On the tour I have now coined "sip the grid", the first stop was the Old Soul Coffee house (the L Street variety) I found it on my lunch roaming in midtown. Located in an alley behind L Street Old Soul seems to have a quiet entrance. When walking in you will notice the grandness with over 20 foot ceilings and a rustic warehouse feel it feels larger than you average coffe house. Your eyes will catch that the Old Soul has no walls seperating you from the kitchen and coffee roasting station. An interesting design that makes the Old Soul feel very open and larger. (Another perk..The Old Soul roasts there own coffee right in front of you) When I walked up to the counter I was greated by a the staff who seemed very chill and down to earth. When I ordered the small drip he said it would be two dollars when I pulled out my debit card he knew I was a tourist. He laughed and said "We only accept cash" followed up on my dumbfounded look he handed me the coffee and said "Don't worry about it, pay next time."

Great service if you ask me The Old Soul staff was corgial and understanding. When I asked where I could plug in my laptop he said I could sit at the table or couch I opted for the large picnic table which everyone seems to share. The staff told me to stay as long as I like and in fact many people do. You can catch partrons either playing chess, board games and your casual passerby. When I was there a business meeting was underway on the couches.

When I sat down I sipped on the coffee and read a few articles on my computer (Internet junkies bewared the lynksis wi-fi is touch and go) Then came the coffee, "sumatra" which was a nice blend but a tad bitter for a dark roast. A friend of mine had a mocha which I enjoyed much better. They do this very well and not too much chocolate which other chains do. This lets me know the beans are quality and they don't have to cover up the espresso with sugar. The barista's know what they are doing steaming the milk quite well with a velvety texture. The coffee is quality for sure.

I know this is about the coffee but I have to mention the pastries which they claim artisan in style. It's true they are always baking and the smell from my seat was intoxicating ( I nearly bought one) If you are in the area and love a good scone from what I can hear they are fantastic. Someone came in and ordered an entire box.

The crowd is mixed leaving everyone feeling comfortable, I never once felt that people were turning there noses at me. I came in a button up and slacks from work; so I didn't look your avereage twenty something with scruff and tight ankle denim. That is perpahs one of the great perks about old soul. The people.

Things for consideration are that parking is limited and you have to pay (unless your on nights and weekends).

The Hours: Could be open later for the late night coffee bums.
Mon-Sat. 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 6:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

If you consider the great atmosphere and architecutre Old Soul is great for sitting to hang. Though the slightly overpriced drinks and limited seating make it a place you may not always want to venture (if your a cheap student like myself). Overal the quality coffee and the aroma were enough for me to rate the Old Soul on L.

4 cups out of 5 *

Next up is Butch n' Nellies