Samantha's Brewed Awakening

NEW SITE!

2014-10-15T10:34:00.002-04:00

Thank you for visiting Samantha's Brewed Awakening. We have changed locations and can now be found at:

http://abrewedawakening.wix.com/abrewedawakening

La Colombe

2014-02-15T22:11:00.001-05:00

There is a new coffee shop in town.

And they know what they're doing.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters is a name well known in the coffee community. After opening shop in Philadelphia in 1994, La Colombe's reputation for ethics, goodwill, and good coffee has spread world-wide with shops in Philly, NYC, Chicago, Seoul, and now finally DC. The shop opened its doors in DC about two weeks ago and while Washingtonians buzzed with anticipation, it was entirely worth the wait.

The first thing you have to know if visiting La Colombe DC is that it's not on any main drag of the city; it's in an alley. Blagden Alley, just a few blocks west of the convention center. If you didn't know this ahead of time, you may easily miss the unmarked street and wind up coffee-less and confused. Luckily, I'm here to keep your coffee compass in working order and below I've included a photo of Blagden Alley's south entrance so you'll know what to look for.

I visited La Colombe the day after its big opening and the place was packed. While space was limited during the major rush, I was pleasantly surprised with how neighborly and welcoming the staff was as dozens of customers flocked in. They chatted with each and every person, making it feel as if this coffee shop had been in the neighborhood for years and I had visited every day. It is exactly how a coffee shop should be and it made me smile ear-to-ear.

I started with a cappuccino, and I'm glad I did because it was the best looking cappuccino I've ever seen. Usually, foam is made to look like a leaf or some sort of heart, and I've never been a fan of the dainty and symmetrical. Too frilly. It's something that may have never even crossed your mind when drinking a cup of coffee, but I am a firm believer that aesthetics can overpower any situation, subliminally or not, and they make up half of whatever it may be you're experiencing. For me, aesthetics are huge, and La Colombe contrived a perfect flow from the unknown alley, to the red brick facade and painted signage, to the industrial inside contrasted against the detailed hand-painted coffee cups, and ending only with the presentation of the coffee. From the time I turned down the alley until I sat down to take a seat with my cappuccino, it was like a perfectly executed performance, but retold for every customer entering in her own time. It's not something most people even consider when drinking a cup, but for a girl who lives for visual stimulation, La Colombe is a dream come true.

The taste of the cappuccino foam weighed in just as nicely as its presentation. Foam is a major component of any cappuccino, so I often dedicate space to it. Usually you'll hear me rave about the espresso-filled foam, while I barely ever touch on the white milked portion. That's about to change because this was the best tasting white foam I've ever had and I would order a cup of foam for desert if I could. If that wasn't weird.

After I finished my cappuccino, I noticed the baristas using a machine that had either been a prop in Mars Attacks or was transported back from the future by Dr. Emmett Brown. It had two large siphons pulling boiling water up clear vats until it was dyed brown and ejected into the pretty little coffee cup. I began chatting with the baristas and was told the machine is called a steampunk. We laughed at the name and then he explained how it brews coffee in a fashion similar to a French press, but unlike a French press, it allows the process to be repeated almost exactly with every cup.

The great guys at La Colombe soon had a cup of steampunk-brewed Ethiopian coffee for me to taste. When I say I have never had a cup off coffee like this, I mean that I have never had a cup of coffee come even remotely close to tasting this fresh, fragrant, bright, and overall amazing. I could actually taste berries and smell a bouquet of fruit with every sip I took.

I've always made it clear in this blog that I write more for my experiences than for the critiquing of the subtle flavors and brewing methods of a cup of coffee. While I've tried them all, I rarely taste a difference in flavor as much as I detected in this cup. It was phenomenal and for coffee snobs and casual drinkers alike, it is a cup of coffee worth your time and taste buds.

Public Service Announcement

2014-02-13T10:12:00.000-05:00

OPEN:
Baked and Wired (updated post in the works)
Bayou Bakery
Big Bear Cafe
Blind Dog Cafe
Buzz Bakery (Ballston and Slaters)
Chinatown Coffee Company
Dolcezza
Ebenezers
Filter (Dupont)
Killer ESP (I have a review write-up in process)
Palena
Peregrine Espresso (all lotions - review in the works)
Pleasant Pops
Politics and Prose
Pound the Hill (opening at noon)
Qualia Coffee
TCB: The Coffee Bar
Ted's Bulletin (review in the works - sorry guys, I got too busy to keep up!)
The Wydown (brick & mortar location)
Tryst
My french press...

CLOSED:
Buzz Bakery (Navy Yard)
Cups and Co.
Curbside Cafe
Filter (Foggy Bottom)
H Street Coffee
M.E. Swing’s (all locations)
The Wydown (pop-up)

UNSURE:
Bourbon
Columbia Heights Coffee
Heller's Bakery and Cafe
Misha's
Pitango
Sip of Seattle
The Coupe

Dunkin' Donuts Begins Reward Program

2014-02-12T11:40:00.000-05:00

Dunkin' Donuts his finally offering rewards to loyal coffee drinkers & doughnut eaters to stay competitive with Starbucks. I like rewards. And I like doughnuts. I REALLY like coffee. Seems like a winning combination!

GET SIGNED UP!

American Coffee in Cairo, Egypt

2014-01-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

I’m in the process of planning what is sure to be an amazing trip to Mozambique, Africa. All my research has made me nostalgic for other amazing places I have been in this world. In college, when I was studying abroad in Rome, I went to visit a friend living in Cairo, Egypt.

At the time, I thought I would experience immense culture shock when I arrived. While customs and daily life in Egypt are far removed from American ways, there are certain aspects of Cairo that made me feel like I was back in the States more-so than I felt during my entire stay in Italy. For instance, in Italy, there are almost no American products for sale. They do not eat the cereals we eat and finding a jar of peanut butter is next to impossible.

Having gotten used to these differences while living in Italy, I was certainly surprised to see Nature Valley granola bars and Fruit Loops stocked high on the market shelves in Cairo.

Needless to say, the biggest difference while in Italy was the coffee. American cafes and Italian cafes couldn't be more distinct. Feeling far-removed from American coffee culture during my stay in Italy, right before heading back to Europe I stopped in at a very American-looking cafe that I had to try, mostly because I had been craving a mocha frappuccino for months.

