I feel that I may be a bit of a coffee snob. Oxford, Mississippi — believe it or not — actually has a pretty good coffee scene. Our favorite coffee spot there, Heartbreak Coffee, roasted their own beans in-house for a delicious, flavor-full espresso. It was the perfect spot to get work done, hang out with friends, and do a little people-watching. Dare I say, it might be my favorite coffee shop ever. Between the growing Oxford coffee scene and our lovely Mr. Coffee Espresso Machine (oh! how I miss you!) at home, we were pretty well set on caffeine.

Oh but traveling has expanded our coffee horizons! DC isn’t particularly known for its great coffee or amazing cafés. Even so, we found quite a few wonderful cafés, workspaces, and delicious brews that are worth a try — whether you live in the DMV or are planning a visit.

In no particular order, here are a few of our favorite spots from our time in DC.

Sweet Science Coffee

How can you go wrong when there are caffeine molecules painted across the floor? Sweet Science is located in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington DC, and they specialized in house-made everything from their roasts to their jams and biscuits.

We came back here a few times during our stay to try out their seasonal craft espresso drinks. The coffee soda was a light and refreshing beverage for a hot DC day. And you absolutely can’t go wrong with their iced lattes.

Sweet Science Coffee

Tryst

Tryst is a funky, comfy, yummy spot you can set up at. It’s perfect for camping out on a rainy day (or, more frequently in DC, a hot and rainy day). They serve a full menu from coffee to food to alcohol. Tryst is a must-try for catching up with friends or getting work done for the day.

Tryst

Aslin Coffee

While Aslin is primarily a beer garden with plentiful outdoor seating, if you venture towards the back of the outdoor area during the day you’ll find they also run a wonderful little coffee shop. The WiFi is fast and the indoor seating is cute (although limited).

Try out one of their seasonal iced lattes while you get some work done, and then head outside for a beer or a snack from their food truck.

Aslin Coffee & Beer Garden

Ellē

Ellē had one of the best breakfasts we had in DC, hands down! And the espressos we got to go with our breakfasts were absolutely delicious. They serve their breakfast menu until late in the afternoon before they transition to dinner. We didn’t try out dinner here, but it looks like things get a little more formal in the evening.

Heads up that Ellē doesn’t offer any WiFi, so it’s not too conducive to getting work done. On the other hand, there is a fantastic Saturday morning farmer’s market, which is definitely worth checking out, right in front of Ellē.

Ellē

Little Penn Coffee

Little Penn is within a very comfortable walking distance to the National Archives and the National Portrait Gallery — and not much further to the National Mall. It’s a great spot to stop and get some work done for the last part of the day before you head out for a stroll on the National Lawn or get lost in beautiful works at the American Art Art Museum.

The iced oat milk lattes here are fantastic — we each ordered two! To go with our cold, creamy drinks we got a slightly spicy tomato soup and grilled cheese. Little Penn also offers alcoholic beverages (in case its that kind of work day) and a bar opens up later in the evening as the vibe transitions more towards nightlife.

Little Penn Coffee