Great tea at the Columbia Pike Farmer's Market!

Ok, so up to this point, i have been concentrating on coffee. But I did promise that I would be discussing tea on this blog as well. So, where are my tea lovers at? I'm going to start off by expressing that as much as I love a cup of coffee, it's hard to just enjoy coffee all day long like you can with a good quality tea. Owing to my recent post on the "Oh! Pickles/Hondo Coffee" booth, I thought this post to be extremely appropriate. There is a wonderful booth that sells loose leaf teas at the Columbia Pike Farmer's Market called "Tea Co." The owner, Myra Ceaser doesn't run a fancy opperation, but she sources quality loose leaf teas from around the world, so you won't be disappointed with the lack of flair. It doesn't take away from the quality of the product. She sources many traditional and contemporary tea blends, with staples ranging from English Breakfast, to Early Grey, to Jasmine Green Tea, and everything in between. Occassionally, if you get lucky, she'll have a special order she just recently placed, and you can get something truly amazing, such as the exotic "Golden Monkey" black tea sourced straight from China, or the wonderful "Biodynamic, Organic Darjeeling" a completely organic Darjeeling loose leaf tea that truly is the "champagne" of teas. She has a wonderful oolong (on the darker side of the oolong spectrum) that she sources regularly and you can get a variety of white tea blends and mixes of green tea such as her traditional "Moroccan Mint" (spearmint and green tea leaves together), and her "Barrack o'Baby" (a very fruity blend with the nuce, subtle notes of white tea underneath). Tea Co. caries a wide array of rooibos and herbal tea blends as well, and even has yerba mate for those of us who wish to taste a little of the South American tradition. She's also a relaible source for a QUALITY matcha powder (which is rare in this area). Here's a little profile of her company that I managed to find online: http://www.undergroundtreelive.com/teaco.html And here's a link to some info on her company for the Facebook fans: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Teaco-Organic-Loose-Leaf-Teas/167879049915299?sk=info Anyway, I haven't forgotten about you my fellow tea lovers! I will be doing more posts on tea in the future, so stay tuned. In the meantime, if you get a chance to check out Tea Co. I recommend you do so by visiting the Columbia Pike Farmer's market and talking to Myra herself. She mans her own booth so if you have questions about the source for her leaves or the ingredients, you can find out straight from the owner!

A great free cup of joe every Sunday? (Columbia Pike Farmer's Market)

So, every sunday I frequent the Columbia Pike farmer's market which is right in front of the Rite Aid Pharmacy at the corner of Columbia Pike and Walter Reed Drive. It is a wonderful place to get your grass-fed/pasture-raised meats (Smith Meadows), get some amazing raw cheeses (two vendors), and of course, grab your locally grown veggies! One of my favorite booths is from a local outfit called "Oh! Pickles" which offers a variety of fermented vegetables for sale. They have Sauerkraut, pickles of all different types, pickled tomatoes, fermented hot peppers, kimchi, pickled okra... Almost everything they have is wonderful there, and of course, you get your probiotics from fermented foods so it's great for you as well! But "Oh! Pickles" is not it's own company as far as I can tell. It is owned by the Hondo Coffee company. Seems odd that a coffee company would own a local purveyor of fermented vegetables, yes? Well I'm not complaining because there's a wonderful perk to this "partnership." They always have a display of their various coffee roasts which range from the very light (they have a blonde-esque roast), to a medium roast (Full City), all the way down to their darkest offerings (French and Italian Raosts). Every week they have two or so flavors of coffee in big airpots with cups, sugar, and cream available. I remember the first time I purchased some fermented veggies from them and noticed the coffee. The guy working there saw me eying it and said "why don't you have a cup of one of our roasts to see if you like it?" I asked him if it would cost me anything. He said no. I figured that he was trying to sell me on some of their coffee beans so I got lucky that time in scoring a free cup of java. But no, they have a cup for collecting tips over by the airpots, and every week I go and whoever is working the booth says to me that the coffee is free and just that I can tip if I like it. I usually do just that. But it's nice to know that every Sunday I can go over to their booth and get a free cup. Skip the lines at a local coffee shop? Yes please. Skip the cost? Even better! Still get a great cup? Sure! This is a wonderful feature of their little "outfit." If you have an "Oh! Pickles" vendor at your local farmer's market (they go to several in the DC area), then I am sure you will have access to the same free cuppa. I recomend you go and give them a try at least once. You've got nothing to lose on a free cup!