The coffee shop was called Costa Coffee. It is a chain, and the location I visited was in Zamalek where I was staying. While making a stop here was far from experiencing historic Egyptian coffee culture, it is interesting non-the-less to see shops like these begin to plague the region. I have no recollection of how the drink tasted, and no pictures of the coffee shop to even show you. But I do remember feeling like I was in a Starbucks in the middle of an ancient city in the middle of a desert, which is to say it felt odd, but American for a moment.

Just last year, the Sydney Morning Herald reported “the Australian cafe chain The Coffee Club planned its assault on the Egyptian market … and less than a year after selling a licence [sic] to an Egyptian franchisee, The Coffee Club opened its first cafe on Egypt's north coast.”

While Italy is working hard to prevent chain shops from dominating the coffee scene, developing countries like Egypt welcome them with open arms. That is not to say that there isn't a place for traditional ahawi (coffeehouse). As the Daily News Egypt put it, “Ahawi have existed for centuries. They are places where commoners (particularly men) meet to spend their leisure time after a long day. Men at the ahawi would listen to a singer, play backgammon and dominos, and discuss life. They are known to be cheap (a cup of tea or coffee goes for as little as a pound), provide open air seating and give a taste of the authentic Egyptian spirit. In short, they were the place to go to socialize [sic] and relax.” And they still are to a large degree.

The influx of modern cafes may even be a good thing for the region, as they welcome female customers while many ahawi still cater mostly to men.

Curbside Cafe

2014-01-12T11:51:00.001-05:00

This morning I woke up to pouring rain and little interest to leave my bed. But soon enough, my desire for a morning cup of coffee took over, so I put on my boots and walked down the street to Curbside Cafe.

You may recognize the little cupcake-on-wheels logo from the Curbside Cupcake truck driving around town. The truck was so successful that the owners decided to create a brick-and-mortar location to bake all the tiny cakes and to keep up with demand. On the first floor of the shop you'll find a quaint cafe, while downstairs is where all the baking is done.

I heard that Curbside made in-house poptarts, like Ted's Bulletin, and have been dying to try them out to compare. As I walked in, the lady behind the counter greeted me simply and seemed very down-to-earth. In cities, cafes often take themselves (and their coffee) a bit too seriously, and forget that an important part of any neighborhood coffee shop is a friendly and welcoming face. I felt very-much at home at Curbside.

I immediately started snapping pictures while deciding what kind of poptart to try (for sweet, they had strawberry, apple crisp, and Nutella, while for savory they had spinach and gruyere, two different pizza flavored selections, PB&J, and bacon, egg, and cheese) obviously I ended up trying one savory and one sweet.

While I was snapping pictures the woman said, "so, are you gonna make me famous?" We shared a laugh and then she asked if she could get a coffee started for me. I told her I was a coffee blogger of some sorts, and she began to tell me all about the beans they use, while whipping her bow joking that this time around she better make the best cappuccino she's ever made.

For the coffee, Curbside uses locally roasted beans from Vigilante Coffee based in Northeast DC. The woman mentioned that the roaster made a special blend for the shop which is supposed to be sweet enough to drink with a cupcake, without being too strong or harsh to overpower the pastry. She wanted a cup of coffee that was easy to drink every day. For the espresso beverages, however, Curbside uses another type of bean... but I forget what kind. Some coffee blogger I am.

By the time she told me all about this special Vigilante blend, I had already ordered a cappuccino, but you can bet next time I will definitely try the drip coffee. The cappuccino came out extra hot, but just cool enough not to burn your tongue, which is good because I can't stand when I burn my tongue on the first sip. The espresso flavor was easy and very present, though I wish the foam had been thicker and more defined. Hopefully that will come with time.

Now for the poptarts. It's almost hard to compare them to Ted's because they are honestly so different. I think Ted's grasps the traditional flavor and consistency of a dense, traditional poptart a bit more, while Curbside's are more like a filled puff pastry. I started off with the savory spinach, egg, and gruyere. I loved the puff pastry outside, but I wish it had a bit less egg and more spinach and cheese. It tasted very much like a quiche. Next time I'd ask for it heated, I think it would amp up the flavor a bit. I do love that Curbside offers savory poptart selections - something Ted's does not.

Moving onto the sweet pastry, it was yummy, but nothing to write home about. It was pretty standard, the jam inside felt flat and not very fresh (which actually gave the feeling of eating real store-bought poptart, for better or worse.) Next time I visit, I think I will stick to the savory poptarts and maybe try a cupcake or chocolate croissant for something sweet!

Overall, Curbside Cafe is a wonderful edition to Southeast DC. It's simple, convenient, and has a wonderful down-to-earth vibe. It's a place to meet the neighbors or grab a bite to eat. I'm excited to go back again to try the Vigilante coffee and see how it compares!

The Wydown Coffee Bar

2013-09-01T14:59:00.002-04:00

I've always wished for a day off when everyone else has to work. It would be different from a weekend, and not even Labor Day would be able to match the feeling. Ten free hours that seem like ten extra hours you wouldn't have had, stealing seconds and turning them into minutes. I've longed for these strung-out seconds so Friday, I took the day off, and with ten free hours to waste I made my way over to U Street for coffee at The Wydown.

I woke up early, went for a run, made the bed and a nice big breakfast, and headed to the metro just as everyone else was headed to the office. I got off on U Street and walked ten steps over to The Wydown. I've been wanting to try the coffee bar for quite some time, but with only two days in a weekend, mundane obligatory chores have kept me away until today.

Walking in, I instantly recognized that this wasn't a simple steep-and-pour cafe. The sophisticated menu and array of brewing gadgets made it clear that The Wydown takes brewing seriously. The labyrinth of equipment was showcased by the the simple interior, which created a stage out of the lone coffee bar in the center-back of the shop. The bar was decorated with a giant espresso machine and three dip-coffee stations that are used to brew your choice of coffee. Instead of a menu, The Wydown's walls are used as a chalkboard where all of the choices are spelled out. The beans used for coffee brewed to order rotate in and out and change depending on the season. As I sat in the shop I overheard many customers ordering the summer solstice blend by Intelligentsia. I didn't try it, but I definitely plan on making a trip back because it sounds so refreshing!

