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ESP Tea and Coffee

4.4 (173 reviews)
ModerateCoffee & Tea
Closed • 7:30 am - 8:00 pm

Order ESP Tea and Coffee Takeout or Delivery

ESP Tea and Coffee Photos

Business Info

ESP TEA AND COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed
Good for working

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Recommended Reviews - ESP Tea and Coffee

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Reviews With Photos

Matcha Latte (Ceremonial)
Anna C.

Found this coffee shop in old town Alexandria. I like how quaint and creative ESP Tea and Coffee feels. It's artisan and dynamic. If you are looking for a place to catch up or work, the ambiance is nice and not too loud even with a bunch of people inside. They have vinyls for sale and their staff is helpful and attentive! Drinks are worth purchasing and they have a bunch of different seasonal drinks. Ordered a matcha latte and it was worth the visit! Grab a book, pick up a drink, and hang out!

Lukewarm Chaga with oatmilk and microwaved quiche
Melissa H.

I usually like this place and get great service but today was a miss. I arrived a little after 10 a.m. to an empty shop with three team members behind the counter. I ordered my chaga with oat milk, as previously recommended by staff, and a spinach-goat-cheese quiche. The chaga (mushroom-based drink with ginger and cinnamon) came out first in a beautiful, heavy mug. But unlike the last time, it wasn't anything close to hot. When I picked it up from the bar, I saw that my quiche was going into the microwave. When I sat down to eat it, it wouldn't cut easily with a knife. The top layer was congealed together. It also was not heated through. I turned the plate around to try my hand at the crust portion, but that was so rubbery that it also would not cut. I got a to-go box and decided I would try my luck with the toaster oven at home. I think I'll stick to coming here on weekdays.

Inside view
Paul E.

The shop makes excellent cappuccinos. A perfect blend of milk, froth, and espresso where my drink was balanced and full bodied with a nice creamy texture. I'm definitely a big fan of this drink and this coffee shop.

roasted almond Loose Leaf Teas
Rose F.

The barista was very friendly. He offered me a refill on my hot water after I had finished my first cup of tea. I enjoyed the tea. There was plenty of comfortable seating. I sat on the sofa and knit until closing time at 8. Appreciate it being open late.

Tried their mocha latte and beef saltenas. The barista was super sweet and helpful although I did not really enjoy what I bought. The saltenas was not warmed up enough and was not made fresh even though I was the first customer in. The mocha had a weird taste and I could not really pinpoint if the latte was mocha. I do want to come back for the beef patties though.

Blue Ocean (I think? Summer special!)
Michelle G.

I'm a sucker for a fun special, this is a summer blue ocean or something - super pretty and the graham crackers are like the sand My fave coffee shop in Old Town with cool concert posters and local artwork for sale.

Gluten free apple streusel and a Nutella Latte (Hot)
Becky S.

I was visiting my sister on a rainy Monday and wanted to find a nice coffee shop with gluten free options. I decided to try this place. The service is great and everyone who worked there was super warm and friendly. They recommended the gluten free Apple streusel, especially for a rainy day. I also ordered a Nutella latte with 2% milk. The decor is colorful and unique, and every mug is different. There's no pressure to leave and I stayed a read a book for about an hour, as did a few people who arrived at the same time as me. The coffee is good and the pastry was warm and buttery, and it was so nice to have the option to enjoy a pastry with my drink. Overall, this establishment was a great addition to my trip.

Katie H.

Loved this place! Service was great, coffee was good, and the atmosphere and wall decor was fun. We really liked it. Only thing to be aware of is that they don't offer any sugar free flavors. Otherwise, they have what you need to start your morning right!

Mango matcha
Frankie L.

One Mango Matcha coming up! This drink was a little experience in itself. I love that the matcha was slightly sweet and I want depending on the mango to sweeten it up. The mango flavor has a nice balance. I will say this took a while for them to make. Not sure if this is normal for an artisan drink. I've had drinks more intricately crafted that were whipped up quicker. The cafe was quiet. I enjoyed the vibe of the decor. The staff were friendly and conversational. She spoke to my sister about where her dress was from.

