Caffe Aficionado

Cute little café in the midst of all the corporate buildings. Not very big, but their coffee will have have you energized and out that door ready to start your day in no time. The inside is immaculate with a very calming vibe and their workers are friendly/​informative.
They offer the basic espresso drinks (cappuccino, latte, mochas, etc.) as well as their signature coffee roasts. They also have specialty drinks which I learned some are only seasonal (i.e. their lavender latte) .sad things. They also offer tea and an assortment of pastries (croissants, scones, etc.).
Their cinnamon brioche with cream cheese frosting was okay in my opinion. If you’re not a big fan of sweets you would probably enjoy it more than I did because aside from the cream cheese frosting offered on the side, it is basically bread with a bit of cinnamon sugar here and there. It missed the mark on decadence in my book and I found it to be a bit dry. Again, that’s just me. Their latte was delicious, though nothing mind-​blowing, and the latte art was a cute added touch. I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to come back, but if you’re in the area it’s a good place for a caffeine pit-​stop.

Bizarre spot for an independent coffee shop, but this place is a gem.
Three things stand out:
1. The service is unbelievable. The owner, Clark, is friendly and attentive almost to a fault (introduced himself, kept using my name, and offered to personally remake my drink if it wasn’t delicious. And I was only in there for maybe 3 minutes. The barista seemed like a laid back guy, as well.
2. The coffee is very good. Cold brew was nutty and smooth. Cardamom latte was just sweet enough and had a really subtly spicy flavor; wouldn’t have known it was cardamom unless he’d told me). Prices are on the expensive end but I believe it’s worth it.
3. Very little seating in the sleek, modern interior. Suggest you get in, grab your drink, and find a comfy place near the bridge or overlooking the river to savor it.
Makes it easy that I work nearby, but would be back for more even if it weren’t as convenient.

Service was great; the staff is super friendly and kind. It’s an excellent place to do work since there is free wifi. Despite being such a small café, I’ve never had issues finding a seat since I’m assuming most people order their drinks to go. I’ve tried the vanilla bean latte (5 stars) and matcha green tea latte (4 stars). The matcha latte taste was more subtle than I am used to, possibly more matcha or less milk would have made it awesome. The latte art here is also pretty amazing.

I don’t drink much coffee, but the vanilla bean latte with almond milk was delicious. The honey cinnamon latte is also a good choice.

I am visiting this coffee shop for the first time, while visiting from California. However, I am in no way a coffee aficionado (hah!) but the cappuccino’s here are comparably some of the best cappuccinos I’ve ever tasted. When you walk in you are greeted by friendly faces and a pleasant atmosphere. One thing I really appreciate is the music, it isn’t overbearing like most coffee shops. The coffee is great but often times the atmosphere will greatly impact whether or not you enjoy said coffee. If you want to enjoy a good coffee & and relax, you should definitely come by! Plan to stay a while! ALSO you can order sandwiches but they aren’t on the menu!

Excellent service, great coffee.
Limited seating. Annoying door that people don’t seem to close behind them.
I would have never known though… Was only there to grab coffee with a friend working in offices nearby!

Stopped by for a late afternoon pick me up, the person behind the counter was nice and we didn’t feel rushed by him even though we were within 15 min of closing. I was disappointed by the coffee because it wasn’t hot (like I prefer my coffee) instead it was luke warm. I ordered the honey latte and the flavor was right on, I could taste the honey through the rest of the drink. I did get a pretty design on my latte so I guess that made up for the Luke warm coffee. I might give them a second try if I’m ever back in town.

Finally found a place that feels like home in the DC area! Stopped in for the first time today after a lunch hour run. The staff is so warm and friendly. I met the ( Unilocal famous) Clark, who was every bit as lovely a gentleman as people have raved.
I know I’ll definitely be getting my pre-​run caffeine fix here (and morning juice!).

I’m giving CA a 3 for now because I’ve only had two drinks so far and they were the two that was most talked about and didn’t really blow me away. I had the Hon ey Ci. nnamon Latte (w/​whole milk) and the vani lla bean latte (w/​almomd milk) on two separate visits. The VBL was good, I was more impressed with the customer service. The guy behind the counter did a bear design for me which was awesome. The VBL was dark and different. The HCL was not sweet at all which is cool bc I was expecting it to be super sweet as other reviews mentioned, maybe the barista forgot to add sweetner? Also had the tuna sandwich, different, not a fan of capers so I probably won’t get it again. The next drinks I plan to get are the chai, capp, and espresso. Hopefully they will be yummy.

Great coffee! On the pricey side but I think the quality coffee, friendly service, and atmosphere warrants it.

I had my very first cappuccino here and it was so pretty and tasty! I also tried an apricot scone and it was delicious as well! The customer service was excellent also! The venue is small but the atmosphere is inviting and comfortable! I will definitely be back again soon!

Got lucky and made it before a huge rush of people made their way in for the tasty treats offered here! I’m in town visiting the area and I’m just blown away by the costumer service and quality of the food and drinks here! The cinnamon honey latte is just to die for! I paired it with the rose apricot scone and boy oh boy what a treat!!! Also you should totally try their fresh orange juice! I look forward to coming back here (: only thing is there isn’t too much seating offered so I suggest taking your goodies to go.

