Cafe Review: Dolcezza (Washington, DC)

A stroll through Dupont and a quick trip to Dolcezza is enough to remind any Washingtonian why they fell in love with this city.

People often criticize DC for lacking character, but I couldn't disagree more. While we may not all say wicked or y'all and our identity is caught somewhere in between midwestern manners and northeastern patience (or lack there of), the folks who choose to call DC home have a personality all their own. This city is a perfect mix of political gurus and entrepreneurs, maintaining a small-town feel paired with old-world charm. It seems as if every day local businesses are doing more and more to make sure DC isn't overshadowed by other east coast cities.

The vibe I found inside Docezza perfectly reflects its unique DC neighborhood. A backdrop of white-washed brick walls played the perfect foil to a solid dark brown wooden table. The window frames turned menu added the perfect pop of color along with the one red-brick wall displaying artwork that rotates in and out of the shop. The decor is simple, but breathtaking.

While ordering my cappuccino I saw something called a gibraltar on the menu. A gibraltar is a small cappuccino that comes in a little glass cup, which is more often called a cortado. Standing at the counter I tried to avoid looking at the stack of pastries, but I have never been one to exert much self control when it comes to croissants.

It turned out that ordering a croissant was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Intensely buttery and flaky on the outside with half-baked doughy goodness on the inside. I found myself forgetting to drink my cappuccino as I was preoccupied peeling apart the flaky layers.

The croissant completed overshadowed the cappuccino. The presentation of the cappuccino was nice, but the foam was too airy and deflated rather quickly. The cappuccino itself had soft vanilla undertones carried through a full bodied feel with an oddly light flavor. I would have preferred something a bit more forceful.

My cappuccino had been made with Four Barrel espresso beans roasted in San Francisco. Dolcezza changes beans every month, which I love because I am always it means you're always in for a new experience whenever you visit. Some folks prefer consistency, but I love to keep my taste buds on-edge.

Dolcezza is as much an artisan gelato shop as it is a coffee shop. A day or two before I tried the coffee, I had been in for some gelato. Much like Docezza changes its espresso beans month-to-month, they also change the gelato flavors depending on what is in season. On the menu was DC Brau's Penn Quarter Porter flavored gelato and as a lover of all things local, I had to try it. I ordered two scoops: the Penn Quarter Porter and Valrhona Chocolate Amargo. I would have gotten a coffee flavored one, but they weren't making any at the time. It was the perfect combination of flavors. The rich heavy chocolate paired with the icy light porter almost tops the croissant... almost.