Category: Coffee

Create a Coffee Shop Aesthetic [At Home]

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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 brew method

  • 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.

Add in cozy, hygge elements to the scene

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Start Your Sunrise at Washington, DC’s Newest Coffee Roastery: The Roasted Boon Co.

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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 Roasted Boon Co. Coffee Shop Interior
Image © time cupsoul. The interior of the Roasted Boon Co. roastery in Shaw, DC is decorated with a white Diedrich coffee roaster and colorful splashes and nods to the Eritrean “boon,” or coffee-making ceremony.

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.

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Baked & Wired: Adventures in Georgetown

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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!)

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Fattoush Cafe//פטוש: Best Coffee in Haifa

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This post was originally published on May 21, 2015 and updated on July 1, 2020.

Fattoush Cafe Coffee
Fattoush Cafe Coffee

Fattoush Cafe is the best answer for a delicious meal and unique cup of coffee in Haifa, Israel.

The cafe sits on a row of restaurants where beautiful Israeli hostesses tempt you with menus and deals. But Fattoush Cafe doesn’t need a beautiful hostess; the restaurant’s design is stunning all on its own. Only a small wooden stool with a stack of menus greets you, along with the smell of delicious dishes.

Time Cupsoul feels attracted to secluded outdoor patios — “magic gardens” at cafe’s, if you will. A lover of nature, drinking coffee surrounded by trees and flowers adds to the feeling of inner peace. It’s the feeling that creates a time cupsoul, a coffee experience of inspiration and calm. Fattoush Cafe’s garden patio is visible from the street, with the patio tables protected by vines and olive trees. Yes, this looked more than suitable.

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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.