WASHINGTON 鈥� Pierre Jimenez鈥檚 new K Street coffee shop serves two things he says D.C. needs more of: caffeine and humor.
鈥淸D.C.] is a very serious-minded town,鈥� Jimenez says.
But he鈥檚 hoping his new business, , can help lighten the mood.
The cafe, which sits directly below The Washington Post and just a few blocks from the White House, is a coffee shop that takes aim at the politics of the town.
Inside, baristas tend to drinks such as the Business Card Breve (鈥淚t鈥檚 like a latte, but with half and half the networked value鈥�), the Incumbent Iced Coffee (鈥淵ou鈥檒l just want it again and again 鈥� or maybe you just can鈥檛 get rid of it鈥�) and the Martin O鈥橫alley Mint Mocha (鈥淚ts minty freshness will help you even when you meet 鈥榰nidentified men鈥� that happen to be presidential candidates鈥�).
John Oliver and Steven Colbert dominate the TV screens and chalkboards throughout the space poke fun at politicos. Even the mugs that hold the locally sourced display satirical statements.
Jimenez says he decided to go with a political satire theme for his coffee shop as a way to differentiate his business from others in the area.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to give people an experience that鈥檚 a little bit different,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e need something that鈥檚 all about political fun, political satire 鈥� just hamming it up. And there鈥檚 plenty of content [in this city], that鈥檚 for sure.鈥�
Unlike many coffee shops in the District, Roasted is not hurting for square feet. Jimenez shares the space 鈥� which he fills with a pingpong table, board games and big, comfy couches 鈥� with the nightclub Capitale.
(Hint: Don鈥檛 plan a trip to Roasted during the weekend, unless you鈥檙e looking to trade in your cappuccino and witty jokes for Champagne and flashing lights. Roasted is only open during the week.)
鈥淲e are drawing quite a difference between our crowd and their crowd,鈥� Jimenez says about the partnership.
Roasted currently doesn鈥檛 offer food, but Jimenez says he鈥檚 in the process of bringing a few local bakers on board to sell some of their pastries at his outpost.
There is free Wi-Fi, however, and Jimenez encourages customers to get comfortable and stay for a while. When the weather cooperates, there鈥檚 also plenty of space to lounge on the front patio.
Jimenez says he and his employees are continually looking for new ways to introduce political satire into the concept, and is open to the public鈥檚 suggestions to create a fun environment.
鈥淲e want to make sure everyone walks out with a smile on their face and quality brew in their hand.”
Roasted, 1301 K Street Suite 103, is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Correction: Earlier, the story stated聽Jimenez is a former Marine. This has been corrected. The founders of Compass Coffee, the company through which Roasted sources its coffee, was started by two former Marines.聽
