Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kafe Leopold in Georgetown

This! And get some good pastries!

+1

Anonymous wrote:Kafe Leopold in Georgetown

This! And get some good pastries!

I was going to suggest Paul's Bakery -- but really, it's just a nicer place to sit than Starbucks. I don't know about the froufrou coffees. I'm strictly a espresso + hot water gal myself.

Isn't Peets owned by Starbucks?

Anonymous wrote:Peregrine.

LOL! They are such purists/snobs. Don't send OP into a snark mine.

Kafe Leopold in Georgetown

Peregrine.

This sounds like a fun experiment for you. And if you don't like something it's not like you've just dropped a lot of money.
I'd just try all the coffee places that you come across, anything that's nearby when you have a minute to spare. Check out nearby coffee shops on Yelp or a similar restaurant search engine.

When I saw the title of your thread, I thought you meant you were looking for a place with better ambiance than Starbucks. So the first things I thought of were Busboys and Poets and Tryst. Both have good coffee drinks.

Starbucks.

Anonymous wrote:Is there a local coffee shop in your neighborhood? That is always my preference--such an easy way to support local business. They can probably "girly up" any drink you want with syrup, foam, whipped cream, etc.

Yes! If you are in VA, I recommend Pastry Xpo and Cafe Amourri.

La Mano in Takoma DC.

Is there a local coffee shop in your neighborhood? That is always my preference--such an easy way to support local business. They can probably "girly up" any drink you want with syrup, foam, whipped cream, etc.

have you been to peets? they bought out caribou coffee.

My dw likes Starbucks, so way back when, we started going there. I was ambivalent. I'd like to branch out though, but I do love Starbucks's special drinks, like frappuccinos, salted caramel whatevers, etc. where else can I get some girly drinks that are good? I feel like such a coffee noob.