Use our tag sorting feature and map below to find local coffee shops without pulling up results for 10 different Starbucks, half of which are probably located in a Target or Safeway. Support local and micro-chain coffee shops and enjoy some truly great coffee based on your preferences in Alexandria!
Find Coffee Shops in Alexandria!
"The Best Resource For Coffee in Alexandria"
Utilize the tags below to find the coffee shops in Alexandria that best match your preferences. "Oh, the places you'll go" Dr. Seuss
ORIGIN COFFEE
$$$
Tags:
Location:
1101 S Joyce St b33, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
Description:
"Nestled in the bustling Pentagon Row, Origin exudes an air of innovation. The highlight of Origin Coffee Lab is its commitment to serving single origin coffee, sourced from carefully selected regions around the world, providing customers with a remarkable coffee tasting journey."
Notes:
Cortado: floral, pepper, 4oz steamed well, 50/50 milk to espresso ratio
TURKISH COFFEE LADY
$$$$
Tags:
Location:
1001 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
Description:
"If you are looking for a truly different coffee experience, then nestled on King Street, the Turkish Coffee Lady has got you covered. Turkish Coffee is coffee brewed in a special method where the extremely fine grounds are boiled, steeped, and poured into the cup along with your beverage. It is a coffee experience any true fan will not want to miss!"
Notes:
Turkish Coffee: Woody, Cardamom, Cloves, no milk
YAGUT ST
$$
Tags:
Location:
682 N St Asaph St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Description:
"Yagut St is a modern oasis for coffee and bubble tea lovers alike. With beautiful floral decorations, baked goods, and plenty of outdoor seating, it's the perfect spot to snap some Insta-worthy pics while enjoying a refreshing drink or treat."
Notes:
Cappuccino: Peanuts, Charcoal
ST ELMOS OLD TOWN
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Tags:
Location:
529 Montgomery St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
Description:
"The coffee pub offers both coffee and alcoholic beverages, making this a unique spot in Alexandria and further setting it apart from the original St. Elmo's with a more modern interior."
Notes:
Cortado: floral, vanilla, s'mores. 6 oz, 50/50 milk-to-espresso ratio, steamed and foamed well.
CAMERON CAFE
$$
Tags:
Location:
4911 Brenman Park Dr, Alexandria, VA 22304, USA
Description:
"Cameron Cafe is tucked comfortably on the corner near Brenmar Park, welcoming passerbys strolling amongst the fallen leaves of the protective sycamores. Check out their small market section with beer and wine and try one of their creative lattes, like lavender!"
Notes:
Cortado: Cinnamon, dark cocoa. 6 oz, 50/50 milk-to-coffee ratio, steamed and foamed well.
COMMONWEALTH JOE
$$
Tags:
Location:
520 12th St S, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
Description:
"Commonwealth Joe represents everything we've come to expect from the stunning, sophisticated features of the Crystal City renovation trend. Their coffee and espresso menu, contrasted with their much smaller food menu, demonstrates their aattention to the art of making coffee."
Notes:
Cortado: hazelnut, charcoal, nutty. 4 oz, 50/50 milk-to-espresso ratio, well foamed/steamed.
ST. ELMO'S FAIRLINGTON
$$
Tags:
Location:
1536 Kenwood Ave, Alexandria, VA 22302
Description:
"A more fitting addition to the Fairlington Neighborhood cannot be described - St. Elmo's is just what was needed! You'll love to munch on one of their creative treats while sipping a delicious coffee prepared by their friendly, talented staff."
Notes:
Cortado: toffee, peanut butter, 4 oz, steamed well, 50/50 milk-to-coffee ratio.
MISHA'S WATERFRONT
$$
Tags:
Location:
6 Prince St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Description:
"Misha's is a well-placed extension of the classic Misha's on King Street that locals know and love. The waterfront location allows park visitors to easily access a cup of their coffee or select from their creative baked goods."
Notes:
Cortado: 6 oz, 60/40 milk to espresso ratio, woody, cocoa, and slightly floral.
EXTRA PERKS
$$
Tags:
Location:
822 N Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
Description:
"Extra Perks, using coffee from partner shop Java Loco, provides Old Tow North with a pleasant sit-down breakfast/brunch experience near the Potomac waterfront, complete with interesting flavors like Raspberry Mocha!"
Notes:
Cortado: woody, vanilla, caramel. 8 oz, well foamed, cold, 50/50 milk-to-espresso ratio.
VIA VOLCAN
$
Tags:
Location:
110 S West St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
Description:
"Straight from the volcanic mountainside of Panama, this family-owned farm-to-cup coffee shop could not be MORE welcome to the diverse Old Town Alexandrian coffee scene."
