Cafe Review: Filter (Washington, DC)

​Cafe: Filter Coffeehouse & Espresso Bar

Location: Dupont Circle, Washington, DC, USA

Vibe: Ride your bike here

Filter has become a DC coffee shop staple. Located just north of bustling Dupont Circle, it’s situated on a tree-lined street down a few side steps. You’ll recognize it quickly with the bright orange trim framing the door and the orange bike racks outside in the shapes of a coffee pot and coffee cup.

It’s a small shop with little room to sit, but if you’re lucky enough to get a seat it’s a fun place to camp out for an hour as its small size makes people watching effortless.

The first time I visited I ordered a cortado and loved it. Since, I have gotten lattes, both hot and cold, and all have been expertly prepared. On my first visit, I couldn’t resist ordering a slice of banana bread to go with my cortado and even today, that’s what I remember the most. It was full of chocolate chips and nuts with the perfect combination of denseness and moistness.

What I love most about Filter is that beyond preparing expertly crafted coffee, they have a very unique identity. Filter is all about bikes, they love them. They encourage patrons to come on two wheels and park their bike outside while enjoying a cup of coffee. You can even purchase water bottles that are clear and say Filter on the front with the store’s logo in its trademark orange. They also have their own cycling group with specialty jerseys. They are very sweet about the whole thing too. Always excited to answer any questions about coffee or that new bike you’ve been looking at, whether you’re just starting out or have been riding for years.

On my most recent visit, I took my parents who are huge cyclists. We all rode up and parked our bikes and sipped some amazing latte. (Well, my mom and I sipped lattes, my dad has never had coffee in his life—crazy, I know!) I even got an iced latte to go and put the drink in one of the two water bottle holders on my bike before taking off on a ride around the city.