The 9 grain egg and bacon sandwich was great! Also enjoyed the nicely poured mocha cappuccino! Highly recommend for breakfast. read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

Stopped in for breakfast and coffee. Ordered the mushroom omelet and a vanilla latte. We had planned on staying to eat in. After asking about our dining preference the girl made our coffee to-go. After tasting my coffee I realized it was a chocolate latte. I asked the girl to remake it and she just argued with me. She told me I needed to pay again if I wanted it remade. The food looked good but we didn't stay to eat. I think the location on Rockville Pike is much better. read more

I tried Java Nation for lunch and I had a cappuccino (2%, small) and a turkey club. The coffee is good but it's not outstanding. It's a decent bean but the barista's skill is on par with Starbucks (which is NOT a knock because I drink a lot of Starbucks but you know this isn't some hipster who's dedicated their life to the art of espresso.) A really good espresso drink is rich, creamy, and is a gradient-like emulsion. It should not be two separate layers like over-beat egg whites and if it is, the milk has been over-steamed. The club is mediocre and over-priced. The bread is warm but not adequately toasted not to mention they use god-forbidden iceberg lettuce. I hate to be pretentious about lettuce but if I'm paying $8.50 for a sandwich without sides, you should try to exceed Subway. The turkey was decent though, I'd say on par with Kirkland Signature. Last but not least, in house music is a major deterrent to me when it comes to visiting a business again. I hate to knock on musicians but unless the venue is specifically targeted towards promoting local bands (say Golden West Cafe in Baltimore) I really don't care for it. I cannot imagine wanting to go here to study or crack open a book and have a random musician I don't care for strumming songs right next to me. I actually watched as a patron relocated herself outside when the guitar was brought out so that should be a major hint. Overall, it has the potential to do well with a few revisions but so far I'm not going out of my way to visit Java Nation. read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Turkey club sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

I am a sucker for a cute barista . He was staring off into space when I arrived. Colombian, of course!! Not at all the grumpy server I was expecting. And the otherr worker was very helpful as well, cleaning up my messy spill on the condiments counter. We chatted in Spanish about Colombia, he served the coffee- did not offer a mug- do they do that any more? I am a novice coffee drinker, just learned this summer in Colombia, but what they serve there is what's not food enough to export, and many households use instant, so just about anything here is better. Ordered a cuban sandwich. Not quite authenic-it was not pressed flat- but tasted good all the same. Lots of small groups meeting to work or chat, a steady stream of customers. Jazzy/ new age music in the background. Not a bad way to pass time waiting for my car to be repaired... read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Half of my cuban sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

I found this place while I was on a walk while waiting to get my oil changed and Jiffy Lube. I had a coffee and a Greek Omelette, which were both very good. Also, the staff is very friendly, and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed, which is perfect when you are enjoying a cup of coffee. read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Greek Omelette - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

The pupusa's are very yummy! You can order right off of yelp and can pick it up, very easy!

I'm so impressed with this place. Fresh and tasty. Been going for years. Staff is considerate and friendly.

Charming cafe. Today I am trying the Golden Chai made with Tumeric and soy milk and chia and oats porridge for breakfast. Delicious! read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

We live about 5 min away and discovered Java Nation when we were looking for a place that opens early and serves breakfast. We had a couple places that we'd frequented for over a year, but they were further away. I'm glad we found them! Their 9 grain egg sandwich and E.A.T. (egg, avocado and tomato) are delicious, and their coffee is excellent! We keep meaning to try some of their other offerings, but those are so good. Smoothies are next on our bucket list! We don't miss our old haunts at all after finding Java Nation so close. They've earned a repeat customer, every Saturday and Sunday morning. read more

Ugh I LOVE this place! I just discovered it two weeks ago and have already been three times (yikes for my wallet). It's super cozy, which I always look for in a coffee shop, and really delicious - you just can't beat that combo! I've been getting their chai latte, which comes incredibly foamy and delicious - and I've had a few of their breakfast items that are also delicious. The ladies at the counter are really nice. What more could you ask for from your neighborhood coffee shop? read more

They have amazing smoothies! It's a nice place to chill and get work done. Similar to Starbucks, but definitely a hidden gem for locals. read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

