174619 Sun Jun 19 17:23:17 -0700 2005 23 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 938977 I'm interning in DC for the summer, and I can't find good drip coffee for in-store consumption (making it myself is impractical). I'm not insanely picky. The best Starbucks coffees are OK, but unfortunately I seem to only encounter the blends Yukon (so "smooth" and flavorless) and Verona (only slightly less insipid). As for what I DO like ... I miss Peets' roasty coffees, but apparently there are none around. And when I lived in Virginia I was a big fan of Greenberry's, but there aren't any in the city. Also, I'd be interested in places that have great espresso. Sun Jun 19 17:23:17 -0700 2005 0 matisse 1 938978 If you think it's impractical to make your own coffee, you probably also aren't willing or able to go very far off your regular path, so it would help to state where you're living and working. There might be something worth while around. Have you seen anyplace yet that looks promising? If you're willing to get on the Metro and travel over to the dark side, I can recommend Common Grounds (aka Murky Coffee) in Arlington, a few blocks from the Clarendon Metro station. Make it a Saturday afternoon excursion and eat lunch while you're there. Really, how hard is it to make your own drip coffee? I do it in hotels and at least I have one good cup to start my day. And I always made my own coffee in the office. Surely you have room for a small one-cup brewer on your desk, or a plastic filter cone in your bedroom. Sun Jun 19 17:36:40 -0700 2005 938977 0 Mike 2 938990 For those of us who do make our own coffee (press-style), can anyone recommend good beans? Or a locale that distributes good beans? I'm all about local non-corporate business, hopefully with inde retailers and/or roasters. As for location, I'm in NW DC, w/ regular travel between Bethesda area and Georgetown area and Dupont area, etc. I like a medium to dark roast, but appreciate a selection.... Ah, the pleasures of in-home coffee! Sun Jun 19 23:37:23 -0700 2005 938978 0 ebeth 3 939006 The best beans around here are at Misha's in Alexandria. I go for all of their dark roasts. They are roasted on the premise and they make a pretty good espresso. Mon Jun 20 09:25:23 -0700 2005 938990 0 ChowFun 3 939015 As I posted earlier in the thread, Sirius Coffee above the Van Ness station has probably the best beans around. Check it out! Mon Jun 20 10:26:01 -0700 2005 938990 0 Neil Cooler 3 939017 I'm a big fan of Mayorga's coffee, especially the Roastmaster's Blend. I make this at home everyday, and it has a nice smoothness and flavor. There are Mayorga's in Silver Spring, Bethesda and Rockville. I think Marvelous Markets also sell it in their stores. Mon Jun 20 10:34:17 -0700 2005 938990 0 JoyS 4 939028 Just a second for Mayorga beans. The coffee in house is good (particularly espresso drinks), but I think their decaf drip is *terrible*. smokey Mon Jun 20 11:22:27 -0700 2005 939017 0 Smokey 3 939018 Quartermaine coffee is local and they have a shop in Bethesda right at the metro stop. Well, you need to look out for it since it is next to the Giant supermarket. They also sell their beans at Whole Foods. Mon Jun 20 10:40:31 -0700 2005 938990 0 Mari 3 939478 Hello, enjoy your discussion. I worked at Peets several brutal years,met Alfred Peet (he's long separated from the company) and they've become very corporate/stock-price mad, though their coffee buyers and roasters are first-rate. I roast my own coffee on my vintage household gas range now. Misha's in Alexandria is outstanding and its selection of beans surpasses Peets; its version of a west coast style French roast is better than Peets'(and that is the #1 or 2 seller at Peets.) I hope to try some of the other recommendations in D.C. on my next visit, thanks to everyone for sharing. Mon Jun 27 04:54:49 -0700 2005 938990 0 moto 1 938979 I also find it a bit surprising that making your own coffee is impractical, since I have brewed my own drip and even made my own espresso in my offices in the past. But nonetheless, Caribou Coffee is very good, generally far better than Starbucks though not, perhaps, as good as Peet's. Not knowing where live or work, it is hard to say whether you are near one, but it should not be too hard for you to find out. Sun Jun 19 17:58:06 -0700 2005 938977 0 