The Coffee Bar

With the impending glut of independent coffee shops in the DC area, it’s good to see TCB is still there. I recently went there it was a hot day and I went with the cold brew. The cold brew hit the spot, but I wish the portion was better as most of the drink was more ice than coffee. Oh well. This is probably the best coffee shop in that location that isn’t a chain. The only slight complaint is that they should extend those weekday hours.

I absolutely adore this place. From the neighborhood location to the coffee, from the pastries to the service, it stands out as my favorite shop in the city.
The interior: comfy and hipster-​like, without being too in your face. Now that it’s warm, they offer lots of outdoor seating.
The coffee is great: love their drip brews, their espresso drinks, and their chai.
The pastries: I’ve had several muffins, bagels, scones, and breads here, and the only complaint I have is that I once had a semi-​dry piece of zucchini bread.
The staff: some of the friendliest people I have met in the DC area. I am not from the city, and have found many people here to be aggressive, rude and selfish – none of them come to The Coffee Bar. Every single person they employ is friendly, chatty (if you like to engage more with your baristas), and they make a mean latte.
I’ve come here to sit and do work, and the atmosphere is very conducive for that, too – almost everyone has a book or laptop, and those who are chatting are not too loud. The music is at a volume to be entertaining, but not distracting. My only complaint for TCB as a workplace is their serious lack of plugs – but I attribute this more to it being in the converted ground floor of an older building than by deliberate design, because they do offer free wifi on week days.
Love TCB, and I wish I could transplant it to the corner near my apartment. I’d spend every day there.

I love The Coffee Bar. It’s pretty much the perfect neighborhood joint — friendly staff, comfortable tables, great tasting treats. I’m partial to their iced mint green tea on a hot day, especially from a mason jar at one of their charming tables on their patio. It’s a little slice of heaven.
While the shop is just off the hustle and bustle of the U Street Corridor, it feels secluded in a way that’s unexpected. The corner it’s on is quiet, tree-​lined and very residential so you can sit and relax while you enjoy your coffee, tea and a good book.
Great pastries and bagels, too.

Good coffee, good atmosphere, comprable prices, not crowded, very nice staff, free wifi, and a nice clean bathroom. All the most ideal aspects of a city establishment.

Friendly staff, good coffee, lots of fancy drink option.
Love the interior with old, comfy couches as well as room at the counter to watch the baristas.
And plenty (!) of outdoor seating, woo!

The Coffee Bar is my favorite coffee shop in the 14^th and U area! They have a great outdoor space, super delicious iced coffee and all the baristas I’ve had are friendly, fast paced and offer great customer service — this is NOT always the case in DC where some folks come off as super pretentious about what is… really… brown water. Delicious, caffeinated brown water… but still.
Amy in particular always remembers my name, greets me with a smile and makes it a really positive experience. All the baked goods I’ve had are fairly priced and fresh. I work in the area and recommend it to everyone that stops in!

I love this slightly tucked off U-​street coffee bar with plenty of shady outdoor seating. Off a quieter side street, their outdoor patio offers plenty of seating and a great place to catch up with a friend, read a book, or get some work done. There is not a lot of indoor seating and the place does get quite busy, so it’s definitely a better bet on a warm day when patrons can be outdoors too.
Unfortunately, they offer NO WIFI on the weekends during the summer. I visited the other day and was informed (post-​purchase) that there is now no wifi during the weekends, only during the week. During the week, wifi does reach outdoors, which is nice! Apparently «summer hours» start in April, because this past weekend I was out of luck and totally bummed to have to find another spot to get some weekend work done.
Food:
Lemon poppy scone was dry and pretty flavorless. I wouldn’t order it again. There are better pastries to fill my belly with!
Limited selection of pastries, no lunch items.

I love this place. It is in the middle of so much residential life, which makes it the perfect commercial spot. I am so happy that I’ve discovered it. It’s a great place to catch up with a friend or settle in and do some work on the weekends.
The staff is all really friendly and happy – exactly what a coffee shop should be! The coffee itself is great. They do the chai latte well, something that I’ve only found done well at a handful of places. They have bagels and small pastries to balance well with the coffee and play soothing, but focused music. My only wish is that I would want it to be slightly bigger so I know I’ll find a seat. It’s hard to get all the way there and then not have a place to sit down.