Jessica A.

This cafe had cool vibes to it. Very different and a bit hippy. They also had unique drinks for their August specials. I decided to try the mango matcha, and that was a good choice. Matcha is not usually my go to, but the mango was a great addition.

Outside
Becca S.

This place was fun. Cool hipster vibes inside. We sat outside and we called the furniture tetanus chairs. There were rusty nails sticking out and wobbly. As for the food and drink, I have very high coffee standards. The coffee was in my opinion, borderline terrible. I didn't finish my drink. I would end up giving this place a lower rating, but I tried the food and that was incredible. The Saltana, I almost ordered 3 more. Even the cookie didn't look like much, but was one of the best chewy cookies I've ever had. I would go back, but only for the unbelievable hand pies.

Gluten free brownie cookie & salted caramel iced coffee
Marivic L.

I've been here too many times to count at this point. TBH it's for the iced Salted Caramel Latte with almond milk. I drink my coffee black but this is the exception. The drawback about this place are the items that aren't coffee. I've tried several cookies and whoopie pies and have been disappointed. Does that mean I won't try the pies, Jamaican beef patties, salteñas, etc.? No. I will try those and report back. Hopefully, those are better. The staff is so helpful and lovely and the quirky atmosphere alone is worth a stop.

Flat White
Oenihss D.

The coffee is good, I order the flat white. I know they get their coffee beans from Dream chaser and been curious to try both the place and their coffee out. It satisfied my caffeine need to wake up. The service was excellent. Ambiance, the decor is eclectic and bold with some cozy vibes. There is limited coffee seating due to the design of the building itself. I know people that have come here to work remotely and have not heard them complain about it. If I am in the area again and need caffeine I'll definitely will come back and stop. Also, they self Art prints so if you decor for your place you can get some.

Chive croffle

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ESP Tea and Coffee Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - ESP Tea and Coffee

Hey! Just curious to see if anyone's been to the open mic on Sundays before? Like how many ppl usually go? How long do u get to do ur routine? Is there beer? Haha thx! 😆😆😆

Hey man, Its a good scene. The place is small, so very family, non judgmental vibe. Usually its 2-3 songs or 10-15 minutes. There is no beer. They do have Kava. See ya there. :)

Great to see ESP "back"! Do you still sell Dangerously Delicious Pies?

Hey there, Yes the pies are back and they are still fabulous.

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Via Volcan Coffee - Cortado

Via Volcan Coffee

4.6(64 reviews)
0.2 mi•Old Town Alexandria

Via Volcan has the best cup of black coffee in all DMV. I drive from Fairfax to Old Town and…read morealways stop for coffee. It should be served at the next Peace treaty.... The taste will make us all recognize we are all human...... and appreciate a great cup of coffee!! The barista is kind and friendly.

We were looking forward to our visit to Via Volcán to get a caffeine fix after having lunch in the…read morearea, and we decided to stop by. Unfortunately, whoever the individual was on shift today was just a total piss poor person - she seemed to have an issue with our party, as she automatically assumed we just came there to 'squat' without ordering anything (if you have been to this place before, there isn't much seating and this isn't where you'd want to sit for a bit anyway); when I called her out and stated that I already knew our party's orders, she backtracked. She then continued to make a snide comment on the number of drinks we were ordering - what's with the passive aggressiveness? I didn't know that there was some rule that each person was required to order something. Like, are you okay? I just had a bad feeling about all of this, and we should have just walked out instead of giving our money to support this business - to add to it all, the coffees that we did receive (latte with soy milk, and the mocha) were just poorly made and not strong at all; they were both watered down and bitter at the same time... come on! UGH, the regret, but it was a choice. Shame on you, Via Volcán! You might want to heavily reconsider who you employ and train them better - this individual is really hurting your business! What a miserable person. Street parking can be found in the area. +NASTY employee +watered down/bitter coffee +street parking in the area

Photos
Via Volcan Coffee - Cortado

Cortado

Via Volcan Coffee - The 1st floor customer area. The stairs at the back corner lead to the 2nd floor seating areas and bathroom.

