Category: Coffee

How to Support Local DC Coffee & Chocolate Shops During the Coronavirus Self-Quarantine

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These are unprecedented times in recent human history. We now have the opportunity to be responsible and to stay at home to reduce the curve.

As that this is a website about coffee shops and chocolate stores, we know that many local businesses will suffer during these trying times.

Please consider buying some coffee beans, chocolate bars, online merchandise or gift cards to support your favorite local brands and enjoy their delicious offerings in the safety of your own home. Below you will find our DC list.

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Kramerbooks & Afterwards Café Soft Opens New “Kramers Coffee Bar” within Bookstore

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Kramerbooks, the DC institution, is simply a wonderful place to visit. It’s the perfect spot to browse novels of all kinds, to enjoy a leisurely brunch or late night cocktail, to read snippets of new epics, and generally, to delight the senses. The aroma of fresh brunch coming from the cafe, the texture of crisp book pages waiting patiently to be read, a quiet conversation from the patrons browsing… It’s magic. And now, you can step up to Kramers Coffee, its new indoor coffee bar and get a grab-n-go cup of joe and sip caffeine while you read, serene.

Very recently, perhaps a few weeks ago, Kramerbooks quietly restructured part of their back wall — or, let’s say — remodeled. What changed? Not a huge amount, never fear. The interior back entrance to the restaurant/cafe has been opened up so one of the walls on the left side now allows patrons to look into part of the kitchen. There’s a new counter facing the Connecticut Avenue entrance with an espresso machine peeking from around the corner. This is the new coffee bar! Now patrons can get coffee from the counter rather than sitting down in the restaurant/cafe, which is still a great option for more leisurely mornings. In the go-go-go culture of DC, this Kramerbooks coffee bar meets that culture, but provides the classic bookstore charm and ambiance that we all know and love.

We love scooping new coffee shops in DC. By opening this coffee bar, Kramerbooks has now strategically placed itself as a “coffee shop,” too. This business model strategy actually began long before 2020; have you noticed that Kramerbooks has served/serves “House Blend Coffee” on their exisiting breakfast/burnch menu? That’s because Kramerbooks is allegedly a coffee roaster, too! We had a conversation with a Kramers barista and apparently, Kramerbooks roasts their coffee beans in Maryland. More to come on that! We’ll promise to let you know as soon as we find out more.

In the meantime, check out the coffee bar for a cup of takeaway coffee — every day starting at around 8 am. It seems to be very soft launch, however, so please exercise some patience as the hours seem flexible this week. Find Kramerbooks & Afterwards at: 1517 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036

Experiencing a Time Cupsoul @ Little Red Fox

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Little Red Fox
What brings you peace? What adds serenity into your life? Is it a morning cup of coffee where you can sit with your thoughts, letting them softly bubble up like the 🥛 bubbles that gentle emerge from your latte art? Slow. Slow down. Listen. Feel the crisp pastry 🥐 crunch and melt into your mouth. Savor the weekend. Savor the conversations next to you. Breathe in the smell of fresh coffee. Sip your coffee ☕ Now you’ve experienced a #timecupsoul. {P.S. the interior updates @littleredfoxdc are magical}

& if you enjoyed these musings, please read our full review of Little Red Fox, here.

Our New Favorite Inspiring DC Coffee Spot: Seylou Bakery & Mill

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Washingtonian hailed it as one of the “three [DC] bakeries you don’t want to miss,” it had a glowing write-up in the Washington Post, and Eater DC covered this shop as housing the “Steve Jobs of bread.” Welcome to Seylou Bakery & Mill, the capital’s first-ever mill-in-house, whole grain bakery in Shaw.

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Philz to Add Cold Brew +How Philz’s Brand Model Makes the Customer Sovereign

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Last week while at the National Coffee Association Convention (NCA), Ms. Andi Trindle Mersch from Philz Coffee spoke about their made-to-order brand and customer service model, Philz’s “thing” that sets them apart. She also broke the news that cold brew may be coming soon to a Philz shop near you! This isn’t a recorded session living online, so please allow us to reflect and expand upon her words.

Philz’s Made-to-Order Brand Model:  In our experience, whenever a customer walks up to a Philz coffee shop counter, they are greeted joyfully, asked for their order — a choice between one of the roasts – light, medium or dark — and then, between sweet or creamy. Once the coffee is made, the customer is always asked if it’s too sweet or creamy or just right. One gets the feeling that it’s truly made for you. In the era of customization, especially for the millennial generation, by asking if the order tastes okay or if it needs adjusting, Philz creates the opening for a second chance. It’s a welcomed chance for the customer to say, “hey, this isn’t quite right, can you fix it before I accept it?” Giving the customer this level of power gives them more ownership of their experience, their coffee and, their day.

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How Amazon’s HQ2 Will Affect DC’s Coffee Scene

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Note from the Editor: Our predictions seem to be coming true. As of 1/16/2020, Commonwealth Joe has opened at the Amazon building across from the Crystal City metro on South Bell St/18th St S. Open to the public at 8 am, daily and to Amazon employees starting at 7 am.

From what we understand about CEO Jeff Bezos and the Amazon HQ1 in Seattle, we can only surmise that a robust coffee scene – showcasing local DMV roasters – will be a part of the new Amazon HQ2 at National Landing. 

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Why do we think that we all should be talking about an exciting coffee scene with Amazon’s arrival?

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