The Java Shack

This place is really cute. A little bit smaller than I thought but it has a patio to sit outside. Super friendly staff. I was sitting inside doing some work and heard staff very nicely greeting every customers, it seems like a lot of them are regular customers. The table is not too big but good enough for 1 or maybe 2 people work together. The staff did an exquisite work on the coffee, it comes cute and pretty but I don’t personally like the coffee taste that much. I will still go and work there but maybe try something different.

small interior, nice ambience on the outside patio. Very hipster feel. I love that the cold brew has a tap like a beer keg. I like the coffee, but wish they had more pastries/​sweets selection. Will stop back in at some point this summer when I want to have a nice cup of coffee outside.

This place rocks! Had a lot of gluten free options to accommodate my sisters wheat allergy and made some great coffee, I had a macchiato and a latte made to perfection! The two guys working were very social and friendly in making my experience great.

TL;DR: unpretentious high quality neighborhood coffee place, get the nitro cold brew (both of them!), wonderful staff, prices on the higher side but undoubtedly worth it.
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This is what you want. The friendliest staff, delicious coffee, Harney teas (some of the best around), an all-​seasons patio, and most importantly TWO nitro cold brews on tap.
There’s a dark nitro cold brew and a lighter one and they are both insanely delicious. Just ask and they’ll let you sample before you order. The darker one (Blue Ridge I believe) is malty and stouty and the lighter one is caramely and zippy. The price is admittedly a little high — $ 4.75 — but they put a lot of thought and skill into their nitro, so it deserves your money.
I also love that they have Harney teas, which are some of the best around. If you want something warm and soothing while you read but don’t want any caffeine, I suggest the mint tea.
Did I mention that the staff is THE NICEST? I’m only here maybe once a week and they remember me, or at least do a fantastic job making me feel like they remember me. They are knowledgeable about their products and clearly love coffee, but they aren’t dicks about it. They want you to love what you get, and are happy and patient to help you pick which espresso or drip you might like.
They also always have pie, and it is good pie.
This isn’t an overly-​styled, cutesy coffee shop. It’s just tables and chairs, but who cares. There’s also a small patio out front with umbrellas that is full of people and doggies rain or shine.
Logistical stuff: there’s some street parking but it’s usually taken. If you’re just running in, you can park at the Cardinal building a few yards away. There’s a bikeshare station right outside the front door. If you take a right walking out the front door, the street goes into a lovely neighborhood that I like to take walks through while on the phone with my mom.

Such a great find in my hunt for good Courthouse coffee! As I work remotely whenever I am in DC, it’s important to find little places with wifi to ensure some human interaction each day. Java Shack has a relaxed atmosphere and lots of different types of coffee to choose from. Looking forward to being back in DC on a summer day to relax on the patio.

Hands down the best caramel macchiato I have ever tasted! I didn’t need to add anything to it, it was just perfect. During the work week my colleagues and I frequent this place and we are never disappointed. It’s totally worth checking out.

I walked in and loved the vibe. The staffs were super friendly and the coffee was so fresh. I had a delicious latte with a cute foam design. The coffee was full of flavor with a pinch of sweetness.
The big patio is also a great place to spend spring and summer mornings.
I am definitely a fan and can’t wait to come back!

Love this coffee shop. Baristas are friendly, the coffee is great, and it’s a 3 minute walk from home.

