La Colombe Coffee Workshop — Restaurant in Washington

UPDATE: The coffee scene is now in Washington, DC and La Colombe may take the cake (or scone) for best coffee shop in DC. This is Todd Carmichael's second DC location and it's on point. Here's why:

1. Location- It's on 6th & I Street NW in between two hot neighborhoods (Mt. Vernon Square and Chinatown). It's Metro accessible and literally next to the synagogue making a coffee run before that concert easy (If you get here before 7PM).

2. Atmosphere- They perfected the stage DC is in with how they designed the place. It's a modern take on the old with its brick walls and exposed pipes along the ceiling.

3. Seating- Compared to La Colombe's original Blagden Alley location, there's more seating here with small tables to both your right and left including a long table to one side and another long table in a raised nook.

4. Coffee + Food- The coffee is always on point and this place gave me my first experience of NOT putting additional sugar in my iced latte. They gave me a draft latte and it's perfectly foamy and doesn't need sugar. It's not sweet but it's so quality and smooth it doesn't need anything else. The food offerings include quality pastries of all kind and a section of grab and go offerings.

5. The staff- Confident, knowledgeable about the art of coffee without being snobs, and friendly. Drew the manager is the best!

Please go here ASAP. It will be the hottest coffee shop in town soon enough.

FYI: If you're looking for wifi, go to Chinatown Coffee, Starbucks or Busboys and Poets nearby. Like all La Colombes, there's no wifi. I see it as them encouraging us to forgo the distraction of technology and to enjoy the best coffee with a great book.

Disclaimer: This hasn't opened yet, but knowing La Colombe, this place will be awesome! I'll do a real review once it...

Ever since I first stepped into La Colombe in Philly, I've been happily patronizing (yes, that is the definition of frequenting a store as a customer) this chain. There's another location in Mount Vernon Square, but I've loving this new location. The space is much larger and there's more seating. Minimalist and modern décor, brick walls, exposed pipes, dangling lights, wooden tables and chairs, seating typically for 1-2 people but also a large community table, stairs up to a cozy nook with a table large enough for four surrounded by large windows, and a general sense of openness.

They have a menu as soon as you walk in. Whether you want drip coffee, your daily cortado, or a draft latte, this La Colombe can hook you up AND for both dark and light roasts (hence the classic versus workshop options). Come in and take your coffee here to get their signature Deruta Raffaellesco ceramic cups and saucers, which I can't get enough of. They also have whole beans for sale and they can grind the beans for you.

No Wi-Fi so you won't get the usual space hoarders and their electronics. It still gets crowded here, but we were lucky enough to snag two spots at the large community table. Great spot to enjoy a cup of Joe and soak in that third-wave, independent...

Great coffee and really great latte. I got a Columbia brewed coffee and my wife got a latte, and I tried the latte and it was great! Additionally, we sat next to two guys discussing their careers in politics. I felt a little awkward just sitting there next to them, a 31 year old man, trying to capture the perfect "insta" shot of the window and synagogue across the street, but whatever. I've got to do me, right? Their conversation came to a point when one of them said to the other, " you're a republican, I'm assuming, right?" His friend quickly responded affirmingly, and they continued to chat for the better part of the next half hour. I mention this because it got me thinking, is Washington a place where all political types share coffee drinking spaces indiscriminately, or are there certain shops for the different types? I hope it's the former. Good shop. Check it out regardless of who...