Filter Coffeehouse & Espresso Bar - Foggy Bottom — Restaurant in Washington

I would have rated Filter four or five stars, but I was honestly a little bit disappointed with my experience... Let me set the scene: it's a hot summer day. I'm looking to escape my desk for a bit and grab a delicious iced coffee. Who doesn't love iced coffee on a sweltering afternoon? Instead of going to the new Starbucks that just opened directly across the street from my office, my colleague suggests going to Filter, which is a couple of blocks away. (Mostly so we don't run into anyone we know.) We go, I ask for an iced coffee, and to my dismay, what do I hear? They are out of iced coffee! Clearly other customers were thinking like me, since apparently iced coffee was so popular that it ran out. And maybe the staff was in the process of making more iced coffee, but really? You're a coffee shop! How are you out of iced coffee? Again, I was rather upset... I ended up ordering an iced chai instead, and although it was delicious, it's not really what I wanted! Also, while I liked the upstairs area they have, they were playing music way too loudly so that I had to practically shout so that my coworker could hear me. Seems a little contradictory to their message that they don't have Wifi so that you can get work done -- but how is blaring music conducive to being productive? Anyway, overall, I will give Filter a second chance, but I'll manage my expectations so that if they don't have what I'm looking forward to, I won't be as annoyed next time. And, I'll probably take my...

This is a great place for drip coffee lovers, but if you’re into sweeter drinks you may resonate with me.

I was excited to try Filter with all the great reviews but it was a little underwhelming for me. Based on the name they specialize in pour overs and French press. While I’m more of an espresso/latte fan, the reviews also mentioned they have good espresso too which is why we still checked it out.

Some quick things I noticed, they only have oat and soy as milk alternatives and only have muscavado syrup you can add to your drink. There were some pastries available too. I got an iced mocha and added the muscavado syrup and my friend got a hot oak milk latte with the muscavado syrup. My mocha tasted a little bitter even after adding the syrup.

When we ordered we were asked if it would be ‘for here’ or ‘to go’. We decided ‘for here’ so my friend got her drink in a mug. Unfortunately there isn’t much seating other than some standing tables in the area, but it’s connected to a building so we found a table, but weren’t sure if it was technically connected to the coffee shop. It’s not an issue that some coffee shops are go to vibes only but if it’s an option to have your drink in an actual mug I wished there were more...

I’ve maybe posted a single review over the past ten years but felt compelled to post one after my experience at Filter. The quality of the coffee beans, the quality of the brewing process, the quality of the staff/customer service at Filter… it’s all superb. I am not exaggerating when I write that it was maybe the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had, certainly in the United States (it was a Gesha bean pour-over expertly brewed by one of the very competent baristas—no corners cut—a great deal of attention paid to the details, like preheating the carafe with hot water). Beyond the coffee itself, the staff were friendly, charismatic, and helpful with recommendations; the type of people working at a place where you can easily see yourself being a regular. I’m moving back to DC next year, and can confidently say that this is a place I will visiting at least once a week—more if I can.

Don’t get me wrong, coffee chains like Starbucks are great for a quick and convenient cup of hot or iced caffeine. But if and when you’d like to pay attention to the coffee you’re drinking, the people who are making it, and the overall aesthetic of coffee as something more than just a drink, I highly recommend...