Big Bear Cafe

Location: 1700 First Street, NW (at R Street)

While you may think that with the name, "Big Bear Cafe", cheeseburgers and omelete would top the menu, coffee is serious business here. We visited for the first time on Sunday and found this shop packed and buzzing.

Big Bear is another indie coffee shop founded by ex-Murky baristas, and with success. While a small farmer's market operated on the street just outside, locals streamed in to get their fix. Without a doubt, Sunday is come-and-visit day (if you can hear yourself above the crowds), with only a few laptops tap, tap, tapping away.

The setting here is really special: I thought I had zipped back to New Orleans. No fewer than 7 nostalgic ceiling fans spun (no need for A/C), the floors are raw, recently-uncovered wood, the walls flat black and white. While the baristas struggled to keep up with the lines (the design of the work zone behind the counter is inefficient and un-ergonomic), we sipped on cold, creamy ice lattes. Gosh, I couldn't get myself to order my standard test cappuccino when I was surrounded by creamy lattes! Hubby says I blew my test.

Anyway, while the espresso in my latte was very good (fully extracted and aromatic), they only put one shot in each latte. Consequently, the lattes are like kiddy drinks: too mild. The milk, by the way, is locally produced and out of this world. Having grown up on a dairy farm in the Midwest, quality milk is meaningful to me.

Eco-green is a priority here. Electric power is supplied by wind power (of course, electricity is fungible and all flows into the same grid, but I get the point). Hubby was quick to point out that he was wearing his wind power gearbox ball cap that day... Iced drinks are served in PET cups made from "plants". I have to assume the "plants" referenced are those growing out of the ground, not chemical plants (heh heh). According to the barista on duty, they don't serve iced drinks in glasses because too many were getting stolen. That's too bad. One day our country may get used to returning glasses and cups.

I'd like to return to Big Bear to sample a cappuccino and perhaps savor the environment again, but during the week while it's less busy.

Street parking only, but relatively plentiful. Neighborhood is a bit... well, sketchy, at this time. Recovering, but still sketchy.