Ok — final take on this one. I received a note from the owner after my review downgrade last summer, which I really appreciated. He addressed my comments and invited me to try Java Shack again. I waited a while to give them an opportunity to work out some more kinks, and then I did try them again, several times, over the last few weeks.
I think I’m done.
I hate to say it — I really wanted Java Shack to continue to be someplace I go a lot. The décor has improved — that’s a plus, so kudos to them.
However, the staff is still so, so, so slow. That has not improved at all. The last time I was in, there was a line of six waiting to order, and one poor barista serving everyone. Was she the only one working? No. There was another staffer, one who’s worked there a while, in the back kitchen, having a friendly chat with one of the owners. They were both completely oblivious to the line and the one person trying to cope.
And that, for me, sums up the new ownership of the place. They want you to buy their brand of coffee. I mean, REALLY want you to. But as far as running a good coffeehouse goes, they’re just not paying attention, and they don’t care. They close at 5 now, too (I discovered that when I attempted to try them out again at 5:15 once) — it was nice back when Dale ran it and they stayed open later. But, he really cared about the customers. Can you imagine him standing chatting in the back when there was a line? He always got up to help when there was a crunch. But he felt ownership of the place. He had skin in the game. These guys want to sell their beans and their cold brew. I wish them the best.

Another Arlington institution. Tiny and tucked away on a side street between Clarendon and Courthouse. They serve Commonwealth Joe coffee here which is Charlottesville based and DELICIOUS. Talented baristas, too! They also have slices of pie at the counter from another local establishment that you should always get, as well as breakfast sandwices and a really cool (HA!) cold brew tap. Sitting outside on their patio on a warm spring weekend with a cup of joe is one of life’s great pleasures.

Guess I’m still a fan of Java Shack. But I think less so than I once was.
Complaints — They no longer put up the awning walls in the winter. It used to be tolerable to sit outside in almost any weather. Now if it’s windy/​cold, you can’t sit outside. Sure it wasn’t the best looking set-​up. But, it kept the wind out.
They no longer have large drinks. They call it a large, but the old large was larger, and had an extra shot if I’m not mistaken. Now it’s a smaller «large».
Service is fine.. . but after the new management took over (Commonwealth Joe), most of the old staff moved on. They really had a passion for coffee, and were much faster about making it. Now it seems as though multi-​tasking isn’t a possibility (even when it comes to trying to pour more than one shot at a time).
I still like it, but it’s different than it once was. But is still 100x’s better than Starbucks.

Only been here once but my experience was definitely a friendly one! I bought a bottle of their cold brew coffee and it was certainly delicious. The staff grabbed me the freshest one they had and were very helpful with deciding what I wanted.
Will definitely be back to try more, and actually stay a while next time instead of taking it to go.

Great coffee and great atmosphere. You can get any kind of brew you’d like from nitro cold brew to pour overs. They also have a lot of tasty snacks.

I found Java Shack from the stand they do at the summer farmer’s market, and I just can’t quit it. Every neighborhood needs a great local coffee shop. For Court House, Java Shack is that place. It keeps me caffeinated without requiring any visits to Starbucks, which at this point I regard as the Walmart of the coffee world, minus the roll-​back prices.
I have never tried any food at Java Shack, so this review is only for the coffee. Their nitro cold brew is outstanding. Brewed in a keg for at least a week (maybe a month?) it tastes creamy, dreamy, and like no other cold brew you will ever try. It’s like a Guinness coffee stout. I love the blue ridge bluff version. They even bottle it! It’s awesome and great to give as gifts; I know my boyfriend bought the bottles for his boss and got him totally hooked.
I’ve also tried the lattes and cappuccinos. 5 stars all around.
Lastly, the employees are friendly and cool, and they have a great big patio and homey area inside where you can work or have a meeting/​date. I don’t plan to go for coffee anywhere else!

The coffee was decent-​as was the food. But the service was not what I expected. I prefer local coffeehouses to the Big, Bad Mermaid. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll just try the chain and bypass the Shack.
It took me standing before the counter tapping on my food for a minute to get waited upon. The sole– overworked person making drinks was kind enough to call one of the cashiers (who’d disappeared to the back when I arrived) to wait on me. The one who showed up wasn’t really able to answer my question about the menu. She seemed fairly distracted, actually. She instructed me to select a coffee to pour into my cup for the barista to top later.
I wasn’t expecting it to be ten minutes later. That’s no exaggeration. I asked if my coffee was still hot-​as I watched other customers get their drink orders filled before mine — some of whom I’m certain had succeeded me in line. «Oh, yeah — it’s hot,» my cashier said dismissively, before she turned her attention to sharing a snack with a colleague.
Turns out the coffee wasn’t hot after sitting on the counter without a lid. It was only warm. To her credit, she thanked me for waiting — but I’d already paid. Of course I was going to wait.

