Rappahannock Coffee

Come here and expect: sandwiches, bland coffee, espresso drinks, lots of table space and wifi
What I got from it: This review is for the coffee and the environment. They roast their own beans on site, but they don’t store the roasted beans correctly: they are exposed to air and light. You can see the beans, but that’s actually not a good thing so I hope they change their display case. Their bags, too, also need to change so that the beans are not exposed to light.
I was hoping I could get a french press or a pour over of their coffee. Instead, they only offer their coffee from an auto-​drip system and they don’t mind serving you coffee that is over two hours old. It’s kept hot sure enough, but for a local roaster and for all the hype that gourmet coffee is getting, I would not have expected this place to serve coffee just as they do in some diners.
The café space was beautiful though. They had the radio set on the WETA classical station, the place was pretty quiet with plenty of people on laptops, and they adopted an Art Deco interior design using light wood and dark metal that makes the whole place very sleek and warm.
I wouldn’t mind meeting someone here or trying out the food, but if I want good coffee, I might as well drop in to the Starbucks across the street.

I have had nothing but positive experiences here. It is in a great location, yet has reliable parking. I’m not a big coffee drinker, but I admire the many fresh roasts available. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my teas and pastries. Couches in the back were particularly comfortable. Service was always efficient and friendly.

Serves a decent cappuccino. I have visited this spot on and off since it opened when I used to live about a mile away. Nowadays I come here when I’m in the neighborhood for a decent cup of joe and some quiet. Quiet enough to get a little bit of online work done. One can enjoy a snack as well as the roasted coffee. Limited seating, but come in at the right time and you have your table.
It’s a convenient spot for those commuting to and from work via Columbia Pike with a deep need a coffee break. Bus stop in front of the place. Although there is a small parking area behind the shop, it never seems to be crowded outside. I think most folks come here just walk from their homes/​locally which is very convenient. Your neighborhood beverage shop that does its job — serving a decent cup of coffee.

This cozy little spot has a relaxing atmosphere, great coffee, and a nice selection of classical music It’s a great spot to hang out at on the weekend, grab a quick coffee before week in the morning, or enjoy an espresso on the patio when the weather’s nice.

Great coffee and actually really good bagels. They get their bagels from a NY place or NY inspired place (can’t remember off the top of my head) and they taste very good. A nice quiet and comfortable place on Columbia Pike.

Four stars, but I’m probably being generous with an extra star simply because all of NOVA is desperate for non-​corporate coffeeshops and so I get really happy when I find one. My café au lait was good and my croissant was really, really good. There is parking in the back. It’s a cozy place, so not a lot of seating, and I have to agree with the other Unilocaler about how frustrating it is that folks order a coffee then park at a table for hours with their laptops. I found a seat sharing the couch in the back and I felt lucky to have that seat. For the hour or so I was there I saw a couple of people come in, look for a seat, and give up and leave. I don’t think a single table became available until just before I left. This was on a weekday morning, around 11. Also agree with the other Unilocalers who mentioned that the place could use a bit of cleaning.

Rappahnnock Coffee is a homey, comfy, neighborhood coffee shop, the kind you used to see more of before every coffee shop was a Starbucks. While for some Rappahannock may seem run-​of-​the-​mill, I’m giving it a fourth star for being quaint and also for being distinctive from all the Starbucks that keep popping up everywhere.
Also, I see that a Starbucks is opening across the street from Rappahannock — I hope that Rappahannock can survive the competition. I know where I’ll be getting my coffee, and it’s not at a Starbucks that might put a favorite neighborhood spot out of business.

Sometimes geeks think they get the short end of the stick when it comes to the treatment they get. But, honestly, I think some of them deserve it since they have the kind of attitude that they know more than you and they want you to know about it.
What does this have to do with a coffee shop in Arlington? This place on my visit was filled with obnoxious regulars who spent the entire time talking about antique planes. And the worst part was that the barista kept dropping trivia questions on them to egg them on. Or he was just really friends with them. Or something. Anyway, it was really annoying while I was trying to do a little work on Sunday all the way on the couches at the back of the café.
As far as the iced tea went, it was pretty average. But since a large is under $ 2.00 and they have a full sweetener bar, this independent coffee store and shop definitely beats a Starbucks.
And a bagel with butter is a similar bargain at a little over a dollar. Now if only one could enjoy this cheap food and drink in peace and quiet. I honestly prefer the sound of the loud frothing cappuccino to the conversation in this establishment!

Iced honey vanilla latte. Once the ice melted (to slightly cut the sweetness), it was superb!

Great local spot with decently priced cappuccino’s that taste good, decent amount of seating, plenty of outlets for those looking to hang out and do work.
I will be back!

Better than Starbucks repeating same same stuff.
I liked the place. It’s pretty old place. With classical music feels like u travelled through time. So relaxing…

They have a nice sitting area with a couple of couches in the back and a bar style table with higher up chairs along the front window which I like. It was pretty crowded and everyone seemed to be enjoying what they were having. However, the older gentleman behind the counter is a bit socially inept. He’s interesting to observe but not very friendly.

If you’re looking for quick place to grab breakfast off columbia pike this is your spot. They have decent coffee and bagels that they’ll toast and top with your choice of cream cheese (veggie is made with fresh veggies!). You can also grab tea, smoothies, ice cream, small desserts like tiramisu.
The scene itself is a narrow shop with two top tables leading to the back where there is a small lounge area and a bean roaster where they roast beans in house. Or you can grab a stool and their counter next to the store front window and watch people on Columbia Pike. During summer there is also tables outside to sit and relax, a good place to stop on a nice day if you’re walking your dog or just need a pick me up.
I only gave it three stars because of its appearance. There are tons of left over crumbs and spills in the food case and the last time I went there was a moth floating around where the bagels were kept. also there toaster was held down with a cardboard slab. Just a few minor things that need to be updated, replaced, or cleaned on a weekly basis.
Defiently give it a try and grab a city paper and people watch when you have some spare time!

