Foundation Coffee

Some of the best coffee in the northern Virginia area. Impeccably pulled espresso shots and a lovely additional touch is the big window into where this place roasts their coffee in-house. Service is always quick and there is a ton of communal-style seating great for socializing or working. This time I also got the crumb cake which was one of the best coffee shop pastries I’ve had in a long time! Perfectly sweet and crumbly. A must-visit in Fairfax!!

I would say the drinks and space are fine. The bagels for the sandwiches are like rubber. The mango yogurt (dessert) is okay to me. I wonder why the reviews were good. Not recommended to eat there. But definitely enjoy drinking coffee and work there.

Foundation Coffee is a fantastic spot for locals who need a comfortable space to work, study, or simply savor a great cup of coffee. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, offering plenty of seating that makes it easy to settle in and focus. But a word to the wise — this place fills up quickly! By 10:30 AM, it’s bustling, and with limited parking, an early arrival is your best bet. Their extended hours are a major plus, giving you the flexibility to stay productive or unwind well into the evening. And while their pastry selection may be small, every option is thoughtfully chosen to perfectly complement their coffee and tea offerings. Whether you’re craving a buttery croissant or a sweet treat, it’s the ideal pairing for your drink of choice. If you’re looking for a local spot that makes you feel right at home while keeping you fueled for the day, Foundation Coffee is definitely worth a visit. Just grab your favorite brew, find a cozy corner, and enjoy the vibe!

Servers were very nice and helped me find a tea o could drink. They don’t allow any outside food or drinks which was frustrating because I’m allergic to EVERYTHING on the menu and couldn’t eat my own snack with my friends who ordered from the coffee shop.

Was pleasantly surprised by the coffee shop. It is on the back side of a shopping center so a little hard to find at first. It does get busy so parking can get limited. It appears to a limited menu but everything was delicious. I loved how their coffee for dine in was served in ceramic mugs. The attention to details with design was nice. This is a great place to work and enjoy coffee. Was afraid it was going to be loud because of the industrial interior and happy that it was NOT loud! Definitely recommend and give it a solid 8/10 review!

WOW was this absolutely amazing. Great coffee! Super friendly staff. Basically every brew method available. Surprised to see Basque cheesecake....which was supurb

The coffee, service, and atmosphere were all great. But everyone inside was drinking from disposables, which felt out of place—especially at a place that takes coffee this seriously. Drinking pour-over coffee from a paper cup just isn’t the same—and that took away from the experience. Aside from that, the coffee was excellent, and I’ll definitely be back for takeout.

Accidentally found this place while waiting for a store to open nearby. Very cool location in the backside of a shopping mall. Ordered a pour-over Foundation coffee which blends three different single origins--ethiopia, brazil and columbia--and LOVED it! Has its own roastery so coffee was quite fresh and full of aroma. A great place to chill out with a cup of coffee in a quite and peaceful atmosphere. Agree with the other comment about using paper cup for pour-over: Bring your own ceramic mug, serious coffee drinkers.

Love this hidden gem. The coffee is some of the best I've ever had! The savory pastries are a favorite weekend or holiday breakfast treat at our house. The service is top notch! Everyone is always friendly and efficient. There are lots of tables, seats at the counter, and even some stadium bench seating. Everyone is pretty quiet and chill.

Love this place. Very friendly employees and great unorthodox approach. Here you can sit with WiFi, in what could be described as a row of stairs. Absolutely cool! It's behind Fair City Mall, which is admittedly strange. Quirky and lots of nice folks. Good place for dates. Also a place to relax. They have all kinds of coffees and teas. I believe all of them are of high quality. These are better than the two giants, that claim they are the titans of coffee. By all means go in here. Prices are a little high, but we are in an era of inflation. At the very least give this a chance.

