Posted Tue Apr 14, 2009, 7:15am Subject: Washington DC coffee and espresso - a new one for me
I visit DC a few times each year and usually hang at my buddy's house to play with a variety of coffees - pulling shots with his Anita and Rocky doserless. In past years I did make a few very satisfying visits to the Capitol Hill location of Murky Coffee - which has now been replaced with
I have not yet been to Peregrine but based on their pedigree and coffee sources I can trust that it's excellent. I've also stopped at 'Spro Cafe in Timonium MD on my way down or back and had excellent shots there but it's convenient for DC visitors only if you happen to be heading up that way on your travels
But my Easter weekend visit revealed a new and worthwhile cafe to visit if you're in the general area
It's part of the Politics and Prose bookstore - in the District out near Chevy Chase DC. My buddy's GF wanted to go book shopping so he and I order some drinks and were well pleased. The roast profile of their espresso blend is a tad darker than what my preferences lean towards but had nary a hint of char and the shots were beautifully pulled on a Rancilio three group lever machine. Milk steaming was also expertly done. Worth a visit.
e53er Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2002 Posts: 142 Location: L.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: NS Oscar, Solis SL90 Grinder: Mazzer Mini, Solis Maestro Vac Pot: Bodum Santos Drip: KMB, Presto Scandi, pourover Roaster: Poppery II
Posted Tue Apr 14, 2009, 1:47pm Subject: Re: Washington DC coffee and espresso - a new one for me
I was just at Peregrine last week over Spring Break vacation. Noticed it on the way to Market Lunch in Eastern Market for crab cake sandwiches. They do nice latte art and the capp was good but I felt it was not as good as Gimme Coffee in NYC (which I also visited on this trip) nor Blue Bottle, Intelligentsia, etc. Still, I definitely wouldn't mind having one in my neighborhood. And I really liked that they had filtercone pourovers with several bean choices.
I wanted to try Murky Coffee but did not have enough time - everyone must have been on Spring Break last week, and driving around DC was one of the most trying experiences I've ever had.
I've not found anything better than the usual chains, but it's been several months since I was in that neighborhood on a regular basis. I've heard people say very nice things about Swing's but have not tried it myself. 1702 G St NW. (Unfortunately, I didn't hear about Swing's until just recently :-P)
Were my espresso consumption constrained to "retail shops within a short walk of Metro Center", that would be my very first destination.
Posted Mon Apr 20, 2009, 1:35pm Subject: Re: Washington DC coffee and espresso - a new one for me
geoffbeier Said:
I've not found anything better than the usual chains, but it's been several months since I was in that neighborhood on a regular basis. I've heard people say very nice things about Swing's but have not tried it myself. 1702 G St NW. (Unfortunately, I didn't hear about Swing's until just recently :-P)
Were my espresso consumption constrained to "retail shops within a short walk of Metro Center", that would be my very first destination.
Look into Cow Girl Creamery at 919 F St. NW (between N 10th St & N 9th St). I've never been but they purport to sell Counter Culture coffee there. I don't know if they brew it on premises but I think it's less than 1/2 mile from Metro Center.
Posted Mon Apr 20, 2009, 2:31pm Subject: Re: Washington DC coffee and espresso - a new one for me
Bushrod Said:
Look into Cow Girl Creamery at 919 F St. NW (between N 10th St & N 9th St). I've never been but they purport to sell Counter Culture coffee there. I don't know if they brew it on premises but I think it's less than 1/2 mile from Metro Center.
It's between Metro Center and Gallery Place/Chinatown. A very short walk from Metro Center. While I heartily endorse their sandwiches and their cheese, I never noticed an espresso setup there. I think they had brewed coffee. Of course, I could absolutely have overlooked a setup that was in the back corer of the shop if it wasn't active, but I doubt that.
jh9301 Senior Member Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Seattle Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Salvatore Grinder: Mazzer
Posted Sat Apr 25, 2009, 3:18pm Subject: Re: Washington DC coffee and espresso - a new one for me
My wife and I are leaving for DC the middle of next month for a five day stay, this will be our first trip to the Capital, so the info posted is timely......thanks. Will get back to you all with anything new. Love going to new places but hate to be w/o my morning cappa.
JGG Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 947 Location: Kentucky, US Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: PID Silvia; PID Alexia Grinder: Mazzer Mini E (A), SJ; Rocky... Roaster: Hottop D w/PID; Thermometric...
Posted Sun Apr 26, 2009, 8:48am Subject: Re: Washington DC coffee and espresso - a new one for me
Peregrine is right across Pennsylvania Ave. from the East Market station on the Orange and Blue lines. It was/is definitely worth the short train ride from Metro Center.
I didn't try their milk drinks, but Peregrine's espresso is on par with the espresso bars I like in NYC. It gets a thumbs up from me.
As far as downtown goes, Starbucks is about it, at least on a Sunday.
Posted Mon Apr 27, 2009, 7:41pm Subject: Re: Washington DC coffee and espresso - a new one for me
JGG Said:
Peregrine is right across Pennsylvania Ave. from the East Market station on the Orange and Blue lines. It was/is definitely worth the short train ride from Metro Center.
I didn't try their milk drinks, but Peregrine's espresso is on par with the espresso bars I like in NYC. It gets a thumbs up from me.
I've now gone to Peregrine the past two Sundays. I haven't tried a milk drink there either, but the espresso is great. They're pulling CCC Afficionado. As a Sunday outing, it's spectacular. The market on that street makes for a very nice walk. This week, I got off the metro, crossed the street and stopped at Peregrine for a shot, which was excellent but not as memorable as the one last week. Then I continued on through the market and had a great time looking at local art. At the back of the market there's a crepe vendor who makes the best ones I've tried this side of the Atlantic. That was lunch, then after a trip through the rest of the market I went back to Peregrine for another shot. That one was memorably good. So if you're keeping score, that's 3 shots, 3 different baristas on two weekends, and two of them were memorable. This is definitely worth the train ride and I'll be back :)
That's a long way of saying I'd be willing to go a little out of my way for this, doubly so on a Sunday where the weather is nice enough to wander around the neighborhood a bit.
If you venture across the river into Arlington, another great stop is Boccato Gelato in Clarendon, across Wilson Blvd from Whole Foods. I've had several great shots there. They're currently pulling Vita's Caffe del Sol blend, which I find a nice change of pace. Some time in the near future, I think they plan to rotate in Stumptown's Hairbender (once it becomes available on the east coast). They have a selection of good teas, too, if you need something to appeal to fellow travelers who aren't interested in espresso. And the gelato is house-made, fresh and tasty. I've not consumed enough other gelato in my life to comment on its authenticity, but I particularly enjoy theirs.
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