Great local coffeeshop. They get bagels shipped in from NYC and they are great. I go on a Sunday and Sunday morning to treat myself. I am obsessed with their honey vanilla latte. I’ve had the panini and soups too, which are great.
I usually take my stuff to go, but there are a few table and counter and people often work here on laptops.
This is really a hidden gem!

I’m a huge fan of Starbucks, but occasionally stray into other non-​megalith coffee shops to grab a quick latte. Rappahannock Coffee seemed promising, but I was not impressed with it. The place was dingy and in need of a good scrubbing. The baristas acted very snobby, making it clear that they felt they were doing me a favor by taking my order and making my drink. For the price I paid (the same as Starbucks), I expected something decent, but thought my iced honey vanilla latte tasted strange. It wasn’t exactly gross, but it did not taste like vanilla or honey at all. Unless this place gets a remodel and management overhaul, I won’t be returning.

Terrible, over roasted coffee. If you like Starbucks, you will like this place. The beans I purchased were roasted to the point of being oily and almost completely black. Smelled like burnt popcorn as I brewed a cup. Tasted like… burnt. I wish I didn’t buy a whole pound of this schlock.
Edit: I should add that the beans are very stale, indicating that they are weeks or possibly months old.

I stopped here for my morning coffee fix on the way home from a meeting nearby. It is a one of a kind store. They offer hot and cold drinks and have pastries and sandwiches. I just had a coffee which I sat in the store and drank. The store had a not so nice odor in the seating area to the rear. There’s a limited parking lot in the rear of the store. I won’t go out of my way to return to this establishment.

I generally like this coffeehouse. As the times change you know finding a little coffee dive is getting harder and harder. With the majority of people’s taste buds conditioned for Starbucks it’s hard for the little guy to stay in business. I want this place to have longevity, therefore this review is hopefully for the owner to see.
Each star I give represents a thumbs up. I’m giving one star for the coffee, one star for location, one star for the men who with there. I also want to say that all the employees make good coffee and keep the place tidy.
However, the two women that currently work their need to be separated because having them work together means poor service for the costumer. Everytime I go in there they are just talking to each other nonstop and barely pay the costumer any attention.
Today, they hit my boiling point. I stood at the counter for a solid 3 minutes waiting patiently for them to stop talking to each other (believe me they knew I was there). I even stared at them and not the menu to make sure my body language said I was ready. They continued to ignore me. One was making coffee for the guy who had just ordered (not sure how long he had to wait before they served him), and the other was wiping down the counters, both were talking to one another. I should mention, the one wiping the counters had just taken the gentleman’s order in front of me, however when I stepped to the counter, she turned around, grabbed a rag, and started wiping the counters near the coffee machine all while keeping a steady conversation with her coworker.
I let this play out for a little while until it became apparent that they were making me wait an unnatural amount of time to take my order. At which point, I left only to feel upset and confused why she couldn’t put down the rag and take my order.
It’s a small place, it’s not that hard for one of them to have acknowledge my presence and inform me that they would be with me in just a moment or ask me to tell them when I am ready to order. But none of that happened, I stood there for an uncomfortable length of time watching them actively ignore me and at that point I didn’t want the coffee anymore.
I’m not an aggressive person therefore I’m not going to tell them to do their job and ask me for my order however I won’t go back there unless it’s one of the gentleman working there because to me good service is as important as the product you’re selling.
I hate writing on Unilocal because I’m not an English major and there’s probably a million Grammer errors but try to see through them and to the point.
Note: I clearly am upset, venting, and wiring this on the heat of them moment. However I ran into my neighbor on the way back to the condo and vented to him only to hear him express the same thoughts. So I feel like I might not be alone in this and therfore it needs to be addressed in order to keep the all the costumers happy.
#justsaying:
Don’t let people have a reason to like Starbucks more were the employees are trained to be friendly, take orders in a speedy fashion because they know the costumer is who keeps the business running is in a hurry to get coffee and get on with their day.

I’ve always loved this place since I was a kid; it’s one of the few older businesses left on the Pike. It’s small, but with a couch in the back. You can read books, play games, or watch the coffee magic happening in the smaller room in the back.
I come here because I love the atmosphere to relax, and because it’s walking distance to my home. In the mornings, you can see several people in there grabbing a coffee before they have to jump on any of the 16’s buses at the bus stop immediately out front. I’ve come here on weekends to study Japanese, practice GREs, and to bring a book and read for leisure. I’ve always felt comfortable here.
The only thing I wish were different were their closing hours. Since they close at 7, it’s difficult to come here after work because I’d have to rush, and then I’d only have 45 min to study if that’s what I’m there for.

This place has really grown on me. Granted it still has that overwhelming stench of coffee, and everything is a bit pricey in my opinion as I stated before, but in all truth I keep finding myself probably more frequently than I should.
I love the classical music and how laid back it is. It is not a snoody /​yuppy coffee shop that tries to be posh. Rather, it is what it is, a simple coffee shop with friendly staff and laid back clientele. I appreciate free wifi and people watching here too.
One a side note, is it weird I like the fragrance they have in the bathroom? Yes, I know I am strange. It is a much more pleasant smell than the coffee roast they have going on out in the main café though. I am not a huge coffee drinker and don’t particularly have a fond sense of coffee smells.
If you want some good food — get the bagels with cream cheese or get the pick 2 with a half sandwich and salad. Soups are ok, but I prefer the salad over the soups.