Qualia Coffee

First things first. Get the vegan banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, before anything else just get that. If you do that there is a 100% chance you're not disappointed in your visit. I had the chai latte it was pretty good. I also had a cranberry orange muffin that was also pretty good. The staff was cool and the drinks were made rather quickly. I'd say this is a low-key coffee shop that's pretty unique.

Small selection of baked good but good small scones. Blueberry muffin, orange zest cranberry muffin, cheese and chive scones, and cookies.

Best in DC. Fresh roasted, GREAT tasting coffee. Coffee purists and regular Joe's alike must visit and taste their great selection. Unrivaled freshness--buy coffee that was roasted 3 days ago. I live in this place and have been to the Petworth shop a few times. If you like coffee, you MUST visit Qualia. Go forth. Drink and enjoy!

Contender for my favorite coffee shop in DC. Delicious baked goods, nice seating area, and nice music. Also they sell coffee beans and materials!

I got the matcha and cranberry orange muffin. The matcha had perfect ratios and muffin fresh and delicious. It’s also very reasonably priced.

Free gourmet coffee, muffins, and scones from Qualia are served to all passersby at Met Branch Trail coffee hours on the trail just east of here -- second Friday of each month, regardless of weather. Those friendly events turned me on to Qualia's potent elixirs. A large cold brew from this easy-to-overlook neighborhood joint (just north of Dave Thomas Circle and the FedEx distribution center) has the high-octane energy to keep you happily bopping all day. Good service, free wi-fi, about a dozen seats, and pleasant 2010s hipster rock (think Foster the People) at a volume suitable to allow work. A couple people had their laptops set up in the south-facing window seats last Saturday morning. Close, easy parking for cars and bikes. Savory options here center on stuffed roti flatbreads that are served warm, with spreadable Sri Lankan coconut relish topping called pol sambol, for $7.70. The spread reminded me of green chutney, which is a good thing. Minus one star because biscuits are served room-temperature, with chilled Denny's-caliber jam and butter (which was provided after I asked) that is hard to spread. My three-year old didn't seem to mind, but heating the biscuits would help a lot. In any case, this is a small coffee shop, not a diner, so the short list of food options is understandable. As Dr. Steve Brule says, "Check it out!"

I was really excited to try this place out. Near my house, local roaster, hopes were high. I was even more stoked to see that they had a Slayer espresso machine, generally a piece of equipment reserved for the truly obsessed. I was disappointed. Only one of my three beverages was truly great. The staff was fun, friendly, and inviting, but the skill and knowledge we're sadly lacking. I plan to go back, but probably only for a bag (the Ethiopia was lovely). Not a bad spot, but not up to par in the DC specialty coffee scene.

I am by no means a coffee expert but this was great! When you order a larger size they ask you if you want more shots in it (which from my experience working in cafes is NOT always the case; often they just give you more milk). The service is great too! Knocked it down one star for food because the biscuit was quite salty for my taste (I'm quite sensitive to salt though), and one star for atmosphere because there's no wifi. Other than that, a great place that I'll probably be adding to my rotation.

Cute local coffee shop on Georgia Ave. They offer a variety of coffee and espresso drinks, as well as whole bean pounds of coffee to take home. The first time I went, I got their iced chai and I wasn't impressed - it basically tasted like a glass of sweetened oat milk. However, the second time I got a mysore spice au lait, and it was delicious. Honestly, it sort of tasted like a dirty chai latte - spicy and just a little sweet from the oat milk. They also have a small variety of muffins and scones. I tried a blueberry muffin and it was a little dense but overall pretty good (I definitely wouldn't come in specifically for the baked goods, but they're good enough to round out a coffee). They don't have any indoor seating, but they do have some tables and chairs in their patio out back as well as some benches in front. Overall, a really good place to grab a coffee, but I'd stick to coffee drinks there!

