Coffee lovers know that a truly great cup of java goes far beyond beans and water. The creation of that perfect first sip is an artform built around the kind of deliberate sourcing and roasting that only comes from a true passion for coffee. Qualia Coffee is bringing that precise artform to a new DC marketplace; the beloved coffee company is setting up a retail location in the upcoming Nesso Plaza development.
Qualia will be one of several tenants moving into the H Street NE “urban mall”. Qualia owner Joel Finkelstein kindly spoke to What Now DC about returning the concept’s superior coffee beans to a retail space, saying: “As beloved as our original location was, shoe-horned in a turn-of-the-century house meant it had some notable limitations as a manufacturing space. The Nesso Plaza space is every bit as charming as our original shop, but without the physical restrictions of a rowhouse. It will let us explore other products as well as enabling us to host workshops and other educational programs.”
DC java lovers have been thirsty for Qualia’s coffee for quite awhile, and Finkelstein looks forward to providing a physical space where shoppers can peruse the brand’s offerings. He explains: “Qualia was launched at farmers markets and still operates a several local markets throughout the year, but one of the questions we get routinely is ‘where can I find you when the markets aren’t happening.'” With the new retail space on the horizon, we no longer have to point them online.”
Qualia has been a trusted name in the area coffee scene since 2009. Finkelstein will be creating more than a simple shop where visitors grab a bag of beans and leave. He is building a community space where coffee fans can learn more about the product. He states: “After two years without a storefront, I am excited about talking to customers face-to-face again. Having a roasting space open to the public starts so many interesting conversations about where coffee comes from, how it is processed and what you should taste in the cup. This will let us return to our roots as a retail-focused coffee roaster. Nesso Plaza feels like the perfect setting to relaunch Qualia’s retail presence, surrounded by other artisans and food-obsessed makers.”