Sticking to my guns, I skipped the drip and ordered a cappuccino. I made it clear when I started this blog that I am no coffee expert. I simply enjoy the atmosphere cafes provide and coffee that doesn't taste like car oil. I have learned a lot from folks about the different subtleties in coffee flavor and how to enjoy drip coffee as if it's a glass of wine, but a cappuccino in a porcelain cup still excites me the most.

The Wydown's baristas were kind, welcoming, and happy to explain any item on the menu to whomever was at the counter ordering. Some specialty coffee shops brew some real snobs, Baked and Wired being the snobbiest of them all and Qualia Coffee following not far behind. At The Wydown you don't have to choose between friendly folks and good coffee, here you get them both.

I ordered my cappuccino and sat down. When it was made, the barista delivered the drink right to my seat! They do this for everyone sitting in the cafe and it is such a nice touch that goes to show how friendly and unpretentious these coffee enthusiasts are. The cappuccino was a perfectly traditional cappuccino. The espresso was smooth and robust without any bitter bites. The milk-to-espresso ratio was dead on too. Most places put too much milk in cappuccino, thinking it is just a latte with foam, but The Wydown did a perfect pour. If I had to point out an area for improvement I'd say the foam wasn't as creamy as it would be on my perfect cappuccino, but it was so nearly there that it didn't spoil the drink one bit.

Along with coffee, The Wydown prides itself in its from-scratch baked goods, and since this is a coffee blog, I figured I would test out the espresso chocolate-chip muffin. The muffin was loaded with delicious chocolate chips on top and only a few scattered throughout the muffin. This normally would have annoyed me, because I can never get enough chocolate, but it actually enhanced the taste of the muffin. Since you weren't overwhelmed with chocolate in every bite, you could really taste the espresso mixed into the batter. And I don't know what special chocolate chips they use, but I want to know where I can get some because they were the best chocolate chips I've ever tasted!

I sat in the cafe for four hours sipping, munching, and reading. I ended up ordering an iced coffee as a second drink, and unable to finish it before leaving I packed it up in my backpack to go, looking pretty strange walking down the street.

I was thoroughly impressed by my experience at The Wydown and will no doubt become a frequent visitor. It's a perfect place for coffee experts and casual drinkers alike - and a perfect place to spend stringed-seconds and hour long minutes.

Cups & Co. - Russell Senate Office Building

2013-08-17T11:17:00.000-04:00

If you live and work in DC, it's likely you spend a lot time in the Capitol complex. During the work day, whether your busy working for a member or making a quick trip to the Hill, it's hard to find time to walk the half mile to Ebenezers or down Penn to Pound. And with so many options inside the building itself, why bother?

If you work on the Hill in one fashion or another, you have probably heard rumors that the best place to grab a cup of coffee is Cups & Co. in Russel Senate Office Building. It's so renowned that when I asked my buddy who works on the House side to grab coffee, he said, Yes! Let's head to Cups!

Not only agreeing, but suggesting making the trek from Rayburn to Russell just to grab a cup of coffee speaks to how loved this little cafe is. In fact, on Secretary John Kerry's last day in the Senate, he turned down the member's dining room for a trip to Cups.

Roll Call, The New York Times, and The Hill have all published articles on the little joint. The Times wrote, "There are two crown jewels in the Capitol culinary complex. One is Cups & Company, a New York Korean-deli-style joint in the Russell Senate Office Building, which has been operated by Charles and Kathy Chung for more than a dozen years. Their excellent coffee (a rare commodity here) and demonlike efficiency with their hot sandwiches are Washington’s most convincing arguments for private enterprise on government property. Secretary of State John Kerry, on his last day as a senator, stopped at Cups for lunch."

The best way to get to Cups if you're coming from the outside world and not from deep within the endless tunnels of brick and concrete, you'll want to go to the Delaware Ave and C Street entrance, it looks like this:

Once you make it through security, walk straight down the brick hall and it's the first entrance on the left.

You'll quickly see that it's like any normal, crappy cafe. It's certainly not posh, but it's all we got, and it's what we like.

Everyone always says how cheap Cups is compared to Starbucks and other coffee shops, but I think they just say that to make themselves feel better about buying eight cups of coffee a day. Prices are the same as anywhere else.

I ordered 16 oz (smallest size they offer for cold beverages) iced latte with 2% milk and my friend got a small skim latte with two shots of espresso and two packets of Splenda.

We sat down at a nearby table and before talking politics, policy, and catching up, we discussed more important issues: the taste of the coffee. I tried a sip of his, and while I never-ever put sugar in my coffee unless its a mocha latte, I must say it tasted pretty yummy. And for Hill staffers, the extra sugar packet paired with the caffeine is necessary for making it through the work day... which often lasts until 9:00 PM.

My latte was very, very milky. I loved it, but that's because I love milk. It tasted more like cold milk with a hint of coffee than a strong and potent iced latte. If you want a jolt or something distinctly coffee flavored, I would not recommend the iced latte. However, if you're looking for a treat and don't want to go full out for a milkshake, the iced latte is the way to go. It would have been the perfect compliment for a warm, gigantic chocolate-chip cookie.

We had to run before I had the chance to finish even half my drink. I tossed the rest of it out on my way to the Capitol Subway, which might have been a good thing since it was so heavy and had started to make my stomach ache.

Making my way over to the Capitol itself, I was left pondering why everyone on the Hill, myself included, thinks Cups & Co. is the best coffee. It's good, don't get me wrong, but I'm not sure I would make the trip from the House side to the Senate just for a cup.

I think that when staffers say that Cups is the best, they mean Cups is the best... option we have. It is certainly better than the coffee offered at the small joint in Cannon tucked away near the tunnel to Longworth, (though the Cannon cupcakes are pretty phenomenal.) Cups is also cherished because Hill folks love tradition. This little cafe has been a staple for so long that it's become part of what it is to work in the Senate. In a building where people are always dressed to the nines and the floors are always shined and pristine, this little, crappy cafe that serves drinkable coffee is exactly what members and staffers are looking for.