I have been to Foundation Coffee Roasters a few times over several years and while it's not a bad coffee shop, it doesn't really stand out either. Located on the back of Fair City Mall, they have fairly good parking and offer quite a spacious interior. Most of the times I've visited, seating is occupied by people on their laptops. I usually get a latte and some pastry. Their lattes have been hit or miss, and do leave a slight bitter aftertaste. The pastries are alright, but not a must. Last time I went there, they were giving pagers to customers but then when the order was ready, they were just yelling the drink name so I saw a lot of people being confused. Overall, not a bad spot and I wouldn't mind going back, I just wouldn't go out of my way.

Banana latte was delicious! Not too sweet which was nice. I wish I could've had it hot but they only make an iced version. Inside is very spacious with plenty of seating.

Foundation Coffee Roasters is slightly hidden, being on the backside of a shopping complex, but worth the trip. I ordered a mocha and it was a delicious work of art. My husband enjoyed his hot chocolate as well. We also got the crumb cake, which was a perfect accompaniment to our drinks. The gentleman who took our order was friendly and the location was busy, but we were able to find seats at a communal table. I'd definitely come back. Thanks for a great experience.

Cute coffee shop with calming music and good coffee. Kind staff and yummy bakery treats! I like the atmosphere and decorations inside. It's in a hidden spot behind the shopping center so it's a little hard to find, but worth it!

I got here a few min after 8:30am; parking is behind the shopping center, as this is located on the back side whether other businesses have their loading docks (not too hard to find, it was just blocked by construction vans and signs). There was only a few people in here at the time and I was promptly greeted and someone was ready and waiting for my order. Some people came in to eat, catch up with a loved one and leave with 30 min, but most people come in to get work done. By 10am the place was completely packed! It remained busy through the lunch hour as well. Upon arrival: I ordered a hot hibiscus tea and chocolate croissant. The hibiscus tea remained hot for over 45 min in the paper cup, and the chocolate croissant was nice (not super flaky, but the chocolate was luscious and silky). Lunch: I ordered a basil and cheese pastry and a iced vanilla latte. The basil pastry was alright, but the sauce tasted sweet almost? It wasn't bad, it was just a bit odd. The iced vanilla latte was nice, I didn't need to add any additional sugar. Wi-Fi here is alright, and the seats aren't the most comfortable. The tables on the bottom have chairs with back support, but near the counter the step seating and upstairs the bar seats dont have support. The music isn't super loud so it's a great place to work/read/study if you don't intend on being here longer than a couple hours. There are plenty of outlets. Overall: Nice place, I would come again! Pastries are alright and nothing special, drinks are decent and on par with other places in the area. They accept Apple Pay, offer to heat up the food, and service is quick. There are two restrooms as well.

I visited Foundation Coffee Roasters earlier this week for the first time. I found the business listing on the Yelp app - but when I went to visit - I could not find the place. I stopped and reviewed the reviews - and found that other reviewers have solved the problem - Foundation Coffee Roasters entrance - IS ON THE BACK OF THE BUILDING - on the side where all of the other businesses have their loading docks/service entrances. The place is huge on the inside. Tons of seating - in a number of configurations. Reminded me of some of the cool, eclectic coffee shops I've experienced in the San Fran Bay Area. There were quite a few folks hanging out, enjoying their beverages and working. I ordered a cold brew with Half n' Half. Came up quickly. A decent cold brew - but it had a bit of an odd flavor to it. Still - the caffeine was drastically needed - and my brain cells thank you. Paid with Apple Pay. Service was good. #FoundationCoffeeRoasters

It was my 2nd time visiting this cafe. I loved how it is the perfect spot for telecommuting and opens early! There were about 10 people working when I got in around 8:30 am! There's so many great seating, from tables, to high chairs to islands! I got two sausage pastries and it was so good! They also have affogatos now! (ice cream and coffee!) I will most definitely be back to get work done and try their drinks!

