I love the beef empanadas. The store location in Kensington is convenient for me. The butternut soup and huevos rancheros were alright too.

I can't say enough good things about this place. The food is amazing, the people are friendly, the facility is always very clean, and the service is top notch. Plus they make great coffee too. My favorites are the tacos, pupusas, the sandwiches, and the spinach watermelon salad. The lentil soup is very good too. If your looking for a quick bite to eat at good prices but is extremely DELICIOUS then you found the right place. read more

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

Good food - it's a small place with outdoor seating added. Very friendly staff. Have eaten there several times and their coffees are great

Two people in the business, other guy orders just coffee, I order coffee and avocado toast. How does it take 15m to make avocado toast? Oh because people were standing around like they really had absolutely nothing to do when then I Saul about 12 minutes later when I was getting ready to walk up and ask what's going on with my avocado toast I'm gonna be late to work now that I see them put the bread in and things ready two minutes later so realistically I could've been out of there probably 10 minutes prior to a People would've just been I don't know doing your job because you're at work... read more

Stopped by for a quick coffee and stayed for lunch. Really nice vibe and friendly service. The coffee was good and strong and the quiche was tasty and came with a side salad. This is a great addition to Kensington! There is outdoor seating available as well as take out. I will return when visiting Kensington! read more

Breakfast was very tasty. Service was excellent. Ambiance was fine. I would have given 5 Stars but due to them not having some bakery items in stock that was listed in the menu, I give them 4 Stars. I would return but hope they can keep in stock what they advertise and have in their menus. read more

Stumbled across this little coffee shop while looking on google maps for a place to get some work done on my laptop. So happy I came here! Good selection of coffees and brews, breakfast and lunch menu offerings, some bakery items as well. I tried the 3 pupusa combo which came out fresh n hot, got the tiramisu latte, and the matcha green tea milkshake- everything tasted great. Wish they had better bakery offerings but everything else was awesome. Deff coming back. They have free wifi and outlets. read more

This place has great drinks and great food! I love that they have a diverse menu which has everything from salads to pupusas. It has a decent amount of seating, although you'll have to position yourself strategically for outlets if you need them (there are more towards the front of the store). The staff is super friendly, and your orders come out pretty quickly. I love the ambience of the store with smooth jazz in the background, warm tones, and how well the temperature is maintained. They also have eco friendly straws (which I count as a plus). Nice place to study and get your caffeine on! read more

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Wanted to find an alternative to Panera Bread, so we decided to come here instead. We had two java brews, french toast with strawberries and huevos rancheros with avocado and pulled pork. The huevos rancheros were great. I absolutely loved it. The french toast was good but I've had better. The java brew was good. It was my first time having java. They had outdoor seating but the tables weren't very clean so we opted to sit inside where they had clean tables. read more

My husband and I came in for an early breakfast on a weekend. We both ordered a latte and I had the egg white omelet with mushrooms and my husband ordered a classic egg sandwich. My omelet was mediocre at its best, and the mushrooms were ridiculously salty I had to drink so much water to compensate the saltiness. My husband's sandwich had a tasty bun, but really what you would expect to get for an egg sandwich, nothing too special. The pricing is what you would expect, though I felt the baked goods they had such as muffins and bars were a bit too expensive. The café was very cute with a hipster ambience. We will probably not come back, at least not anytime soon however. read more

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

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Better luck the next couple times I visited. The pupusas are delicious, although Im not too excited about the cabbage slaw on the side. The coffee is ALWAYS great! Great atmosphere, wifi, clean bathrooms, outside seating, and a parking lot. I love coming here now! read more

Java-nation was very tasty. The food and drink were great.

This place has amazing food and the atmosphere is great. Nice place to hang out and talk business

Excellent service and great family vibe. The latte was excellent. I came here to catch up on some work and would recommend to anyone in the Kensington area. read more

Java French Toast- as you can see I was tearing it up! It was really good!! Will be ordering again. read more

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

The coffee is good but it's always not very hot ! Coffee size seem small ! The place opens early so easier to go in the morning ! read more

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

Kicking myself that I haven't stopped here sooner! This location in particular doesn't look particularly exciting from 355. The inside, however, is an urban escape! Natural, rustic interior design is relaxing and inviting. Coffee is locally roasted, a big draw for me. Love the displays of the different types of beans so you can see and smell them directly. Bakery items are huge and look as good as they taste. Didn't try any of the savory cafe items on the menu but I will be back! read more

I have a service dog. While placing my order, I was repeatedly asked to sit outside with her even though I showed all paperwork and ID proving she is a service dog. Moreover she was wearing her service vest. I come here frequently with my dog to work and have never been bothered. Why is today any different? She was doing was she was trained to do and stand to my left. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act access is required by federal law. As a result I have lodged a complaint with the department of justice. For reference under the ADA, privately owned businesses that serve the public such as restaurants, hotels, retail stores, taxi cabs, theaters, concert halls and sports facilities are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The ADA requires these businesses to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into business premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed. I am legally deaf, and as a result usually walk here. I struggle to hear every day and my dog is a tool for me to live as much of a normal life as possible. I felt embarrassed and ashamed that I wasn't welcomed with my service animal in front of other people. I felt as a second class individual again. So thanks a lot for making me feel like crap. Won't be returning here and that's a shame. I loved coming here read more

