I went to D.C. last week! For the first time since 2019 (oh, how times have changed), I graced the cobblestone paths and marble buildings of our nation’s capitol.
I was flown in for a work conference — my first big-girl, rootin’ tootin’ conference — with some 200+ professionals in the criminal justice field! I just received some professional photos of the conference. Here is a snapshot of me on the big day:
I know. My suit jacket is too long. Please don’t make fun of me; I didn’t have time to get it tailored.
Anyways, I knew I had try some Eastern U.S. coffee. So, on the second to last day of my trip, I snuck out of our Artificial Intelligence Task Force meeting to grab some sustenance. I moseyed out of the hotel to a coffee shop just a couple of blocks down — Colada, a Cuban-themed coffee and food joint that my co-worker recommended to me at the beginning of the trip. Raindrops plinked along the sidewalk as I strolled up to the disarmingly-teal-colored building.
I got a drink. Let’s discuss.
1. Location: 4.8/5
Colada Cafe, and the hotel I stayed at as well, sits on a relatively new and shiny development along the waterfront of D.C. - aptly named “the Wharf.” The Wharf is a sprite young series of lavish restaurants and gorgeous hotels plopped along one of the many inroads of the Potomac River. Dripping with youth and sparkle, this space is a sprawl of mixed-use developments.
My walk to Colada, although brief, included almost 10 dog sightings! At night, when I walked the opposite direction to get dinner with my co-workers, the sunset sparkled across the river that was spotted with small sailing boats. Needless to say, the location is beautiful, if not a bit disconnected and disjointed from the rest of D.C.
By snagging a spot here, Colada also became one of the few coffee shops on the Wharf, save for Starbucks. Very clever, Colada, very clever. It gets some slight point deductions due to the fact that the Wharf is pretty isolated from any of the D.C. tourist spots.
2. Aesthetic/Vibe: 9/10
Colada is incredibly vibrant, modern, and quirky — from its (kind of disarmingly) teal-painted outdoors to the gorgeous tile and bright lighting. Every piece of decor feels intentional, creating a cohesive style that feels really alive and unique. It’s a distinct aesthetic from those cozy coffee shops that populate NorCal, and I liked the change.
Colada gets a -1 for the touch-screen ordering. I like people.
3. Coffee Options: 9/10
These are, hands down, the best coffee offerings I have seen in a long long time, and I have no choice but to give Colada full marks in this category.
Colada shines with a menu oriented around Cuban classics. While one could order a cappucinno, latte, or drip coffee, the excitement here is with the caffeinated drinks that more rarely appear on the American coffee scene, like the Cortadito, Colada, or Cafe Cubano. They also had an exceptional “signature” menu that sported such creations like the mariposa blue matcha and iced coconut matcha. I wish their signature menu was a bit more extended, and included a non-matcha drink.
Despite my caffeine connoisseur-iness, I have never heard of blue matcha before. Apparently, it is made from the flower of a butterfly pea plant. I don’t even have a joke for that — that’s how lost I am. But, there’s no doubt that Colada brings a refreshing level of creativity to the caffeine scene.
4. Actual Coffee: 18/20
My stomach was generally queasy from my first big girl conference (reference the first photo in this post to see me in action being brave about it), so I stuck to an oat vanilla latte. I KNOW! I’m SORRY!!! I wanted to try the butterfly pee drink or whatever, but it just couldn’t happen.
The latte was very yummy! It was actually… creamier? and smoother? than the average latte, and I’m not sure how they accomplished that. But, it was really tasty, and it had a nice sweetness to it that didn’t taste overpowering or artificial. I wouldn’t be surprised if they either a) made their syrups in house or b) used some syrup brand I am not familiar with.
A solid 18/20 for a satisfying drink.
5. Prices: 7/10
My small latte cost $7.38 (including an upcharge for alternative milk). That’s pretty expensive. Sad.
6. Cups: 5/5
Knocked it out of the park! The cups were printed with a beautiful blue that perfectly matched the overall store design, and it’s sooooo preeeettyyyyyy.
FINAL SCORE: 52.8/60 = 88%
Although a solid score, it is surprisingly low for a shop that had such a well-curated vibe. However, little deductions on the menu, prices, and touch-screen ordering do add up in my completely subjective and non-scientific method.
Alright y’all. That’s all from me today. I’m back on the west coast, so I’ll find another new place to haunt and rate. See y’all around!