I visited Qualia Coffee for some coffee on a rainy Saturday morning and it hit the mark. I ordered the Mysore Spice Au Lait with almond milk and picked some Ethiopian pour over coffee to go with it. I wasn't sure what Mysore spice was, but the staff kindly let me see and smell the spice which helped make my decision. It isn't sweet so this was the perfect coffee drink for me! I love pour over coffee and they had so many types of coffee to choose from including decaf. My friend and I were able to get the cushioned seats in the corner and enjoy our coffees over a great chat. As mentioned, it isn't the biggest space and I think we got lucky bc of the rain. I will return to try some other coffees, maybe a sweet treat, or even buy a bag of coffee beans for home!

My favorite local spot to grab coffee! Fresh, delicious, and reasonable. They have perfected the cappuccino and their cheddar pepper scone is to die for.

I reached a new level of hipster on my visit to Qualia. I just hit brunch at Comminwealth Cantina (formerly Homestead) and wanted to get a latte to round out my brunch... I had been people watching and there were some characters my kinda place to be honest... There are some benches out front, a nice area decorated with local art and as you walk back, you go into a small area to order and the menu is a chalkboard. It's quirky, it smells amazing, and they have baked goods for snacking. Iced Latte, with oak milk (hipster height level 5 reached) The back patio is my favorite, entire coffee shop feels like you're somewhere else far away from DC. Great coffee spot. P.s

When I stopped by this Saturday after lunch, unfortunately, Qualia Coffee wasn't offering any espresso options so it was just cold brew or drip coffee. The cold brew wasn't great, and it seems like they just use whatever beans they have to make it, which implies to me that they don't really care about the consistency or taste of their cold brew. This is disappointing to me and I wasn't able to finish the cold brew because I didn't enjoy it very much. Overall, 2/5 but will bump to a 3/5 because I haven't tried their espresso based drinks (which I'm sure would be better, hopefully?) and they have an in-house selection of different roasts that they offer. I'd come back to buy a bag of beans or try their espresso drinks in the future.

So glad that Qualia (Eckington) reopened ! Love stopping in for some great coffee, pastries, and love that it's dog friendly (they even have little doggy cookies). Recommend stopping by next time you're in the area!

Stopped by as this is really the only coffee shop close to the new park. Online ordering only, and it takes a 10-15 minutes for orders for some reason, so definitely order ahead. The coffee was pretty good - we ordered a iced pour over and the frothed milk cold latte. But it was over $4 for the pour over and I think $6 for the latte (with almond milk), and both were small 12oz cups? Finished these in two seconds on a hot day, not a great value for me. Also ordered a mudslide cookie, but was given regular chocolate chip cookie that was crunchy/not great. Reminded me of chips ahoy. Wouldn't go out of my way to stop here in the future.

For the people of Petworth (and, let's be honest, much of this great District), Qualia is THE place to get your beans. I have several coffee-snob friends who try to only source their beans from here. And if you are more of a coffee bean buying novice (ahem...me!), the staff is incredibly knowledgable and ready to help and answer any questions you may have, and point you towards the perfect blend. I bought some Qualia coffee for my brother-in-law who loves a good (+ ethically sourced) cup o' Joe, and he deemed it "very, very good stuff" which I interpret as pretty high praise. (If you are buying, be aware that they typically only have one type of decaf available. Yes, yes, don't come at me with your "death before decaf" - some people actually really need to drink decaf, just let us live!). Lots of excellent pastries and snacks for sale. I recommend the chocolate mudslide cookie or a savory scone. Vegan offerings, too. This always seems to be a popular spot for teleworking, but it's a cozy space (read: very limited seating). But if you can nab a chair and stay a while, do. My favorite drink here hands down is the iced soy chai (I think it is only on their winter menu). Check out the seasonal offerings they have throughout the year!