I've given this nice little mom & pop shop a go for a few times now, and I generally like it and would go back. The food in particular is a step up from the usual coffee shop fare. You can get a legit sandwich here that rivals anything else in this neighborhood. The coffee is ok. The thing that gets me is, every time I've been in there, a fundamental human element seems lacking. Perhaps they are unaware of the "customers pay our salary" principle and instead adhere to the less popular principle of "the store is always right". Case in point: I inquired about getting a refill my first time there. I had gotten a cup of coffee in a mug, which was pretty small. Upon leaving I wanted to get a refill to go and was told I would have to buy another full priced cup. When I mentioned that the large size to-go container far exceeded the volume capacity of the ceramic mug, and had I simply asked for the to go cup in the first place (same price as the mug) I wouldn't have needed a refill, the young girl behind the counter said "yeah but getting it in a mug is better for the environment". Yes. I did that. But now I just paid full price for another cup, in a to-go cup, which you handed me. So I have already ruined the environment. You just charged me extra for doing it and treated me like a dolt. In her defense, she didn't know that I've written web copy for an environmental startup, had her same job 15 years ago, and managed two similar establishments to Java Nation, and was thus not fooled by her clever rouse of complaint deflection. Because I've been in her shoes, I'm not the guy who will get angry and demand to see the manager. Instead, I'll think "Gee really? Fascinating. Tell me more, person who is 25 years younger than me" then let it rattle around in my brain for a few days before unloading my lexicon bazooka on Yelp. In general. overcharging and arguing with customers like they just fell off a cabbage truck might not be the best idea. You're welcome for that pro tip. The atmosphere could use a little upgrade as well from a layout standpoint. Zero coziness. It's small so there are only so many options I suppose. The wifi was very robust however - more so than the coffee. It worked immediately, no splash page, and just streamed a delicious waterfall of megabytes in and out of my laptop. I'll probably go back for that alone, and bring the coffee mug in the photo with me to avoid their "small cup, charge twice, save the environment, try Jedi mind trick on customers" policy. read more

Well, I have to be honest and say that I have only had the Uber Eats experience. I am absolutely wild about the pupusas here. They are so tasty. Full of flavor. Stuffed well. Yum Yum. That's all. read more

I had seen the storefront for Java Nation several times but never considered walking inside. It wasn't until I came across several promising reviews on Yelp about this establishment that I decided to give it a try. Initially I was impressed from the moment I walked in, as I was not expecting a coffeeshop with a decent amount of seating and free Wi-Fi in this unassuming strip-mall off of Connecticut Avenue. Needless to say, I was very pleased with my new find and was excited to have another coffeeshop to add to my list of neighborhood spots. I have been to Java Nation several times, and each time I leave, I often ask myself why I keep returning back. The main reason for this question - because I simply do not enjoy their coffee. Their coffee is sourced locally, and I love that fact and I want to support local business, but it has a unique taste that I simply do not enjoy. However, for convenience sake I find myself going back to Java Nation when I want to get out of the house to get some work done. Here are a few things I have observed about Java Nation in the roughly 10 times I have been there. 1) I find the service to be very slow. Thankfully the people behind the counter are often friendly and sweet, however that does not make up for the fact that orders usually take quite a bit of time to be completed. There could be several reasons why. Perhaps not enough staff, or not enough kitchen utilities to complete multiple orders at once. I have seen customers go back to the counter after waiting several minutes for their order asking how much longer it will take. I too have experienced having to wait roughly 10 minutes to get my order when ordering from their food menu. 2) The last time I was there I saw two people come into the store, look at the menu and leave within a two-hour period. The menu is random, offering a small selection of food items that range from a classic egg sandwich to pupusas. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love pupusas and I ate my fair share when traveling through El Salvador, but I just wasn't expecting to find them on a menu in a coffee shop. To me, this café seems to not really have a clear identity as the menu is eclectic, but perhaps this model is working really well for them. 3) I don't find this place to be much cheaper than Starbucks. I wouldn't mind paying the prices they ask for if I was getting food and drink that I thoroughly enjoyed. Let's just say I don't go there for the food and drink, I go there because of location and free Wi-Fi. I would recommend for anyone to go to this place and try it out, you may really enjoy your experience. Taste is such a subjective matter, so don't just take my word for it, go to this place and decide for yourself. read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Inside the cafe, order counter is to the right, seating by the window to the left. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