The quest for a great iced coffee (Arlington, VA part 3)

Ok, so I have a friend who works in Rosslyn, around the corner from a place known simply as "Coffee Express."  While I can imagine there are thousands of places across the country called Coffee Express, to my knowledge, this place is not a chain establishment, so it merits inclusion in here.  My friend convinced me to try it because he said that in the Rosslyn office district, it serves a rather large crowd on most mornings.  Obviously, it fills a needed niche for coffee beverages and benefits from an ideal location.

When you walk inside the establishment, there is nothing pretty or fancy about this place.  it does what it does, and it does it well.  It serves up coffee and espresso beverages.  It does not serve up particularly high quality product, but their prices are slightly lower than many of the local DC area coffeehouses and caffeine purveyors, so you can't really argue with that.

The food offerings are boringly typical for a coffee joint as well, but probably serves the needs of the Rosslyn lunch crowd who want to be able to get an afternoon cup and pick up a sandwhich or something at the same time.

Owing to the fact that this place serves an important place for those in search of a quick morning pick-me-up, I decided I would venture here and include it among my reviews.  When I was there, I was served by a very gracious Asian man.  He even bowed slightly when he handed over my order.  Again, service is important so points to that!  The iced coffee I had when I was there was strong.  VERY strong.  If I could call a roast "ultra dark" I think this would qualify.  The brew was dark and bitter.  It's not the kind of coffee I want to be drinking on a daily basis (I don't know how some of the Rosslyn office crowd does it), but every now and then, a stronger brew does make an ocassional nice departure from the more mellow flavors I typically go for.  And in combination with the fast-hitting caffeine (REALLY fast, good for a morning jolt) of the brew, the bitter flavor will definitely help wake you up.

This place is not where you want to go for a quality cup of java on that first date, when the family is in town, or when you want to have a leasurly afternoon coffeehouse experience.  Not in the least!  But it serves the Rosslyn office crowd admirably and has a great location, so you can't fault it for what it does.

The quest for a great iced coffee (Arlington, VA part 2)...

Only one review for you today.  But I should open it with a disclaimer.  In my last review I pointed out that Rappahannock Coffee is the only coffee shop in the south Arlington corridor.  This is basically true.  However, there are a bunch of local ethnic restaurants and cafes that offer their own coffee beverages.  The majority of them do not roast their own beans, but they provide their own benefits.  You might not get free WiFi, you might not get the coffee house crowd, you might not get the trendy vibe, but you get the chance to try some great local cuisine along with your coffee beverage.  Sometimes, this is all the incentive you need.

A little ways down Columbia Pike, from Rappahannock is a little Ethiopian cafe called, appropriately enough, Ethio Cafe.  It offers a wonderful variety of Ethiopian staples on its menu, not the least of which is a wonderful variety of espresso and coffee beverages all brewed with a wonderful Ethiopian grown coffee blend (not roasted in house though).

When I made my first stop there (because of the sign on their door emploring folks to "try our special coffee!"), I noticed, curiously enough, that they did not have iced coffee on their menu of coffee beverages.  I assumed, however, seeing iced lattes on their menu, that they could put one together for me.  This was definitely the case.

The lady behind the counter was more than able to handle my request, did so with a smile, and was extremely polite and personable.  As I said before, a beverage served with a smile like that just seems to taste better to me.  Plus one for service!

A couple of downsides however, are of note.  One, there is a minimum charge of five dollars for the use of debit or credit cards.  So, if you are just in for a quick espresso of coffee beverage, then you must remember to bring cash.  Another downside is that sugar is added to beverages behind the counter.  Although I took my iced coffee black, if you want sugar in your beverage, you'll have to ask them for it and watch your server to make sure that they add the right amount.  I will mention that Ethiopians (in general, there are always exceptions), like their coffee sweet, so the lady gave me an odd look when I told her I wanted it black, but she didn't say anything.

Onto the beverage.  Ethiopians typically take their coffee quite strong.  Although the brew seemed to indicate a medium roast (the color was more of an amber than the often typical dark chocolate brown of most iced coffees), this did not translate over to the flavor.  The flavor was that of a very full-bodied, strong, and bracing coffee.  There were definitely bitter notes to this coffee.  The caffeine didn't hit me right away, it actually took longer than most coffees and it wasn't overpowering either, but again, this had little bearing on the flavor.  If a strong, bold flavor that hits you hard is what you look for in your coffee, I would definitely recommend you come here and give this place a try.  If, on the other hand, you like a more mellow brew with more complex flavor notes in your beverage, then this is probably not the place for you.  It definitely caters to the typical Ethiopian style which is for a bold-tasting, strong brew that packs little subtlety.

