Everyone knows the world runs on caffeine.
And with the hectic pace in DC, that seems truer here than in most places. Of course, we are all thankful for the ubiquitous corporate coffee shops that keep us going. But what about the smaller chains or standalone cafes and roasteries that you may not have had a chance to try?
Let us at Enggarcia help make your morning Joe a little more special.
Compass Coffee
The motto here is “Real Good Coffee. Made in DC.” And it is indeed “real good.”
Compass offers a variety of coffees, including blends and single origin coffees. Founded by former Marines deployed together in Afghanistan as a response to the terrible coffee they were subjected to by military life, Michael Haft and Harrison Suarez developed a “coffee obsession” that drove them to open their first Compass Coffee.
Since then they have expanded from their original Shaw neighborhood to The Shay, Chinatown, and 18th and Eye. Check them out at compasscoffee.com.
La Colombe
This is a small chain with five locations in the DC area. Merging responsible sourcing with beautiful urban-industrial café spaces, La Colombe creates a place to linger and have great conversations over truly excellent coffee.
On the go? They offer Draft Lattes in a can so that you never have to be without your caffeine fix. Check them out at locations at Farragut, Uline, Manhattan Laundry, Chinatown, and Blagden Alley and visit lacolombe.com for hours and directions.
Colony Club
For round-the-clock cool, check out Colony Club. Ping pong upstairs, while the downstairs space is a coffee shop during the day and a bar at night.
Want to work on your nude drawing skills? They have a class. Sing karaoke? You can do that, too. Open mic specifically devoted to stories about bikes? Yep.
This is a truly eclectic place and definitely worth checking out. Go to colonyclubdc.com and look at the calendar to find the event that you didn’t know you always wanted.
The Coffee Bar
With two locations, the original in a building dating from 1880 on S Street and a new one on 17th Street NW in the Golden Triangle District.
Looking for a real caffeine jolt? Try The Honey Badger, with four shots of espresso, honey, half and half, and served cold. Now that ought to get you through the afternoon slump!
And with food from locals like Hawthorne Pastry, The Sweet Lobby, Bethesda Bagels, and Paisley Fig, you’ll always leave satisfied. Check them out at thecoffeebardc.com.
Ebenezers
If you want your coffee dollars to go to a good cause, check out Ebenezers “Coffee With a Cause” serving Capitol Hill at F St.
Owned and operated by the National Community Church, Ebenezers’ profits go toward community outreach projects.
On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the coffeehouse hosts live music and other public events. Housed in an abandoned diner, Ebenezers was opened in 2006. They also have an event space that is available for rental.
Their most popular items are Honey Lavender Latte, Caramel Whip, and Salted Caramel Custard Latte. Check them out at ebenezerscoffeehouse.com.
Of course, these are just a few of the many great places you can stop for coffee in DC. What’s your favorite coffee shop? Maybe it’s in a neighborhood you love as well. If so, give your favorite shot a shout out in our comments section.