I’ve always pass Java Shack on my way home from work, but never stopped in. From the outside of the coffee shop it looked like a fun, yet sophisticated place!
This place is hopping on a Saturday morning. If you are a dog lover and don’t have a pup, but sure to swing by because there are always dogs on the patio! If you are a dog owner, yes you can bring your fuzzy friend with you!
Your K-​9 friend will enjoy the outside patio and checking out the other dogs passing by. Above all the you will enjoy the coffee. All their coffees are roasted in Virginia, which is rare! It’s really cool to see some serious local flare and a community here at Java Shack. You don’t get a lot of that around here.
The coffee the boyfriend was sipping on was in his words «great». I opted for an Apple Cider and it, too, was great but hot! However, the breakfast sandwiches are comparable to type you can get a Giant’s frozen section. Steer clear if you are looking for a homemade-​with-​love =-type of breakfast sandwich because that’s not something you will find here.
With locally roasted java, this makes for an awesome addition to the Arlington coffeeshops! I will be coming back to Java Shack before hitting Starbucks, Peets or Dunkin.

Good coffee, delicious quiche, friendly waitstaff. The outside area is really pleasant. Nice vibe of people getting together here.

Cute outdoor seating — probably crowded indoors in the winter
Good local coffee & local goods
Decent espresso drinks, but didn’t try any of the fun flavours — would do that next time.
Friendly baristas/​cashiers

Still a weekend semi-​regular at Java Shack going two years strong and counting. Within the last year there have been some changes in management, mostly in a positive direction in consistency and quality. They have made some updates and expansion to the outdoor patio with more flower plots and additional seating. Most recently, they have added nitro cold brew coffee with plans to get local brewery partnerships involved with their business growth. The new-​ish manager, Robbie, talked to us at length this past Saturday morning to get an idea of what our tastes are like for coffee as well as giving us samples of the new nitro coffee they have on «tap.»
The crowd here is a nice mixture of generations, both young and old, which is a great contrast to some of the younger coffee joints in the Clarendon/​Ballston corridor. On the days I’m not making french press coffee at home, I’ll still find myself at Java Shack supporting a local business.

First knew about this place years back when I did a college internship at a place that was a couple of blocks down! This was my go-​to place when I occasionally would treat myself to some coffee. Now that my work has returned to this area, I can frequent here a bit more! Good coffee, chill and non-​pretentious coffee shop vibe

If you’re looking for a local coffee shop where the baristas greet you and often refer to you by name, this is the spot. They have delicious brews, including a couple nitro brews which are amazing plain. I live in Rosslyn and I often make the trip to Courthouse (I know, it’s all of a mile away but hey, don’t judge me).
They have some seating inside and lots of outdoor seating where regulars tend to lounge with their dogs in the morning hours. Very dog friendly environment nestled inbetween an auto shop and a pet grooming shop on a neighborhood street in Arlington, Courthouse.

Nice little coffee place for people who are serious about their coffee. Very friendly staff. Not much for atmosphere, but I like the outdoor seating area. And, unlike most places in the area, they actually have some gluten-​free options for my wife, so that’s probably enough to an additional star all by itself.

This place rocks. From the friendly staff to the incredible coffee it has become my go to coffee shop in Arlington. It is also biker friendly which I really appreciate. They have ample space to lock up your bike outside and it always seems like there are other bikers there to mingle with. Anyway, keep up the good work guys and I will definitely keep coming back for years to come.

Staff is super cool, and the owner Rob is really down to earth. Blue ridge bluff coffee is dark, rich, and has a hint of chocolate — fantastic. Try it on their nitro-​tap for an occasional treat — its thick like a guiness and you may not even need cream/​milk!
I cannot comment on the food they make on premises as ive never had it.
Overall, a cool neighborhood local business I like to support!

