Mayorga Coffee in Silver Spring, Maryland: The not-Starbucks coffee shopDespite the proliferation of that West-Coast-coffee-chain-that-shall-not-be-named, there are still some independent shops around the area. One of the more popular ones is Mayorga Coffee Roasters. There are only a few locations in the D.C. area, but they are well-loved by their patrons. The other day, I met a friend--who is a Mayorga aficionado--at the company's coffee factory in Silver Spring to hang out and catch up for a few hours. Of course, I took my camera along and the result is the photo above.
While Melissa sipped her Mayorga special blend coffee and I enjoyed a hot chocolate with whipped cream, we chatted about books we're reading and stuff we're writing. We also swapped pleasantries about our families. I love getting together with friends and Mayorga is a nice place to do that on occasion. If you don't care for the hustle and bustle of Starbucks, Mayorga (and any of its non-'Buck counterparts) is the place to go.
Oh, and you don't have to declare your candidate loyalty for this cuppa joe! (Speaking of 7-11, check out their website for a running tally of votes based on sales of coffee cups.)
Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/08
15 comments:
My favorite coffee shop is close by in a bookstore. Besides a good cup of coffee and friendly staff they have the most divine peach muffins! Like eating peach cobbler for breakfast. We must keep these smaller coffee places running!
its nice to get some variety outside of the giant retailers when it comes to shops be it clothing or coffee...else we might all turn into clones (if we haven't already...)
VJ: Coffee and books. Now there's the perfect combination.
B.C.: I agree. Everything is so nationalized now, it's hard to find the unique places that reflect something other than the mass produced look and taste.
My favorite non-nationalized coffee shops in D.C. is the Firehook Bakery on 215 Pennsylvania Ave, SE (the one close to the Library of Congress). Great coffee, excellent sandwiches. I also liked to hang out at Quartermaine's on Bethesda Ave. in Bethesda. Great coffee, and diagonally opposite's Marvelous Market, with great sandwiches and cookies. For decades there was also the Second Story bookstore next door, with a great selection of like new used books (and review copies).
I hope I don't get taxes for overusing "great". Sorry.
Looks just like a west-coast-coffee-chain-that......oh nuts, a Starbucks.
I'm all for supporting local merchants, especially those that sell good muffins.
Nice to see these types of coffee shops around. We have become inundated with chain shops of coffee served in paper cups. Only a few non-chain coffee shops exist, and happily without drive thru.
Love this shop, I must visit this one!
Merisi: Gruess' Si'. Firehook is another nice alternative to the 'Bucks. I've heard of Quartermaine's and Marvelous Market, but have been to neither. Must remedy that based on your recommendation. Don't you love the coffee houses in Vienna?
P.S. Taxation on the use of the word great commences only when you modify it with words like "sort of", "kind of", and "not that". Otherwise, you're fine! ;-)
Wayne: Rumor has it, Mayorga sells good muffins.
Rob: Come on over! Speaking of which, when are you and Mrs. DL coming here for a visit?
Its good to suppor these non chain businesses. This one looks a nice place.
I like the link to the 7/11 results. Very funny marketing idea. I hope their coffee drinkers are right!
Marley: I agree. Enough with the mega chains already! Mayorga is a nice place to meet friends. I don't drink coffee, but I enjoy going there and hanging out with my blogging buddies!
While Im a huge fan of Starbucks coffee, I do love to visit local coffee shops for a cuppa to sample the their offerings. This looks like a nice relaxing place.
Prof: This is a nice coffee shop. Very roomy and well lit with lots of seating--tables, couches, and comfy armchairs. While there's hustle and bustle and some ambient noise, I actually prefer it to the 'Bucks for getting together with friends.
It looks nice. I much prefer the non-chains myself!
dusty: Here in the land o' S'bucks, there are actually many small local coffee shops too. I try to go to one of them over S'bucks when possible. Alas, the S'bucks machine is clever and has shops in the bottom of most buildings, so on rainy days it's hard to go walk to some other place when they are so convenient!
Maya: If you ever venture this way, we'll go to Mayorga for coffee. Of course, you're right about the 'Bucks saturation level. It makes it hard to patronize the smaller, local purveyors of the bean, when you can walk out of your office and into the national brand. Bah.
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