Where can you find the best cup of coffee in Washington?

- Where do you shop for fresh coffee beans to brew up in the kitchen?
- Is there a connection between ambiance and taste at local coffee shops?
- What international flavors are you enjoying? How does Iranian, Ethiopian, or Turkish coffee compare?

On Wednesday (July 29th), Kojo will be exploring the specialty coffee market and the colorful ways it's changing American coffee culture. Help us compile a list of recommended local cafés, top-notch baristas and crazy coffee varieties to try out.

Right now our guest panel includes:

Peter Giuliano, Director of Coffee and Co-Owner, Counter Culture Coffee
Ric Rhinehart, Executive Director, the Specialty Coffee Association of America
Ryan Jensen, Barista, Peregrine Espresso (Capitol Hill)

Any other recommendations for guests?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Adam Gerard on July 15, 2009 at 4:47pm: In Columbia, MD, Orinoco Coffee & Tea roasts some excellent beans. I learned about them from the Kiss Cafe in Baltimore and now make sure I'm always stocked at home with their beans.

You can buy them by the bag online at very reasonable prices
http://www.cafeorinoco.com/
or you can find their bags at some My Organic Markets in the DC area.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ibc on July 16, 2009 at 1:05pm: Whoever roasts competently, locally, in small batches. In my neighborhood, it's Sidamo Coffee at 5th and H Streets, NE.

Here's a test: Take your current roast. Grind it (it is whole bean, right?), and pour a couple of teaspoons of hot water that's just cooled down from boiling.

Do you get a burst of coffee foam developing (the "crema")? If not, throw it out; it's over the hill. Peregrine's bagged coffee is pretty good. You'll never get that bloom with either Starbucks or Caribou, for instance.

No point in drinking bad coffee unless it's 3 am and you're cramming for a mid-term. :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Christopher on July 16, 2009 at 6:53pm: I am not sure if it is still there, but the best latte that I have ever ever had (at least in the US) (and I have had a lot) was from the coffee shop on the main quad at AU. I have forgotten the shop's name but I have not forgotten the taste of that wonderful, smooth brew. I have heard that there is a great local brewer/roaster in Bethesda; has anyone heard about it?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5) on July 17, 2009 at 1:19pm: Hey Christopher,

Are you thinking of Quartermaine Coffee on Bethesda Ave.? (right next door to Bethesda Bagel). They do a good, basic no-nonsense cup that's strong but doesn't have that really acidic burnt taste you get sometimes. Their website says they were founded in 1991 by the original owners of Starbucks and that their roasting plant is in Rockville. There is also a Dunkin' Donuts across the street there, though, which I always find hard to pass up.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by wonkguy on July 17, 2009 at 2:33pm: I have three criteria
1. Free internet (why does starbucks charge you for this?)
2. A clean establishment
3. Good music - life needs a good soundtrack; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Christopher on July 18, 2009 at 8:41am: Thats the one! I find that creating a coffee concentrate really reduces the acidity of coffee and makes it a lot smoother. I learned from the Splendid Table to soak 1 pound of coffee in 10 cups of water over night. It creates a smooth coffee concentrate that you can add hot or cold water to, milk for lattes, or whatever. It also cuts down on the morning rush.

Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5) said:
Hey Christopher,

Are you thinking of Quartermaine Coffee on Bethesda Ave.? (right next door to Bethesda Bagel). They do a good, basic no-nonsense cup that's strong but doesn't have that really acidic burnt taste you get sometimes. Their website says they were founded in 1991 by the original owners of Starbucks and that their roasting plant is in Rockville. There is also a Dunkin' Donuts across the street there, though, which I always find hard to pass up.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jerry B. on July 18, 2009 at 4:16pm: I get my beans from M.E. Swing Co. Their roasting and packaging facility is on S. Pickett St. in Alexandria, and you can go there and pick up as much as you want (best to call ahead), often still warm from the roaster. They've been around since 1916, so they know what they're doing. When I worked downtown, I loved their old store on E Street. Just the smell would perk you up.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Christopher on July 19, 2009 at 6:53am: Has anyone tried Murky Coffee? They were involved in a scandal last year in which the barista refused to serve iced expresso because it compromised the integrity of the expresso (chemically it does) and the customer sued. Is this a whole new level of coffee snobery? For me, I look for an old world cafe feel, a rich coffee aroma, lots of overstuffed chairs, and of course and most importantly a good cup of strong coffee.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ibc on July 20, 2009 at 12:31pm: Christopher said:
Has anyone tried Murky Coffee? They were involved in a scandal last year in which the barista refused to serve iced expresso because it compromised the integrity of the expresso (chemically it does) and the customer sued. Is this a whole new level of coffee snobery? For me, I look for an old world cafe feel, a rich coffee aroma, lots of overstuffed chairs, and of course and most importantly a good cup of strong coffee.

Murky on Capital Hill closed because of non-payment of taxes (a *lot* of taxes). The second shop is still open in The Great Southern Wasteland somewhere. I think it's in Arlingzandria, or Crystal Clarendon, or somesuch place....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brendan Sweeney (WAMU 88.5) on July 21, 2009 at 10:56am: Thanks for your feedback!

We have been talking about some of the different world traditions involving coffee-- differences between roasting / preparation in Iran vs. Ethiopia, etc. Anybody have any thoughts on a killer cup of coffee prepared in a different cultural tradition?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Adam Gerard on July 21, 2009 at 11:04am: Actually, the Murky in Arlington closed as well. I believe a new coffee shop is going in or has already gone in, that is owned by the Liberty Tavern restaurant nearby.

But the Murky Coffee owner is opening a new store in Chinatown that was originally going to be called Wrecking Ball Coffee, and now seems to be called Chinatown Coffee Company:
http://www.murkycoffee.com/2009/04/letter-to-our-customers.html
http://pqliving.com/?p=6110
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-DC/Chinatown-Coffee-Compan...

I don't believe it is opened yet.

ibc said:
Christopher said:
Has anyone tried Murky Coffee? They were involved in a scandal last year in which the barista refused to serve iced expresso because it compromised the integrity of the expresso (chemically it does) and the customer sued. Is this a whole new level of coffee snobery? For me, I look for an old world cafe feel, a rich coffee aroma, lots of overstuffed chairs, and of course and most importantly a good cup of strong coffee.

Murky on Capital Hill closed because of non-payment of taxes (a *lot* of taxes). The second shop is still open in The Great Southern Wasteland somewhere. I think it's in Arlingzandria, or Crystal Clarendon, or somesuch place....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Christopher on July 21, 2009 at 7:15pm: Geographically I prefer ethiopian beans. The taste is bolder in my opinion.

Brendan Sweeney (WAMU 88.5) said:
Thanks for your feedback!

We have been talking about some of the different world traditions involving coffee-- differences between roasting / preparation in Iran vs. Ethiopia, etc. Anybody have any thoughts on a killer cup of coffee prepared in a different cultural tradition?; ▶ Reply to This