A Small New England Town

2013-08-10T15:51:00.000-04:00

I love coming home to Massachusetts for Memorial Day because it gives me a chance to relax and enjoy the small town I grew up in.

While visiting for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays is always fun, there is something to be said about just going home, getting a coffee from my old stomping grounds, and sitting on the back porch with the American flag blowing in the breeze. Unfortunately, it has been cold and rainy all week, so I haven't really been able to sit on the back porch and sip wine in the garden. I'm praying tomorrow will be better, because me, my dad, and my brother are planning to head to the Cape house to go fishing on the new boat! While rainy days are not preferable, it's still nice just being home. Me and my mom have been running errands around town, going to wine tastings, and of course, grabbing cups of coffee.

I have a few favorite Massachusetts coffee shops near my house. This particular one I go to more for the donuts than for the coffee (though the coffee is delicious). These donuts are the best in the whole wide world. It's called Donut Express in Medfeild, MA.

When I say this place has the best donuts in the world, I mean it. I crave them all day everyday in DC, and I beg my mom to stock up on them every time I come home. Look at these crullers:

And just in case your mouth isn't watering yet...

My mom has one rule, we only go to Donut Express after noon, because after noon all donuts are half off. Yesterday there was a slight brake in the rain and I was able to go out for an 8 mile trail run before hopping in the car to drive over to Dount Express with my mum. We ordered a dozen donuts and 2 medium iced coffees for a grand total of $8.09.

See the marble cruller tray? It's empty because we got the last two! They are the best, and always the first to go.

To go with our crullers (is a cruller a Massachusetts thing?? I feel like people look at me funky when I say I want a cruller in DC) mum ordered a hazelnut iced coffee and I got my favorite snickerdoodle. I LOVE snickerdoodle iced coffee, and while the flavor is sold in almost every coffee shop in MA, it's a hard commodity to come by in the District. It has a slightly nutty flavor with a cinnamon overtone. It's delicious.

When you order flavored coffee at Donut Express, it isn't coffee with a slight hint of the flavor you pick, the flavor is strong and unapologetic. Thick and potent, this no frills iced coffee is the perfect match for the world's greatest donut.

Also, flavors are brewed in, not added with syrups.

This little donut shop is in a small strip mall and has a very modest interior; it couldn't be more perfect. The coffee is always spot on and served in a yellow styrofoam cup with a bendy straw. It isn't as classy (by any means) as the big-shot DC cafes like Tryst and Filter, but it is oh so good.

When you sit down to enjoy your coffee and donut at Donut Express, you can usually find one of these "Coffee News" newsletters to read. It is a way for local business to advertise cheaply. The paper is full of funny jokes, quotes, poems, and a brief overview of the week's news. However, this issue might be the last one. There was a column voicing the owner's intent to sell the publication, hopefully he finds a nice, young, coffee drinking entrepreneur to take over!

B&W Throwback

2013-08-03T10:35:00.000-04:00

Istanbul.

Zurich.

Istanbul.

Calabria.

Istanbul.

Rome.

Copenhagen.

Rome.

Zurich.

Rome.

Istanbul.

The House my Grandfather Built, Calabria.

Istanbul.

Prague.

Istanbul.

Tropea.

Istanbul.

Malmo.

Copenhagen.

Rome.

Prague.

Calabria.

Rome.

Copenhagen.

Zurich.

Copenhagen.

Prague.

Me, Prague.

Peregrine Espresso

2013-06-01T20:19:00.000-04:00

Post coming soon. Until then, head on over and try out their amazing iced lattes for yourself!

A Moment of Silence for Boston

2013-04-16T00:40:00.005-04:00

Today I ran. Not 26.2, but 5.6. It was supposed to be my rest day, my day to recover from my long weekend run. But the last thing I could do was rest. My heart had been aching all day and nothing would ease it. Not even getting the phone call from my little sister, who had been at the finish line, put the thumping to rest. My mussels were sore from my run the day before, but nowhere near as sore as my heart. I had to run.

I usually run with an iPod and GPS, tracking my pace and listening to either Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me or the Barenaked Ladies. Those are the only two things I listen to when I run. When I got home this afternoon I went straight to my closet, pulled on my Falmouth Road Race tech shirt, shorts, and sneakers, and walked out the door with nothing else but a dirty old Red Sox hat. It felt right. It felt necessary.

I started to run. Fast. Much faster than usual. I was angry. No. I was upset. Sad. I don’t know what I was, but I knew the only thing that could cure it was to run.

I made my way up Pennsylvania Avenue and hit Capitol Hill, but in my head I was on Boylston turning onto Fairfield. The sight of the explosions.

My legs were sore. I ran faster. This was my moment of silence. No iPod. No checking my pace. Just finishing the miles that many who worked so hard weren’t able to run.

I ran because I am a runner, and there is no prize or glory that comes with that. I’ve lost toenails. I’ve torn the cartilage in my hip, I have scrapped my knee and blistered my feet more times than you could imagine, but I still wake up early to run. Then, I am tired all day. The next morning, I wake sore and do it again. It’s hard. It hurts. As all runners know. But there is a peace that comes with it, a sense of self to which nothing can compare.

When time is tight…. when mussels are tight... it’s the support I get that keeps me going, or at least keeps me from breaking. The girl who yelled at me on E Street to keep up the good pace and the random guy I ended up running alongside for 3 miles, each of us helping the other keep speed, until he turned onto a different road. My family, who comes to every race, and that one person who always says, “you’re a champ,” even if it was my slowest time yet.

In running, those clapping on the side are better than any sports bar, energy drink, or pasta dinner. It’s the runners and spectators together who work hard for months to celebrate their accomplishment at the finish line. Today those runners and supporters didn’t get to celebrate.

I ran tonight for my own moment of silence for those who worked hard, offered encouragement, and can no longer run. I ran for them.

Pray for Boston.

How Coffee Can Help and Hurt Runners

2013-04-06T15:41:00.000-04:00

I've been a runner for 10 years, but I've only been running long distances for about a year now. While I used to run 3-4 miles a few times a week just to keep in shape, now I usually run 25-30 miles a week, and sometimes I even fit in a 10 miler before work in the mornings.

