Dolcezza Gelato Factory & Coffee Lab

It was really just ok. Nothing more, nothing less.
Atmosphere: A gelato ‘lab’ in a warehouse across from Galludet — with a few seats at the bar.
Food: Honestly, I’m not sure what to think of the gelatos here… they were really just ok. The Christmas one was very good — with lots of spices but honestly didn’t really have me thinking about the place. However, I would like to eventually try the coffee here.
Service: Good.
Overall: literally. A-​OK. If you are in the area and want a cute place to chill, have some coffee and gelato — check it out but I don’t think it’s worth making a trip out here.

The staff was friendly, the service was prompt, and the gelato was (of course) tasty. I tried the apple sorbet, which just… tasted deliciously of apples. There’s not a ton of seating, mostly seats along the counter. We didn’t wander too much through the space, but it seemed very precisely curated to me, down to the selection of cookbooks decorating the wall behind the counter.
They only have a few flavors (I think there were 5 – 6 the day I was there), which I found simultaneously surprising (because this is their big new thing!) and not (because they probably don’t have as much turnover of product as, say, the Dupont location). The presentation of our gelato to eat-​in was cutesy bording on twee — each scoop in a little spoon/​bowl thing, served on a plate. It was nice but a bit impractical, because the things are top-​heavy and not super steady, but clearly there was some thought put onto presentation.
One thing I don’t like about Dolcezza is that it’s one of the only Gelaterias I’ve been to that serves by the scoop — I much prefer the places that do small/​med/​large and allow you to mix and match flavors within even the small. Maybe one day Dolcezza will follow suit!

I get the concept but wow, worst service ever. Nothing like waiting in line for some seriously expensive gelato and then having folks who came in after us get served first. Won’t be going back again.

Although it was raining this afternoon on my first visit, I like the atmosphere here. Industrial. Sparse. Non-​pretentious. Very clean. Yes, hipster, but it is indeed a working factory. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. The young female staff member up front seemed a bit anxious. So, I’m guessing she’s fairly new as she defaulted to her other colleagues as I was asking questions, which was fine.
Just a warning. It can get a little loud here due to active work area noise, active deliveries and garage doors opening and closing.
As a coffee lab, the place houses I think at least three coffee making areas for tastings/​trainings. As well, several gelato making machines are lined up next to one another so one definitely knows it’s obviously a gelato factory.
I arrived a half hour early for the training, so I got an opportunity to watch staff working their magic on creating sorbet batches. Also, I skimmed their baked goods display area, and I wanted to try everything. I just wished they had a samples area display for the baked goods too.
Just before the training, I drank a cup of their above average quality Kenya blend. After the training, I got to taste two good, and I do mean ‘good’, gelato flavors of the day, the peppermint stracciatella and I tasted my colleague’s chocolate amargo. Can I say «Hashtag — yummy!»???
Although this place offers free wifi, there weren’t many tables. Besides a half dozen to a dozen chairs near the front, and just one cart serving as a small table. At least for today, it didn’t facilitate as a place for many people to hang out with a laptop/​mobile device or a book for light reading or studying. It’s more like and «order and pickup» type of place. I would definitely hang out here for a longer period. Wasn’t certain why it was fairly empty.
Maybe because it was raining or the fear of impeding «Hurricane Joaquin». We in the DC area seem to jump away from hurricanes and snow storms at the mere sign of abrupt weather changes.
Will definitely come back here or try out the other area locations. Their gelato flavors are worth the return, and I’m curious to try more of their coffees. They also have a Sundae menu!
3.5 out 5 stars. I liked what I saw today, and I look forward to updating this review when I’m in the NoMA neighborhood again or near a Dolcezza location in Virginia.

Perfect spot near Union Market for an afternoon treat! Gelato, coffees, seasonal items, baked goods… I got one rosewater limeade and a small scoop of lime cilantro… so you can guess one of my favorite flavors, right!!? The rosewater limeade was totally refreshing and flavorful, not watered down like most lemonades/​juices you buy from places. They do seem to use recycled ware… go green! No Chinese Phở cups. I feel gyped. Judging from other reviews this is like the budget Dolcezza in the area… but I enjoyed it since I have nothing to compare it to. The Gelato is fantastic. I give the spot a 3 – 3.5 and the product a 4.

Every time I walk in, I feel like I’m in an industrial warehouse in the meatpacking district in New York… only it’s a coffee and gelato shop with unpretentious, hip and friendly staff.
In one corner you have employees roasting coffee beans and mixing daily gelato concoctions and in the other is a coffee bar/​area. The coffee bar is geared more towards chatting with a friend or reading a book than for an endless array of telecommuters so you have someplace to sit as you listen to jazzy background tunes.
Also, I can’t tell you how stoked I was to see they had almond milk on their menu as an alternative… they offer a little something different than other coffee shops in DC.

