Photo by Sara R.
D.C. is an expensive place to live, and feeding yourself is no exception. Follow Capital Cheapskate each month for a look at the cost side of the ledger, and for tips to enjoy the city’s burgeoning dining scene without breaking the bank.
Java. Mud. Joe. Skinny hazelnut macchiato. Whatever you call it, if you are a living, breathing human in D.C. there’s a good chance you’re nursing some sort of coffee habit.
By all accounts, the number of independent coffee shops in the area has grown dramatically in recent years, relative to even just five or ten years ago when you could practically count them on one hand.
“A cup of really good coffee in D.C. is not the outlier anymore,” said Dawn Shanks, coffee quality manager at Peregrine Espresso. “Wherever I am in D.C., I’m close to a shop that makes their coffee with passion and attention to detail.”
In some ways, the move reflects broader trends in the dining industry—we’re fussier about our meals and our cocktails these days, too. And while some of the chain shops—think Starbucks and Dunkin—aren’t likely to go out of business anytime soon, the demand for a more artisanal brew is palpable. This is third wave coffee, people!
“There’s a Starbucks a block and a half away. They don’t hurt us, we don’t hurt them—we exist in parallel,” said Michael Haft, co-founder of Compass Coffee (1535 7th St NW). “Some people want the caramel, birthday cake Frappuccino. And that’s not for us, that’s not what we want to make.”
Of course, it goes without saying that regular trips to the coffee shop can add up fast. It turns out that Americans spend an average of $1,092 per year on coffee, or more than $20 a week.
That’s a far cry from, say, former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who proclaimed in a delightful interview with the Boston Globe last year that he prefers Costco coffee, which he calculates to cost a mere 3 cents per cup. (“Can’t remember a ‘memorable’ cup of coffee. I like it, but I can’t compare a cup of coffee with winning the governorship or losing the presidency.”)
The good news is there are at least a few tricks for maximizing your buzz, even when ordering out.
For those craving variety, the Indie Coffee Passport is coming to D.C. on Dec. 1. (Note: this isn’t affiliated with the Passport Program for bars that we featured over the summer.) With the purchase of a card—which in other cities has ranged from $13 to $25 and will be comparable in D.C.—coffee addicts will be eligible for a free drink at participating locations. Each shop will have 4-7 drinks to choose from, said Stephanie Lunieski, founder of the D.C. chapter. Check the website in coming weeks for more details.
And below, take a look at my (totally informal!) poll of local shops, including some of the chains. I asked folks about the pretax price of a 12 oz. cup of black coffee (this was typically a small or medium, depending on location) as well as any specials or loyalty programs on offer.
Did I leave off your favorite spot? Tell us about it (and any potential savings) in the comments.
Baked and Wired (1052 Thomas Jefferson Street NW)
Basic coffee: $2.10
Bourbon (2101 L Street NW and 621 Pennsylvania Avenue SE)
Basic coffee: $2.05
Deals: Belly rewards program, good for various free offers and discounts
Chinatown Coffee (475 H Street NW)
Basic coffee: $2.16
Deals: Daily “black card” specials
Compass (1535 7th Street NW)
Basic coffee: $2.50
Deals: Free small coffee with purchase of beans; $1 off beans if you bring back your refillable tin.
Dunkin Donuts
Basic coffee: $1.89 (this is actually 14 oz.)
Deals: DD Perks with card or app, free drink for every $40 spent along with occasional specials and offers
Multiple locations
Filter
Basic coffee: $2.50
Deals: Buy nine cups and get one free with a loyalty card
Multiple locations
Flying Fish (3064 Mount Pleasant Street NW)
Basic coffee: $2.50
Deals: Buy 10, get one free punch card; Kash mobile payments system, which gives back $5 for every $50 spent.
Peet’s
Basic coffee: $1.95
Multiple locations
Peregrine Espresso
Basic coffee: $2.27
Deals: Free coffee with purchase of beans and $1 in-store refills
Multiple locations
Qualia Coffee (3917 Georgia Avenue NW)
Basic coffee: $1.73 in a non-disposable cup or $2.05 to-go
Deals: Weekday happy hour special from 2-5pm with brewed-to-order coffee priced the same as house coffee.
Starbucks
Basic coffee: $1.85 to $1.95 depending on location
Deals: Starbucks Rewards card or app, free drink or food item for every 12 transactions for gold members; free in-store refills on hot or iced coffee for green and gold members.
Multiple locations
The Coffee Bar (1201 S Street NW)
Basic coffee: $2.05
Deals: “Frequent customers get rewarded with our witty banter.”
Tynan (1400 Irving Street NW and 1275 1st Street NE)
Basic coffee: $1.90
Deals: $5 off for every $100 spent with loyalty card