I went to this restaurant yesterday to order something and it took them at least about 35 minutes to give meMy order very unprofessional no customer service whatsoever the case maybe I would never recommend no one to go here read more

This is my go to small business coffee shop in the Kensington area. The coffee is strong and the pupusas are delicious! The coffee is a bit pricey but the food is reasonably priced. read more

I stopped in for a quick bite on my way downtown. On the recommendation of the staff, I ordered the breakfast sandwich (she said it would be quick). It was and, Oh.... it was good too!! I have to say, this sandwich was the best breakfast sandwich I have ever eaten, including the ones I've made myself. The bread was similar to an English muffin except it wasn't. It was better... almost had a slight sweetness to it. The sausage was so well seasoned... and the egg was clearly freshly cooked from whole eggs, not that stuff out of a box. I had my choice of cheese and the provolone was perfect! I just might have to adjust my morning commute to pass by this gem of a eatery in the future. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is to leave room for improvement for the staff interaction. They weren't rude just not very personable. read more

We just moved here and I'm looking for the perfect place to work on my research when I work from home. I've been here a few times, and overall I like it. The prices are a bit high, but no worse than what I was used to where I'm from. However, I've noticed a weird trend the last couple times I've been here re: the service. The women who work here are pleasant, but my orders keep getting mixed up. The first time it was the wrong size coffee, no big deal. Today, I got charged 2.59 for a can of Diet Coke (realized later), and there was no cream cheese for my bagel (why would I want a toasted bagel dry?). When I asked for some, she inquired as to whether I'd requested in the first place. What? The menu says bagel with cream cheese! On the same visit, I ordered a large iced coffee and was given a hot one--I just drank it because I didn't want to waste it. So, I do want to come back and work here, but I worry my orders will be wrong or I will be grossly overcharged. If it happens again, I'm finding another place to visit. read more

I am impressed, Java Nation - Kensington is definitely pretty darn cool. 5/5 For atmosphere. Awesome menu items, Nutella Crepes was my choice and it was really great. The staff were great, I didn't have any issues, everything went perfectly with my order and service. I can't say enough good things about this place. read more

This place is a Jenny. One of those perfect businesses. Coffee is as great as the food, service and smiles. Why oh why do people lined up to go to Starbucks when this place is efficient and delicious and easy and perfect. read more

Pulling into Java Nation on a gloomy Sunday morning, I'll admit I wasn't expecting much from this strip mall joint. But by the second bite of my bacon egg and cheese bagel, I knew this place was a hidden gem. The bagel--though not the star of this dish--was nicely toasted and chewy. What really made this breakfast sandwich stand out was the crispy bacon! It's rare that restaurants actually cook bacon until it's crispy and flavorful, and when they do, I think that tells you a lot about a place. Boy, they really packed the bacon on, too! With the melty American cheese and fried egg, this was super satisfying and was the perfect medicine for a rainy Sunday. Only gave it 4 stars for the wifi not working, seems like that's been an issue for people before me as well. read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

Inside, it is very cute and seems to be pretty clean. The service is painfully slow, so if you are stopping for a quick eat this might not be the place. It took 30 minutes for our food to come out and we ordered a BLT and French Toast. The food was great, I thoroughly enjoyed my sandwich and my friend said she liked her French toast. I also got the açaí smoothie and it was pretty delicious. read more

Came here to catch up with some friends over lattes, and Java Nation was the perfect spot. It wasn't too loud, crowded, or expensive, and the lattes were beautiful and hot. For a Sunday afternoon, I am actually surprised it wasn't more crowded. People who hop around coffee shops to do work: the outlets are few and far between. read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Latte ft. Hot dog phone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

The beef empanadas were very good - seasoned and cooked beautifully and so tasty. My chicken empanadas were sadly disappointing. The chicken was so dry, almost like it was a couple days old. The chipotle sauce they serve with the empanadas is delicious, definitely a nice touch. My iced latte was pretty good. I got delivery and everything was well packed, they even taped up and wrapped the iced coffee. The only packing mishap was they mislabeled the chicken empanadas as beef. It was fine because it was all for me anyway, but I can imagine if two people were splitting an order and if they went separate ways without checking, or if it was a meat/veggie mishap... how that could be problematic. Will definitely be getting the beef empanadas again, and trying other things! read more