Notes:
Cortado: floral, cocoa, sweetcorn. 4 oz, 30% milk-to-espresso ratio.
SWING'S COFFEE
$$
Tags:
Location:
501 E Monroe Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301, USA
Description:
"Swing's features a welcoming, industrial interior where their roasting equipment is clearly visible through the back window. Their home-roasted beans allow them to kick out cup after cup of deliciousness."
Notes:
Cortado: baked bread, almonds, butter. 4oz, 50/50 milk-to-espresso ratio, steamed and foamed well.
FIREHOOK BAKERY
$
Tags:
Location:
430 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
Description:
"Firehook offers an array of fresh, baked bread to enjoy with your coffee, and four parking spots outside - perfect for ordering take-out!"
Notes:
Cortado: cookie-dough, smoky, caramel. 6 oz, 60% milk-to-espresso, steamed but not well foamed.
ELECTRIC CAFE
$$
Tags:
Location:
444 S Pickett St, Alexandria, VA 22304
Description:
"A visit to Electric Cafe is guaranteed to elevate your mood and leave you feeling energized. Beyond their delectable coffee and food options, this coffee shop has a unique twist - it shares its space with a lighting store, making for a creative and innovative atmosphere. It's an ingenious concept that's sure to brighten up your day."
Notes:
Cortado: 4oz, steamed very well, 50/50 milk to espresso ratio, molasses, wheat
CORTADO CAFE
$
Tags:
Location:
4543 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22304, USA
Description:
"Nestled within a vibrant shopping center in Alexandria, Virginia, Cortado Cafe offers an unassuming and contemporary ambiance. The friendly and helpful staff, combined with a cozy atmosphere created by the low lighting, make it the perfect place to enjoy a classic cup of coffee or try one of their signature drinks."
Notes:
Cortado: 4 oz, 50/50 milk to espresso ratio
GROUNDED COFFEE
$$
Tags:
Location:
6919 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310, USA
Description:
"Grounded is a great, community-oriented coffee shop near the southern edge of Alexandria with a small market selection and a large, eclectic interior."
Notes:
Cortado: woody, cocoa, apple (very bitter). 30% milk-to-espresso ratio. Steamed and foamed with loose foam.
ESP TEA & COFFEE
$$
Tags:
Location:
1012 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
Description:
"True to it's name, ESP welcomes you to a psychedelic world of fantasy and enlightenment, offering delicious, high quality teas and espresso elixers on your journey to an elevated state of mind."
Notes:
Cortado: floral, cookiedough, oakwood. 4 oz, 50/50 milk-to-espresso ratio, steamed and foamed well.
FOR FIVE COFFEE
$$$
Tags:
Location
1800C Diagonal Rd., Alexandria, VA 22314
Description:
"Armed with their specialty roasted beans, For Five Coffee Roasters is ready to blow your mind with smooth, rich, flavorful coffee creations, and their homemade, colorful cookies - styles which they brought with them from the competitive coffee culture of New York."
Notes:
Cortado: caramel, woody, s'mores. EXTREMELY smooth. 4 oz, 50/50 milk-to-espresso ratio. Well foamed and steamed.
JAVA LOCO
$$
Tags:
Location:
289 S Van Dorn St, Alexandria, VA 22304, USA
Description:
"Java Loco will greet you with an eclectic theme that meshes modern features to create a quirky coffee/ treat shop experience. Enjoy their creative flavors and leave a delightful note on their chalk wall in the back!"
Notes:
Cortado: smoky, orange peel, caramel. 8 oz, double shot,50/50 milk mixture, steamed and foamed well.
Review Methods
Ratings can be seen as a "bad thing" sometimes, so instead of rating coffee shops I seek to describe them. I describe what I see, hear, and taste - and in doing so, I aim to avoid the often-incendiary rating scheme and instead present information about the coffee shop as best fits it. After all, my goal is not to provide you with the best coffee shop in Alexandria, but to provide you with a way to find the best coffee shop for you. Location can play a big role in that, so I've included a map and a means to obtain directions to the shop you'd like to visit!
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When I first visit a shop, I tend to order a cortado - I feel it's the best option to determine what a coffee shop is all about. Traditionally speaking, a cortado is 4 oz total, being two shots of espresso mixed with some amount of steamed milk usually equal to the oz of espresso, or slightly less. It's not supposed to be a big drink, and I wouldn't typically recommend it if you intend to spend the morning sipping coffee; but it's quite a treat otherwise. Because I operate on multiple platforms which sometimes require me to give a rating, I tend to base the rating on the cortado as well as the normal features like service and menu. Things that might affect the rating would be the perceived ratio of milk to espresso, the amount of steaming, the foam quality, the shot pull quality, the roast itself, and the size of the cortado.