That being said, my coffee and food consumption has sky rocketed lately. While it's not encouraged by the running community, my go-to food before a run is cake. Yes, cake. It's high in calories and that sugar boost is exactly what I need to go my fastest.

Most runners prefer to get that boost from caffeine right before a run. There are many different views on if caffeine can enhance sport performance, and while I am no expert, from what I have read and experienced, caffeine can definitely help push you through to the finish line. Most runners and running magazines agree and encourage caffeine consumption, telling readers to go ahead and enjoy that cup of coffee. However, what irritates me is that while these articles encourage runners to drink coffee, they do no warn against the risk of dehydration.

When I drink coffee, I almost instantly need water. Whether this is my mouth thinking I need water or my body asking for it, I do not know. While caffeine is indeed a diuretic, new studies show that caffeine is less dehydrating then it was thought to be years ago. According to Runners World, it is understood that a person can have 550 mg of caffeine (5 cups of coffee) without it affecting hydration levels. In the end, my advice is the same you will read all over the web. Do your homework, understand different foods and drinks, but above all know you body and what works best for it. If coffee gives you a boost in your run, make sure to know how your body responds and be aware of the possibility of quicker dehydration.

Interestingly enough, I actually prefer to have a cup of coffee after my run, both to keep me awake and productive for the rest of the day and because it makes me feel better. I never really thought about why it makes me feel better until writing this post, so I did some research and discovered the Runner's World article I mentioned above that says there are new studies showing consuming caffeine after working out can help runners recover.

Runners know they need carbs postrun to rebuild their glycogen stores, but a recent study suggests caffeine may also enhance recovery. Cyclists rode hard for two consecutive days to drain their glycogen stores. They then drank a carb beverage with or without caffeine. Researchers found that having a drink with caffeine rebuilds glycogen stores 66 percent more than a carb-only drink.

Click HERE to link to the article to learn more and make sure to tweet me @DCoffeeSnob if running has caused a change in your coffee consumption.

Memorial Day Weekend: Instagram Edition

2013-04-06T12:17:00.000-04:00

Bayou Bakery - Courthouse, VA

2013-03-31T11:04:00.000-04:00

Bayou Bakery is a Courthouse cafe with a big Twitter presence. They are always reaching out to their followers asking them to come in for a cup of coffee and some baked goods, so I did. A few of my own followers have tweeted at me telling me how much they love Bayou Bakery, so before I ever went, my expectations were high.

In my head I had pictured a small and cozy cafe tucked away in an old street corner. Much to my dismay, when I came up from the Courthouse metro stop I found an industrial looking business lunch spot. I didn't let the facade turn me away, after all, I have heard great reviews.

Inside was slightly better. They tried to make it warm and welcoming, though I don't think they quite pulled it off. I was disappointed that it wasn't what I had imagined, but at 2 o'clock on a Sunday it was packed so there had to be something I was missing.

I went right up to the counter to order a cappuccino and a red velvet cupcake. After finding a table, I sat and sipped my cappuccino only to be disappointed yet again. It tasted more like coffee than a cappuccino, and weak coffee at that. It was watery and bland with little flavor. I usually complain that cafes serve coffee too hot and I burn my tongue before I can even taste it, but at Bayou, the cappuccino was even a bit too cold for me.

The cupcake, on the other hand, was delicious! At least by comparison. The cake was dense, but could have been a tad more moist, and the frosting needed to be more creamcheesy and less sugary. I will admit I am being a bit harsh on the cupcake, since I did eat the whole thing and loved every minute of it.

The thing that bothered me most about Bayou Bakery wasn't the weak coffee or industrial space, it was the smell. Walking in, it smelt like I was entering a tin can, or my third grade lunch room. It was bad, especially for an establishment that is trying to get people to stay and eat.

I would definitely qualify Bayou as more of a work-week lunch spot rather than a weekend bakery. Even the little things, like the hot sauce on the table, took away from the feeling you are looking for when you sit and sip a cappuccino on a cold February afternoon.

I will give them one thing, they certainly know how to market their goods, even if what you get isn't as good as what you were led to believe.

The Coupe - Columbia Heights

2013-03-30T00:21:00.000-04:00

I have been reluctant to try The Coupe because I have heard through the grape vine that it is a little pretentious and "tries too hard" to be a cool, hip coffee shop. Well, Saturday night I was walking by in desperate need of a chocolate chip cookie, so I decided to give it a try.

I only had my iPhone with me, so sorry for the poor picture quality!

On first impression, I was surprised at how spacious the place was! Coffee shops are usually small and quaint, but The Coupe still managed to be charming despite its size. There were plenty of comfy chairs to sit on and nooks to curl up in to enjoy coffee and a good book and great company.

I chose a small marble table with a big turquoise velvet chair. I sat down and felt so tiny in the queen-sized seat. It was as if I just fell into the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. I loved it.

Soon, the waiter came over. He was delightful. Full of smiles, laughs, and an overall good vibe.

In places like The Coupe, Tryst (which is part of the same group that owns The Coupe) and Pound where the cafes serve food as well as simple coffee, sometimes servers can be rude and upset when you just order a cappuccino. Not this guy. He was great. So friendly and helpful. Aside from the amazing folks at M.E. Swings, this is the friendliest cafe I've been to in DC.

I ordered a cappuccino and of course a chocolate chip cookie. The server asked if I wanted white chocolate chips or plain (I got regular) and even asked if I wanted the cookie warmed up! (Yes please!) And ice cream on top! (No thank you.)

The cappuccino was delicious. The flavor was subtle, not stark and powerful, but rather a light espresso, though still full bodied.

The foam (as you all know by now is my favorite part and can easily tell you if your cappuccino was made by a skilled barista) was fluffy and smooth. The texture was spot on, but because the cappuccino had a light espresso flavor instead of being dark and bold the dark part of the foam wasn't as flavorful as I would like on a perfect day. Still very good though.

Now let's move on to the chocolate chip cookie: YUM. It was warm and the perfect amount of gooey in the middle and crispy on the outside. The cookie itself tasted saltier than a normal chocolate chip cookie, but the salt flavor wasn't overpowering at all, it kind of brought out the flavor of the chocolate inside. And The Coupe sure didn't skimp on the chocolate! There were so many chips it was almost as if one giant chocolate chip was placed in the middle. Chocolate and cookie in every bite. It definitely hit the spot!