Free gourmet coffee, muffins, and scones from Qualia are served to all passersby at Met Branch Trail coffee hours on the trail just east of here -- second Friday of each month, regardless of weather. Those friendly events turned me on to Qualia's potent elixirs. A large cold brew from this easy-to-overlook neighborhood joint (just north of Dave Thomas Circle and the FedEx distribution center) has the high-octane energy to keep you happily bopping all day. Good service, free wi-fi, about a dozen seats, and pleasant 2010s hipster rock (think Foster the People) at a volume suitable to allow work. A couple people had their laptops set up in the south-facing window seats last Saturday morning. Close, easy parking for cars and bikes. Savory options here center on stuffed roti flatbreads that are served warm, with spreadable Sri Lankan coconut relish topping called pol sambol, for $7.70. The spread reminded me of green chutney, which is a good thing. Minus one star because biscuits are served room-temperature, with chilled Denny's-caliber jam and butter that is hard to spread. My three-year old didn't seem to mind, but heating the biscuits would help a lot. In any case, this is a small coffee shop, not a diner, so the short list of food options is understandable. As Dr. Steve Brule says, "Check it out!"

Best coffee in DC. Even my in-laws who live in Brooklyn request bags of coffee beans from Qualia. Don't know what we would do without them!

The coffee was decent, the cappuccino was small but the customer service was horrendous. Jess the barista was incredibly rude to me and my mom not just once but twice. I feel bad for the business owner for rating this low but maybe they'll hire better people next time.

This is a laid back and multi-level coffee shop with a lot to offer from good coffee to alcoholic beverages to food, etc. It is also very comfortable here and I love their decor.

Qualia Coffee is positioning itself to be THE coffee shop of the neighborhood of Eckington. Currently, it's the only coffee shop in Eckington. If you're a fan of Big Bear in nearby Bloomingdale, Qualia Coffee has a very different vibe. Big Bear Cafe looks like the setting of a flower crown class whereas Qualia Coffee appears much more commercial. It's a medium sized coffee shop just off of New York Ave and Florida in the bottom of a new condo building. It's hard to notice if you're driving by, but if you're looking for it, you'll be able to find it. They open at 7AM. They roast their beans in Petworth so it's local. Their equipment shows they can make a good latte and I recommend ordering one. If you need a bite, they don't sell standard coffee shop pastries, which is refreshing. They sell mini muffins from a company that employs those disadvantaged in DC and bagel bites stuffed with different cream cheeses. All of it is good. There are a few small tables to the side and window seating. How it's laid out, there's a large empty space in the middle, which oddly makes it inviting. If you live in Eckington, it's worth a shot (or a double shot). If you're looking for DC's best coffee shop, I wouldn't add Qualia Coffee to the top 5 list (That's reserved for Colony Club, Maketto, Vigilante, Peregrine, and La Colombe), but it may make the top 15 list!

Tried an espresso, pour over, and an earl gray scone. The espresso (Nicaragua) was strongly bitter on the back end, but not in a good way. I was glad to have ordered the pour over as well. Unfortunately, it wasn't good either. Not enough there to call it subtle- it was just bland. And for the love of all that's holy, why were there raisins in the scone. That's just wrong. Service: The baristas weren't friendly and barely seemed to want to take my order even though there was only one other customer in the place.

I think my favorite part of Qualia is ... quality! Every time I've asked questions, their baristas had genuine answers and they engage in conversation well. I've asked questions every time I've been here and it's been like... almost 10 times? I can't remember. I've asked things like, what's a coffee of the day, how long do you brew your cold brew, what coffee do you use for cold brew, why is a junk pump only for here, when are you going to do your next coffee tasting, do you have any more biscuits, can you mix a ginger lemonade with tea, etc. so many questions, but never have I gotten a blah answer nor irritation. Even if say, the one at the counter didn't know the answer, one of the baristas behind him/her will jump in the convo and make suggestions if there's something doesn't seem like a good fit drink. For those who don't know, there's additional seating upstairs, not much but it's something. You'll need to ask for the code to open the door outside and then go up a flight of stairs. Generally the people at this coffee shop know there is limited space so they are willing to share. This is good neighbor manners :)

Better overall experience this time. No weird faces or energy. Had to give a better review for a better experience.