The 1st floor customer area. The stairs at the back corner lead to the 2nd floor seating areas and bathroom.

Via Volcan Coffee - The view from the front door

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The view from the front door

HomeGrown - Alexandria - BLT-A-E

HomeGrown - Alexandria

4.5(182 reviews)
0.3 mi•King Street Metro, Old Town Alexandria
•$$

Sunday Brunch day! Today I was craving a nice Omelette, and…read moremy brunch philosophy is always quality over quantity. And since it's officially fall, I couldn't resist adding a little pumpkin flavor to my Sunday with a pumpkin spice latte. I actually started at another restaurant that I won't name. Unfortunately, the service didn't quite meet the moment. I sat at the bar for almost 10 minutes without any acknowledgment from the bartender. I completely understand that Sundays during brunch can be busy, but a simple "Hey, I'll be right with you" would have made all the difference. So I decided to take my beautiful self to HomeGrown. ‍ And I'm glad I did! I knew it was Sunday brunch, so I expected it to be busy. Luckily, there were two open seats at the bar, and I was shown to one right away. The bar was busy, but the bartender immediately acknowledged me and let me know she'd be right with me. That small gesture was appreciated, so I happily sat back and waited. My bartender/waitress, Ashley, was friendly, attentive, and made sure everyone at the bar was taken care of. My food came out in a timely manner, and the omelet was really good! I substituted the bread for challah, and let me tell you... that was a good decision. And of course, I had to try the pumpkin spice latte. Delicious! Overall, I enjoyed my Sunday brunch experience at Homegrown and would definitely come back to try something else on the menu. Sometimes it really is the little things -- a simple acknowledgment, good service, good food, and a little fall flavor. Sunday brunch: redeemed.

Hubby and I visited this establishment for brunch and our service was good. The food was also…read moreGood and it was open and roomy. Our waitress attended to our needs and was friendly. My only recommendation is for the staff to be mindful Of the language used while customers are still seated. There were a few curse words used (very loudly)

Photos
HomeGrown - Alexandria - Seating 2

Seating 2

HomeGrown - Alexandria - Cranberry French Toast $14.75 Homemade apple pound cake battered, griddled, & paired with cranberry compote, two eggs, & a choice of meat.

Cranberry French Toast $14.75 Homemade apple pound cake battered, griddled, & paired with cranberry compote, two eggs, & a choice of meat.

HomeGrown - Alexandria - Bloody Mary

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Bloody Mary

Hypergoat  Coffee Roasters

Hypergoat Coffee Roasters

4.4(63 reviews)
0.2 mi•Braddock Road Metro, Old Town Alexandria

Plenty of seating, outside as well, great vibes all around. It's a bit pricy for the sizing but…read moretastes fantastic. Had some unfiltered grounds which is a pet peeve of mine but nothing crazy. Can totally study or do work there. Definitely a must try in the Alexandria area. Coffee 8.9/10 Atmosphere 9.3/10.

Decided to try a new coffee place with my friend. So glad we did! As others have stated, it's off…read morethe main streets (but not too far) so there is decent street parking available on the weekends. We came around 11 on Sunday and it was packed. They have free WiFi and phone booths (for members to take calls) for those who want to work/study there. There is a decent amount of indoor and outdoor seating although it's not an overly large space. I loved that they had a community puzzle, but wished they had more than one bathroom. I ordered the Jasmine Zest Iced Latte (signature drink from their summer menu), Brazilian Cheese Bread (3 for $4.50), and Honey Goat Toast. Everything was delicious and flavorful! Items came out as they got prepared - cheese bread (at checkout), latte, then toast (estimated wait of 5 minutes). I lucked out with the cheese bread. The customer in front of me got the rest of the last batch and I got everything of the new batch that came piping hot out of the oven! The texture was different from other cheese breads where it was a thin bread exterior and a mochi-like cheese filling. I appreciated actually being able to taste the jasmine and lemon in the latte as well as the lavender on the toast. I wouldn't mind coming back to try more items on their menu. I wouldn't mind coming definitely reorder the cheese bread!

