Cafein

Wherever I travel, I try looking for a small cozy café. When I found this small café, I was excited. I stopped by early in the morning looking for a delicious flavorful latte and pastry only to be disappointed.
I’ll start with the latte. I can finally understand how another reviewer wished the latte was stronger. It had a slight taste of espresso but mainly tasted like warm milk. Lesson learned, always ask for two shots of espresso.
My husband ordered a cappuccino which was much better and he enjoyed it. He kept rubbing it in my face that his drink was better than mine.
On to the pastry; chocolate croissant. I don’t know why I kept trying to eat it or why I didn’t return it. It had a taste of plastic to it and it wasn’t fresh. I don’t know if they store these in bags under the counter or I was just unlucky but it was not pleasant. I did enjoy the little bit of chocolate that was inside, and by little I do mean a bite of chocolate. If you do happen to order one, maybe ask them to warm it up to melt the little bit of chocolate that’s inside of it.
If I’m ever in the area again, I will try the cappuccino and a warm pastry.
Service: B
Environment: B
Food: C

The place is trendy and from what I hear that the café was called coffeesmith. Anyhow, it has a modern feeling to it. .. almost like a blue bottle store found in NYC or SF. Anyhow, we both ordered the same thing. .. the salmon on baguette and had a rose latte. The rose latte was great. .. not too sweet, which is awesome. I enjoyed eating the salmon baguette, but we both got sick and after an hour we were both had to run to the bathroom while we were looking at firearms museum at the NRA. We were thinking it was either bad salmon or bad avocado or spoiled milk, so hopefully others that day were not affected.
I would have given this a 4 star rating, but we both got sick and that’s not good.

Best coffee spot in Northern VA. Their coffees are fantastic and you have to get a hand pour from the Chemex or Aeropress, you will not be disappointed.
A little small so seating can be limited.

They serve Stumptown. What more can you ask for?!?
Great bunch of guys behind the counter, and they care about the coffee. It’s such a better experience of going to the SBux and having the baristas just push a couple of buttons, and an espresso drink just appears.
So happy I found this place!

Right up there with bean bar in Leesburg… my new favorite place in this area. Blows Starbucks away. Great décor, great food, and most importantly great coffee and a great variety of other drinks if coffee isn’t your thing.
I’m also rooting for this establishment because there are 4 really nice yioung guys that started this place 2 years ago. They are all service oriented and you can tell how proud they are of what they have created. Great job CAFEIN!

These guys do a good job here and are friendly. If you are a coffee snob like I am and like coffee that has some complexity to it and doesn’t taste like a burnt ashtray then come here. Another bonus is that you can usually get a spot to sit down, outlet to charge and the water pitcher is always filled.

Consistently good drinks. I love the blue lemonade, it’s a sparkling lemonade. The white mocha and the green tea latte are delicious. It’s nice to support a local business where the drinks are actually good. They have cute desserts although I haven’t tried any yet. They are friendly and I do believe there is a points system/​frequent buyer associated with your card/​number.

Their green tea latte is to die for! It’s the liquid equivalent of a green tea Kit Kat mmmmmmm. (I had mine with almond milk. Thumbs up!) Everything else I’ve tried has been really good, too. But this is my current favorite. We’ve been fans of Cafein since before its name change (same management, new concept?). The current space and identity is sleek, sophisticated. It’s not cutesy. It’s not rustic. Refreshing. I’m all for cutesy and rustic, but Cafein is the place to go when you want to feel like a grownup, a grownup who knows about the art of a pour over, or who just appreciates pretty latte art and quality coffee and tea. There is a definite lack of artisanal coffee houses in the northern Virginia area, so we’re very thankful for Cafein, its exemplary offerings and professional staff. Follow them on Facebook to learn about new flavors, events, and schedule changes (totally helped when the region was handicapped by «Snowzilla»).

I literally fell in love with this place right away. It’s so cozy and the interior is amazing.
I only went here one time unfortunately but I definitely want to go back.
As you walk in and order the baristas are so kind. And you can even watch them do their work and its really interesting to watch. They definitely know what they’re doing.
They have the cutest coffee. I got a green tea latte and my boyfriend got a caramel macchiato. They were so delicious with cute designs on top. I was in love.
I also bought some of the drinks they had called Stumptown Coffee?
This brand had a coffee milk that I saved later, so good.
I saw other people ordering blue lemonades and waffles…
I definitely need to come back. So yummy.