I have ALWAYS loved Qualia. They are conscious coffee--a community oriented and local shop that does things responsibly. I especially love that they don't upcharge for non-dairy milk!! Well, the oat milk is a whopping 25C extra, but almond and soy are same price as cow's milk. Good on you, Qualia.

I've always had a great experience with this branch of Qualia. I've always loved their single origin coffee and usually come here to pick up a few bags in order to make cold brew. That said, my experience just now with the man working there just decimated all that. I didn't know their hours during COVID, but I guess I assumed that wouldn't be an issue when I got there around 1:40 pm. As I was trying to do my order on my phone (because that's the only way you can order now), a man came out and told me that I can't put it in after 1:45. I thought oh crap, I will hurry then. So I put my order in real quick, 1 bag ground for cold brew, 2 bags whole bean coffee. It wouldn't let me buy it at first because they only had 2 bags left. So I quickly opened my cart, deleted something, and hit submit. It was in right at 1:45. Score! Uh not so much. The worker comes out and proceeds to yell at me that he told me not to put it in after 1:45, that he has no control over the system. I told him I had it in right at 1:45. He gets upset, goes in, and brings me back what looked to be an iced coffee with no ice. Not understanding what was going on, I said okay, do I need to go to Georgia Avenue? He said no, the order got kicked to the next day, but here's your coffee anyway. I was like um...I ordered bags of coffee. He said oh, this is what showed up for tomorrow. He turned around and went back inside. I'm thinking okay...dude came back out with the bags of coffee. I said, hey can I get this one ground for cold brew? He acted put out and said well they said whole bean on them, stormed back inside. (In my rush to attempt to get my order in before their deadline, I accidentally deleted the cold brew one instead of decreasing the whole bean count.) He brought back the bags with one of them ground. I said thank you. He said nothing and stormed back inside. After I got home and looked at the coffee he gave me, I saw that he gave me the wrong one. He gave me coffee that was $2 cheaper per bag than what I paid for. So there is no reason why this needed to be so contentious. I know this is COVID and everyone needs to be more understanding, but I thought I did everything right and got yelled at. There's no reason why the worker couldn't have just given me the coffee and made a note for whoever comes in in the morning that my order was filled the previous day. Moreover, if Qualia closes at 2, why is it that they won't take orders past 1:45? And if it can't be filled that day, can't they have the system just say the order can't be filled? Or, I don't know, take orders up to 2? There are many myriad of ways this could've been handled, but this worker and the business in general just doesn't seem interested in thinking them through. They were shut down for months (understandably since it was peak COVID), so they should've had plenty of time to think these things through. Yelling at and refusing customers (I heard the guy tell a customer right after me that he couldn't help her because they close at 2; it was 1:55) should not be the way to solve this problem.

Have come here a few times in the past couple months. Every time very friendly service and excellent double-shot latte. This place doesn't have many food options. Mainly bagels and some pastries but their coffee is exceptional and THAT, I believe, brings all the customers in. There are some seating options but not many. Also some funky art pieces offered for sale. Stop by if you are in the area!

I just don't get it... It looks like the other reviewers are raving about the coffee, ,but I had a very different experience. As a non-coffee drinker, I was more interested to check this place out for breakfast. I checked out some Yelp reviews and was hoping they still had the bagel holes on the menu. My husband and I walked in, the decor was very nice clean and modern. However, for some reason neither barista even turned din our direction to acknowledge us, I had to get their attention. While there were no bagel holes or any bagels on the menu, I would have happily had any other savory option, however they were out of both biscuits on their menu. All they had was a couple of sad looking muffins. Keep in mind that this was 1 hour after they opened on a Saturday, and there only two other patrons inside; I don't understand why they wouldn't have a better inventory of breakfast items!? Very disappointing considering there isn't a great selection of coffee/breakfast spots in our area.

