WASHINGTON: Compass Coffee today announces the launch of the company’s first-ever blended drink: the Vienna, coming to all cafés on Friday, May 28th.

 “You asked, we listened. At Compass, we constantly reflect on how we can best meet the needs of our customers, said Max Deem, VP of Operations. “After many customer requests, we are excited to announce the official launch of the Vienna, our inaugural blended drink, just in time for summer!”

Customers can enjoy the Vienna in all of their favorite seasonal flavors. This silky, blended beverage is made using our customer favorite Nitro Cold Brew as a base. Then, we swirl in any house-crafted simple syrup of your choosing. We then blend with ice and top it all off with frothy whipped cream. The result is a refreshing, creamy drink that’ll be sure to hit the spot on any summer day. (Vegan and dairy-free customers can still indulge in our Viennas; just choose your preferred alternative milk, and skip the whip.)

“I’m super excited to share this drink with our customers,” said Emma Hunt, café supervisor for the Shaw location (1535 Seventh St. NW). “I started working for Compass in the summer two years ago, and I’ve been getting questions about blended drinks ever since. There’s a lot to be excited about right now, and the Vienna is the cherry on top!” 

Hunt said customers who love our classic Vanilla Cream Cold Brew and have been highly anticipating the first blended drink are, in a word, “hyped.”

“The Vienna really takes it up a notch,” she said. “It has all the smoothness of the Nitro Cold Brew, but with a summery twist. It’s super refreshing and a perfect way to beat the heat.”

Max Deem, VP of Operations, who developed the Vienna with District Managers Jessica Hubbard and Steph Junkin, said the blended drink was both a priority and a challenge for Compass on which he and his team were excited to deliver.

“In talking to customers and listening to ways that we could make our coffee even better for them, people kept mentioning a few things: whipped cream, whipped cream again, and a desire to be able to get a velvety, flavor-infused version of a Nitro Cold Brew,” Deem said. “So we decided, if we're going to figure out how to do a blended drink, we have to stay true to our Compass values and make everything about it as good as the coffee.”

The drink goes down remarkably smoothly. But the story behind the Vienna—particularly that of the whipped cream—is quite complex. Every step of the way, Deem and his team kept Compass values at heart.

“We knew we had to make our own whipped cream fresh every day in the café, using our premium homemade vanilla syrup and the same great cream that customers can put in their drinks year-round,” said Jessica Hubbard, District Manager. “Then, we found the best equipment on the market, offering a complete immersion blending that was fast, consistent, and super quiet.” District Manager Steph Junkin adds, “we didn’t want to sacrifice any opportunity for conversations across the bar, which is so important to how we provide legendary customer service and build community in our cafés. Combine those new elements with the same Real Good Coffee (in this case, our Nitro Cold Brew) that Compass has always had, mix in some tasty syrups, and you’ve got a delicious Vienna.”

The Vienna has already been dubbed the perfect summer drink by customers who tried a special preview.

“The Vanilla Vienna was refreshing and satisfying—it was the perfect summer cold coffee drink,” said Danielle Phelps, a Compass regular.

“What’s more refreshing than a perfectly chilled, sweet (but not too sweet) coffee that’s as satisfying as a milkshake, but tastes just like our Vanilla Cream Cold Brew that you’ve grown to know and love every summer?” asked Chas Newman, Production Manager.

The launch of the Vienna rounds out our Summer Menu, launching Friday May 28th, which also includes the Coconut Cream Cold Brew, Iced Matcha Latte, Iced Mint Mocha, and Hibiscus Sweet Tea.

“The inspiration for the Vienna truly came from conversations with many of our awesome regulars,” said Deem. “We are so excited to deliver on this customer request, and can’t wait for everyone to enjoy this new summer classic!”

Compass Coffee is a Washington, DC-based Coffee Roaster. Founded in 2014 by two Marines, Michael Haft and Harrison Suarez, Compass has 12 brick and mortar locations around the Washington Metro Area, one active roasting facility in DC's historic Shaw neighborhood, and a growing regional grocery presence. In addition to the cafés, you can find Compass at many of DC's best restaurants, online, and in grocery stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Currently, Compass is building a state-of-the-art production facility in Ivy City to support its expansion through the entire Mid-Atlantic and beyond.