Coffee culture in DC
Coffee became a popular drink in the 1960’s with the advent of instant coffee in the US. Some years later Starbucks made drinking coffee an experience for the masses with customizable drinks. Following these two “waves”, we are now experiencing a third wave that brought about heightened interest in quality and artisanship. Today’s professionals carefully roast and brew specialty beans to draw out the most refined flavors. DC is a city for both young and international working professionals that have a clear idea of what they want when they step into a specialty coffee shop. This demanding clients welcomed a growing number of quality coffee shops around town.
Though positive on the one hand, this upscale coffee culture alongside bike lanes and dog parks is a symbol of gentrification in DC. To the extent of transforming the chocolate city into a cappuccino city? Not quite, but gentrification certainly is one of the most vivid issue debated by our local communities in and around DC.
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