Great Place, staff is great,food is great, it's popular so I wish it were larger. I go here on a almost daily basis. read more

So I'm going to make two separate reviews in this: Food and service: Good eats and nice environment for a coffee shop. Coffee is always pretty good and I have been here numerous times. On this aspect I give them a 4/5. As a "study" location: When I first started coming here it was one of my favorite study spots, good WiFi, good environment, good coffee but I started to notice that certain websites began to not work on the WiFi such as anything related to MCAT/SAT etc. I thought this was initially my lap top or the sites were not working but when I switched my phone off the WiFi the website immediately loaded. I began to ask myself this is kinda off and I realized the owner of this shop also owns or at least manages the spider study place next door which has mcat/sat courses and programs. So I am nearly 100% sure that they blocked those sites on purpose to coordinate with next door. Which to me is just shitty. So from this aspect 1/5. read more

I was so glad to find Java Nation! Love having a great, locally owned coffee shop in the area. The coffee and food are great, and it is my go to spot for meeting up with folks for coffee. read more

I **was** a regular customer for many months until for the nth time the messed up the order and served me gluten to which I'm severely allergic (before that they had mistakenly served me regular dairy instead of requested oat milk). What's worse, they refused to admit it, then offered to correct it anyway and served me bread with gluten again! The cooking staff does not speak any English, does not pay any attention to order requests. Those with food allergies, beware! You may be lied to. And I won't be back read more

Great laid back atmosphere, friendly staff with two awesome surprises. 1) Beer and wine. 2) Fantastic empanadas and pupusas! So much better than 7-11 esque sandwiches that are served at starbucks imo. If only they stayed open past 5. Would be a nice place to grab an after work beer. read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

Java Nation is the BEST local coffee shop in the DC metropolitan area the staff is AMAZING and go beyond their to treat their costumers like own family read more

Favorite little local coffee shop in all Kensington/Chevy Chase/Bethesda are. Have great gluten-free options, as well as coconut + almond milk for coffee drinks! I've never actually eaten here but have heard the pupusas are amazing (and gluten-free too), and all the coffee drinks are amazing. A great work spot too. read more

The cutest coffee shop in the Kensington area. I stop by almost every day on my way to work to get my usual coffee, bagel, and mid-day snack. Their menu is very versatile. My favorite item on their breakfast menu is the avocado toast. Egg sandwiches are also delicious. Tons of bagels and sandwiches to choose from. This is definitely a place you should hit up! read more

This review is only about 2 bakery items I purchased today. We got a blueberry muffin and a chocolate croissant. The muffin was delicious. Fresh blueberries, not too sweet...just perfect. The croissant crunchy, good chocolate....very tasty! We're coming back for coffee and brunch. read more

More than coffee! The lentil souP is the best. Great cocktails and they have wine and full dinners too. Really nice atmosphere and fantastic prices. The people who work here are so friendly and helpful. LoVe thIs place!!! read more

This is one of my fav places to go for breakfast and lunch, plus it's 5 mins away from my home I literally get the same thing when I go. The grilled chicken sandwich with pickled onions(I get extra) and smashed avocado, it's my favorite sandwich there. Now I like to consider myself a coffee connoisseur but my friends call me a coffee snob ‍ either way Java Nation's coffee is AMAZING! I've had the slow pours, golden latte , expresso & the nitro brew. My fav is the cold brew that is steeped for 15 hours, I came back to get a second cup on several occasions ‍ I get mine with 1 pump of vanilla and 2 pumps of caramel, it's so bomb! Lastly, can you say cinnamon coffee cake? it's amazingly delicious, so soft and flavorful! They also have a second location (social house)that opened recently in North Bethesda where Helen's used to be. It's bigger than the first location with a pretty cool bar where you can grab a cocktail & dinner. I had a iced mocha latte and a bowl of yummy oatmeal with fruit . Soon I will drop in to try the dinner menu and have a glass of wine! The staff is super sweet at both locations! read more