The quest for a great iced coffee (Arlington, VA part 1)...

Today I began a quest... To find the DC area's best iced coffee. This is the quest of an individual with too much time on his hands.  Will I EVER find it?  Who knows?  But I'm going to shed some light into the ever-growing popularity of iced coffee in the DC area.  Used to be iced coffee was a novelty.  Seems these days, no coffee shop can exist without a solid offering of iced beverages,

Before I get started, I will add a small disclaimer. Large chains are out of the running. That means in the course of this blog there will be a distinct lack of Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, and Dunkin Donuts. While there is nothing wrong with these places for your coffee fix if they are your only options, we here in the DC area are fortunate to have a wealth of independent coffee shops for our caffeine needs. These are the places I will be reviewing.

Disclaimer two: I will be reviewing unflavored beverages only in my quest. This is the best way to determine the true quality of the coffee served, and not the flavorings added. The advantage to those of you preferring flavored iced coffees is that a solid basic iced coffee usually means you can't go wrong with their other iced beverages as well.

My journey begins in Arlington, VA, at several of the local coffee haunts. Over the next several days, I will be reveiwing these locations. Today, I will be reviewing the following coffee shops/cafés for their ices coffee offerings:


-Rappahannock Coffee
-Oby Lee
-Northside Social
-Boccato

Ok, so let's get underway!

First up is Rappahannock Coffee.

Rappahannock has a wonderful distinction separating it from the other coffee houses and cafes in Arlington.  It is the ONLY non-chain coffee house available to south Arlington residents.  I'm not really sure why this is, but this will keep Rappahannock in demand and keep it a popular hangout at least until some other competition roles into the area.  Those of you living in south Arlington that like a coffee house that roasts its own beans have probably been here at least a few times before.

They offer all of the typical coffee house drinks and have an assortment of pastries as well as salads and sandwiches.  Rappahanock is open from 7 AM to 7 PM and is located along the busy Columbia Pike corridor, about a mine and a half from the Pentagon.  If you don't have a car and still want to experience this coffee house it is easily accessible by bus, both ART and Metro bus, with a bus stop right in front of the shop.

Now, onto the review:

I went in on a weekday during the day and had the experience of seeing the place relatively empty.  Not a good sign, but then, I've walked past it on a Saturday or Sunday morning, and it is quite packed.  I ordered the iced coffee and was served with a smile.  I don't know about you guys, but I always seem to enjoy my coffee more when it is served with a smile.  Maybe it's silly, but that's just how I am.  My first impression was that the coffee was pretty strong.  Not the strongest I've ever had, but if you like a more mellow cuppa, I could make a better recommendation.  I asked my server how the coffee was brewed and she was unable to tell me.  Very odd when you consider that she must have done it herself?  Or had it been done by the owner or another server in the morning and sitting all day in the fridge?  Not exactly the greatest impression there.  That said, it seemed to be a very caffeinated brew.  I noticed the caffeine buzz hit me right away.  This makes me think that if you need a quick pick-me-up in the morning, since the caffeine here hits you fast, this iced coffee could be a great choice.  Flavorwise, it had a slight note of cocoa and caramel.  But primarily it had the taste of a strong, black brew.  If that's what you want, then this is the coffee for you.  It lacks any subtlety in my opinion, and hits you strong.  From my own perspective, I've had many a better iced coffees, but this was certainly not the worst I've ever had either.

Next up is Oby Lee Winery and Coffee Shop.  Oby Lee is a new addition to the independent coffee house scene in Arlington.  Located in Clarendon, on Washington Boulevard, it USED to be a popular shop in Rehobeth Beach.  Oby Lee is in fact, the owner of the place.  As many of you know, Rehobeth is a popular summer destination for DC denizens who enjoyed his coffee shop so much that they asked him to bring it closer to home.  Well he did, and as of this summer, Arlingtonians can easily enjoy all of his house roasted coffees and wonderful crepes.  There are also a variety of sandwiches and salads and pastries/sweets to choose from.  In the evening it becomes a trendy wine bar.  The wine bar isn't really my scene, but Oby brews some wonderful coffee, both hot and cold, so I try to stop by from time to time.

