Cafein

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Cafein

Location: Chantilly, VA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While strip malls are typically not the most coveted locations to drop a coffeehouse, they tend to be the only affordable/realistic place to host one in the midst of suburbia. Fortunately, not all strip malls are created identical, so some offer space far better suited to hosting a third space brimming with excellent coffee.

CC: Pitango Gelato

Subject: Pitango Gelato 
Location visited: Reston, VA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

The concept of gelato + espresso seems to be a concept so familiar yet still so rarely done well together. Back in 2008, the concept of gelato was building steam and for many shop owners, adding espresso seemed to be a further nod to the Italian tradition. Today, it still seems a decent amount of such shops offer both coffee and gelato but sadly, the coffee side of said businesses are usually an afterthought, a facet that was given some financial and cranial investment, but usually much less than the vastly stronger gelato arm of the enterprise.