It’s pretty cool to have a small little café right next to the main factory.
I went about 30 minutes before their close time so I didn’t get to see the factory workers actually at, y’know, work. Maybe I’ll get there during the day.
Anywho, always heard great things about Dolcezza so yesterday was the first time of me trying their gelato. I got the Indonesian Vanilla Bean. Pretty tasty. I’m not surprised at the streamlined gelato menu given the location and space (I mean, it’s inside an actual factory!) But I think they did a good job choosing 5 – 6 flavors for the customers picking.
Since this location is closer to me, I may frequent here more than the other spots.

Love this place! The staff, coffee and gelato are the best!
The factory tour is a great idea to bring your family and friends. They give you samples of the gelato just fresh from the machine!
If you want a great experience this place is a must!

Want fresh gelato? This is the place to come – made on site. Nice end to a Union Market meal. The space is cool with pulleys; nice and cool on a hot day. Also, the seating makes me feel like I am in my grandpa’s back yard. There’s a table upstairs and offices.
Prices are high ($ ⁴⁄₂₅ for one big scoop); does affect my rating.
They make the gelato fresh from machines on site. We had the valrhona chocolate amargo gelato; reminds me of the eating chocolate pudding at the famers market. My kids love it, dad thinks it isn’t dense enough – density is too much like whipped creamPush pops look good.

Whoa, I just gave a Dolcezza location 3 stars instead of my usual 4. Well, despite my love for Dolcezza gelato and coffee, I have to say that this is my least favorite Dolcezza location. I frequent the Dupont Circle and Mosaic Dolcezzas, which have a plethora of gelato/​sorbet flavors. Here, there are about 5 flavors daily. Slim pickings. If you want more variety, check out the other Dolcezza locations. There’s not a ton of seating here either.
The cool thing about this location, however, is that you can take part in a guided tour of their gelato production area. Free tours are held Saturday and Sunday starting at 2:30pm and lasts for 20 minutes. You even get a sample of gelato at the end of the tour.

The best ever.
The baristas are fantastic, they serve Stumptown coffee, and the gelato is the best in DC. They make it fresh at this location everyday they’re open. They do tours on Saturdays and Sundays of their factory and explain how their gelato is made. Chill music, great atmosphere. Everyone that works here knows their stuff.

I LOVE darling coffeehouses and banging coffee, so I had to try this place. The batista was nice, and the dulce de Leche latte was awesome!
Since my SO and I drink our coffee french pressed, we got a bag of medium roast for home. They dont carry a dark. When I made coffee, I was disappointed. The smell was nice, but the taste was lacking. It was a really weak roast yet it was pricey.
Although the place was cute and the batista was sweet, I’m not sure if I will return. There are too many other places to get awesome dark roast for French press.

Located behind Union Market, it is just a overpriced and pretentious as I expected it to be. I wouldn’t go out of my way to get here, seeing as how the only thing it’s close to is Union Market. The coffee is good and who doesn’t like fancy gelato so I’m sure it will do well here, especially since people are already spending a fortune at Union Market for overpriced meat, cheeses, wines and flowers.
With all of that said, I went in thinking it would be a comfy spot to get a latte and do some reading when it was actually not a comfy spot to do this at all. The chairs are too short for the counter and the only other seating is outside, which isn’t helpful when it’s 90 degrees and the sun is blazing. I MIGHT go back if I happen to be driving by or meandering around Union Market, but it’s not extremely likely.

Mmm. Gelato. As others have mentioned, this isn’t cheap. It’s good but not cheap. I paid $ 2.50 for one scoop of gelato in a Chinese serving spoon. Think of a Phở spoon. They had my favorite flavor (cardamon) today so I was happy. The bigger you go, the more economical it becomes. One flavor in a «factory big bowl» costs $ 4.25 and a take home pint is $ 10.50. I was tempted to buy a pint and eat it there. Coffee and tea are available also.
They offer tours of the factory on the weekends, check the website. Within walking distance of Union Market. You get a view of the Capitol in the distance to top it off. It’s a local company and they get their milk from a dairy in York, PA. Go local!

Almost always after leaving Union Market, I’d pass this large white building that had a sign with something written on it about gelato and coffee. And I kept telling myself, ‘wouldn’t it be nice to stop in’ as I sped by on 6^th Street.
Having enjoyed their gelato at their Dupont Circle location, I decided to stop by with a couple of friends. We all sat at the bar; I had their coffee and cookies (espresso gelato, whipped cream, topped with crumbled Biscoff cookies, and dusted with espresso). My friends had caramel-​salt and a gelato push pop.
Dolcezza has locations around the metro area — but at this location you can take a tour of their factory on the weekend. Check their website for times.

Dolcezza Gelato Factory & Coffee Lab is one of DC’s best kept secrets. (Well at least until you finish reading this Unilocal review!)
Nestled behind Union Market, this warehouse serves as Dolcezza’s headquarters and testing ground for all things gelato. Either sit at the bar or pull a chair outside and enjoy the view of the Capital, there are few better places indulge yourself in a sweet treat and unwind from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Served on a Chinese serving spoon, each scoop of gelato is carefully handcrafted to miniature dessert perfection. Personally, I was a huge fan of the pistachio gelato and any flavor of affagato (scoop of gelato with a shot of espresso). It transported me back to the days of walking down the cobble-​stone streets of Italy on a hot summers day.
While a little pricey at $ 2 and change for a scoop, this is something to savor. Don’t get mad when you don’t receive your super-​sized McDonald’s sundae. (Though I did see they had a Fruitty Pebbles sundae that I will need to go back and splurge on!).
ADVISORY: They have gelato push pops! How I missed this on our first go around I do not know and I don’t want to talk about. All the things. End of story.
If you are going to make the trek, I would highly recommend scheduling your visit while they are doing tours: Saturdays at 2PM or 4PM and Sundays at 1PM and 3PM.
Enjoy your day. Experience Life. Eat Gelato.

