Happy International Coffee Day!

Today we celebrate International Coffee Day. It’s not just an annual event for the celebration and enjoyment of coffee, in fact it is actually a day used to raise awareness for the plight of coffee growers to promote fair trade coffee. So don’t feel guilty gulping down an extra cup of Joe today.

It’s a day to indulge, and so of course I wanted to take this time to share with you a hidden jewel that I so dearly miss. Caffé Amouri a locally owned coffee shop and is nestled in the heart of Vienna, Virginia. It’s off Maple Avenue on Church Street. This café is a real gem in the community and is a wonderful place to enjoy lattes, coffee or just a simple hot chocolate.

When I used to live in Virginia, Caffé Amouri would be my weekly splurge. A place that my husband and I would look forward to every Saturday. When we would sink our faces into our cups of freshly roasted coffee it truly felt like it was the highlight of our weekend. It was just that good!

I remember the first time I went to Caffé Amouri. First of all I got lost, I couldn’t find this place, the sign was blank and just said coffee shop. It wasn’t until I had to pull over to check my phone and see where exactly it was on the map. Then I looked up and saw that I was right in front of the coffee shop! It is definitely hidden and I had no idea this place existed considering how often I would be in the area having lunch with my friends. As I walked in, I saw bags and bags of unroasted coffee beans and a stairwell down to what I’m assuming was a basement full of more coffee? My heart melted. Ever since then I was hooked. This place spoke to me in ways I couldn’t even imagine! I was in coffee HEAVEN! This is the coffee shop that I compare many to. Caffé Amouri is the REASON why I have really high standards. So high, in fact, when I was in Seattle I found the coffee shops to be mediocre.

Caffé Amouri was my favorite café for coffee because it was evident that the people they hire care about the coffee. It is what stood out to me the most. If you tell them what you are craving, the baristas would be more than willing to offer suggestions. Caffé Amouri has a variety of coffee beans from Kona to Peruvian to Papua New Guinea, so it’s easy to get lost and have no idea what you want. The coffee selection is impressive and honestly if you cannot find a favorite then you probably don’t like coffee. They roast their beans on site every day so you can only imagine how fresh their coffee is (ahemm Starbucks).

The beans that I always gravitated to were the Peruvian beans. I prefer the hand pour as opposed to the French press. The hand pour is so clean, so round and fruity, that you can fully taste all those complex layers of flavor that are supposed to be lurking in the best single-origin and micro-lot beans. It truly is heavenly. Either method is excellent; the baristas will grind your coffee beans and brew your coffee once you order. Be warned though, it typically takes about 5 minutes to get your coffee, but the end result? WORTH IT.

I do not advocate sugar and milk in my coffee. I drink coffee, not flavored milk! Surprisingly, the lattes at Caffé Amouri are delicious! The one that I found to be the best was their signature drink “The Cafeé Amouri.” A combination of espresso, half & half, and simple syrup made with pure cane sugar. So I can only imagine how incredible the signature drink would taste to a someone who does not mask their coffee with milk and sugar 😛 On that note, the foam art is pretty cute too. I would buy a latte just to take a picture of the coffee art in my cup and showcase my coffee to the world on social media 🙂

Album covers from the classic pop and rock vinyl albums that people now in their best years will remember with nostalgia adorn the walls. This café definitely has its own style with a funky charm to it. And of course Free Wifi, because we are in the 21^st Century after all right? 🙂 Also, Caffé Amouri is very community orientated and always has an event, such as an open mic night, game night, to multiple fundraisers. Caffé Amouri sells coffee that is single-origin Certified Fair-Trade and organic, sourced from South America, Africa, and Central America. You can also buy their coffee from their online store here. This café supports the plight of coffee growers to promote fair trade coffee. I see that the owner truly loves what he does and it shows with the amount of love and support that this café gets from the community. As they say “Do what you love and the necessary resources will follow.”

So, if you are ever in the DC metro area, try this place out. You will not be disappointed!

No Matter how your day goes today, don’t forget to grab a cup of coffee from Caffé Amouri and enjoy every sip of it. Raise your cup of coffee and let’s celebrate. Have a happy International Coffee Day!