An exploration of things to do in Arlington

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Coffee Shop Alternatives


So you don't like Starbucks b/c they are a big chain. And you don't like Murky because they won't serve you the coffee you want.


So what do you do?


How about checking on one of the several small local coffee shops in the area including Arlington's own Java Shack, 2507 N. Franklin Rd, in the Clarendon/Courthouse area.


According to the Washington Post small coffee shops like this are often thriving despite the big, beastly Starbucks.


So what do you think? Where do you like to get your coffee?

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7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rappahannock Coffee on columbia pike at south barton is my typical. They roast their own coffee in the shop, and it is neat if you ever get a chance to see the roaster at work.

11:24 AM

 
Blogger TheGreenMiles said...

What's Up Arlington peeps -- now that Daily Grind has closed, are there any good local coffee shops in Ballston? There are a million Starbucks and Cosis, but that seems to be about it.

12:43 PM

 
Blogger Dale Sundstrom said...

In DC, I love Big Bear Cafe. Nice atmosphere, great staff, excellent coffee. They close the short block of R Street in front on Sundays during the summer for a Farmer’s Market. A comfy little oasis in the urban desert.

7:20 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Java Shack is an awful establishment. Any place willing to serve microwave defrosted, Jimmy Dean, disgusting sandwiches to their customers clearly has no standards. Murky's makes great coffee. I'm not sure why people are taking this thing so personally.

1:54 PM

 
Blogger Randy said...

In Ballston, the Daily Grind may have a new name, but I'm pretty sure they're still serving the same coffee. It's mostly all the same people who still work there.

6:12 PM

 
Blogger Mike Janssen said...

I like to buy my beans from Hondo Coffee, who sells at a number of farmers' markets in the Northern Virginia area -- including Clarendon, Ballston and Columbia Pike. The owner roasts his beans in Manassas and owns a farm in Honduras. His beans make great coffee.

I've had mixed experiences with Rappahannock. It sometimes seems to me that the people who work there don't know much about the coffee they sell. Last time I went the manager sold me a roast that he said was medium, but I'm pretty sure that it was in fact a light roast, which I don't like the taste of.

7:17 PM

 
Blogger Capitol to Capital said...

Euro Market! They also have the bomb fresh-squeezed orange juice and yummy wraps.

1:12 PM

 

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