Wow. Terrible coffee and terrible atmosphere. I will not return. Horrible vibes in there!
I had gone by here many times and always thought I should try it. But when I finally was able to, it was filled with people on their laptops sitting there indefinitely taking up space and not leaving a single seat for new customers. The whole place was filled with them! They should put up a sign asking people not to stay indefinitely so more paying customers can enjoy their shop– it must be a serious revenue problem for them. It seemed to be the place where people go with their laptops and books and sit indefinitely taking up space. Not a friendly or pleasant atmosphere.
As for the coffee, it was terrible. I had a cappuccino that was not smooth in the least.
I will not return. Wish I hadn’t gone at all and will advise against it.

Cool local coffee shop with some really solid coffee and relaxing atmosphere. It can get super crowded so there may not be much space to sit and chill. But when it’s quite, it’s easy to kick back and read. Also great place to meet a friend. I haven’t tried their drop coffee, only a few pour overs but I’m sure it’s good too.
I have to say though that the décor here is perhaps a bit too aggressively hipster. It works well but at some points it’s seems a bit much. From the old furniture to the scattered bathroom floor tiles? on the walls to the slanted artwork where the painting is the wall to the stacks of magazines and papers no one probably touches, etc. Again it works, but I think of all the nearby coffee shops, this is most out there.

TCB is a neighborhood gem! Unpretentious, delicious coffee, tucked away on a quiet corner, away from the bustle of 14^th street.
Their coffee is delicious, and I’ll be an eternal fan of their dirty chai. They have a small, but yummy, selection of pastries from a local bakery.
Only downside is that it’s usually difficult to find seating, and there are only a couple of outlets in the entire place.
Five years later, this is still my favorite neighborhood coffee shop in DC.

I got the chai because everyone said to get the chai (I didn’t get a dirty one because it was already late in the day and a girl’s gotta sleep at some point!) and even though your mom told you not to jump off the bridge because everyone else was, don’t listen to mom this time. Listen to everyone and get the chai.
I’ve also had lattes here, and they were by no means bad, but the chai is just the way to go. If it’s warm enough to sit outside, do it. The tables are far enough apart so you’re not accidentaly eavesdropping on your neighbors, and remain in the sunshine for a good portion of the day. I went here a few times in grad school but the socket situation leaves something to be desired (but where in DC doesn’t?) so I don’t know that I would spend a whole afternoon working here or anything, but for a quick meeting with friends or an informational interview/​work coffee, I’d definitely give it a go!

TCB is a Logan Circle coffee refuge different than the 14^th street mold. It’s homey, unpretentious, creative.
Dirty chai is highly recommended.
Get there early on weekends if you want a workplace.

I love the coffee bar. It is a neighborhood gem and I go here often. Coffee is spectacular— I am particularly fond of their mochas.
My one request would be that they (and other coffee places) restrict areas where people are working so if you are camping out there with a computer, you need to be on the stool seating area. It’s really not fair to patrons that want to actually enjoy their coffee and have a conversation when they can’t find seating.

As soon as you cozy up to this corner just south of the U Street corridor, you’ll notice a spacious outdoor seating area. Hipster warning is high: hipster social gatherings over caffeine. Dogs are welcome outside, and you will see them joining their people. Walk inside after noticing the lovely exterior and the warning remains elevated, but not on high alert. Instead, inside, you’ll see caffeinated folks working on their laptops, many of them solo clients trying to eke out as much productive work as possible in a hustling and bustling coffee bar.
The interior design has a beautiful, nostalgic feel. Plenty of wood, calm hues and seating/​standing. There are high stools to accompany the high table just behind the ordering where the coffee baristas work their magic. Just behind this table, more high stools against a window and wall hugging, high ledge-​like location for those seeking to stand or be above the height of normal seating. Of course, there is still plenty of other, traditional, sit down areas.
Stroll up to the barista who is not busily creating a fragrant pour over brew or crafting an espresso beverage, and you will find yourself sidling up near the counter that contains a lovely array of baked goods (fresh ones are traditional, a few pre-​packaged items are vegan, gluten free), as well. However, while tempting baked goods are available, as well as juices, teas and granola, the focus is undoubtedly the coffee.
Wow, they deliver on coffee. I can see why some might comment on a coffee snobbery here. They focus on the beans and the flavors. You can order an espresso of single origin or blend. Also, when they deliver your delicious doppio, you are offered a shot glass of seltzer, as well. Brilliant. Where else does that happen?
True, there is only soy milk for the non-​dairy latte beverage consumers, but, really, just get the coffee sans «crème.» It’s amazing — a nice complex blend that leaves a lovely bouquet on your taste buds. Sip slowly to embrace the profile as it develops on your palate. Sip some more, and, well, though it is caffeine, it does have a relaxing sensation when brewed correctly and sipped attentively.
The only concern is their coffee offerings are neither locally roasted nor are they organic. There does seem to be focus on artisanal coffee beans, so beware the price tag. It’s worth it though, if you care. Each bag I have tried from here has been a musical symphony to my tastebuds and my senses. Awake I am from these brewed awakenings!

