View Coffee shops in DC in a larger map
If you’re going to be a reporter in Washington, one thing is certain: You’ll be busy.
You’ll likely work early mornings and late nights. You’ll probably be tired. So, you’re going to need coffee.
Here are a few good coffee shops in the District, and the purposes they best serve.
Best coffee shop for getting work done:
Kramerbooks & Afterwords
1517 Connecticut Ave. NW
Something about being surrounded by books is just conducive to getting work done. That’s why Kramerbooks & Afterwords is perfect. They serve wonderful coffee and offer a quiet enclave of productivity in a room full of books.
Also, if you need a break, you’ll find yourself sitting in one of the best independent bookstores in Washington. Just a stone’s throw from the Brookings Institution and Johns Hopkins’ SAIS, Kramerbooks is a hotspot for some of the busiest minds in D.C.
Best coffee shop for a date:
Tryst
2459 18th St. NW
You’ll come for the coffee, love the music, and stay for the wine. One of the few coffee shops in Washington with a full bar, Tryst is perfect for a date. The seating is more comfortable than your living room, and guests order from their table, not at the register.
Tryst manages to create an intimate experience even when it is packed and the music is blaring. It’s worth checking out. (Side note: No Wi-Fi on the weekends.)
Best coffee shop for, well, coffee:
Baked and Wired
1052 Thomas Jefferson Street NW
Baked and Wired brews Intelligensia’s Black Cat Espresso, which is an instant one-up for anyone from Chicago—or any espresso lover, really. The beautiful Georgetown café also brews a delicious Peruvian coffee called Counter Culture. All milk and cream is certified organic.
In addition to outstanding baked goods, all fair trade coffee and a near-perfect ambiance, the baristas at this quaint shop work with the attentiveness and care of heart surgeons.
It may not be on the daily path for many reporters, but if you love coffee you’d be remiss to miss out on Baked and Wired.
Best coffee shop on the go:
Starbucks
Everywhere
You may prefer supporting small, local businesses instead of huge corporations. That’s fine, but there will be a few times when you need coffee instantly, and in those cases you can’t go wrong with Starbucks.
If there’s one thing large corporations do well, it’s streamlining. At Starbucks the line moves quickly and the product is consistent. So, if you’re in a hurry, look for the green sign.
Best coffee shop for breakfast:
The National Press Club (Note: members only)
529 14th St. NW
This is not exactly a coffee shop, but if you work in the neighborhood (i.e. at Medill News Service), a membership to the NPC gets you free continental breakfast every morning—and some of the strongest coffee in Washington. Also, on Fridays at 6 p.m. they have free tacos and cheap beer.