I've been to 4 places on my Indie Coffee Passport (ICP) so far, so it's not saying much, but Qualia Coffee has been by far my favorite as far as atmosphere, service, and attention to coffee detail. It was a beautiful day when I walked in, so their windows were all open plus an overhead ceiling fan offered a nice breezy and sunny atmosphere. I claimed a spot along what I call the "work wall" that had an outlet and was pleased to see a "flight" of coffees as an offering on the ICP. The woman the counter was GREAT--very informative on the coffees and was more than happy to clue me into the coffee world and make some recommendations for my flight. I liked that she had an opinion of her own, as well, telling me what her favorite beans were. The beans were ground and the coffees were made-to-order. (I gotta give it to them, the work that it takes to make such a small batch of each of the coffees in the flight.) Also, points for the staff realizing that I kept on checking the downstairs bathroom availability and told me the code for the upstairs bathroom. These guys are coffee snobs (in the best way) and are receptive to both fellow connoisseurs and clueless frapp drinkers like me. If it weren't so out of the way for me, I'd hit it up on the regular!!

Been here a few times. Coffee is OK. Online orders during covid. But came in 2 minutes after they closed this past weekend. The door was unlocked. The barista was very rude. She said to my partner and I "can you read, we're closed!" And honey, I was shocked!

Came here for coffee this morning. Stayed at my friend's place who lives in petworth so we stopped by for a morning coffee. Loved their menu and their devotion to quality products. I had the milk shakerato and my friend ordered a coffee and a chocolate chip cookie. My drink was delicious and super authentic. The space was super nice and had a good amount of outdoor seating. The only thing was that it took quite a bit of time for them to prepare the drinks and food. They are clearly taking their time to not skimp on quality and authenticity but the line quickly piled up.

What a great addition to the Eckington/NoMa area! I went by this morning to check out their coffee, lured by the morning pop-up inside of Short Eats, which offers stuffed Sri Lankan rotis. The south-facing storefront captures the morning light, helping to wake you up even before you've got their delicious coffee in your hands. The coffee is served from a long counter that occupies about 2/3 of the length of the shop. Along the right half as you face the counter they have glass containers of all their micro-roasts along with regional sourcing and tasting notes. On top of the Brazil jar was a note indicating that it was the coffee they were selling for the "batch brew" that day. A 12oz batch brew is $2.50 or $2.00 for 8oz; it's about $3.50 to get a pour over of one of their other coffees and will take several minutes to prepare. Once you get your cup, head over to a small station on the right wall to add sugar, get a lid, and add half-and-half or "milk" (not sure which type, didn't say). On Qualia: While waiting for my rotis, I spoke with some of the baristas to learn more about their coffee. They explained that they get all their beans directly from farmers around the world, and then they roast them almost daily in small batches at their main location in Petworth. On their side of the counter is a sticky note indicating the date each coffee was roasted. What fresh coffee you get with Qualia! There's no set rotation among the beans for the daily batch brew, it depends on what they have and what they feel like making. On Short Eats: I've been dying to check these guys out because my husband's family are from Sri Lanka, and their rotis did not disappoint! They had 3 varieties on sale: pork sausage, ground turkey, and veggie (vegan), all for $5.75 each; pol sambol was available on the side for another $1.00. I got the two meat varieties and two pol sambols. The rotis had been pre-cooked to about 75%, then they're grilled up the final bit to be warm and crispy. The turkey one tasted more of the potato filling than the meat, but the pork sausage was very good--and the pol sambol elevated both significantly and should not be missed! Be prepared for up to medium spiciness, which is very mild for Sri Lankan food. So why 4* and not 5*? I didn't find that Qualia's coffee holds its own against other spots like Compass Coffee or La Colombe; also Blue Bottle and The Coffee Bar, but those aren't fair price comparisons.