Phenomenal little coffee shop in Fairfax County. After being around to the many local cafes of Richmond, I’m so glad I found a coffee shop good enough (if not better) without having to venture out to DC or Merrifield.
The barista was amazing– he crafted each drink with attention and took his time to perfect the coffee art. He forgot the flower for my latte but I got it once I asked for it (presentation’s obviously a big deal to me lol).
The Rose Latte was very unique and has a floral taste to it which might sound weird for a coffee but was surprisingly good. White Mocha was one of the best I’ve had anywhere. The espresso flavor is bold while the consistency is rich and creamy.
It can get little loud here but the shop extends to a slightly more secluded back seating so I might come here to study once in a while and soak up the smell of the Stumptown beans.

Refreshing to see a coffee house alternative. Although I like my coffee to have that ‘burnt’ taste to it, I’ll say that the coffee at this establishment is pretty smooth. I feel it could be a bit stronger, though. The menu offers a wide variety of cold and hot sandwiches, in addition to plenty of sweet offerings. Maybe, I’ll try the food next time.
New name, same location and seems to be the same management and staff from the looks of things. The inside has been updated quite a bit and the last time I visited the place was teeming with patrons. Free WiFi is almost expected in coffee shops these days and this place is no different. I might visit more often if they offered live acoustic artists and music.

ZOMG GUYS… I almost don’t want to review this place because I want it all to myself!
Just go here. Seriously. Now. Do it now.
Super cute space, very friendly baristas that gave recommendations on drinks and sandwiches. Had the sausage on croissant and a rose latte. Amaze balls! The rose latte was totally different than what I’ve tried before. Could definitely taste the rose in it. The sandwich was freaking bomb. My husband got the bagel with prosciutto sandwich and that was awesome as well. Will definitely be returning here again. And again. And again.
Why are you still here? I said GO!

Incredible. The owners and staff are extremely welcoming and friendly, the food is gourmet café, and the multitude of coffees are a treat.
I would recommend this gem to anyone in the area!

So, so happy to find Stumptown (somewhat) locally. Cafein has drip coffee, pour-​overs and traditional cold brew, plus Kyoto-​style cold brew. They also carry Stumptown’s bottled cold brew and cartons of their coffee with milk (chocolate and regular), so I can stock up and take a few home with me! There’s also a selection of savory sandwiches, cakes and pastries.
The baristas are really friendly and knowledgeable, and they clearly take pride in their coffee. There’s a good amount of seating and the internet is fast, so it’s a good place to work. The décor is clean and modern, and on a Saturday afternoon, it was busy but not too crowded. And since it’s in a shopping center, there is tons of parking. I do wish the a/​c was on instead of the fans, though.

I’m particularly picky about my coffee… aka a royal coffee snob.
So with that being said I give Cafein five stars most enthusiastically.
They deliver a consistent cup of coffee with depth and flavor. I can tell the main Barista takes great care in his work and it shows with every cup he turns out. The latte’s I get are thick, frothy and fabulous.
They also have a fresh and delicious breakfast menu that isn’t over priced. The panini’s are spot on and the desserts and pastries are incredible. They sell cookies the size of your head for $ 2. Starbucks will sell you a stale cake pop for more than that!
The very clean and sleek environment provides outlets for charging and places to sit and relax. The décor is tasteful and quarky with the beautiful glass cold brewing set up and the derby hat light fixers.
Everything is well thought-​out, executed and maintained. All around an experience you’ll never forget and will keep you coming back.
Check them out!

New partnership and rebranding = AWESOME!
A few new menu items at the previously Coffeesmith. Like the rose latte topped with an orchid! Delicious. Just a hint of sweetness with a very smooth coffee and milk. They suggested that you get it iced — so we did.
I ordered the regular latte for myself and it was just as good as I’d expected it to be. Smooth all around, perfectly-​made coffee (not too bitter/​mild).
The redesign of the place is gorgeous. Wood & modern paneling everywhere you look, more seating area, and an expanded group seating area towards the back.

My favorite coffeespot in the DMV was Coffeesmith.
Now it is Cafein. For those that do not know, Cafein is the newly renovated Coffeesmith. The latter was closed for a few weeks to undergo renovations, and rebranding.
At first, I was worried by the sudden changes. I had been going to Coffeesmith regularly for some months now, and I was nervous it would go downhill… However, I am glad to say, my favorite coffee spot is back– and better than ever!
Some improvements noted:
+Now featuring new signature drink items:
+Cinnamon honey latte (organic)
+Rose latte (comes with edible rose)
+slightly renovated interior: new chairs, lighting, canvas art, and orchids.
+staff has been working on the latte art, looks good!
I LOVE that they still serve Stumptown Coffee Roasters, because it is a HUGE reason why I enjoy going here.
Smoothest coffee I’ve had. Just the right amount of bitterness, and can easily be sweetened if you get one of their great lattes here. Tastes perfect black, as well.
I’ve tried pretty much all the lattes: mocha, vanilla, chai, rose, cinnamon honey, and green tea-​they are all great! I’m such a huge coffee addict, and realizing from my review; a huge Cafein addict. Enjoyable place to study, relax, or catch up with a friend.
Definitely still loyal customer after the changes! :)
edit:// 09/​22/​2015.
Bumped up to 5-​stars, the baristas really care here! I always see them readily doing lots to improve, and I notice new products and coffee you can buy each time I come now!
++They now stock Stumptown cold brew in the bottle, and the coldbrew with milk in both regular and chocolate in cartons!!!
:) thanks, Cafein!!!