Oby and his staff are wonderful..  You can ask them about the coffee and wine, get recommendations, and I presume this holds true for their food selections as well (I've yet to try anything).  Oby Lee is still working to build a strong customer base, but those it has already cultivated are strongly loyal.

Oby is really enthusiastic about his iced coffee, and he uses a very authentic cold-process method to produce his coffee.  It brews into an extremely dark color, but doesn't, in my opinion, taste like any generic dark brew.  In fact, it has a very nice caramel and cocoa edge to it that is the main flavor.  It almost tastes creamy in a way too.  I can't quite put a finger on it, but it has a smooth flavor that is not harsh.  Cold-processed coffees tend to be less acidic than hot brewed, so that is probably what gives his iced coffee far less bitter undertones than a lot of the competition.  The caffeine also doesn't hit you right away, so it takes a bit to feel the effects.  I think this is quite nice, but if you want the coffee for the immediate rush, maybe this isn't the brew for you.  For those that favor iced espresso, you can also get any espresso beverage iced, including the Americano.

Just a bit further north on Washington Boulevard, on the northern edge of Clarendon is Northside Social Coffee & Wine.  Northside Social has an upstairs area that becomes a wine bar every evening starting at five pm except for Sundays.  Unlike both Rappahannock and Oby Lee, Northside Social does NOT roast their own beans.  Instead, they serve Counter Culture Coffee.  Counter Culture is a wonderful coffee company that serves high quality beans, but we all know that just as important as the roasting is the brewing, which of course, Northside Social does in spades.  So how does their iced coffee stack up to the rest of the competition?

Northside Social is pretty crowded any day of the week, at all hours.  It is a popular hangout for people who work in the local offices looking for their caffeine fix and students with their laptops working on papers.  If you like that sort of atmosphere, then you would like Northside Social.  I've had a friend or two tell me that their constant stream of traffic is both a blessing and a curse however.  Because they serve so much coffee day in and day out, their brewing consistency is usually spot on.  You're unlikely to get a different tasting cup of coffee each time you go in (if you have a regular beverage of choice at least).  Especially with their iced brews.  However, many people know the difference between an iced coffee and iced Americano.  I've gone in a few times, ordered an iced coffee and recieved an iced Americano instead.  Annoying, no?

However, they brew a delightful iced coffee that hits quick with the caffeine, but doesn't overpower.  The caffeine hits strong with their iced brew.  In fact, I would say that their caffeine content is higher than many of the other iced coffees I have tried.  This might be a bit off-putting to some who might find the content a bit much.  But the flavor is not dark or overpowering in the same way that the caffeine content might be to some.  I find the flavor to be typically coffee but with a very distinct note of floral and honey-like sweetness, even on its own.  This can be quite nice for a change of pace for the field which is full of heavy, dark iced coffee brews.

Last on the list for my first review is Boccato Gelato & Espresso.  I've been to Boccato several times, to have gelato, and it's very good!  However, I only recently experienced my first taste of any sort of coffee beverage at their shop.  Like Northside Social, Boccato does not roast their own beans.  But of course, as was said, the brew is just as important as the roast.  As is implied by their name, espresso is the spcialty of the house.  However, they offer several regular coffee beverages.  Of course, one of these is a wonderful iced coffee.

According to the server who I spoke to, they use a Columbian coffee for their iced brew.  The brew was not the usual dark chocolate brown color I'm used to seeing with most iced coffees.  It was a much lighter hickory brown shade.  And the flavor reflected the lighter color as well.  The flavor was almost mocha-like and had a bit of sweetness to it.  The coffee was not sludgey, it's flavor was not dark at all.  It was, however, a bit higher in acid and it showed.  This is because, according to the server I spoke with, they use a hot brewing method.  They brew it at double strength and then pour the cup half-full with the resulting brew and dilute the other half with cold water.  This keeps the flavor at a normal level.  However, any coffee that is hot brewed, will usually exhibit more acidic properties than cold-brewed coffees.

That's it for now.  Stay tuned, and I'll bring you more reviews as I go along and taste more coffees from more local coffee shops.

I'll also be talking about local tea shops and offerings in addition to the coffee talk.  For those of us passionate about either, I hope you'll find a home here.  Enjoy!