My daughter’s first taste of gelato (or any dessert, for that matter) was this past Sunday at Dolcezza. We gave in because 1) everything is fresh and well made here with high-​quality ingredients, and 2) how can you deny a toddler this deliciousness when you yourself are indulging? Cheerios in a snack trap just won’t cut it. Truth. So yes, we introduced our tot to sugar here, and don’t you dare judge us.
***(Ok so in full disclosure, she had approximately ¼ spoonful of the chocolate and did not like it, but it was a bit on the strong and dark side, but she had a full spoonful of the lemon basil flavor. Her reaction was hard to decipher, but we think she semi-​enjoyed it. We’re not in a rush to let her try more anytime soon)***
This location (just outside the northernmost side of Union Market) is a factory, and gives tours on the weekends (I believe 1 & 3 pm on Saturday, and at 2 & 4 pm on Sundays — sadly we missed the last tour!). Save for the incredible wooden-​box display on the wall behind the counter, Dolcezza is pretty sparsely decorated. There are a few barstools where you can sip and eat at the counter, and there is a table or two outside. They definitely could stand to add a bit more seating, in my opinion.
My husband really enjoyed his coffee, but I was all about the gelato. We opted for two «tastings», which are single (but generous) scoops of gelato on large and whimsical white porcelain-​like spoons. Of the flavors of the day, we opted for the lemon opal basil and the Valrhona chocolate amargo. Other flavors of the day included lemon ricotta cardamom, espresso hairbender, and Indonesian vanilla. Each tasting is $ 2.50, but if you want to try four flavors, you get a price break at $ 8. There are also coppettas (fancy Italian way of saying «cup» or «bowl», I believe) which combine a select gelato flavor or two with other fantastical offerings such as spicy and smoky nuts, ground espresso beans, fresh mint, shaved chocolate, etc. Those are between $ 7 – 8 each.
The gelato was really, really tasty. Even though I am more of a chocolate person, I really enjoyed the lemon basil flavor quite a bit. I was just a bit bummed that the gelato — specifically the chocolate — was really melty by the time it got to us. It was dripping all off the presentation spoon onto the plate — and you’d better believe I licked that plate clean — so that was a little disappointing.
If you want your sweetness a bit more on the portable side, they have these ingenious little gelato «pops» for about $ 3, so you can take your iced goodness on the go! And if you really need to indulge, pints are available for about $ 10. Yes, more than you’ll pay at Safeway or Teeter, but then again, you won’t find this stuff elsewhere.
Yeah, yeah, Dolcezza isn’t cheap, but it is GOOD. And they have some very unique flavors that you won’t find elsewhere. Give it a try — your tastebuds will thank you.

The best dessert in NoMa.
Not only is this gelato shop beautiful, but it’s the factory where they make it. All the gelato you order comes straight out of the machine and placed under the counter. The person behind that counter is a true gem. She was helpful, talkative, and someone I wish I could crown Diary Queen. The gelato, served as single scoops in big spoons, is absolutely to die for.
Flight (4 scoops for $ 8): A+
We tried an espresso (A+), a variation on mint chocolate (A+), and a raspberry sorbet that was the freshest I had ever tasted (A+).
My only complaint, since it is so fresh, it melts VERY QUICKLY. They’re still working out the bugs, but am very happy to give them that 5 Star ranking once they do.

This place is awesome! Nestled behind Union Station, Dolcezza offers refreshing and quality treats and really hip/​cool atmosphere. Their gelato is super unique and delicious. My friends and I all got their gelato push pops. Mine was strawberry tarragon sorbet — YUM. My friend enjoyed his cilantro lime as well.
Their offerings also include cute baked goods (like mini donuts) and delicious cappuccinos.
Outside, you can sit and take in the beautiful DC view and soak in the rays in the quiet neighborhood.

Pretty overpriced and over-​rated gelato factory in DC. It is not often that you get gelato made right there and can be eaten instantly, but for $ 3 or a small spoonful, it is basically gelato robbery.
Unless you wanna spend $ 12 to taste all four samples of the day, come here. There is also a small fridge with push pops, and pints you can purchase, which is probably more cost-​effective than getting the spoon. But why come to a factory to get gelato?
There is also a short 5 minute tour of the place on weekends since there is not that much to see. I didn’t find the tour that informative, and it was difficult to hear the guide in a large group in an awkward cramped space.
Concept is cool, and it is a nice addition to the lackluster neighborhood. I would suggest going to the creamery in Union Market instead.