomato soup with cheese sandwich definitely stands out. They did $1 coffee refills, make sure to ask.

Great ambience, great coffee, and a great way to connect with a local place that's very welcoming.

I come here often for meals, to meet with friends. Today I was there working on my computer for an hour after buying a dopio and croissant. A women came out and told the man next to me who was also on his computer and me that we could only stay and work for an hour then we have to leave, she said it’s the policy. I bring people from out of town there, friends, I’ve eaten there forever. It’s the first time I was told there is a time limit. I was not using WiFi or the wall socket. I was doing urgent important work and needed a place away from my loud dog at home to concentrate. The woman was rude to both of us. We were kind of shocked. There were many people working on computers as there is often. Rather than leave I bought another dopio to stay another hour as I did not want to interrupt my work. I’m sure I’ve spent a few hundred bucks there over the last few months. I was disgusted that they asked me and another man to leave after an hour and that we were limited to an hour. I got to stay an extra hour because I bought a dopio espresso like I care about the cost. I really don’t. The attitude is a problem.

I’ve been coming to Emissary for years and often have good experiences. Today, it was a bit crowded so I decided to wait in line to get a coffee until a table opened up. After sitting at a table for a little bit, I was told I must leave since I’d ordered takeout. From reading the comments, it seems others have had similarly rude experiences. It seems Emissary should either have an employee greet customers and explain the policy or get rid of the policy completely, because the current situation is quite off putting.

Nice vibe. Hip place. Relaxed atmosphere, cool music, chill. You can actually talk to people you come with. Drinks were spot on. Max the bartender is awesome. His espresso martinis were yummy. I loved my smokey Paloma.

Max was an amazing bartender! I was absolutely floored by Max's bartending skills as well as his ability to chat to anyone and everyone. He truly is blessed with the gift of gab.

I met someone at 10 am on a Tuesday. It wasn’t packed and they have a nice outdoor and indoor seating space. A good place to do work. I got the matcha latte. They say they’re matcha isn’t sweetened with anything unless you ask. I didn’t try any of the food, but the matcha was good. It was more expensive than most coffee shops

SERVICE: I used to frequent this place. I'd come in sit, use WiFi, then always order a coffee or snack. Then one day I sat and was rudely pressured to order something or leave. I hadn't even taken my computer out. I explained I was going to get settled in then order. Next thing I know a manager was in my face reiterating I must order immediately or I could go. I've never come here and not ordered so this time was odd. The waitress was Black and talked to me with an aggressive tone she wouldn't dare use on white customers. SAD. It will be your own people sometimes. Disgusting "table service" enforcement. I'm never coming back.

FOOD: The food has never been good to people who like seasoning. But I use to enjoy the work environment so much I'd still come. With that gone, there's nothing left.

OVERALL: Emissary's 4+ star rating is built on previous years of what they used to be. Not who they are today. Try Bluestone Cafe, Kramers, or Tatte nearby.

Decent coffee, but the service is so awful that they won’t announce whose drink has been made unless you’re standing right next to the barista who moves as Glacial pace.

The other location is better

Extremely Disappointing Experience

I am writing to express my extreme disappointment and frustration regarding my recent visit to your place. The level of rudeness and unprofessional behavior displayed by both the manager and the workers was absolutely unacceptable.

Upon entering the premises, I immediately noticed that the staff members were talking loudly, disrupting the ambiance and causing discomfort to the customers. As I was in the middle of an important meeting, I politely requested them to lower their voices, explaining that their loud conversation was disturbing our conversation. Instead of acknowledging the request, they responded in an incredibly disrespectful and confrontational manner.

In an attempt to find a quieter spot for my family, I moved a little further away from them. However, to my disbelief, the staff began shouting at me, insisting that they would only take orders from the table. Their tone was abrasive and entirely uncalled for. It was evident that they had no regard for the basic principles of customer service or common courtesy.

To add to the already unpleasant experience, I experienced discomfort with my shoe, and for a brief moment, I took them off to address the issue. Rather than assisting or offering a solution, the staff members once again berated me, threatening to expel me from the restaurant if I did not immediately put my shoes back on. The lack of empathy and understanding shown by your team was truly appalling.

This entire encounter was not only embarrassing and unprofessional but also left a lasting negative impression on me and my family. As a customer, I expect a minimum level of respect and professionalism when visiting an establishment, which unfortunately was absent in my experience at your restaurant.

I feel compelled to share my unfortunate experience with others in order to prevent them from enduring a similar ordeal. It is disheartening to witness such a lack of customer service and basic manners in a supposedly reputable establishment. I sincerely hope that you take this feedback seriously and address the issues within your staff to prevent future customers from encountering similar distressing situations.

The food is expensive but delicious. Even if you order food and the place is mostly empty they'll kick you out after 30m if you have a laptop though which is ridiculous. If you spend $30 on food you should be able to sit for a while when they're not busy.

They are really strict about needing to order something every hour to sit here so definitely for quick bites/sending a few emails during the day as, in my experience, that time started from the moment you sat down so including waiting for your food, it can pass pretty quickly. That being said, they were nice and helpful (when following the rules), wifi was pretty good but had a breakfast burrito that wasn’t very flavorful and it can get pretty loud.

The music is way too loud and obnoxious. They never have pastries in the morning. I don't know why a cafe would say they open at 7: 30 but not even have pastries available until after 9: 30. Also they are unable to make drinks starting at 7: 30 because they were still setting up. This is terrible! The prices have skyrocketed. They changed their menu but not in a positive way. I love the ambiance and the seating options. But step up, Emissary. Make sure you get pastries and set up the coffee machine BEFORE you open.

Been to Emissary plenty of times. Quality, consistent Espresso and balanced Matcha lattes. I haven't had food other than baked goods which were solid as well!

Nice cozy spot with plenty of indoor/outdoor seating.

Definitely want to try the bar in the near future!