Wednesday, 4:30 PM.
Quickie:
+ Drink menu
+ Friendly service
+ Turnaround
– Clean
– Slow wi-​fi
– Limited table space
And then???
Tough to grab a seat, which means TCB is doing something right!
**********
Stuffed my face in:
1. Iced latte
+ Fresh roast.
Constructive comments:
*Option for compost
*Sustainable sourcing and practices

I appreciate the «off the beaten path» aspect of The Coffee Bar — it is nestled in a quiet neighborhood, rather in the metropolis that is DC. However, it is still a popular place for locals who enjoy quality coffee. Being a dirty chai addict, I gave TCB’s rendition a try and I was impressed. The coffee was well made, but not extraordinarily memorable. The staff is well-​trained, polite, and takes pride in efficient, quality service.
The atmosphere adheres to the traditional expectations of a slightly oversized coffeehouse. Even at 4:30PM on a Sunday, the place was reasonably full — it is evident that locals love TCB for its trendy interior, great coffee, and excellent baristas.

This is the second location for the popular outlet on S Street. We stopped by to give this lace a try. The staff, like the other location, is super friendly and welcoming. There was a long line of people wanting to try their coffee and the staff took care of them quite efficiently without treating it like an assembly line.
I ordered the pour over and on tap today was the Mexico flavor. The coffee making process is also fun to watch — with the grinding and the pour and the steep — sorry, I am a sucker for well made coffee.
It was ready after a few minutes of wait time for the steeping process (or pour process, whatever it is called). But right away I noticed a few things (that sets the coffee drink apart)
— No acidic after taste of the conventional brew method
— No burnt coffee taste for using super hot water
— I could smell the fruity/​earthy flavors that accompanies the beans and are part of the beans much like any varietal of wine!
It was hard for me to wait for the drink to cool down to my preferred temperature but it was worth the wait.
But, as they say, good things do pinch the pocket than your average Starbucks drink, but, in this case, it was well worth the extra pennies :)

Wow, hmmm, so… The Coffee Bar. Yes. This was my second time here. I was impressed with the place already since the first time. It is nicely located in a quiet corner and has awesome outdoor tree-​shaded seating right in front as well as cosy interior seating, even a high table which I really like.
Craving an iced mocha, my drink of choice always, I came inside to a clean and nicely decorated space with catchy music playing. From behind the register, Becca so nicely and professionally took my order with a contagious smile, and the super cool barista Jeremy even accommodated my special request for extra half and half.
The drink was so amazing that I drank it fast and had to order another one. I sat at the high table and did some drawing and nobody disturbed me and I got a lot accomplished. I could overhear Jeremy explaining to other customers specific things about the drinks, showing off his helpful knowledge of coffee and tea beverages.
At other places, I normally hear baristas come up with answers like, «Um, I don’t know,» or «I’m not sure,» or sometimes even just a plain «duh» look on their faces.
HAH! None of that here! These people know what they’re doing. What a fantastic business model. I seriously regret not having come here more often.
There’s a friendly resident cat in front that loves being petted but I didn’t find out what its name is or who it belongs to. They also have free wi-​fi. Please tip these guys well, they certainly deserve it!

As the 4-​star description says, «Yay! I’m a fan.» This is a cute little coffee bar tucked away between the Shaw and U St/​14^th St area. It was opened in 2012 and since then, it seems to have done incredibly well for itself.
As with any coffee shop, it gets crowded very quickly. There is a single couch and let me tell you, that is premium real estate. They recently opened up a lot of outdoor seating (thank goodness!), and I could definitely see myself sipping on a dirty chai in the sunshine after a nice yoga session nearby. If it’s a weekday morning, I’d recommend that you get there AFTER the morning rush. 9:00am seems to be the sweet spot. Sundays are rough.
As far as food and décor, this place is right on. It’s got a handwritten menu in chalk on the wall — but you can actually read this one! It’s very clearly written, which I appreciate. The crowd is varied. I’ve seen multiple people come into this place and the baristas know their order — such a nice touch. They have all the coffee selections you could possibly want, and great food too. The food includes a variety of flavored croissants (almond and chocolate), danishes, and bagels.
Check out this place if you want to feel like a local.