It’s been almost half a year in quarantine here in DC. One of our favorite things to do in the city before lock-down was to traverse the District for new coffee shops. To sit for hours in cafes. To people watch and enjoy the sounds of patrons hobnobbing over caffeine. Here’s how to virtually support some DC coffee shops right now. During COVID-19, we can all re-create a coffee shop aesthetic at home.
During quarantine, how can you create your favorite coffee shop aesthetic at home?
Start with your coffee and brewmethod
A great cup of coffee begins with great coffee beans, the perfect grind, clean filtered water, and a solid brew method of your choice. Practice perfecting each step in this process to make a delicious cup of coffee worthy of your favorite cafe.
The coffee is fantastic at The Roasted Boon Co., a brand new coffee shop and roastery in Shaw, DC. The roastery just opened it’s doors on July 20th and opens every day at 6 am, so if you are comfortable enough to grab takeaway during the pandemic, there is the advantage that you can arrive early and beat the crowds. (We were the only ones in the shop besides the baristas this week. Note that The Roasted Boon Co. is the only coffee shop we’re aware of that opens at 6 am in DC right now.) Plus, the cleanliness of the store seems top notch; each employee at The Roasted Boon Co. wears a mask, there is a Plexiglas pane in front of the register, and ample hand sanitizer for your use. You can also order things online, according to their store signage. As always, please trust your own judgement.
The coffee at the Roasted Boon Co is as we said — truly fantastic. We didn’t know what to expect of the new roastery, but the small latte that we got was honestly wonderful. An Ethiopian and Brazilian blend of beans, the espresso tasted rich, full-bodied and delicious. Having the option to get a “small” latte also added to our happiness; a latte with too much milk is never fun on a sweltering DC summer morning. The iced latte was the perfect size and had the optimal amount of ice.
THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED in 2014 AND WAS UPDATED IN JULY 2020.
It’s been named one of the top ten bakeries in the United States by Fodor’s Travel, and it’s easily one of the most talked about coffee shop locations in the area. Do not miss Baked & Wired, just next to Georgetown’s historic C&O canal.
Baked & Wired came backed with a lot of hype and praise; people have been telling us to go there for years. Somehow, we never got around to it. There’s something about actively avoiding that which is so coveted. Just because everyone loves it, does not mean that you would or should. Enter Saturday morning. Sunshine streaming through the windows, summer air beckoning nature into the light. Everyone was outside enjoying the weather and it was time to finally visit Baked & Wired. (When this article was first published, we wrote: “I got on a crowded bus and happily listened to my iPod to get down to M Street.” Oh, nostalgia during COVID-19! Oh nostalgia for iPods!)