Pretty nice, small, and modern coffee shop. Most people seem to grab their coffees to go here, but I decided to sit down and people watch for 20 mins before going on with my day.
Would definitely be back if I need a quick coffee stop again while in Rosslyn.

With a Starbucks seemingly on every corner, I always welcome a new coffee shop to try. As I was finishing a run across the key bridge, I ran across this little shop. Upon walking in, I was immediately taken by the sleek and modern décor. The shop seemed very clean!
As I walked towards the counter I was warmly greeted by the cashier. She could obviously tell that I hadn’t been in before. I decided I wanted to take a slight departure from my normal black coffee. I asked her what she suggested. The cashier suggested I try a latte. I decided that I would do a latte with almond milk and a little vanilla. She rang me up, and although it was a little pricier than I anticipated, I was willing to pay the extra for the experience.
I walked down towards the barista, who was equally as warm. He took his time to craft the drink, taking the extra time to create a cute little design at the top of the beverage. I found a seat and took my first sip of the latte… OMG! This was by far the best latte I had ever drank. It was the perfect amount of sweetness and steamed to the perfect temperature.
It didn’t take me long to finish the drink. After I was done, I went back up to the barista to personally thank him for making such an outstanding beverage!
If you’re in the area, definitely check this place out!

I just had a fantastic cappuccino at Caffe Aficionado.
I’ve lived in Rosslyn for over a year now, and today was my first time here. I pass by the café often, since it is located right by the Key Bridge, on my way to Georgetown. The café is on the lobby floor of the CEB building.
Pros
— Amazing coffee, fantastic espresso
Cons
— Inconspicuous; The café is unfortunately behind a large column, so you can only view the café from the side.
— The space itself is small, seating is limited to three bar-​type chairs facing the window and three chairs at a tiny circle table.
— Depressing view. Sitting to face the window, your view is a bike rack. (Look at photo). I could have stayed here for hours if the café was more spacious and the ambiance more open.
What I got
— Cappuccino with 2% milk for $ 3.65
What I thought
— The espresso is the star of the drink. The espresso is complex and bold, and it was perfectly balanced with just enough milk for a smooth finish. This is the kind of cappuccino you want every day.
— Very cute milk art
Come here for the espresso. As the name of the café suggests, this café is truly for the aficionados of espresso.

The honey cinnamon latte is heavenly! And their latte art is on point! Expect to be impressed not only by the coffe but the customer service as well. As I sat at the window with my laptop, sipping my delightful latte, one of the staff came over to make sure I was enjoying it. Love that!
This spot is tiny and there’s not much seating but the WiFi is free and public if you can get a spot. I’m not in the area often but I would make a point to go back and try more that they have to offer.

Yes, their honey cinnamon latte is mellow and smooth. A pleasure in the morning, or any time really. It’s getting to be a habit with me. Need a pick up? Mind wanders immediately to the honey cinnamon latte.
I would be amiss however, if I didn’t extol the virtues of their cappuccino. You will want to try this for the smoky but deep flavor of their roast sans the mellowing influences of sweet milk. This is a drink which I travel for. Normally I get by on a cup of coffee but when I have spare minutes in the morning, I come down here and savor a cappuccino. It’s the type of drink that although small, packs a big gastronomic punch. Their milk froth art is perfect foil for a perfect few gulps, the right faint bitterness, the right warmth going down, and the right medicine to start a day off with. It satisfies like only really good flavor can.
Best in the city.

So I found out that there was a café that was close by and it was opened up by and asked New Yorker who worked on Wall Street and that supposedly he left Wall Street open up the sky so naturally I had to go check it out. I don’t drink coffee I’m a big Tea drinker but somebody recommended that I should go try the pastries here.
I ended up getting a pastry and it was very good I was pleasantly surprised. Inside this café is very small. there were a lot of people inside when I got there. Being that I am a tea drinker I don’t understand the concept around fancy coffee. But I would say if I did drink fancy coffee this would be the place in the area that I would come to get fancy coffee.

If you’re looking for a cute authentic café with delicious coffee, scrumptious and fresh pastries, with excellent service and you’re in Rosslyn, look no further! Try this place out!
Had their tasty Italian Mint latte, and a chocolate croissant and it took me back to Europe. It was yummy and fresh and had an adorable design.
The staff was friendly && speedy.

I think I sort of love this place more after each visit. The house made simple syrups are delicately done and just delightful. And the microfoam is so rich and pure and the best I’ve ever had to date. And the espresso is smooth/​sweet without being super bold or overpowering which is exactly how I prefer it. Drinks are never overly sweet. And I feel transported to a chic coffee shop in Europe while I’m inside. Ugh. Love it all.
The lavender honey syrup though did pale in comparison to the cinnamon honey syrup I had last time. The lavender flavor was nearly imperceptible in my still delicious latte. They use less than an ounce of syrup per drink so that might explain it.
Customer service by the owner is sooo friendly. Hipstery baristas are nice too. After finishing my latte and lounging in, I had an employee clear my table which came as a pleasant surprise but also reminded me that space is super limited and I should probably check out. But if you can get a window seat and soak in some rays, you’ll feel too cozy to move.
Really hope they branch out into more DMV locations because finding parking and just reaching this place requires a lot of effort. Metro is an option too but that’s not how I roll. Fingers are crossed.
If you’re on the fence, a trip is worth it. Go on and have a honey cinnamon latte and croissant, I insist. You can thank me later. ;)