The Coffee Bar — Restaurant in Washington

I’ve been hiking the Appalachian trail, and as a former barista I have been severely missing good coffee. Any chance I get I like to go into cities and find coffee shops. Most of them are decent but I have not been able to find anything “perfect”. I’ve been resorting to instant coffee while hiking, which any third wave barista knows is practically tastebud suicide, so anything different is a treat, even some of the subpar shops I’ve been to. I went into DC which is only an hour off the trail, and like any big city I was hoping for decent coffee, but was ok with anything other than the liquid tar I’ve been drinking. I was walking in the neighborhood and noticed the shop....so happy I did! I went inside and was so pleasantly sunrised by the vibe, clearly a shop that knows what they are doing but so welcoming, unlike a lot of other shops that have great coffee but you can’t enjoy it because of the pretentious environment. The Coffee Bar has an obviously well maintained Morzocco, and when I was there they were using coffee from amazing roaster such as Onyx, and espresso from Ceremony. I then took my chances and ordered a Cortado, a drink that some of the best baristas have trouble mastering, especially the Gibraltar. When my drink arrived I felt I had won the coffee shop lottery. What were the chances that this shop that I do happed to walk by could make the perfect cortado?! The barista was phenomenal, she obviously knew what she was doing. The temperature was perfect, not too hot and totally drinkable. Foam texture spot on, no big bubbles and with a head that resembled the white top of a fingernail. The espresso was perfectly dialed in to the sweet spot, not sour or bitter. I had to order another one and enjoyed just as much as the first. Thank you guys for taking so much care and passion in your shop! And know that something as simple as a well made cortado can make someone’s day! I recommend this shop to anyone looking for the perfect cup of coffee in DC. It’s not just coffee, it’s a...

One of my favorite cafes in DC, sporting delicious coffee, outstanding vibes, and super friendly staff! I've probably been to The Coffee Bar at least a dozen times already this year, and it continues to impress me each time with their attention to quality and crafting a relaxing, fun atmosphere for their guests.

The coffee itself is just outstanding. The beans are rich, slightly nutty, and super smooth. The latte is phenomenal, but they also have one of the few coffees in DC that I'm willing to drink black (or in an americano). If you don't love coffee, they have other outstanding drinks -- in fact, the drink that made me first fall in love with The Coffee Bar was their matcha latte (which, admittedly, feels a bit odd to order at a place literally called The COFFEE Bar, but they're clearly able to deliver far more than just coffee).

The staff is super friendly and the space is just gorgeous, all of which comes together to make The Coffee Bar a delightful and relaxing place to enjoy your cup of joe. They have a ton of outdoor seating, as well as a few tables and long counters / high tops inside, which are perfect for tapping away at your laptop or catching up over a warm beverage. If you're more in the mood for relaxing or just like to curl up with a book, they also have a few lovely cushioned chairs in the corners, including one of those lovely wicker egg-shaped chairs that makes you feel like you're sitting in a warm hug the entire time.

Whether you're on the hunt for some phenomenal coffee or a nice vibey place to either be productive or just relax, The Coffee Bar has to be on your...

The Coffee Bar does not allow dogs inside, which is perfectly acceptable, they have a slightly open window to get coffee. However for some unknown reason you can not order from the window (what's the purpose?). You must first go home and login and wait for some website administrator to approve you, don't know how long that will take, and order your coffee, THEN you can come to the window and PICK-UP your coffee. Well that is so convenient when you are walking your dog in the cold rain and would like a cup of warm coffee. There is a much better coffee shop just a few blocks away near 13th and U Street NW which has the most friendly, welcoming, and helpful staff, better coffee, and cheaper!

You guys have an amazing space, come on use your imagination. The program/process/simple daily schedule. You really could be a good coffee shop and much more.

Really, how difficult would it be to make it possible to take orders at the window? NADA! H E double toothpicka I'll come run your window for...