We've been loyal customers of Foundation Coffee for a while now and always enjoy the coffee and atmosphere! We noticed a new barista on our last visit, and while we ordered two regular lattes, we received vanilla lattes instead. Mistakes happen, and we totally understand that training takes time, but we just wanted to mention it in case it helps with consistency. Looking forward to coming back as usual!

Foundation Coffee Roasters is a great place to get work done while enjoying good coffee and a pastry. Service is very efficient and polite.

Had my eye on this place because it reminds me so much of the wfh cafes I love in San Diego. Overall, my review below: * Iffy wifi if there's heavy traffic & it's busy * OK pastries that are probably better when they're first made in the morning. You can ASK for it to be warmed if you come mid day but that's not always explicitly mentioned * Good coffee, location, & friendly workers (at least as much as they can be in the minimal interactions they would have with customers) * Great atmosphere for leisurely working/studying - meaning, if you need to be serious or have a meeting, it's still loud Wouldn't quite run back since I'm further out but would come again on a day or time I have absolutely no meetings. If I was closer though, I'd say to check this place out if you want a quick coffee and change of scenery.

I love coffee so I'm always looking for a new shop to try. I ordered an iced caramel latte. The latte had entirely too much milk in it, I personally like espresso with my milk lol. Seriously though, it just had too much milk, I know another shot of espresso would balance it out. Service was ok, the staff members were busy, I went on a Saturday afternoon and the shop was full with people, it is very spacious but very full at the time. It's a nice coffee shop, I like the size and how they give you a buzzer to let you know when your order is ready. If I'm in the area again I would try something different to see if my opinion changes.

I love it when I'm inside a Coffee roastery ! You're getting the " Crème de la" ! The beans are getting roasted here , boom getting ground and brewed to your cup!! For me, Coffee is life, and life isn't beautiful without art! Let me translate that to coffee ;) it means Espresso is brewed perfectly fine by the rules, from good fresh beans to a perfect size cup ! Yes, the presentation really matters to me! The same thing for the other Espresso based drinks , the presentation, the milk, and foam to Espresso ratio is what makes different drinks! At Foundation, they know all of that! I love the lighting and simple ambiance at Foundation, very suitable for studying, working, and business meetings. They have different types of seatings that fit every need! A lot of sit with their laptops at the upstairs part The service is really nice, Baristas know what they are doing, very nice and kind, and they pay attention to details and any special requests . I love their Coffee beans and used to buy it all the time for myself and for my workplace . I loved the BlackBird blend. Ethiopian, Guatemala, Colombia blend , medium roast, and keynotes are brown sugar , grape, and lemon . I love it! Full body and has nice acidity, which is the only reason my teammates at work decided to use different beans, but I love it ! By the way, a lot of local coffee shops use their beans like O bread and cake in Centreville, VA ! They have baked items between Savory and Sweet that look delicious! Also, a very nice selection of desserts! Try it, vote for the review , message me, or compliment me with any comment or question, and don't forget to ... Pray for me ;)

Asian owned Coffee shop hidden in the back alley of a strip mall inside of a refurbished warehouse Limited options of drinks and food (pastries only) Pastries are underwhelming, but my iced vanilla latte was great! A few tables + bleacher seating as well Latte was made very quickly and people were very friendly

So so good! Love the benches inside which make you feel like you're on bleachers in school. Really creative drinks and you can tell they do not mess around when it comes to their coffee. I got the tomato basil refresher and it was mind blowing. Pizza as a drink but sweet, weird but somehow delicious!!!

Foundations Coffee Roasters is a cafe located in Fairfax, tucked away on the backside of the shopping center. It's a very open and spacious area inside with adequate seating and warm lighting -- love the open layout. We ordered the iced vanilla lattes and it was good! Definitely more on the milkier side and would've preferred a stronger espresso flavor, but an okay latte nonetheless. Staff was friendly and welcoming!