So while some say The Coupe is trying too hard, I would say if they are, then it's working. I really loved the vibe and the people. The bar at the far side seemed a perfect place to go with friends on a Saturday night for an espresso martini. And it even had a few dart boards! No, it's not Tryst, which people seem to think is more authentic than The Coupe, but whatever. I loved it and will be headed back for sure.

Chinatown Coffee Company

2013-03-26T15:23:00.004-04:00

There is a special place in my heart for Chinatown Coffee Company.

Out of all the shops in DC, I would say this is the one I frequent most. Partially because it's located right near my work, home, and grad school... and partially because the coffee is dynamite.

I love it. But because I love it so much, I have refrained from doing a post because I hate people knowing who I am and I would be embarrassed walking in if they did. Also, I love taking fun pictures for this blog, but again, because it is the coffee shop I frequent most, I don't want to be the awkward girl snapping photos... and then next morning having them say, oh, you're the awkward girl that was snapping photos. Which is why, you will notice, all of the photos for this post are iPhone quality Instagrams I've collected over my many visits. Maybe someday I'll take five shots of espresso and work up enough courage to take some real pictures. Maybe...

But sipping my Chinatown Coffee cappuccino right now, I feel that it's finally time for me to say something about this little treasure.

I felt especially obliged to write a post today because the barista who served me was unbelievably nice and friendly. Most (not all, but most) of the baristas are very nice, but this guy was extra pleasant to talk to. I was at the shop with a colleague who wanted flavoring in his latte. When I do get flavored coffee, which is rare, I make sure the beans are flavored because I hate the taste syrups leave. Chinatown Coffee Company has two flavor options: hazelnut and vanilla. I would always lean towards hazelnut, but my colleague chose vanilla, which the barista told us was the better choice. Chinatown Coffee Company makes their own vanilla flavoring, submerging actual vanilla beans in a bottle of simple sugar syrup. It was neat!

Here I am going to focus on espresso drinks, because I think Chinatown Coffee Company does an amazing job with espresso while their coffee is just okay... (see!! They are going to hate me, I can never show my face again.)

They serve one of the best cappuccinos in the city. Perfect consistency, warm, and deep espresso flavor with soft caramel undertones... it's to die for. Not to mention, the baristas that work there are good. REALLY good. The foam is always poured perfectly, stays fluffy, and is so aesthetically pleasing I almost don't want to drink it.

For even more of that rounded espresso flavor, try the cortado. Cortados are my favorite way to drink coffee.They contain enough milk to give it body, but not too much to cover the underlying notes in the espresso. Chinatown Coffee Company makes a phenomenal one.

Whatever you order, make sure you get something sweet to go along with it! Try a cookie, muffin, scone, or biscotti... you name it, I've had it... which is kind of embarrassing. I love everything I have had, except I found the biscotti too crispy and a bit overcooked. The scone was the perfect consistency and the cookies just the right size.

The shop is a tad on the pricey side, but the high-quality coffee and snacks make it worth it.

The other cool thing about Chinatown Coffee Company is each day they have a drink special. It's like happy hour, for coffee, all day long.

Though on Americano day, when I ordered the iced Americano pictured below, they charged me full price. So you have to make sure you request the special.

One of the drinks I have never tried at the shop is absinthe. I hate absinthe, but it's cool they sell it! The only other coffee shop I have been to that sells absinthe is in Zurich, and there I tried it. It was an experience... you can read about it here.

There, I did it. I finally wrote a post on Chinatown Coffee Company. I love the little shop and I hope you do too. Maybe you'll see me there soon, trying to hid in the corner feeling shamed and embarrassed. Not even that could keep me away from sipping their amazing cappuccinos.

DC's Best Hole-In-The-Wall Coffee Shops

2013-03-16T13:02:00.000-04:00

The Pretzel Bakery

Capitol Hill

340 15th Street SE

Sip of Seattle

Metro Center

1120 G St NW

Heller's Bakery

Mount Pleasant

3221 Mt Pleasant St NW

Columbia Heights Coffee

Columbia Heights

3416 11th Street NW

Barista Bot

2013-03-14T23:09:00.003-04:00

Medium latte, extra hot, extra phone, two sugars, oh and my face.

(To be honest, I expected more from a robot...)

Drink Coffee Like an Italian

2013-03-09T10:45:00.000-05:00

It's 2:00 in the afternoon and the only thing that is going to get you through the day is an extra shot of espresso. You trudge over to the closest Starbucks, which is three blocks away, and on the long walk there all you are thinking about is how your company should have chosen a location that was actually near a coffee shop. You finally get to the Starbucks, wait in line, and order a venti cappuccino, with an extra shot of espresso for good measure. In America, this is the norm, but in Italy (the coffee culture center of the world,) everything about what you just did is so very wrong.

If you are planning to take a trip to Italy and want to sip espresso like the locals, there are a few things you need to know:

1. In Italy, going to a bar at 7:00 AM is completely appropriate. "Bar" is simply the Italian word for what we call cafes.

2. In most cases, you pay for your drink before ordering it. When entering the shop, walk directly to the cash register and tell the cashier what you are ordering and pay for it. Then, you typically go to another counter elsewhere in the shop, place your receipt on the bar, and soon a skilled Italian barista named Mario will come over to ask you what you want. (Disclaimer: the barista's name will not always be Mario). When placing the receipt on the counter, it is customary to leave a small euro coin (ten euro cents will do) to "hold the paper down" for the barista. It's a small way to tip in Italian culture.

3. Do not order a cappuccino, latte, macchiato, or any other milk-based beverage in the afternoon. Italians only drink milk-based coffees in the morning. It is regarded as a breakfast item in Italy and you will stand out like a sore thumb if you order a cappuccino at 2:00 in the afternoon. Not to say that during my months in Italy I didn't stick out even if I ordered an espresso. I'm pretty sure that with my light hair, pale skin, blue eyes, and thick American accent, ordering a cappuccino at 2:00 PM wasn't the thing that identified me as an American.

