Patch Picks: Coffee Shops

 “I never laugh until I’ve had my coffee” ~ Clark Gable

Regular, decaf, extra foam, latte, robust, soy…these are familiar phrases you will hear when one orders their favorite brew.  And if you are like me, coffee is in my bloodstream and I take no questions until I've had my second cup.

With so much competition out there it can be hard to find that perfect Cup-O’-Joe, tea or hot chocolate, so we are here to help. Here are a few local Gaithersburg coffee shops that surely will put a little “pep” in your step.

: On their Facebook page, under their about section it says “we sell coffee”; well, enough said. If you like a good, hot cup of coffee in a warm and inviting atmosphere, you have to try Chloe’s. Nothing beats a cup of fresh ground black coffee from a French press, and it’s hard to find a cafe that takes the time to prepare an individual cup with this much care. Chloe’s brings a unique factor into its store with cushy chairs, a piano, board games & Wi-Fi. It is a cute, cool place where you can read your book (or nook these days) or whip out your laptop and do some work. Chloe’s is the kind of place you want to sit and linger. I love Chloe’s cappuccino and I find that I pay less for it than your mainstream shops may charge. But what may be the best feature of Chloe’s Coffee is they donate a percentage of its profits to the Autism Research Center. Chloe’s products include: coffee, snacks, sandwiches, beer & wine.

Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, 6:30am - 9pm; Wed, 6:30am - 10pm; Sat,

Sun, 7am - 9pm

: Junction Java is a quaint shop that offers flavored coffees, house blends, tea and numerous muffins and other breakfast foods. It is nestled in Olde Towne Gaithersburg in the same building as the MARC train stop. The shop may be small but it has heart and great brewed coffee and other specialties. What I love the most about Junction Java is you can sit at one of the outside seating tables or in the old train station waiting room on B&O Railroad benches and watch the trains rumble past while sipping on your coffee or beverage of your choice.

Hours: Mon - Fri, 5:30am - 3:30pm; Sat, 8am - 3pm; Sun, closed

.: What I like about Neal Bagels is their freshly baked bagels that make me feel like I am sitting in a deli in New York City. You can’t go wrong with a bagel and coffee. You can order a bagel with cream cheese for a $1.95, add a cup of coffee and you have breakfast for under $5. They have been in business for 10 years and have 22 different varieties of bagels. Located in the Potomac Valley Shopping Center, Neal Bagels offers a variety of pastries including: muffins, black & white cookies, éclairs and more. There is also a deli for lunch, where you can order pastrami, chicken, egg or whitefish salad bagel-wich and more. Owners Steve and Polly note “we're your typical neighborhood business, serving our community one happy customer at a time”.

Hours: Mon - Fri, 6am - 5pm; Sat, Sun, 7am - 3pm

: When you hear Starbuck’s, everyone immediately knows what they are known for — coffee. Since 1971, Starbucks has been brewing coffee and offering it “however you want it.”  Everyone has their favorite Starbuck drink; but if you don’t, may I suggest the caramel macchiato or the peppermint mocha. With six locations in Gaithersburg, I chose this one because it has a drive-thru, opens Monday through Thursday at 4:30am, offers free Wi-Fi and always has newspapers. Starbuck's offers many varieties of coffee, tea and fruit beverages, plus pastries, sandwiches and fresh fruit. This Starbucks is located in the parking lot of the Diamond Square Shopping Center. And from now until May 16, order a Frappuccino between 3-5pm and take advantage of the Starbuck’s : half-price Frappe’s!

Hours: Mon - Thu, 4:30am - 9:30pm; Fri, 4:30am - 10pm; Sat, 6am - 10pm; Sun, 6am - 9pm

: Talk about the American Dream! Dazbog Coffee is just that. Two men migrated to America from Russia to find freedom and opportunity and now they have over 30 Dazbog Coffee locations across the country that deliver “the finest quality Arabica beans from coffee estates around the world.” Dazbog coffee specializes in sugar-free coffee and hot drinks. They have a variety of hot drinks including: specialty blends like the Caspian espresso or the mocha java. Or you may want to try their coffees of the world which include coffee from the Americas, Indonesia and Africa. I highly suggest the “Guatemalan Antiqua,” a medium-bodied coffee with a dark chocolate flavor. Dazbog also has a variety of teas with distinctive natural flavors including the Ceylon Fancy Black Tea and Sencha, a Japanese Green Tea.  Dazbog Coffee is located in the Great Indoors on Shady Grove Road.

Hours: Mon - Fri, 7:30am - 7pm; Sat, 9am - 7pm; Sun, 9am - 5pm

~From all of us at the Gaithersburg Patch we hope you find your perfect blend~