The roasters writing the coffee scene in Washington DC: who they are, where they source from and where to drink it.
The roasters writing the coffee scene in Washington DC. who they are, where they source from, and where to drink the result.
Compass Coffee Roastery in Washington DC is the Shaw 7th Street flagship of the local roaster founded 2014 by Marines Michael Haft and Harrison Suarez, with a public roasting floor.
Tip: Free public roastery tours run Saturdays at 11:00 from the 7th Street site; sign up on the website.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Burundi
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Pour over, Whole bean retail
Vigilante Coffee Roastery is the local roaster's flagship cafe outside Washington DC on Gallatin Street, a small-batch direct-trade roaster supplying restaurants citywide.
Tip: Saturday cuppings at 11:00 run free; reserve via the website. The taproom roastery is 15 minutes from DC on the Green Line.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Honduras, Costa Rica, Kenya
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail, Subscription
Qualia Coffee Roasters in Washington DC is Joel Finkelstein's Petworth Georgia Avenue cafe and roastery since 2007, with single-origin pour-over and rotating Latin American beans.
Tip: Saturday cuppings at 12:00 run free; the Yirgacheffe lot is the signature and rotates weekly.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Sumatra
How they serve: Pour over, Filter, Whole bean retail
Swing's Coffee Roasters in Washington DC is the 1916 Alexandria roaster's downtown G Street cafe, the oldest continuously-operating coffee roaster in the metro area at over 100 years.
Tip: Order the house Premium Dark blend in the cup; the roaster has carried it since 1916.
Sources from: Colombia, Ethiopia, Sumatra, Costa Rica
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Lost Sock Roasters in Washington DC is the Takoma cafe and roastery from Joel Shuler since 2016, a single-origin pour-over bar with rotating Burundi and Colombian lots.
Tip: The Burundi Long Miles Coffee Project beans are the roaster's longest-running relationship; order them by name.
Sources from: Burundi, Colombia, Ethiopia, Mexico
How they serve: Pour over, Filter, Whole bean retail
Ceremony Coffee Roasters in Washington DC is the Union Market cafe of the Annapolis roaster, a Maryland third-wave specialist with single-origin filter and direct-trade producer relationships.
Tip: The reserve filter menu rotates monthly; ask the barista for the current lot and brewing notes.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Kenya
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Pour over, Whole bean retail
The Wydown in Washington DC is the 14th Street multi-roaster cafe in Logan Circle, a Counter Culture and Ceremony partnership with three rotating roasters on the brew bar simultaneously.
Tip: Order the flight: a three-way pour-over from each rotating roaster; the bar runs it on Saturday mornings.
Sources from: Counter Culture (NC), Ceremony (MD), Compass (DC)
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Pour over
RAKE Coffee Roasters in Washington DC is the 14th Street Mid-City cafe and roastery from chef Ed Witt, a small-batch operation with rotating single-origin pour-over and a focused espresso program.
Tip: The Ethiopian natural process beans are the roaster's signature; ask for them as filter pour-over.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Tanzania
How they serve: Espresso, Pour over, Whole bean retail
Peak food season in Washington DC is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Washington DC rewards trust.