4. After you've ordered, drink it at the bar, there is no such thing as "to-go" coffee in Italy. If you ask, some places may have a plastic Dixie cup you can take with you, but I have only seen this happen once my entire time in Italy. Furthermore, porcelain cups, rather than plastic, preserve the aroma of the coffee.

5. Drink your coffee at the bar while standing. Italian bars are unlike American cafes in that once you order, you cannot sit. If you want to sit and spend time at the cafe in Italy, you must sit right when you get there and you will have a server that will come over and take your order. You will also pay more to sit down, especially in a touristy part of the city.

6. Now, this next one may surprise you. When ordering an espresso, it is typical of Italians to order it "espresso con zucchero," or espresso with sugar. We often think as sugar being a very American thing, but this has been misinterpreted. Italians love to sweeten their espresso with sugar. But if that's the case, why are Americans seen as the fat, sugar-holics? Simple. Consider the size of an espresso and how much sugar is needed to sweeten it up. Now, think about a venti Americano from Starbucks, and how much sugar is needed to sweating that up. The Italians are a perfect example of "everything in moderation."

7. The last thing to be aware of is the different caffeinated choices you have. For instance, while Starbucks has popularized "macchiato" as a sugary, large beverage, in Italy, a macchiato is just espresso with a dollop of milk. Additionally, regular drip coffee is not so regular in Italy. They call it an Americano, and absolutely no Italians ever order them because drip coffee is flavorless compared to the usual Italian choices.

Below is a list of some choices to help you better understand what you're ordering:

Caffè: An American espresso, though you can typically refer to it as an espresso and they will understand.
Doppio: Double espresso.
Ristretto: An espresso made with less water to concentrate the flavor and caffeine.
Americano: American coffee.
Macchiato: Espresso "stained" with steamed milk on the top.
Caffè Latte: A espresso with steamed milk.
Caffè Corretto: Espresso "corrected" with grappa or cognac.
Cappucino: Espresso (or coffee) with foamed milk.
Caffè Freddo: Iced coffee.
Caffè Hag: Decaffeinated.
Caffè Marocchino: Espresso with a dash of hot milk and cacao powder.
Caffè Shakerato: Espresso shaken with sugar and ice. It is shaken vigorously until a froth forms.
Granita: Find out by clicking HERE. PS. It's AMAZING!

PhoWheels & Vietnamese Iced Coffee

2013-03-08T13:21:00.004-05:00

Vietnamese iced coffee is one of the most delicious drinks there is. Typically, it's made by combining a good helping of strong-brewed coffee or espresso with condensed milk. Condensed milk is very sweet and thick, and is terrible for you, but sure makes a delicious caffeinated drink. I first tried Vietnamese iced coffee at American University's Davenport Cafe, the campus-run coffee shop. They make it so well and I haven't been able to find a good one since. Until now.

(Sorry for the quality of these photos, only had my iPhone on me)

Yesterday, I went to the PhoWheels food truck for lunch. I never quite caught on to the food truck bandwagon. I have tried a few and have found them all pretty mediocre and overpriced. So yesterday, when I walked over to PhoWheels to grab lunch with a colleague I wasn't expecting much. When we got there, he recommended the tacos. I ordered one chicken and one tofu, and when I saw "Viet Iced Coffee" at the bottom of the menu, of course I had to order it.

A few minutes later, tacos and coffee in hand, we walked back to the office where I sat and ate. It was honestly one of the greatest things I have tasted in DC! Absolutely amazing. The taco shells are not taco shells at all, rather Malaysian flatbread, perfectly browned. The flavor of the sauce and spices mixed seamlessly and for the rest of the day I talked about how good it was to anyone who would listen.

Not only was the food great, but the Viet iced coffee was dynamite. Thick and sweet, it was perfectly made with a rich coffee flavor. If you've never tried Viet iced coffee, the best comparison I can think of is melted coffee ice cream poured into a cup of ice with a straw, and if that doesn't make your mouth water, then there may be something wrong with you.

Again, it is not the most healthy thing to drink... and that's an understatement. It's terrible for you and I am ashamed whenever I drink one. But once in a very long while it's definitely worth the treat.

An Italian Tradition: Coffee and Good Will

2013-03-02T14:12:00.000-05:00

Awww shucks! Italy and coffee are the best.

Via NPR's The Salt | Suspended Coffee: Old Italian Custom Spreads Across Poorer EU

By Sylvia Poggioli | April 25 2013 (link to article)

A barista serves coffee at a cafe in Naples, Italy. The Italian city's long-standing tradition of buying a cup for a less-fortunate stranger is now spreading across Europe. Christopher Furlong/Getty Image.

Tough economic times and growing poverty in much of Europe are reviving a humble tradition that began some one-hundred years ago in the Italian city of Naples. It's called caffè sospeso — "suspended coffee": A customer pays in advance for a person who cannot afford a cup of coffee.

The Neapolitan writer Luciano de Crescenzo used the tradition as the title of one of his books,Caffè sospeso: Saggezza quotidiana in piccoli sorsi ("Suspended coffee: Daily wisdom in small sips").

"It was a beautiful custom," he recalls. "When a person who had a break of good luck entered a cafe and ordered a cup of coffee, he didn't pay just for one, but for two cups, allowing someone less fortunate who entered later to have a cup of coffee for free."

The barista would keep a log, and when someone popped his head in the doorway of the cafe and asked, "Is there anything suspended?" the barista would nod and serve him a cup of coffee ... for free.

It's an elegant way to show generosity: an act of charity in which donors and recipients never meet each other, the donor doesn't show off and the recipient doesn't have to show gratitude.

The writer says the tradition is part of the city's philosophy of life. "In other words, it was a cup of coffee," de Crescenzo says, "offered to the rest of humankind." It was a time, he adds, when there were more customers who were poor than those who were well-off.

It's fitting that the tradition started in Naples, a city that prides itself on having the best coffee in Italy. And in a country where the first coffeehouse in Europe opened in 1683 (in Venice), that is no small claim.

Before the likes of Gaggia and Cimbali started producing the modern commercial espresso machines, Italians made coffee at home on the stovetop with a coffee maker known as aNapoletana.

