29th Parallel Coffee — Restaurant in Burke

In a world of fast coffee and chain-shop sameness, 29th Parallel Coffee & Tea is a rare pour. Tucked into a quiet corner of Northern Virginia, this cozy little cafe isn’t just about caffeine — it’s about craft, culture, and connection. Here, every cup tells a story — from globally sourced beans to house-made chai and handcrafted lattes. It’s a place where slow sips meet deep flavors, and you’re always invited to linger a little longer. Whether you’re a purist or an adventurous sipper, their drinks don’t disappoint. Favorites include: Honey Rose Latte – Delicate, floral, and grounded in espresso. Vanilla Matcha Latte – Balanced, not too sweet, with earthy matcha notes. Rooh Afza Latte – A barista-recommended hit featuring a Pakistani rose syrup that’s as fragrant as it is refreshing. Pistachio Latte – Smooth, nutty, and just the right amount of indulgent. Blueberry Coffee Coke – Yes, it exists. And yes, it works. “Not too artificial or overpowering — just enough to complement the coffee.” “Rooh Afza was a revelation.” “The chai takes 45 minutes… because they make it from scratch. That says it all.” It’s not about flashy neon or hustle-and-go. This is the kind of place where first dates happen, deep work gets done, and baristas remember your name. The clean, minimal space and friendly staff make it feel welcoming — never snooty. “A bit more laid back than Starbucks… with excellent employees.” “Perfect for a lowkey date or solo coffee escape.” “Parking’s a bit tricky — but worth it.” For Coffee Lovers, By Coffee Lovers 29th Parallel is for the real ones. They serve rare beans from the world’s best roasters, often featuring limited batches that are roasted to highlight origin-specific flavors. “Absolutely my favorite coffee place in Northern VA.” “They only serve the best of the best beans.” “This place is small but made for coffee people.” After you’ve fueled up with a perfectly balanced latte and maybe a flaky pastry, why not take your chill a step further with PullUpDC? Whether you’re unwinding solo or vibing with friends, PullUpDC’s premium cannabis products pair effortlessly with a slow afternoon and good conversation. 29th Parallel Coffee & Tea isn’t just a coffee shop — it’s an experience made with intention, patience, and care. From the latte art to the bean sourcing, everything here is thoughtfully brewed, one cup at a time. Come for the coffee. Stay for the energy. Pull up...

29th Parallel is an interesting coffee shop tucked away in an unassuming shopping center off of Ox Road.

Walking in, the atmosphere is pretty cool. There's lots of wood. Wood paneling around the counter, wood floors, wood tables and chair, wood picture frames...you get the point. They're really trying to grasp that hipster, earthy environment and, honestly, they capture it pretty well.

There was music, but it wasn't loud or intrusive making this a good place to get some work done...if you're able to find a place to sit.

I wasn't super impressed with the seating area. By my count, there were 5 tables, two comfortable arm chairs and a couple of stools at the bar. When I went, every table was filled and there aren't a whole lot of options outside of the shop (no outdoor seating). So if you don't find a seat, you're just out of luck.

The service was okay. You typically come to expect young, knowledgable folks to work behind the counter and the gentleman who helped me certainly checked both of those boxes. I asked him his recommendations for a pour over and he gave me some good information on the cup that he liked, then I asked him where they sourced their beans and he gave me some great details about the roasters they buy everything from. So that was nice. That said, he wasn't particularly friendly. Not rude, but I sort of got the vibe that he didn't really want to talk to me and, when I would ask him questions, he would respond very standoffish, as if I was grilling him or something.

I'll also say that he had a friend sitting at the counter with him and he spent far more time speaking and joking around with him than he did actually dealing with customers.

Not a huge deal, but just something I noticed.

The coffee itself was great. I ordered the Ecuadorian pour over and paid about $5 for a plentiful cup. It had a light, almost sweet flavor that was pretty enjoyable. However, the cup I received had just been cleaned and I swear it smelled like Clorox or bleach. It didn't seem to affect the taste of the coffee, but I'll update this review if I have to get my stomach pumped at the hospital.

Overall, this is a pretty neat find. Not sure I'd go out of my way to grab a cup of coffee here and I almost certainly wouldn't go again if I wanted to get some work done, but if you're in the area, it's...

Based on the reviews here on Google for 29th Parallel, my expectations were high. Unfortunately, after my visit, I find it hard to believe most of these reviews are legitimate.

The negatives:

The seating area felt dirty and rundown.

My wife ordered a hot tea. I was surprised to see on the receipt that we had been charged almost $5 for an Earl Grey tea bag. I could understand the price being higher if the tea had been loose leaf tea, but $4.70 before tax for an Earl Grey tea bag was $1-1.50 more than I would expect. I also made note while we were in the shop of the fact that the tea prices were not listed on the menu (you can see this in photos on other reviews).

The dirty chai had hardly any flavor and tasted like it was just a watered-down chai tea bag. I am not convinced the barista actually added the espresso to the chai. The price of the dirty chai per the menu was $6.95. However, when reviewing my digital receipt, I noticed the barista charged me an additional $1.50 for an espresso shot. I would assume that the dirty chai (chai + espresso) price should include the cost of the espresso? So, unfortunately, I paid $8.45 + tax for a drink that tasted like an already-used chai tea bag over some hot water.

The menu lists two different prices for each drink: dine-in and to-go. The barista did not ask us whether we were staying or taking our coffees to go, but rang us up and charged us the to-go price (we were planning to stay). The shop was open for two more hours and there were other customers seated in the shop, so I do not know why the barista ringing us up would make the assumption we wanted our drinks to-go without asking us. I could understand this being the case if we had shown up right...