My wife, Kara, and I really enjoy our Sunday mornings/afternoons at Sidamo. Kenfe and his wife, Yalemzwed, really do a terrific--and consistent--job.
Sidamo Coffee owner Kenfe Bellay on Sunday afternoon prepares a one-pound bag of whole bean Sidamo-region coffee. Only hours earlier, he used his shiny red roaster at the front of the store to roast those very beans. Kenfe says he roasts about five to six batches of coffee beans per week. He requires his coffee to be fair trade, organic, and grown in the shade. One pound of the smoothest coffee you’ll ever sip at home costs $9. It’s just as tasty in the welcoming store at 417 H St. NE, where the menu includes breakfast and panini sandwiches, soups, and assorted pastries. Full tables a short line greeted customers seeking refuge from yesterday’s chilly afternoon winds.
11 comments:
Driving down H ST every day on my way to work in VA, I was curious if this place was any good. Thanks Klav for checking it out.
-PHS
Thanks David, my fiancee & I are there often on weekends as well and second your feelings. Sidamo has hit on a perfect combination of an attractive space, extremely friendly owners, good product, and of course a good location. Soon the warm weather will allow Mr. Bellay to open up that space out back of the building, which is also very pleasant.
Before the weather got too cold (believe it or not, during the heat wave in December), I was fortunate enough to be able to spend an afternoon working at one of the tables in their courtyard out back. It was beautiful, relatively quiet, and the wireless service was still strong enough to allow me to work uninterrupted.
I am a huge fan of Sidamo and Mr. Bellay, and I try to go by there at least once or twice a week, even if it's just to grab a cup of coffee to go. The Ethiopian coffees they serve and sell are great, with a nice citrus flavor that cuts the acidity and makes for a very smooth drink.
They are a great addition to the neighborhood, and I'm always pleased to see crowds there when I pass by.
I've dropped by for Chai Tea a few times ... good stuff.
--cb on L
I look forward to checking it out. I'm enraptured with Murky Coffee, but with Sova opening soon and this place down the street, my coffee dollars may be staying on the North Side of the Hill.
Speaking of SOVA, I thought I would chime in and give you all an update. But before I do, I also think Sidamo is a great addition to H St. corridor, and I wish Kenfe and his wife all the success in the world. I met Kenfe just before they opened their shop and we have remained in constant contact about his business and my future business. I stop in for coffee and I'll just chat with Kenfe about business. We've even discussed doing some things together.
Now, about SOVA. I am unfortunately caught in the middle of a dispute between the landlord and the previous business owner. Not to get into any specifics, but I do expect things will be resolved in the near future (crossing my fingers). Believe me, this is not what I expected or wanted either, but my attorney is working to wrap this up so that I can at least get into business. In the mean time, if you have any questions about the business, feel free to go to my new splash page ( www.sovadc.com ) and click Contact.
In parting, I do appreciate the support and encouragement I've been getting from a lot of people in the community, and I can't wait to serve you.
Frank Hankins, Owner of SOVA
Thanks a lot Frank. We loved R&B and miss it. But given that it's gone, we're really looking forward to having a place like yours within walking distance. As part of the over-35 set we can really appreciate a chilled out environment where you can relax. The one thing that made R&B hard to patronize was the hours...if you're open in the evenings it'll be much easier to come by.
Thanks Rob. As far as hours are concerned, since I lived near R&B myself, I am well aware of the inconsistent hours that the previous owner had. It drove me crazy as well. I anticipate my hours to be from 7am - 9pm Sun -Th (and until midnight when I get my liquor license). Then 7am - midnight on Fri. & Sat (and 2am w/license).
Frank
the bags in the picture indicate that the coffee is from perul.
i guess they serve ethiopian strains of coffee that was cultured in south america? or do they just a have a really wide variety of coffee?
Different kinds of coffee.
Today they featured both Peruvian and Ethiopian coffees. Mr. Bellay was kind enough to give me a taste of both and oh my goodness were they good! I'd be happy to go there just because he's so friendly and the vibe is great. But on top of that, the coffee is simply excellent.
Post a Comment