I needed a space to do some work so my requirements were good coffee, table space and free Wi-Fi. Foundation coffee checked all those boxes! It's a great space to come and get work done, with lots of large tables and outlets everywhere making it so convenient. I got an iced vanilla latte and the egg and bacon puff. I ordered at the front and walked over to grab a spot at one of the large shared tables. My food and drink were both brought to me which was so kind. My egg and bacon puff was warmed up and so soft and flaky. My drink was great too! Perfectly sweet. Wi-Fi is fast and password protected. Location wise it's a bit hidden in the back of a strip mall, but there is free parking right in front. Definitely a good find!

Consistently a great place to visit. I've been going over the last year and I love how spacious it is. The industrial yet modern vibe is my aesthetic as well. The coffee bar being in the middle is really nice in my opinion. I like the signature style of coffee they provide and the other items as well. I think coffee enthusiasts will enjoy the other items they sell. Everyone will have something to drink here - coffee, tea, milk, lol. The pastries are good too. I love the Korean hot dog bread so I'm glad that they offer that here as well. The service has always been good too. The only potential problem I've encountered is the seating - it's too popular! Overall, great cafe to check out and do work in, relax, chit-chat. It is a little hidden but I think that adds to the charm.

Nice modern space. Seems popular to do work in. Friendly staff. I ordered the banana latte, but was disappointed to see they just use the carton Korean banana milk which I can do at home and have done before. I don't know why I was expecting some sort of homemade banana puree or something, given that it's their specialty drink. The regular espresso drinks were fairly priced.

Located behind the strip mall, so not easy to spot off the main road. You have to be looking for it. Good coffee and okay almond croissant. I wanted a cold brew but they were out on this particular morning, so I had an americano. I wasn't impressed with the almond croissant. Not sure if it was due to freshness of the croissant, but just the way it was made. See the photo, as it doesn't photograph very well either. Very spacious coffee shop with lots of seating inside. It doesn't look like parking would be an issue either.

I was craving some matcha so I decided to look for places nearby. I found this spot, however, had a difficult time finding it because of its location. It's located BEHIND the plaza in the back. The place itself was a bit quiet, seemed like a popular study spot. The service was just okay, they didn't seem as welcoming and gave very short answers that weren't helpful for newbies. I ordered an iced matcha, coffee cake, and a sausage dog (because the sausage and cheese one was sold out ). The matcha was surprisingly decent. I wasn't expecting it to be sweet but it was. Only issue I would say is the amount of milk they put made it loose the matcha flavor. The coffee cake was SUPER moist! Beware tho because it's very sweet due to the top half being straight brown sugar! I had to take some of it off to balance out the sweetness. The sausage dog was soft as well but nothing wow. Overall, it was a nice experiencing! I love trying new cafe spots in town.

The almond milk vanilla latte at this coffee shop is a delightful blend of smooth almond milk and vanilla sweetness. The unique layout of the shop adds to the experience, making it a cozy and enjoyable spot for a flavorful, dairy-free treat. Their chocolate croissant - better when heated up. Their almond croissant - okay. Their chocolate covered scone - mediocre. Pizza ish item - okay. I'd recommend sticking with their coffee and not their pastries at this time.

Love the vibe of this place! It's very chill, so you can definitely get lots of work or studying done. Coffee tastes great, and their baked goods are so fresh and yummy! It can get fairly busy though, so don't expect to have a spot every time, but I definitely recommend for a nice cup of joe :)

super cute atmosphere! depending what time you come in it maybe be hard to find a seat.

Generally, I have a productive time when I come in. The coffee is great, plenty of seating and outlets, and it's relatively quiet. I really enjoy their iced lattes and the dirty chai is phenomenal. My only qualm is the wifi. Sometimes it's great, and other times it's not working. It sucks because it can be a bit of a gamble coming in if I need wifi for the work I plan on doing. Other than that, I do genuinely enjoy stopping by this place especially for a cute study cafe day.

Good savory pastries and strawberry matcha! The baristas were willing to make special drinks for us.

