damonbowe wrote:The shops to try that are off the beaten path are ME Swings, a local roaster who has recently made a real commitment to the highest quality coffees by hiring new experienced staff and building out the nicest new cafe in the area, located in Alexandria, VA (they are known as the oldest roaster in the area; they are building out a training center at the new cafe).

My office is at a "fair" walking distance from M.E. Swing's - Alexandria. I go there every week, and always bring home one of their blends and one of their SO. Their coffees are excellent, and the baristas (baristi?) behind the counter are very capable. In addition to their regular blend (Robur-fed "four mile" espresso blend), they have a Super Jolly behind the counter with a single origin (this week's SO offering is a Burundi Peaberry, which is delicious). And like Damon said, their cafe is really, really nice.

Hey Javier, glad you also like Swings, it's definitely on par with any other shop in the country. Just as a heads up or point of discussion, I had some of their Ethiopian single origin today....OH EM GEE it was amazing!!! You MUST try it. I had it as a pourover style, wondering if it would make a good espresso? Probably.

Yes, I have had several of their African beans and they are really good for espresso. But I prefer to brew said beans with my Chemex. I missed today's cupping (10:00 a.m.), which is a bummer Were you there for their Friday cupping?

Yes, this is the first time I went for a cupping there. Was fun and I learned a lot. Neal is fantastic!

Two new additions to the "list".

The Coffee Bar - http://www.thecoffeebardc.com/

Ted's Bulletin Board - http://tedsbulletincapitolhill.com/

I have heard good things about The Coffee Bar from an extremely reliable source and the Bulletin Board on 14th Street is fitted with a 2 group Victoria Arduino (lever). The Bulletin Board is primarily a restaurant so please try it at off-peak hours (whatever that might be).

erics wrote:the Bulletin Board on 14th Street is fitted with a 2 group Victoria Arduino (lever). The Bulletin Board is primarily a restaurant so please try it at off-peak hours (whatever that might be).

Three really good things about Ted's Bulletin Board - their meals, that beautiful 2-group Victoria Arduino, and its proximity to Peregrine - Eastern Market

Bean & Bite is now selling Blue Bottle coffee. And it's right around the corner from the Physical Therapy Clinic my wife and I own

Here's the shop:
http://www.beanandbite.com/

What's less promising is that the reviews are directed mostly to food. What's the deal, reviewers? I feel obligated to right this ship!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bean-and-bite-washington

This week, Blue Bottle is only a dollar ($US).
http://dcist.com/2013/11/go_get_some_ch ... _coffe.php

In Arlington by the Rosslyn metro stop there is a new purist cafe called Caffe Aficionado. It's a really sleek shop with all mugs designed by the guys at Handsome roasters (Intelligentsia; NotNeutral), all Handsome Damn roast coffee, and some pretty solid baked goods. They are purists because they only have one type of milk (that I know of) and serve a really limited coffee menu that doesn't really overlap with the Starbucks down the street. They also have some very high quality teas on hand. They have thought about every little detail of the shop. They also had Peregrine train all their baristas, and it's cool to see two area shops working together like that.

This is has quickly become one of my favorite coffee shops in the DC area, next to Peregrine and ME Swings in Alexandria.

ME Swings is now offering their own unique brand of coffee classes centered around developing a more sensitive and articulate palate for different regions and varieties of coffee. Pretty cool stuff and totally different from the other courses I've seen.

So far there is an intermediate level course that covers regional coffees, cuppings, and blend deconstructions; and an advanced course to distinguish individual flavors.

http://www.swingscoffee.com/

I added Nagadi Coffee Roaster to this list a few weeks ago. Although primarily a roaster, he (Felix) opens up his very well equipped lab on Saturdays from 8 to 11. His Facebook page likely has more info.

In addition, Dolcezza Gelato is opening (has opened?) a coffee lab and gelato factory at Union Market.