Best coffee shops photo
(Lavanya Ramanathan/The Washington Post)

Best coffee shops

Justin Rude, Lavanya Ramanathan and Fritz Hahn  |  Updated 09/22/2011

Move over, Starbucks. Washington is now brimming with coffee shops specializing in meticulously made espressos, house-roasted, single-origin coffees, and drinks topped with foam so pillowy and white, it's the perfect canvas for a little latte art. Each cafe has its own charms, whether it's bohemian decor perfect for a lazy Sunday or a sleek bar for a quick sip on the way to work.

 
 
 
 
 

Northside Social

Arlington, VA

Owned by the same group that runs nearby restaurants Liberty Tavern and Lyon Hall, this cafe specializes in food as well as coffee; it serves pastries baked fresh daily and the sandwiches, soups and cheese selection are overseen by restaurant group executive chef Liam LaCivita. With free WiFi, a comfortable dining room and a friendly staff, the coffee shop has quickly become a neighborhood favorite.

 
 
 
 
 

Qualia Coffee

Washington, DC

The heavenly scent wafting out the door of this Petworth cafe is your first tip-off that you're about to enter an extraordinary coffeehouse. Qualia doesn't just make each cup to order; it roasts its own beans in its Georgia Avenue space -- some days, nearly a dozen varieties -- under the Fresh Off the Roast label. While other shops emphasize espresso drinks, Qualia's specialty is the deceptively simple cup of black coffee, prepared using the perfectly timed, perfectly measured hand-pour method. And nothing pairs with it better than a pastry. Here, they're as foodie as they come: Think in-season sour-cherry lemon muffins, lemon tarragon scones, even maple bacon muffins.

 
 
 
 
 

M.E. Swing Co., Inc.

Washington, DC

While most of the coffee shops on this list have yet to celebrate their third or fourth birthdays, M.E. Swing has been serving hot, fresh coffee to downtown Washington since opening a combination shop and roastery in 1920. The beans are now roasted in Alexandria, but the coffee remains consistently great, and the decor vintage: Think antique wooden coffee bins and high round tables with chrome-plated stools. The espresso and Americano are solid, but the reason to visit Swing remains drip coffee, especially the house blends. The heart-of-government location doesn't get much foot traffic on weekends, so the shop is open only weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 
 
 
 
 

Chinatown Coffee Co.

Washington, DC

It took just a couple of years at its perch on H Street NW for Chinatown Coffee to become a haven for downtown suits who line up for a better variety of wake-me-up. The coffee is Chicago's Intelligentsia, and it's best experienced here in the small, potent cortado (an espresso cut with just a splash of warm milk, just enough not to distract from the syrupy coffee flavor). The shop, a bright, exposed-brick storefront lined with diminutive tables, recently became a place to satisfy more than just one vice: An expanded menu features beer, wine and, curiously, absinthe. A weekly Thursday happy hour slashes the price of popular brews such as DC Brau to just $3 -- a steal.

 
 
 
 
 

Filter Coffeehouse & Espresso

Washington, DC

Filter opened on a tucked-away street in Dupont Circle in 2010 with a slightly subterranean feel, brick walls and flashes of burnt-orange decor. Yet despite its hidden-in-plain-sight location (and the fact that it's within a block of two Starbucks), few mornings go by when every seat in the (admittedly tiny) house isn't filled. Filter sets itself apart by serving locally roasted coffee from Caffe Pronto in Annapolis, with which it turns out such drinks as the flat white, an uber-trendy, Aussie-born coffee that owner Rasheed Jabr describes as "a shrunken version of a latte." With less milk and a thin, dense layer of foam, it's meant to highlight the espresso without drowning it in milkiness.

 
 
 
 
 

Grape + Bean

Alexandria, VA

Just a half-block from Alexandria's Market Square, Grape and Bean is a one-stop shop for Old Town's coffee and wine lovers. Unlike other spots on this list, it isn't the type of place where you can pick up a latte on the way to the office. In fact, Grape and Bean doesn't open its doors until 11:30 a.m. on weekdays (9 a.m. on Saturdays). Cups of Clover-brewed Counter Culture coffee and Devi teas are always on hand. There is also an on-site wine bar, which offers wine by the glass as well as a menu of artisanal cheese, charcuterie, fresh salads and sandwiches.

 
 
 
 
 

Peregrine Espresso

+ Multiple Locations

Tasteful design decisions at this sleek and contemporary shop extend to the delicious espresso drinks: Imagine cappuccinos and macchiatos with picture-perfect foam art. A second location near Logan Circle has extended Peregrine's domain from Capitol Hill and introduced a new part of the city to one of Peregrine's other specialties: pedal-powered bean delivery. Both locations also offer a small selection of Tiffany MacIsaac's sweet treats from Buzz Bakery. With only a handful of seats, a narrow service area and no free WiFi, the 14th Street location is more of a grab-and-go operation; the Eastern Market shop is a better destination for fueling up in front of your laptop.

 

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