I finally checked out Qualia Coffee in Eckington yesterday. This was my second attempt, as the first time they were closed in the afternoon due to their "soft opening" and hadn't posted the hours anywhere but on the door. First the environment, it's nice if austere. You're typical high end espresso machine and accoutrement at the counter, with a few tables and a window counter, plus two arm chairs. Nothing overly impressive or negative. What struck me was how empty the place was about noon on a Friday. They advertise no wi-fi because they don't want people to sit and work (full disclosure: I brought my own hotspot and sat for a while) but, considering the newness of the place and the need for neighbourhood joints where you can do just that - sit and work and be around people - I think Qualia would do much better trying to attract those people now. It would definitely encourage a more lively atmosphere. Second, I got the iced coffee and was not impressed. It was bitter - as one of the previous yelp posters noted - but also just tasted off. This could have been a bad batch but, considering there are many other places with good iced coffee just a bit further away (La Colombe, Compass and Zeke's), I think I'll just stick to those. Not impressed with Qualia, I think they could do better in Eckington. Hope they do and maybe I'll go back in the future.

On my last day in DC I searched for nearby coffee shops and this place came up. It was only a 5 minute walk from my airbnb. I walked right past this place without knowing it but once I found it I felt comfortable. The space is really nice and the staff is friendly. I was drawn here because of their Horchata drink. It's a summer seasonal drink. When I arrived there was a man ahead of me and he ordered the Horchata drink. When I tried to place my order it turned out that they ran out and that was it. I really wanted to try it as it's a staple drink for Latinos. I was bummed. I ordered a soy latte and an iced Americano. I was very surprised. The drinks were really good. There was no bitter aftertaste. The drink was really smooth. If I'm back in DC next summer I'm definitely gonna hit this place up and try to grab me an Horchata.

The greatest coffee shop in the City! Been buying coffee here since it first opened. Coffee selection is amazing I don't go to no other coffee shop. Qualia I'm loyal to You folks!

I had a great experience here. To sum up my visit, I wrote the following haiku: Eco-friendly roasts Row-house-nestled patio Cafe granola

Wow - this place really nickels and dimes its customers. I paid for a medium iced chai and asked for it to have little ice. After paying, the person at the front, said they base drinks on "volume" so though I paid for a medium, they gave me the iced chai in a small cup because I wanted less ice. This is an example of extremely poor service and feeling like I am being taken advantage off over having sensitive teeth!

Good coffee- terrible service. I went a week ago and I am still thinking about how mean the barista was to me. No hi, thank you, or bye. The store was not busy while we were there and they completely forgot about our order. Not sure while tipping the staff and giving my money to this business qualifies for such rude service.

I try to stop by this place every time I come to the Petworth area. In my humble opinion, it has everything a coffee shop should: an open-air front, friendly service, a local, neighborhood-y vibe, delicious drinks, and even some outdoor seating. You can tell that this place really cares about its community and business; there are always advertisements for unique and quirky events and goings-on that you can browse while waiting for your drink. On top of this, I always happen upon the most interesting people while I'm there, whether it's a local regular or a guy with a giant Scooby Doo balloon who asks you to pour some milk in his coffee because his hands are full. In the back, there's a nice little courtyard with some differently sized tables, giving you the chance to momentarily escape the bustle of busy Georgia Avenue. A fair warning, however: this place does not have WiFi, so don't bring your laptop expecting to get some online work done. Also, their air conditioning isn't too strong, although they have plenty of fans that cool it down. I sweat like a polar bear, and I've never really had a problem there. Also, you have to enter through the big window. That's not really a warning, just a heads-up.

I can't believe I paid almost $5 for a ginger lemonade with NO sweetener in it. I could have went across the street to Wendy's and got an entire meal.

Things to know about quaila: - they no longer offer wifi, not even on weekdays - there's extra seating upstairs - great coffee but no flavor syrups - limited selection of food (just bagels scones and cookies) - friendly and accommodating staff - cool homey vibe - cold!!! I don't know if the heat wasn't working but it was freezing upstairs especially in the bathroom

Excellent brand and coffee drinks. WORST customer service in Petworth. These baristas and check out girls are deeply offended by the ordering process. Regardless of the customer's level of cheeriness one is met by grouchy snobbery. Yes the coffee is good, no you shouldn't treat your loyal customers like they are disposable. The staff don't say hello, please or thank you. Shameful. Updating: staff are still slightly snobby but friendly than my last post. And we come here weekly for our beans. Because the coffee beans are the best in the entire city...and it's a lovely place to enjoy coffee (inside or out).

