The Coupe - Columbia Heights

I have been reluctant to try The Coupe because I have heard through the grape vine that it is a little pretentious and "tries too hard" to be a cool, hip coffee shop. Well, Saturday night I was walking by in desperate need of a chocolate chip cookie, so I decided to give it a try.

I only had my iPhone with me, so sorry for the poor picture quality!

On first impression, I was surprised at how spacious the place was! Coffee shops are usually small and quaint, but The Coupe still managed to be charming despite its size. There were plenty of comfy chairs to sit on and nooks to curl up in to enjoy coffee and a good book and great company.

I chose a small marble table with a big turquoise velvet chair. I sat down and felt so tiny in the queen-sized seat. It was as if I just fell into the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. I loved it.

Soon, the waiter came over. He was delightful. Full of smiles, laughs, and an overall good vibe.

In places like The Coupe, Tryst (which is part of the same group that owns The Coupe) and Pound where the cafes serve food as well as simple coffee, sometimes servers can be rude and upset when you just order a cappuccino. Not this guy. He was great. So friendly and helpful. Aside from the amazing folks at M.E. Swings, this is the friendliest cafe I've been to in DC.

I ordered a cappuccino and of course a chocolate chip cookie. The server asked if I wanted white chocolate chips or plain (I got regular) and even asked if I wanted the cookie warmed up! (Yes please!) And ice cream on top! (No thank you.)

The cappuccino was delicious. The flavor was subtle, not stark and powerful, but rather a light espresso, though still full bodied.

The foam (as you all know by now is my favorite part and can easily tell you if your cappuccino was made by a skilled barista) was fluffy and smooth. The texture was spot on, but because the cappuccino had a light espresso flavor instead of being dark and bold the dark part of the foam wasn't as flavorful as I would like on a perfect day. Still very good though.

Now let's move on to the chocolate chip cookie: YUM. It was warm and the perfect amount of gooey in the middle and crispy on the outside. The cookie itself tasted saltier than a normal chocolate chip cookie, but the salt flavor wasn't overpowering at all, it kind of brought out the flavor of the chocolate inside. And The Coupe sure didn't skimp on the chocolate! There were so many chips it was almost as if one giant chocolate chip was placed in the middle. Chocolate and cookie in every bite. It definitely hit the spot!

So while some say The Coupe is trying too hard, I would say if they are, then it's working. I really loved the vibe and the people. The bar at the far side seemed a perfect place to go with friends on a Saturday night for an espresso martini. And it even had a few dart boards! No, it's not Tryst, which people seem to think is more authentic than The Coupe, but whatever. I loved it and will be headed back for sure.

Coffee and Wine

Each time I go back home to Massachusetts, my mom and I visit a small wine barn in our little New England town. The wine store is always stalked as if they know I'm coming. The first time I walked in, a bottle of Samantha's Chardonnay (which is wicked good!) was on display in the front of the store... I'm telling you, this place is made for me.

While I was home a few weeks ago, I was browsing the wines and I found one called The Bean. It first caught my eye when I spotted two little coffee beans printed on the label.

After a month or so of waiting to try my wine, I finally popped the cork on my birthday in late October.

This wine is fermented in French oak barrels that first roasted coffee beans to add to the flavor of the wine. HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!

The wine is made from Pinotage grapes, South Africa's signature verity. It's a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut verities. In this wine, the Pinot Noir flavors came through very strongly and the wine was extremely expressive of cherries, which disappointed me a bit because I was expecting a more smokey, coffee flavor. The coffee notes, however, were still present, just more muted than I would have hoped.

I'm not a big fan of Pinot Noir; it's too fruity. I prefer drier wines with a big bite. Regardless of personal preference, I think if this same technique was used with Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz, the coffee and mocha notes would have been been more pronounced because they would have had a more similar base to bounce off of. Instead, the coffee notes were in competition with the dominant cherry flavors. Similarly, The Bean is only fermented for three months, leaving a smooth and silky finish rather than building the tannins and further absorbing the hints the coffee and mocha from the barrel.

Though I would make some changes to please my palate, I was more than fine sipping this wine on my birthday. In fact, there was not one drop of wine or a single coffee ground left in the bottle.

Blind Dog Cafe: Florida Avenue near U Street

If I am going to walk through a torrential downpour for a cup of coffee, it better be good. Luckily, wading my way down U Street Sunday afternoon to make it to The Blind Dog Cafe was well worth the wet shoes.

The outside of the cafe is bland, reminiscent of a speakeasy with nothing to denote what's inside besides the small fold-up sign pictured above. While it may be lackluster, it perfectly compliments the interior space and the vibe the cafe works to create. Inside, big red light fixtures cast a quiet light over the tables and ottomans scattered throughout, creating the perfect environment for reading a book by yourself in the evening or gathering for Sunday lunch with friends.