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Hypergoat  Coffee Roasters - The goats!

The goats!

Hypergoat  Coffee Roasters
Hypergoat  Coffee Roasters - Lavender honey latte

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Lavender honey latte

Turkish Coffee Lady - Turkish coffee

Turkish Coffee Lady

4.6(246 reviews)
0.0 mi•Old Town Alexandria, Braddock Road Metro
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We recently visited for the first time, and it definitely won't be our last! From the moment we…read morewalked in, the staff made us feel welcome and took the time to explain the different coffee selections and menu items, making it easy to choose something new to try. I ordered a decaf pistachio coffee paired with the pistachio baklava, and both were absolutely heavenly. The coffee was rich and flavorful, and the baklava was fresh, perfectly sweet, and a wonderful complement to the drink. The atmosphere was just as enjoyable as the food and coffee. It was a beautiful, relaxing space to sit and chat, while others comfortably enjoyed their drinks as they worked on their laptops. We also loved exploring the art gallery on the lower level, which added a unique charm and made the visit feel like more than just a stop for coffee. After seeing the lunch menu, we're already looking forward to returning to try it. If our first visit was any indication, this café is a true hidden gem that offers delicious food, exceptional service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere.

I stopped in seeking refreshments. The people working there talked about making it a welcoming,…read moresocial space, but at least for me it wasn't. It was quite cramped and chaotic, and I got stuff to go because I couldn't even figure out if there was anywhere to sit. Their vanilla chai was aptly named as the vanilla flavor dominated. A milky chocolate pistachio baklava was indulgent and tasty. The price for these items was a bit much for what I got. The spread had some interesting options and I could imagine coming back on a less busy day and having a better experience.

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Turkish Coffee Lady - Chocolate cake

Chocolate cake

Turkish Coffee Lady - A Turkish delight, a glass of water, and an Ottoman cup.

A Turkish delight, a glass of water, and an Ottoman cup.

Turkish Coffee Lady

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Uptowner Cafe - Tuna sandwich

Uptowner Cafe

3.5(170 reviews)
0.3 mi•Braddock Road Metro, Old Town Alexandria
•$

First impressions. The Uptowner Cafe is tucked on the corner...reminds me of the little shop I used…read moreto go to as a kid to get candy. Music in the background is pleasant, six 2-person tables available and a couple of living room chairs. They offer an array of sandwiches named after the surrounding streets of Alexandria. I wan't here for the food, just the coffee. This would be my second cup for today...or at least the 2nd cup I bought. The first was a few blocks away at a place that shall remain nameless. It was that bad. So here we are with a "grande" latte with caramel. Promptly made and decidedly tasty. Prices are reasonable (especially if you are used to Starbucks). I also had to grab a blueberry crumb muffin...well worth the calories! The area seems to have a number of coffee shops, but finding a good one is the opportunity. Latte with caramel was

Rating only as a coffee shop, I was quite pleased with my cup of Joe, where it was full-bodied,…read moresmooth and with no harsh notes. Service was quick where I enjoyed my cup outside on one of their tables adjoining the business. Besides coffee, they would appear to serve the full assortment of drinks you would expect to see in a barista type operation as well as sandwiches where they serve breakfast and lunch during the course of the day. Nice! Overall, if you're looking for a quick cup of coffee that is not a chain coffee then this is an excellent option for you especially if you are in the area. The other key thing to note is this shop opens at 6 AM Monday through Friday so if you're an early riser like I am, keep that in mind.

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Uptowner Cafe - Inside -- main door is to the left (out of the frame)

Inside -- main door is to the left (out of the frame)

Uptowner Cafe - Saint Asaph Sandwich

Saint Asaph Sandwich

Uptowner Cafe - Interior

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Interior

ESP Tea and Coffee - coffee - Updated October 2026

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