Stopped in for a quick snack. I got the basque cheesecake and cold brew--both were delicious. Loved their aesthetic and looks like a great place to work or study.

I have yet to find a better cafe in NOVA to study. The layout is perfect, and everyone here is usually pretty focused. The music is always tasteful and not distracting. Pastries are made fresh and selection rotates. Their new banana latte (iced only) is DELICIOUS. I have seen some people complaining about being rushed out by staff - this place gets busy, and they're a business. If you don't buy something, of course they're going to want to free up the table space. I have never had anything but positive experiences with the staff here, and it is always very clean. They definitely set the standard for aesthetic cafes. I recommend getting your food/beverage in their for-here serve ware :)

I loved the layout of this place! The higher bleacher-style seating was unique, but they also had regular tables. I thought their prices were fair. Tried the vanilla latte, chocolate scone, and almond croissant. I especially loved the almond croissant because it wasn't too sweet and had strong a almond flavor, but the other two items were great as well. Glad to have found a local coffeehouse that I can frequent! The staff was very nice and welcoming as well. I have no complaints!

Coffee was great! Very talented baristas working and great beans. The interior is not ideal though: loud and not a ton of functional seating. The biggest knock is the buzzers for orders, these were extremely loud in this space as there is not a lot of sound reducing materials here.

Here is how I would rank this cafe: Coffee: 5/5 Espresso Drinks: 4/5 Food: 4.5/5 Seating: 5/5 One of the better coffee shops in NOVA. I find myself craving their pastries/baked goods quite often. There is plenty of seating; it's a great place to grab coffee and work.

I have heard great things about this cafe, so I finally came to visit. The cafe is uniquely located off the main road, and can be found at the back of a building. It was confusing to find at first because it felt like I was going the wrong way. Overall, the service and hot beverages were great. The interior is very minimalist with many seating available. I would come by again if I am in the area.

The tomato basil ade was surprisingly good?? And the pastries are all phenomenal. They heat it up for you. The space is also great for anyone who wants to come study!

Very clean space with lots of room. I wouldn't say it's a place I'd work or study because it's all clean lines--no comfie chairs or even pads. The coffee was good and pastries were okay as well, if confusing. Not sure why basil pizza has a sweet drizzle on it. Croissant was great and the latte kept its design even after halfway gone. I'd return as a meet up place but wouldn't come all the time.

It took me a bit to find this place because I was not expecting it to be on the BACKside of a strip mall but it made it all the more better because you don't have lots of shoppers walking by or taking up the parking. There's plenty of parking and LOTS of seating options. If you want to study or get some work done, there's lots of tables and plug-ins with direct USB plugs too. There's long, community like tables, bar seating, single tables, stairs, and loft-like seating. I had a vanilla latte which was perfect and a crumb cake which was divine. They give you buzzers for your drink order so there's no confusion on whose drink is whose. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. Free WiFi, although the internet wasn't working while I was there. This was my first time in but I'll definitely be back!

When I think of a perfectly executed cortado Foundation Coffee Roasters is one of the first coffee shops to come to my mind. The baristas are consisfent and their cortados are always expertly created; perfect temperature, velvety texture and visually appealing. The coffee shop has plenty of seating. It's perfect place to do work; bright, clean and inviting.

I love this hidden spot! When I need to focus on projects I come here. The him in the air from people around and the great vibe is welcoming to me. I usually drink their tea and have their pastries which comforting. I will say sometimes their music is super loud so it can be distracting to some. They also have chargers pretty much everywhere so they are catering to people like me and I never feel rushed or pushed out. Love them!

This is a really cool coffee shop with great pastries and plenty of seating/table space to work at! When ordering the cashier gives you a buzzer to let you know when your order is ready which I thought was pretty cool. I ordered the matcha latte and the bacon puff pastry and thought both were tasty! I especially enjoyed the bacon pastry which had a creamy sauce on top (tasted like kewpie mayo). My friend also enjoyed her order of coffee and the chocolate cake. They have a really great selection of pastries that reminded me of the selection that Sheila bakery has. This place has a really cool interior that was almost warehouse like and also had pretty great lighting!