I’ve been coming to this fabulous coffee shop since I was 8 weeks old! This place is my jam. The Human says they have great coffee and are sustainable and blah blah, but they LOVE dogs! I could sit outside all day and never run out of water or new people & dogs to hang out with.

Cute and cozy. Great to support a local business instead of the Starbucks a few blocks over. The service is super friendly and has a neighborly vibe. Great variety in drinks, not so much in food – but it’s a coffee place, not a café.

I hate to lower my rating on this establishment, but it’s been on a downhill trend for a couple years now, and despite high expectations, the new ownership has not changed the place meaningfully for the better.
The espresso is still ok. They do have wonderful pie from a local vendor — lots of varieties, and it’s all excellent. Otherwise, the food offerings are still limited and pretty unappealing (microwaved sausage McMuffins and quiche; stale bagels; stale muffins).
The interior still has a grimy, dirty feel (although not enough to discourage one entitled, hemp-​pants-​wearing neighborhood mother from walking in barefoot every day along with her unshod toddlers.)
The patio is nice. This establishment is very dog-​friendly (perhaps the noticeable coat of dog hair on the patio provides enough foot cover for the barefoot toddlers before they enter the store).
The staff are pleasant and friendly, but are much, much slower than the Java Shack’s employees of 3 – 5 years ago. This is the biggest way in which it’s gone downhill, in my opinion. Wait times are much increased, and the staff are less with-​it in other ways, too (drinks not always properly made, although there’s a lot of obsession with foam art, things like punch cards go out of stock for weeks, certain beverage items don’t get restocked quickly either …)
My sense is that the new owners want to promote their higher-​priced coffee sales, both beans and cold brew, and emphasize that over the day-​to-​day café experience. Fair enough, I guess, if that’s your priority, but it has made me look for other options.

I can’t say enough about how great the staff is at this quaint coffeeshop with a perfect, covered outdoor space. Everyone, including the neighborhood clientele, are open and friendly. And the cold brew coffee is some of the best you’ve ever had.

When I’ve got a little more time on my hands, I’ll forgo the quick walk to the nearest café to my apartment and take the extra 10 minutes to walk to Java Shack. A Counter Culture café, they’re coffee and espresso drinks are great and the local café vibe is perfect. I’d highly recommend Java Shack to anyone looking for a good café within the Courthouse/​Clarendon and even Rosslyn area.

Fun small place in Arlington. Great owner roasted coffee. Try the nitro infused cold keg coffee.

I’ve been going to Java Shack for several years. It’s convenient for me, and clearly one of the friendliest coffee houses one will find… and yes the coffee, latte’s and other drinks are excellent.
But here is an additional treat; Java Shack distributes pies by the Acme Pie Company, of Arlington. These are exceptional, made by one of the better pastry chefs in the region. EXCEPTIONAL. I’m a big fan of the pies with fruit fillings, but I just had the Sweet Potato pie with marshmellow topping and that was mouth watering!!!
Pie and coffee. Now that is an excellent treat!!!

I really liked this place. I went yesterday since I happened to be in Clarendon, and I wanted to try a new coffee shop to spend my lunch break reading a book. It’s next to Wylie Wagg, a really neat pet store. Parking before 5pm can be a pain, since the neighborhood that the shop is in is permit parking until then.
It has ample outdoor seating, and a few tables inside as well. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and an iced tea. The table tops are decorated in magazine-​clippings style collage. I was surrounded by several guys who were on laptops, possibly working or studying. The person working at that time was incredibly friendly.
The chicken quesadilla was nothing to write home about, but it was a nice alternative to bagels or muffins since I was there on my lunch. It wasn’t a bad price either.
The only downside I saw (besides parking, which is inevitable in this part of Arlington) was that they close at 6pm. If I wanted to come here to study and really spend time here, I would never be able to do so on the weekdays after work, and my lunch break isn’t long enough to get any real work done.