Domonique Panton has one abiding goal: “When I said I was going to visit every single coffee shop in Washington, D.C., I meant it.”
Panton says this as her eyes flick back and forth between the road in front of her and the camera lens she’s addressing. Because she isn’t going to hit every D.C. coffee shop just for her own edification; she’s recording the process, rating the shops and posting her appraisals on social media.
After she conquers the District’s coffee scene, she hopes to expand her reach throughout the metro area and then on to the rest of the caffeinated world.
I met Panton at Zeke’s Coffee in downtown Washington this week. Since launching the vlog series “Trying Every Coffee Shop in D.C.” on Instagram and TikTok in August 2022, she has visited 74 and, at this moment, was less than optimistic that she’d meet her summer goal of testing 100 cafes before autumn arrives. Still, she radiated energy, even without her first dose of caffeine. She wore a white skirt and a sweatshirt featuring a teddy bear and the words, “It’s okay if all you did today was get coffee.”
Panton is a 26-year-old lifestyle content creator who fell in love with coffee while she was a professional track and field athlete. She began trying different coffee shops toward the beginning of the pandemic as a way to explore Alexandria, where she moved in 2019. These visits quickly became a passion and one of the few ways she could connect with her new community. She relocated to D.C. in 2022, retired from professional track and continued her mission on a larger scale. Earlier this summer, she decided to record her experience and share it on social media in the hopes that her ratings would help other D.C. residents get the tastiest caffeine fix possible.
Her order typically remains the same across tests: cold brew with a splash of oat milk and two sugars (as luck would have it, she and I have the same go-to). She tries to be as objective as possible in her reviews but understands that taste is subjective. Accordingly, she has devised her own 1-10 rating system for each shop she visits; points are earned for quality customer service, ambiance in the coffee shop, consistency across multiple orders and a smooth taste.
“If I give something between seven and eight, I pretty much mean that it’s standard or just a good cold brew. It’s not too bitter, and the customer service was most likely good. If I was in the neighborhood, I would come back here,” she told me. “Nine out of 10 is amazing. I will recommend this coffee shop to you if you’re in town. I will Uber, fly, bike, scooter, teleport to get this coffee. This is a coffee shop that I’ll return to and drink multiple cups because it’s that balanced and smooth. And then 10 is perfect.”
So what does she recommend? Here are Panton’s nine highest-ranked coffee shops for your next D.C. coffee run:
Return to menu3221 Mount Pleasant St. NW.
Elle (pronounced Ell-ee, according to its website, which styles the name as Ellē) is both a restaurant and cafe in Mount Pleasant. Its cold brew earned an almost-perfect score from Panton. Her March visit saw her order a second round of coffee in one sitting, and she decided against adding sugar because of the fullness of the flavor.
Panton rating: 9
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Three Fifty Bakery and Coffee Bar
Return to menu1926 17th St. NW.
Three Fifty is beloved for its pastries, but Panton adored its coffee as well. This visit also warranted Panton skipping her sugar addition because she enjoyed the flavor so much. The shop is homey, making for a cozy atmosphere as you sip or bite.
Panton rating: 9.5
Return to menu1346 Fourth St. SE and 1524 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
Although Yellow offers specialty coffee rather than Panton’s beloved cold brew, she couldn’t help but give the cafe a rare perfect score. She ordered a cardamom latte with coconut, and even though she doesn’t like coconut, she fell in love with it immediately. “I was like, I can’t leave here without giving it a 10,” she said.
Panton rating: 10
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Return to menu2459 18th St. NW.
Share this articleShareTryst is an Adams Morgan staple for both caffeine and spirits, and Panton understands why. She ordered the Cuban iced coffee and especially enjoyed the airiness of the space. Although Tryst was one of the first spots she visited, it has managed to hold its position as one of her favorites.
Paton rating: 9.4
La Coop Coffee
Return to menu5505 First St. NW. and 4807 First St. North, Arlington.
The only thing that would clue you in to La Coop being a coffee shop is the neon sign in the Brightwood window advertising it as such. The building is an anomaly in its neighborhood — a stand-alone house with a wraparound porch and white picket fence. Not only is it home to cold brew that, to Panton, feels like “magic in my mouth,” but it’s also the second of only two spots to earn a perfect score. Panton particularly enjoyed La Coop’s source and roast of coffee beans; over the course of this challenge, she has grown partial to Guatemalan coffee.
Panton rating: 10
Return to menu3118 Georgia Ave. NW.
With its minimalist aesthetic and friendly service, Doubles Cafe in Columbia Heights earned a near-perfect score from Panton. The space, which is also a ping-pong club (hence its name), also hosts a range of events including fundraisers, dance parties and book clubs. Panton appreciated the ample sitting space for remote workers and casual diners.
Panton rating: 9.7
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Somewhere Cafe
Return to menu1239 First St. SE.
Somewhere Cafe serves customers in the front of chic streetwear boutique Somewhere’s Navy Yard location. Though it may be out of your way if you don’t plan on shopping for clothes, Panton was surprised by how much she loved it and recommended the spot for its stylish ambiance and flavorful cup of coffee.
Panton rating: 9.8
The Coffee Bar
Return to menu1201 S St. NW and 1200 17th St. NW #150.
Another early addition to the list that has proved its staying power, the Coffee Bar prides itself on providing a friendly atmosphere alongside its stellar coffee. In her TikTok, Panton remarks that she enjoyed the music and sitting space when she visited, and that the cold brew she ordered there remains at the top of her list.
Panton rating: 9
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Zeke’s Coffee
Return to menu731 15th St. NW, 2300 Rhode Island Ave. NE and 4602 14th St. NW.
Panton suggested Zeke’s Coffee as our meeting place so she could pick up a cup on her way home. Its warm, modern environment and central location make it an easy spot to access for downtown workers like me, and its international variety of coffees makes it appealing to connoisseurs like her.
Panton rating: 9.8
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