I recently visited this coffee shop and was delighted by their exceptional coffee. The pour-over coffee had a delightful flavor that really impressed me, although the price is a bit too high ($9 for pour over). While the pastries were decent, they didn't quite reach the same level, not sure if they made those in house or out source from somewhere else. Nevertheless, the spacious and relaxing atmosphere makes it a great spot for studying or work.

Great place for true coffee lovers in that their coffee beans/brews are smooth and tasty. Iced americanos, black coffees such as pour overs, etc. are the winners here. Cortados are also great. Their other hand crafted drinks are a little too milky for my taste. It seems they do less espresso shots than most cafes (one shot for a standard latte vs two) and maybe that's why. Their food options consists of a variety of bakery pastries such as croissants, breads, etc. which have been tasty from my experience. They also offer a variety of teas. There's lots of seating and is quite spacious - I often see people working or having group meet-ups here. Their service is quick and efficient. It's hidden in the back of Fair City Mall so may be easily missed. It's definitely worth a visit for true coffee lovers.

One of my favorite hot chai latte that gives you warm feeling inside. Great place to study or work, as there seems like a a lot of college students. Would come here for a coffee date or a catch up. It does get packed tho in the daytime. There are enough seating and parking here. Also, this is 2 mins away from Fairfax ice arena if you wanted to stay warm. Only recommendation is get more seating like put it next to long tables in the front and for the heat to be turned up.

It was my first time at this coffee shop, great ambience and streamline, fresh bake goods. Be back for more .

This is a really cute spot on the back side of Fair City Mall across from Woodson HS. We got two iced vanilla lattes that were great. Very smooth and not too sweet. Then we tried an almond scone and chocolate chip muffin. The scone was especially delicious. The staff were really sweet and very efficient. I recommend checking this place out if you are a coffee fan, it's worth the visit!

This use to be my favorite cafe and study spot but today the staff was rushing me and my friend to order something or leave, we were planning to order after an hour of studying and let one of the staff know that after she had approached us, which I found strange because i've been here so many times and nobody has ever done that and they came around 3 times asking when we were going to order and kept watching over us it was very uncomfortable, they stated it is not a "public cafe" so we can't just sit and study without ordering, i've been here so many times and never have been told that so I will never return here ever again....im saddened over this experience because I enjoy the ambiance and the coffee is delicious but the staff today lacked professionalism and it was very off putting.

This place has amazing coffee and great service! It's a very peaceful environment to study as well.

I really like the interior design and decoration of this place. It is very natural with the wooden theme. There are tables for you to study and plenty of outlets to charge. It could be a good place to do work as well as just hang out. The drinks were pretty good and priced reasonably. I like how they have a big window inside to show the coffee roasting machine. It's similar to how beanetics in Annandale has their roaster. They also sell pastries here. I didn't get to try it but they all looked good! This location is on the other side of the shopping center. There are plenty of parking spots.

Located in the back of Fair City Mall with strip parking. When I had walked in, the space is gorgeous and clean with plenty of room to mingle or study or just to hang out. Their layout reminds me of Starbucks reserve in New York City. For a roaster, I was hoping they would have carry their own pastries yet their pastries look store bought a.k.a. delivers from local Korean bakeries. Also, I was a little disappointed with my coffee. I got a flat white with oatmilk. The disappointing factors are: beans that they had Use was too bitter and had a deep and dark aftertaste, the oat milk that they had used was not fancy- it was from Trader Joes. For the amount that I had paid it just wasnt worth it. When its worth it, oh I know. They gave me a heart flat white which was cute but yea, call me harsh but this did not meet my expectation.

The service is excellent, the food is delicious- I've tried numerous items and the coffee is top-notch.