After putting down my umbrella and shaking myself like a pup trying to dry, (fun fact: did you know dogs shake of 70% off water on their fur in 4 seconds? And here is a slow-mo video just to prove it!) I went up to the counter to order my drink. 

The baristas at Blind Dog were extraordinarily friendly and easy to talk to. I instantly felt comfortable asking questions to find out what the cafe is all about. The drink menu listed a single origin pour-over for $3; I inquired.

The barista told me that all of the coffee brewed at Blind Dog uses chemex brewing techniques. See that photo above? Wait, the photo above the one above... see the two hour-glass looking devices in the center? That is a chemex, which is used to brew coffee by (here is the simplified version) placing a filter in the top cone, wetting it, placing grounds in the presoaked filter, and then adding small amounts of hot water. While Blind Dog Cafe brews all their coffee in this "pour-over" fashion, it still didn't explain what "single origin" meant. The barista said that their regular house coffee is a mixture of coffee grounds, while a single origin pour means the coffee grounds are all of the same type. So that's what I ordered. They have two options for single origin coffee: Sumatra and Brazil. I asked the barista which he preferred and ended up with a perfectly brewed cup of Sumatra coffee to sit with while reading my book.

Rich and oily, I knew I made a perfect choice. The taste was not overwhelming, but well balanced so that one sensation or flavor-note didn't dominate. Sumatra is a medium brew and it definitely came through. It lacked the stringent, bitter qualities that many cringe at, but it did not lack any flavor. The coffee was served at the perfect temperature. I often complain that coffee is too hot and that when served near-boiling, it either burns your tongue, so you can't taste the drink, or your taste buds become overwhelmed by the heat and cannot detect the subtle flavors in the coffee. This cup was perfect and allowed each flavor to come through.

I added in a dollop of cream over at the serving cabinet, which was old and wooden and gave the whole place the vibe of an old, slightly haunted (in a beautiful way), southern home.

Blind Dog also sells a variety of baked goods, sandwiches, and salads. On Twitter, Blind Dog always tweets photos of scones that look so good and make me want to eat my computer screen. On Sunday, they only had one type of scone to try: basil. I had to get it. The first thing I said when I took a bite, completely unfiltered, was "Oh yeah... that's strange..." But I said it with a smile because, while it was odd tasting, it wasn't bad. Just a very interesting flavor combination.

It was a bit too salty though and I think next time I'll have one of these chocolate chip cookies instead, YUM!

Ebenezers Coffeehouse: F & 2nd NE

There are a few authentically DC coffee shops that I can't believe I haven't yet reviewed. One of them is Ebenezers Coffeehouse on the corner of F and 2nd NE, right next to the Securities Exchange Commission.

Situated near Union Station, Ebenezers sits atop a piece of land that housed a diner in the early 20th Century. The diner served "butter and eggs" to travelers coming to and from the train station. The completely renovated space no longer sells butter and eggs, but it a perfect place to stop for coffee if taking an early morning train in to or out of the city. Knowing this, I can now makes sense of the iconic train and coffee pot logo:

Ebenezers is owned and operated by National Community Church and all profits go to community outreach projects.  ll the coffee is fair trade, but coffee isn't all it has to offer. Ebenezers also serves an array of milk-based drinks like "cookies and cream" or "orange cream".

They also have cookies and bananas!

I walked a little over a mile to get from my apartment to Ebenezers on a hothothot Saturday afternoon. When I got there I ordered a iced coffee to help me cool down. 

The iced coffee tasted very similar to Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee, which isn't my favorite, but many people love it. The coffee was a little weak, more of a breakfast blend taste than my preferred dark and bold. However, it was refreshing, light, and easy to enjoy on a hot summer day.

The best part of Ebenezers is all the natural lighting! Perfect for a Saturday afternoon to sit and read. It was so bright and the big windows made it feel open and airy.

If you want to sit outside, there are two lovely patios for outdoor seating. 

Conversely, if you don't want to be in so much sunshine, there is a underground space that customers are welcome to meet in and relax. The underground space is often reserved for live shows and open mike nights. Take a look at upcoming performances:

During my trip to Ebenezers I sat in this little nook. I like it! There is so much natural light streaming in, high bar stools, a bit out of the main area, and perfect to sit and gossip with a friend or to do some work on your laptop. WHICH I will be doing a lot of come Fall since I will be starting grad school two blocks away. Coffee dates!? I think so.

I 'm excited to go back to Ebenezers to try a cappuccino or latte. Since espresso naturally has a more robust flavor, I am hoping that once I taste a stronger concoction I will be able to add Ebenezers to my list of top DC coffee shops, for taste as well as location and atmosphere.