I really try to give business a few chances before I write a negative review, but I just tried to call in a pick up order and the woman said No Pick Up and hung up on me. This is not the first time I have received bad service here. I love to support local businesses, but not with that kind of attitude. I had a man call shortly after me and he was able to place a pick up order. read more

Java Nation - Kensington - Sad face for hardly any bacon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

Love, love this place! They won me over on the most delicious BLT sandwich made with pork belly, fried green tomato, and spring mix greens. Of course, I had to add a fried egg to the sandwich! As for the coffee, so good. I really enjoyed my iced caramel latte! read more

Java Nation - Kensington - The B.L.T sandwich! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kensington, Maryland

Good but some staff give the wrong size cup and charge you for the large, the rockville location is better service

Finds like this is why I love Yelp... I've driven on this stretch of Connecticut Avenue for years now, but never noticed Java Nation since it's set back from the road, hidden from view by another business when it should be front-and-center in the Kensington Shopping Center! I like the feel of Java Nation - a low-key place with comfortable seating and good music playing lightly in the background where you can while away an hour or two catching up with a friend or reading the paper. The staff is very friendly, and I had one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've had in a while - the Classic, featuring two eggs (fried or scrambled), sausage or bacon (pick bacon!), and your choice of Swiss, American, or provolone on a fresh, lightly toasted Kaiser roll - delicious and prepared to order, beating the local competition by a mile. I also had the Vigilante dark roast, a great coffee from a local roaster that has really good depth of flavor. Java Nation's definitely earned a spot in my regular weekend coffee rotation! read more

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

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This is a weird little place that sells coffee and pupusas. My review is just for the food since I'm not a coffee drinker. Had the chicken and bean pupusas. They were sub-par. Not much chicken, flavor was meh, and the salsa was pretty much tomato juice. I had high hopes because the staff was very friendly and accommodating. I also tried the chipotle empanada and it was also kind of bland. The lady said that was their best one so I have low expectations if I go back. Otherwise it was clean and looked nice inside. read more

I love the fact that once you step in you feel like you're in a complete different place. Today I decided to check out Java Nation after hearing so much about it and I honestly wish I would of done it sooner! Love the atmosphere! Great vibes ! When it comes to their menu they have a nice variety, which is awesome! I will say that I am not a big fan of their coffee.. but no coffee shop is perfect :) read more

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

Randomly came here on a Sunday morning not really in the mood to go to a sit down place but boy was I blown away!!! for a little coffee place it was so good I had a iced chai latte and for food I had a blt with egg and a empanada everything was made fresh!!!!! For a little hole in the wall this place was amazing !! 5 stars ps they even have beer read more

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

Didn't enjoy the organization nor the food. People standing in line were standing right next to me as I ate. Their matcha latte was just ok. The ambiance was noisy, yet once a portion of the people leave, it's just right. The service was ok. read more

A smaller space than the Java Nation on Rockville Pike but the coffee and food is just as delicious. Staff is friendly too.

Hot chocolate was cold, how is hot chocolate cold you may ask? Well Java nation can answer they have advanced my knowledge in what can be so wrong in a cafe. When I asked for my money back they laughed at me and made a scene about how I have to "work for them" to get my money back. Iv never experienced anything like that in my life. read more

A tiny shop in the back of a strip mall. There is plenty of parking which is nice. There is a reasonable amount of seating and they do have a small kitchen to make some food. They do have free WiFi. I ordered my usual latte and my expectations were low as it did not have a feel of a high end coffee shop (but did charge the price of a high end shop). Those expectations, unfortunately, were not exceeded. The drink was bitter. The milk was not textured appropriately for a latte but instead more like a cappuccino and was not the correct temperature. There were a lot of bubbles in the final product so perhaps the beans had not set an appropriate amount of time. A place to skip if you want quality. read more

We were looking for a place to grab breakfast and stumbled upon this nearby place, located in a small shopping center. We ordered the caramel latte and horchata latte. I got the huevos rancheros and my friend ordered the chicken pupusas. It took a while to get our food but it was worth waiting. I love local coffee shops and this place did not disappoint. It was the first time my friend had tried pupusas and they loved it. I would recommend this place to someone looking for a nice local place to eat. read more

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Great food! The matcha coffee was so good and the sandwiches are really packed with food!

Suppose you're in a hurry, DON'T order food from here because they are VERY slow. The service is ok but needs more work. Otherwise, the crepes are great! read more

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I was very happy with my lunch today. I got the fall salad with grilled chicken. It was amazing. The young lady at the front was very nice and she helped me w/ my order. The iced chai was very good as well, better than Starbucks. I usually go to the Java Nation by White Flint on the pike because I live in Garret Park Estates. I liked the ambience as well as the decor. I will be back for sure. read more

the best coffee In Maryland fresh food highly recommend 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

Cute place for breakfast and coffee! Service was quick and staff were friendly. The atmosphere is really nice, and the food was very tasty as well. The cider was spiced very well! It did take a long time for us to get our order, and the food was a little pricy. Other than that, this place was great! read more

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