Great coffee house! I stumbled upon this place while working in the neighborhood and, wow! What a find! I had a latte and a granola bagel, both very good

This place wasn't on my radar until a #Gilmoregirls event. What a cute gem. It is much bigger on the inside. The stairs are just a bit steep, but at least there is a hand rail. In fairness, I entered through the front so there may be an ADA entrance in the rear. The lobby area is cozy and cute. The coffee house seems to have an interest in the local community, based on all the posters, flyers and business cards. They even have condoms in the bathroom. The employees are outgoing and nice. The scones are fresh and tasty. There is paid street parking out front. If you hunted a bit, you could find free parking in the neighborhood. Be careful pulling out or walking across Georgia Avenue, drivers can be careless.

Great coffee. Strong, rich espresso. Cool baristas. Overall good vibes. Check them out!

Clearly came in to set up for work. Had 2 coffee options to choose from and waited until after I'd bought a $5 cup to tell me their wifi was out...

So. I grew up in DC and currently live in California. I come back to DC often and work remotely, so friends suggested that this was a good place to set up shop for a few hours to get some work done. So yesterday, Thursday, January 23, between 3pm - 5pm, I came here to work for a few hours opposed to going to basic Starbucks. 1) The yelp page states that there is WiFi here. The person working there yesterday for the closing shift informed me that there is no WiFi. (False advertisement on your yelp page) 2) This person working was completely rude and condescending when she took my order for an Au lait. 3) I still stayed dispute her/their rudeness as I had to finish up some work for a day and jump on a video call for one meeting. 4) As soon as I called into my meeting, this person proceeded to turn up the volume of the sound system in which the speaker was blaring in my right ear. I did have noise cancelling headphones on but the volume of the house speakers was ridiculously loud for only me and her being in the shop. I asked her to turn it down and she looked annoyed and she took her time turning it down. After she turned the volume down, she proceeded to bang things around in the back of house while cleaning then began cleaning the espresso machine and bang thins around behind the counter.....as a former restaurant owner, this behavior was very uncalled for. 5) I want to have empathy for folks and wanted to give her the benefit of doubt as to why she proceeded to have such behavior. I am a life coach on the side and I am usually very diplomatic and reasonable about people having a bad day. 6) She was not rude to the white patrons that came into the shop and she even engaged in friendly conversation with them....I really don't want to pull the race card here, but this person was awful and unpleasant to me specifically. 7) I will be sending her loving, kindness and empathy on my next meditation sit tonight and hope that she is self-aware of her behavior moving forward. On the bright side- the Au Lait she made was amazing and the atmosphere of the space and art could be enjoyable again minus her working there....she was awful and rude.

Don't get why this place is rated so high. The place is super cramped, hot and the workers are either indifferent or simply rude. They also have a very unfriendly sign that says "no wifi, not sorry". This type of service or signs are completely unnecessary. There are way too many coffee shops to choose from. To top it off, I ordered a double cappuccino and the barista asked what size cup I wanted, immediately I knew she wasn't going to make it correctly. I wasn't wrong, my cup was completely full with only 10% foam. SMH. I have given them my service for an entire year hoping they get better, but they have failed. If you want good coffee, nice friendly service and a big area to study try compass coffee.

If you are serious about an excellent cup of coffee, this is the place to go. They offer a dozen different single origin beans right there on the counter for you to waft and select for your pour-over. The Nicaragua Apple was delicious when I tried it. The staff are very knowledgeable and happy to tell you about their offerings. The roaster is right there on site and Charles the roaster can give you plenty of information on the sourcing and processing of every bean they sell. Yes, the shop is small and has no wifi. But this isn't a Starbucks or a collaborative workspace. This is a place to enjoy they best coffee available in DC.

