Café Unido Shaw

Cafe · Howard University ·

Café Unido Shaw

Cafe · Howard University ·

Panamanian coffee chain serving Geisha beans, breakfast wraps, burgers

Information

908 W St NW, Washington, DC 20001 Get directions

$1–10

@eater

391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

Savor Elite Panamanian Beans in a Sunny D.C. Cafe | Eater DC

"A light-filled space on a busy Shaw corner, this cafe promises Panama’s prized export: Geisha coffee beans, and helps the sipper by approaching coffee through various lenses—its producer, terroir, varietals, processes, and brewing methods. The Panamanian brand’s newer Shaw digs offer more room for remote working and cozy conversations over lattes and surprisingly pleasant fare, building on a first stateside debut at La Cosecha in 2019 with its famed “caviar of coffee beans.” On the food side, an on-brand riff on the Panamanian yuca fritter carimañola, stuffed with ground beef, comes topped with a mumbo-style sauce infused with guava and cascara; the Unido burger packs chuck, short rib, and brisket into a smash-style patty with house-made coffee husk (cascara) ketchup and coffee mayo; and a textured breakfast wrap combines scrambled eggs, cheese, spiced beans, avocado, bacon, and concolon, the crowd-pleasing crispy rice pulled from the bottom of the pot. To drink, it’s one of the few places in the region to sell Geisha lattes—market-priced and worth lingering over as the cup opens up while it cools, offering notable floral and fruity notes on both the nose and palate. Insider tip: while the prix fixe coffee omakase experience is paused for now, when it restarts, go for the patient, barista-led walkthrough of various courses of Geisha coffee expressions paired with small plates of Panamanian tastes." - Evan Caplan

https://dc.eater.com/dining-report/165491/cafe-unido-union-market-shaw-review

Café Unido Shaw

@eater

391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

The 15 Best Coffee Shops Around D.C.

"Café Unido’s first D.C. outpost in Latin market La Cosecha, is the first U.S. location of a Panamanian coffee chain. Founders Benito Bermudez and Mario Castrellon — a chef with a place on San Pellegrino’s list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants — source beans directly from growers in Panama and donate a percentage of their sales to social and environmental projects. The expanded cafe in Shaw includes a full breakfast and lunch menu by Panamanian chef Jovana Urriola, including a bacon, kidney beans, and crispy rice filled breakfast wrap and pork belly sandwich. Its beans can also be found at Nativo, the Square food hall’s new Latin-leaning coffee stall." - Tierney Plumb

https://dc.eater.com/maps/essential-coffee-shops-dc-virginia-best-latte

Cafe Unido/official photo

Café Unido Shaw

@eater

391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

Peruvian Brothers Open a La Cosecha Market Stall With Rotisserie Chicken, Pisco Sour Slushies | Eater DC

"Planned to arrive in the spring, Cafe Unido is expected to bring rare Panamanian coffee to the market." - Gabe Hiatt

https://dc.eater.com/2020/1/31/21116770/peruvian-brothers-opening-stall-rotisserie-chicken-pisco-sour-slushies-la-cosecha-union-market-dc

Café Unido Shaw

Mathilda S.

Google

I came to study because it was recommend to me online and I was a bit disappointed. I completely understand that this is a Spanish speaking cafe, but I do wish that the person at the counter could speak English well. I asked for a chai and got charged for a chai latte which was double the price. I asked twice if it could get changed and the person just added more milk… to that point I gave up. But then the chai came and it was in a cup that seemed smaller than 12 oz. I felt like 7 dollars should get a customer a bit more…. The music was also a bit too loud to work well, and the WiFi did not work with my computer. Overall a bit disappointed in the experience, I understand it’s the dc cafe atmosphere, but between the price and the service I can’t recommend it. It is a nice change of scenery if you wanna study.

Nance

Google

The ambiance and the staff are vey nice. Smooth music in the background. Tables a bit too close for my like but if you’re going alone with headphones no problem. The food unfortunately is not a hit. The omelette I had was quite salty, the ham used is low quality. The yuca fries were ok but they charge for a tiny amount of salsa (see pic). Salsa, which as a Mexican, is supposed to be spicy. Not the case here as it’s a mixture of bland chiles with honey taste. BYOC: Bring your own Cholula. Prices are to be expected for the “nice area” it’s at. I would come back here for a cup of coffee or tea but not food!

SamDem

Google

Had an outstanding experience at Unido Coffee! Ordered the salad and a Panama Geisha coffee — both were exceptional. The Geisha was beautifully prepared and really showcased the beans' quality. The salad was fresh and hit the spot. What really stood out was the customer service — the team was welcoming, attentive, and clearly passionate about what they do. Highly recommend if you're in DC and appreciate great coffee and good vibes. Will definitely be back

Andrii G.

Google

I’ve been a fan of Unido at Union Market for a while — it’s a charming café with a thoughtful design and used to offer consistently interesting coffee. But lately, the quality has been slipping. What always made this place special wasn’t just the coffee (which is decent but not extraordinary) — it was the people behind the bar. When Alex or Zoya are working, the experience transforms — their presence brings warmth, care, and professionalism that’s hard to find elsewhere. Unfortunately, when they’re not around, the atmosphere and service drop noticeably. To Alex and Zoya — 5 stars. To the management — a weak 3, and that’s only out of respect for the beans and the farmers behind them. If anyone from upper management reads this, please recognize and support your frontline staff better — they’re the real value of your brand.

Diamond L.

Google

I ordered a sandwich that was about sixteen dollars.And I wanted it to be just bacon, lettuce, tomato, and on my sandwich was two strips of bacon, broken up.And the tomatoes that you saw the three tiny pieces. I told them that was very ridiculous.That I just paid sixteen dollars for that sandwich, and that's what they put on it.And they told me they would need to charge me more if they wanted me to add more bacon and tomato. Please do not ever eat there.It is not worth your money at all

Eric F.

Google

Unido Coffee Roasters is a great little spot conveniently located just off Florida Ave NW. It’s a cute café with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, perfect for catching up with friends or getting some work done. They serve all the standard coffee, tea, and hot chocolate drinks, but the food menu is a pleasant surprise—with options like breakfast wraps, açaí bowls, and grilled cheese sandwiches. The prices are a bit on the higher side, but totally worth it for the quality and atmosphere. The staff is always super friendly, the space is clean, and there’s a steady crowd of people on laptops—so the Wi-Fi definitely holds up. Great vibe overall.

Jose D.

Google

This food is s p e c t a c u l a r!! I ordered the breakfast sandwich (without the guava sauce) and it was amazing. The chicken empanadas way too good! The fries very crunchy and their aioli 10/10. Def will be back

Lindsey R.

Google

My favorite place in DC. Love the staff and they work very hard - especially when it’s packed on mornings on the weekends. They maintain excellent service while being understaffed a bit. Felt bad for them this Sunday when customers pressed them on their orders. The best baristas in the city could use some reinforcements. :)