Coffeesmith is back new and improved as Cafein! Still warm and welcoming, but with a trendy and modern touch!
This is the rebranding that Coffeesmith needed to bump my original rating from 4 stars to 5! Overall, there isn’t a huge change, but the update of the menu and the redecoration of the interior gives it that extra something that was missing before.
Cafein (apparently could be pronounced as CAFE-​in or caffeine) is a nice and welcoming place to catch up with friends or to get some work done. They provide a variety of drinks from lattes to «fruit ades» (carbonated fruity drinks) to smoothies. The honey cinnamon latte is my favorite drink so far — it’s creamy and delicious and the cinnamon isn’t overpowering.
The avocado citrus is another unique drink that was added onto the menu. It’s definitely refreshing and interesting, but I’m not sure how I feel about it. The rose latte is also pretty good if you’re a fan of the rose flavor. I’ve also tried some of the breakfast sandwiches, and they’re pretty solid!
Lastly, one of my favorite things about coming here is the service. Everyone is friendly and helpful, and I’ve always had a great experience every time I’ve come so far because of them.
If you live in the area and love coffee shops as much as I do, be sure to give Cafein a try!

As a lover of coffee, I was on the verge of tears when I had learned Coffeesmith was closing and being bought by new owners. I thought they were going to tear my favorite coffee shop apart and make it into something more «mainstream», if you will.
Boy was I wrong! Not only did the new owners keep the old drink and food menu (still serving Stumptown!), but they have included additional, unique creations that will have you coming back for more. Such as the honey cinnamon latte, rose latte, and fruite-​ades (a fruit purée + club soda based drink). On top of that, they now offer honey bread, a popular dessert staple in the West Coast.
On my recent visit, I came twice in one day. Yes TWICE. In the morning I ordered an iced honey cinnamon latte– delicious! Exactly what it sounds like. No frills, very pure and natural flavors. In the evening I attempted to order the rose latte, but they sadly were out of rose water. I ended up going with the grapefruit-​ade which was quite refreshing and perfectly balanced. I also had the dulce de leche cheesecake– tasty and not overly sweet, but nothing too special. Their belgian waffle though– made from scratch to perfection. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Additionally, the new décor gives the place a more trendy vibe. The new owners are extremely friendly, accommodating, and informative. Alas, Coffeesmith has not died, but instead has evolved and improved!

When I found out Coffeesmith was rebranded as Cafein with new management, it was quite bittersweet to me.
Bitter, in a sense that I adored Coffeesmith.
Sweet, in a sense that change and rebranding can be a good thing.
In this case, the rebranding of Coffeesmith to Cafein was an excellent thing.
Coffeesmith was always my go-​to coffee shop. Down the street from my house, delicious coffee and espresso drinks, and a great place to study and/​or get some work done. Luckily, after the renovations to the coffee shop, not much has changed, ambiance-​wise. It’s still a nice and lovely coffee shop, where one can simply enjoy a nice coffee or espresso drink, hangout with friends, or get work done (or even all three). A trendy place, for sure!
Just as I said in my old Coffeesmith review:
«[Cafein] is somewhat hidden, tucked away towards the back end of Metrotech Shopping Center, across from Lotte and a couple doors down from Hibachi Buffet.
I must say, this place is truly a gem! I absolutely love this coffee shop!»
After a couple visits to Cafein, this quote still applies after the rebranding.
The staff is really nice and friendly. You can tell they truly enjoy what they do, especially when you receive a latte with some fine latte art.
One of the best drinks they sell is not on the menu. Order a Rose Latte, and enjoy the deliciousness! They even add in an edible flower that gives off some what of a minty taste to the latte. Excellent, indeed! Another delicious drink that’s not on the menu is the Honey Cinnamon Latte!
If you’re not into that kind of stuff, the vanilla latte is also a delicious option!
Aside from their many café drinks, they also have a broad menu of sandwiches and desserts.
If you’re looking for delicious café drinks and a great place to just hangout, get some work done, or just reflect on life, Cafein is definitely the spot to hit up!