Cup’a Cup’a

I really really love this place.
Their bagels, croissants, coffee, and chai lattes are some of the best I’ve ever had. Knowing I’m going to grab breakfast here before work is the best part of waking up.
Just some updates from comments I read below: Credit cards are accepted, but there is a minimum purchase of $ 5.

This little coffee spot it a bit hard to find, but it does serve up some great coffee. The staff have smiles, the service is very expedient, and I’ve never really encountered any large lines. It has got some spots to sit both indoors and outdoors. If you are in the area, it’s definitely a great alternative to the never-​ending Starbux!

After a year and a half of working in Foggy Bottom, one of my students finally asked «Have you been to Cupa Cupa?» Now, mind you, I don’t consider Foggy Bottom a culinary destination, especially for those of us who work in the area and want quick, healthy lunches (the Whole Foods has been a blessing). But Cupa Cupa is now officially in my rotation — for $ 6.95, I had an amazing veggie Ethiopian platter (four veg dishes — two lentils, one bean, one spinach and potato) — each veggie was cooked to absolute perfection (and I’m not a fan of beans, but adored these) and served on a mini injera.
A few notes:
— cash only.
— I can’t comment on the bookstore (though I’ll check it out next time) — but I couldn’t quite figure out the relationship between the food and the store.

Good coffee, friendly service. Cozy atmosphere inside, but best in summer when you can sit outside.

Oooo Cup’a Cup’a. I miss you.
I was here for an event in the Kennedy Center (yup guest artist be jealous!) I was here almost every day for sandwich, breakfast, coffee (ok so I don’t actually drink coffee but hey I got a drink!).
I LOVE the Californian sandwich. Chicken salad with AVOCADO (yum), bean sprouts, and yummy bread. They put a lot of sprouts and not a lot of avocado meh I’ll survive it was still über tasty.
They have a lot of drinks, bottled and mixed.
Don’t get the hot chocolate it was powdered and water. (this is why the missing star) For a place that grinds their own beans (I think) making powdered hot chocolate is a Huge let down.
Surprisingly they have a great breakfast burrito. Kinda greasy but what burrito isn’t?
I can’t wait to go back to the KC to go here!

This place was a walk away, right next to our hotel (GWU Inn). The first day we were starving and the front desk mentioned this place. I was suprised our first eat in D.C. was cheap, very happy about that, can’t say I was too happy about the service, but that didn’t bother me, You order your food at the front and minutes later a beautiful, delicious sandwich comes out to you… hoorah! The two women who seemed to be managing the place didn’t so much care to make small talk with you or welcome you into the place, they were just conversing in Spanish the whole time, but like I said, I didn’t mind, they made my sandwich and I was happy. We ordered the reuben and roast beef sandwiches and they were yummy, the meat just melted in your mouth! We came for breakfast a day later and ordered the breakfast burrito, now THAT I can make better at home, but what can I say, we couldn’t make it at the hotel so I had no choice, probably should have just stuck with a granola bar for breakfast, but overall this place is cheap and tasty for lunch, not to mention nice outdoor seating located right behind the Kennedy Center and a walk away to the river.

Went here last Sunday for a quick lunch before going to see Jamel Laroussi giving a free spectacle at the Kennedy center. I had the grilled chicken Caesar salad and a hot English breakfast tea. It was just alright.
It is however a great place to discuss between friends over hot drinks.

This is my favorite little place to go for a quick meal or coffee before a show at the Kennedy Center. Good coffee (not great) and very good sandwiches (affordable, too) are the main attractions. It’s quiet, it has a great view, it’s clean with clean bathrooms and the service is prompt and friendly. A great find in a great neighborhood! I only wish they had longer hours, so that they’d be open AFTER the concerts got out. Highly recommended.

I have been here over the last week every morning to get breakfast on the way to the Kennedy Center. The one that I go to is right next to the 600 Watergate entrance. I have had everything on the Breakfast menu and I have to say that the best choices out of all of their offerings is their «Big Mouth» sandwich or the «Rick’s Burrito». Either one is pretty good, and the most filling out of the selection.
Most of their food is good; I would not say great, nor bad, just good. It is almost devoid of seasoning but still has that hint of diner taste to everything to help your taste buds out…
I also recommend picking up some tasty Nantucket Nectar to accompany it.
Also, the service is relatively speedy, and you have to assume that the two Hispanic women are talking about you when they rapidly fire off Spanish as you sign your CC receipt.

great mid-​afternoon get away from the grind… have a cappuccino (inappropriately in the afternoon, but i don’t care if an italian thinks i wouldn’t have it after 11am), take a mental jog through the current events or people watch, and then get back to the business of [whatever you do]

Firstly, the address is misleading. Technically, it is in the building whose address is“600 19^th St.” But! The entrance to Cup’a Cup’a is actually on G street! With the green awning! It is not on 19^th Street!
Once you find the green awning, you have found some darn good coffee. The service was very friendly, speedy, and helpful. They cleaned tables of dirty cups and plates quickly and regularly. The outdoor seating is not fancy, but it’s pleasant and you can sit for a long time without being bothered by anyone. It’s attached to a bookstore, into which I didn’t wander, and there are people chatting, reading, working, catching up on paperwork… it’s a nice, casual vibe.
But most importantly, it’s good coffee at half the price of a certain store that begins with an S and rhymes with «tarbucks.» My espresso macchiato was dense and just a little bitter. The iced coffee was pleasant and light.
When I went at 5 pm, the baked goods were picked over (as is expected) and laid haphazardly across the counter. The indoor seating area is limited but there is room in the covered patio and outside. It’s not a fancyfancy café. It’s a coffee shop that serves good coffee without a lot of frills but with plenty of smiles.

This has become one of my favorite places to stop on my way to work. Yes, I work in a coffee shop, but some days I’m just not in the mood to get there early to have my coffee. I always get excellent service here, though occassionally there’s a quite a wait.
The coffee itself is very nice. Always fresh and hot. Well pulled espresso shots with plenty of crema, and I love that their baristas always keep the bar area very neat and clean.
The baristas are all very friendly, which I really have to give them credit for. The widely diverse crowd of workers from the OAS, World Bank, and IMF are some tough customers, a mix of accents, languages, and prone to just a bit of snobbishness. But those baristas just keep smiling and making great cups of coffee.
Not to mention, I love their outdoor seating area. Heaven for those who enjoy a cigarette with their coffee.