Yes, all the review are true that the coffee at this establishment is phenomenal. I love it. The choices for how your coffee is made: 5 stars. The roasting in house of the beans: 5 stars. The coffee aroma and bouquet: 5 stars. The option to buy beans and consume products from direct trade efforts with the farmers: 5 stars. If I can only give 4 stars, it's because I am picky as heck. There is an array of seating, but as you enter, it's not as welcoming as I would like it to be. Something about the orientation of the bar seats and couple of indoor tables before getting to the baristas to order and the squished feel of trying to peruse the offerings while feeling like you have to order asap leave something to be desired. However, I can also say beans at home from here highly recommended because of the hours. Normal folks will find the hours suitable, but if a fiend-aficionado, you may want your own stash. Oh, and the afflogato is brilliant. Sometimes I seek espresso that doesn't burn bitterly as I sip the potent concoction and end up with a latte when my throat is weak. The option here for the afflogato is my new fav espresso drink in the district: vegan coconut vanilla bean ice cream with just enough espresso to cover. Dessert and espresso all in one. Bliss!

I rarely give a one star rating but UGH!!! I was meeting with a friend there on a Saturday morning. It's TIGHT in there. We couldn't stay. And my camomile tea was terrible. I'm not returning here.

It's a real gem. DC has plenty of coffee shops around but Qualia is a real specialty shop. They always have a large number of small source coffees, all roasted carefully in shop. Never focused on volume, they really have taught me what great coffee taters like. Everything is available as a pour over, or in bags.

This place arguably serves great, in house roasted coffee no doubt. The iced lattes have been a staple of mine for years and the flavor is consistent. The staff on occasion are friendly but most of them consistently suffer from poor manners and the typical unresolved hipster angst that makes these spaces such a bummer . Customer service is so important in DC, especially in a place that's made it self a part of the community and especially since many of the original inhabitants don't typically make up the workforce around Petworth anyway . Had a girl prepare my bagel without ANY GLOVES and when asked about why - despite having a food safety glove box sitting in plain sight - became defensive and remarked that " she washed her hands." When I commented that washing your hands and touching other surfaces in between does not disqualify food from cross contamination , she immediately became defensive. Her hair was uncovered and in a pony tail . After constant reassurance that " she understood food safety 'laws' , I walked away . The same bagel had a blonde hair in it ... I've encountered repeated moments of wayward customer service and mostly- it just seems like some Employees are entitled . If you don't appreciate the community you serve and respect the people who mirror that reciprocity as regular patrons OR enough to muster a " thank you " with at least an " you're welcome" OR acknowledge a persons presence with a greeting at the cash register -then you shouldn't be on the frontline of a service role and you're making it abundantly clear that you'd prefer not to be . Hire people FROM the community who actually want to be there ‍and albeit with more gusto . I know plenty of great residents in need of employment.

This coffee spot is so cute! I had a really sweet barista and the latte I got was really good. The vegan banana cookies are so yummy!!!

The best coffee shop in D.C. They are coffee nerds here and will talk your ear off about coffee, very friendly and engaging. The absolute best coffee.

I read an article about Qualia's $12,000 pour over coffee robot, and I was intrigued to give it a try. We made it in about 5 minutes before closing, and I was pleased that service was still good and friendly. I ordered a small Sumatra coffee and a peanut butter cookie. The cookie was excellent, but the coffee was just OK and overpriced. I understand they have to charge a lot to recoup the cost of the machine, but the quality just wasn't worth the price. My friend had a Colombian coffee and made the same assessment. It was interesting to see the robot in action, but I think once is enough. I would give Qualia another try if I were in the area, but I definitely would not go out of my way for it. Also, they need some minimal signage indicating where the entrance door is located.

Saturday, 1:00 PM. Note: no wi-fi on the weekends. Quickie: + Drink quality * Service - Hygiene * Atmosphere + Turnaround * Menu variety * Layout And then...? Roasts their own. Not much space to lounge or to work so do a walk-by instead. ********** Constructive comments: *Source ingredients *Compost options