James G 2 938981 Knowing what area in DC you work in would really would help. You might want to try this link, which lists non corporate (non starbucks) coffeshops. It also lists Starbucks for comparison. The thing is that people just add their favorite places, so teher is no oversight. And sometimes they adda corporate place (like caribou) but they also tell a bit about the places, so it may help. I've added a bunch of NoVa coffeshops myself, but teher are a lot listed in DC as well. http://delocator.net/index.php In NoVa, you've tried Greenberries. How about Murky (as was suggested), Cassatt's (Lee Highway), and Arax (Westover)? Sun Jun 19 18:58:09 -0700 2005 938979 0 Foodgeek 3 939001 Foodgeek--Thank you SO much for that website!! Mon Jun 20 09:17:07 -0700 2005 938981 0 debit 1 938984 If you're anywhere near a Mayorga shop try it. Sun Jun 19 20:58:04 -0700 2005 938977 0 ermine 2 939002 Is Mayorga still brewed at Marvelous Market? Mon Jun 20 09:17:14 -0700 2005 938984 0 Mari 1 938985 try murky coffee in capitol hill. their regular coffee is great, but even better, they're now offering press pots for $3.00 and the coffee is nice and strong. Sun Jun 19 21:03:14 -0700 2005 938977 0 sturm 1 939005 RE: your request for great espresso... When I was in Italy, I fell in love with espresso. I have been trying to find a duplicate here, without much luck. The closest I have come is Vaccaro's in Union Station. There is another one near GWU that I haven't tried. These are outposts of the famed Baltimore Italian pastry shops. A single espresso at the one in Union Station is a pretty generous pour. Mon Jun 20 09:22:30 -0700 2005 938977 0 debit 2 939107 Karma has fantastic espresso. Tue Jun 21 09:04:26 -0700 2005 939005 0 Rosco 1 939013 The best drip coffee I have had anywhere is at Sirius Coffee, directly above the Van Ness Metro. The beans are roasted fresh, in the store (the roaster is a real cool guy as well). The drip coffee is very strong and hot - but not burnt. It has a pretty nice (although a little busy) atmosphere as well. In addition, they have another shop at Politics and Prose, a bookstore on Connecticut ave several blocks up toward Maryland. Several people have mentioned Murky Coffee, which I think has about the best atmosphere of any coffee shop I have been to in the area. It is very relaxed, the one in Arlington is HUGE and has great music, and they have plenty of seating, as well as a lot of outdoor seating. The coffee there is ok. They use good beans but the coffee isnt as hot or strong as it is even at Starbucks. Mon Jun 20 10:19:30 -0700 2005 938977 0 Neil Cooler 2 939022 Thank you. I was excited about Murky Coffee in Capitol Hill, but I agree with you that their coffee is too weak. I could not really judge the bean quality because of that. Mon Jun 20 10:48:08 -0700 2005 939013 0 Ryan 1 939016 Another place that roasts its own beans is Java House (17th and Q). Mon Jun 20 10:31:16 -0700 2005 938977 0 Lori D 1 939150 I know you were inquiring about coffee places in the city... .but I have to mention Misha's Coffee in Old Town. If you hate places where coffee blends are decided on in a corporate boardroom, this is the place for you. 102 South Patrick St, Alexandria, Va Link: http://www.alexandriacitywebsite.com/Misha's%20Coffeehouse%20and%20Coffee%20Roaster.htm Tue Jun 21 13:26:59 -0700 2005 938977 0 Boltz 2 939163 A comparable place in downtown DC is Java Green Link: http://www.javagreen.net/ Tue Jun 21 15:09:16 -0700 2005 939150 0 Rosco 3 939504 Thank you for suggesting Java Green. I had the chance to try it this weekend and although I found it a welcome relief from Starbuck's, it is not comparable to Misha's. For one thing, Misha's roasts its beans on site and serves only pastries but not meals. Java Green impressed me more as a typical downtown takeout lunch place with a menu similar to Cosi. Misha's is the sort of coffee house hangout I always wish I had in grad school but never did. Mon Jun 27 12:28:25 -0700 2005 939163 0 Boltz2000 1 939269 M.E. Swing Coffee Roasters is the oldest coffee company in Washington (since 1916). It's also the best. They're at 1702 G Street NW. Great variety of roasted beans for about $9.00 a pound. They roast their beans over in Alexandria and have just the one retail outlet at 17th and G. Wed Jun 22 15:03:19 -0700 2005 938977 0 flavrmeistr