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Ordered the mushroom cheese add bacon omelette.... super delicious ... biscotti is too sweet for me... love their modern style horchata.... and my friend loves their coffee ... read more

This was my first time at Java Nation and I got two empanadas one was chicken and the other beef. Both were delicious, a long with the flavorful mayo sauce that was given on the side. I also got a green tea shake that tasted very good, but could have been blended more since it was very thick. Since I was happy with my empanadas I decided to order chicken pupusas which were delicious as well. The overall service was good too. I am very happy with my experience at Java Nation and I can't wait to come back. read more

Java Nation - Kensington - The Chicken Pupusas are delicious! I can't wait to have them again! I highly recommend them! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

Java Nation is a great addition to the Kensington community. The coffee is top-notch. I've had the pour over coffee as both iced and hot. The variety of coffees to select from is excellent, the brewed cup is special. I'm a self-confessed coffee snob (roast my own coffee, have about 10 brewing apparati at home) and the coffee exceeds all expectations. I have had breakfast and lunch there as well. The breakfast is super reasonably priced and was excellent both times. I had the egg, avocado and tomato and the pork belly sandwich with egg. Both were a step above the typical coffee shop egg sandwich. I've also had the cuban sandwich for lunch; it was also way more than I expected. Overall, it's a great coffee shop. read more

Came here for a cup of coffee, stayed for the enticing brunch. I had noted this place a few months ago, and have been meaning to check it out. I can assure all readers this cafe is worth checking out. We were in the mood for a bit of a journey, so we hoofed it on over for what we thought would just be a cup of coffee. However, we were soon proven to be quite (happily) wrong. I had the classic breakfast sandwich with Fontina cheese, my wife had the Italian Elvis (a fantastic concoction of two slices of French toast with Nutella and banana), and my son had regular French toast. While we were vibrant and conversant mere moments before we received our food, all meals were consumed with minimal conversation due to the eye watering tastiness of the menu. The coffee is Vigilante coffee (http://vigilantecoffee.com/pages/about-us) which is a local DC roaster! I, for one, am pleasantly surprised with the quality of the cup. I had an Americano, and it served my morning properly. My wife had the chai tea with almond milk, and the spice was enough to remind you what you were drinking, but not so strong so as to force the realization. I suppose the only matter which would push this to five stars for me would be a side with the breakfast. Nothing grand, but an apple or something along those lines. Definitely would not stop me from coming back, and I feel I fairly received what I paid for, but it would certainly help seal the deal, so to speak. read more

Coffee and pastry were good, but service was odd. Not overly welcoming, friendly or helpful.

Yum! Their Java house brew is so nutty and good! Definitely not the cardboard tasting coffee you get sometimes from some smaller coffee shops! They also have lots of smoothies and breakfast/sandwich options and pastries which I can't wait to try! And... Free wifi! Everyone is also super nice! (& they have cocktails too!) read more

This is my second time coming here. Well air conditioned, great wifi& charger space, and 0 complaints about the drinks, other than they are pricey. The coffee is local, though, so that makes sense. I think they should be more clear about not serving hot food after 3pm. Didn't see t anywhere on Yelp (my go to spot to check places out). I got a hot latte and an iced chai tea. The latte was nothing special, but the tea was much better than Starbucks (less fake sweet tasting). Both were the same price as Starbucks drinks/ Java's pricing is pretty on par with Starbucks'. read more

For my visit I got the crepe and a chai latte. The crepe was delicious. I asked for strawberry and banana and they made it! It Nutella wasn't too over powering because of all the fruits, not sure what it would taste like if you only ask for one fruit or no fruit - might be on the sweeter side because of the Nutella. The chai was too strong for me. I guess for the price you pay for, you get a better quality chai? IMO it had a really strong taste that it have me a headache after. It was good for the first 10 gulps, but after that it was too much. I wasn't able to finish the regular size that I got. My bf got the Cuban sandwich and he said it was really good. He also got the coffee and said that compared to other coffees, it was better quality. Overall everything was good. The prices are a little too high, but still good. One thing that really needs improvement is the staff. The girl who rung us up needed to be more alive. When you work in a coffee shop you need high spirits that you can transfer to grumpy, need-my-morning-coffee customers. read more