Naples and coffee are inseparable, but the caffè sospeso tradition waned as Italy entered the boom years of postwar reconstruction and La Dolce Vita. For decades, the custom was confined mainly to the Christmas season.

Now, it's made a comeback. Two years ago, with the eurozone crisis already raging, unemployment rising and small businesses closing on a daily basis, more and more Italians could no longer afford the national beverage — an espresso or a cappuccino. (According to theInternational Coffee Organization, which represents 44 coffee exporting countries, Italian per capita annual consumption of coffee has dropped to 5.6 kilograms, the lowest level in the past six years.)

Then someone remembered the old Neapolitan custom. So several nongovernmental organizations got together and — with the support of Naples Mayor Luigi de Magistris — Dec.10 was formally declared "Suspended Coffee Day."

The practice is now spreading to other crisis-ravaged parts of Europe.

In Bulgaria, the European Union's poorest country, where several desperate people have set themselves on fire in recent months, more than 150 cafes have joined an initiative modeled on the Neapolitan "suspended coffee" tradition.

In crisis-wracked Spain, a young man from Barcelona, Gonzalo Sapina, in a few short weeks started a network called Cafes Pendientes ("pending coffees") and promoted the initiative among numerous coffee shops.

In France, several cafes now carry the logo "cafe en attente" ("waiting coffee").

And there is even a site that lists establishments that have joined the "suspended coffee" initiative — the countries range from the U.K. and Ireland and Hungary to Australia and Canada.

The prepaid cup of coffee has become a symbol of grass-roots social solidarity at a time of mounting poverty in what, until recently, were affluent Western societies.

But now, back to Naples, where coffee is not a luxury but is considered, more or less, a basic human right.

And the variety is vast: You can order an espresso "ristretto" ("tightened," i.e., stronger); or an espresso "macchiato" ("stained," i.e., with a little milk); or an espresso "corretto" ("corrected," i.e., with a shot of grappa, cognac or sambuca).

There's only one iron-clad rule: Cappuccino — which takes its name from the white and beige colors of the Capuchin friars' habits — is exclusively a breakfast beverage, and must never, never be consumed after 11 a.m. (OK, let's say noon).

Pretzels and Coffee

2013-03-02T11:56:00.000-05:00

The Pretzel Bakery

340 15th Street SE
Wednesday – Friday: 8am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am-6pm and Sunday: 9am -5pm
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Last weekend, I helped my friend plant bushes at her new casa near Lincoln Park. After stopping at Ginkgo Gardens and Frager's, we made our way to The Pretzel Bakery.

In this little hole-in-the-wall, (almost literally, since there is only outdoor seating on a brick patio,) choices are limited, but there is everything you'll need. They serve two types of pretzels, salt and everything, and you can choose between caramel mustard, whole grain mustard, cream cheese, or nutella for an additional buck. Warm out of the oven, I ordered a salt pretzel with caramel mustard, and it was such a delight!

In addition to pretzels, The Pretzel Bakery serves coffee, iced coffee, mochas, and other non-coffee related beverages that I won't even bother naming (see menu above).

The coffee was good: simple, plain, no frills and no complaints iced coffee. It was perfect for a hanging-around-the-neighborhood Saturday. It wasn't over brewed or burnt, and at the same time it wasn't too watery. As far as a typical weekend morning iced coffee goes, it's right on target.

Plus, the iced coffee is served in these ultra-hip chevron plastic cups!

That happen to match the sidewalk...

Coming from a small town in Massachusetts with the best little townie coffee shop, I love finding "weekend spots" to go to in my baseball cap and jean shorts and soak up the day. While I love fancy, frilly, snobby coffee cafes, there is something to be said about bland but good coffee at a small place on a sunny day.

I wish I got some mail like that^^

Next time you're walking around Capitol Hill on your way to plant bushes... or just walking around Capitol Hill... stop in and get yourself an iced coffee and pretzel! I recommend the salt pretzel with the caramel mustard (the mustard is produced in New England... shout out!) -- you'll be licking your fingers until the very last bite.

Espresso Stout

2013-02-17T20:02:00.002-05:00

So I wrote a post back in November on coffee wine, and I figured it was only appropriate to follow it up with a post on espresso beer. That’s right. Whether you’re a wine drinker or beer drinker, there is something out there for all coffee addicts.

I first came across Morning Glory Espresso Stout at the Whole Foods in Foggy Bottom. The beer buyer was stocking the shelves and I asked him what he thought was the best coffee flavored beer. He pointed me to this one saying you could truly taste that this beer was espresso flavored and not coffee flavored. I had to try it.

I finally had the chance to crack open the 22 oz bottle this weekend while watching the Caps play the Rangers. I am more of a wine drinker, but even I can’t qualify red wine as “Rocking the Red”.

The beer poured as dark as black coffee, and only slightly thicker. The beer is 9% abv and has very small head that fades quickly.

I love porters but I am not a huge fan of stouts. I was surprised the beer brewers chose to make an espresso stout instead of a porter because porters are made with roasted barley, which is unmalted and is often described as having coffee aromas and flavors.

The Dominion Brewing Co., which brews the Morning Glory, wrote that this beer is the final pin-up inspired Bomber Girl for 2012.

The beer company partnered with a local coffee shop to make the brew:

“For us, the concept of this beer was all about collaboration: both in the partnership between our brewery and the local coffee shop, Espresso-N-Ice, and the blending of toasted, chocolate stout flavors with coffee beans. We chose to seek out a local coffee roaster for this beer to make sure that the coffee beans used would be up to our standards. With the help of Espresso-N-Ice, we were able to participate in perfectly roasting the 65 pounds of coffee that the stout was warmed on for 13 days. That extra effort has allowed us to create an exquisitely balanced, full-flavored espresso stout and a community partnership that will extend well beyond the production of this beer.”

After reading this and listening to the Whole Food beer buyer’s description of the beer having a unique and distinct espresso flavor, I guess I expected it to have more of a punch when I took my first sip. The beer itself tastes like a stout with little hint of coffee. However, the after flavor did leave a mouthful of espresso flavor. So while I didn't taste the flavor in the beer itself, I still got a lingering taste of espresso.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if I were having chocolate cake with it instead of sausage.

Do You Love Coffee?

2013-02-14T13:02:00.001-05:00