Near our hotel in Dupont Circle when we were in Washington, D.C., one of our mornings for breakfast was at Dolcezza Gelato & Coffee. This particular location feels cozy like entering a friend’s living room and the local artwork some wit. (Dolcezza has five locations and a factory about 10 minutes outside of town and each location has its own look/personality.)
Dolcezza’s philosophy is to support local farmers and make exquisite gelato. Dolcezza serves artisanal gelato produced in small hand-made batches every morning, using the best available ingredients: local fruits, herbs, eggs, cheese, milk and cream. Combining old-world methods and a curiosity for innovation, Dolcezza creates gelato with a conscience. Most ingredients are grown locally by farmer friends, who handpick their produce at peak ripeness before bringing it to the market the next day. Dolcezza gelato makers squeeze the citrus one by one, melt the best chocolate around (Valhrona), infuse the herbs, grind the spices and roast the nuts, all by hand, every step of the way. By creating an artisanal product, Dolcezza has learned to measure time with the seasons and to stay close with their local farmers. There are over 400 rotating flavors served year round.
Dolcezza has partnered with Stumptown Coffee Roasters in 2010 to oversee their coffee education and training program in addition to maintaining the quality of their coffee machines and coffee bar design and layouts. For a bureaucratic town (and the residential area for diplomats), this is a godsend for this coffee snob.
My friends ordered very well made mocha ($4.20) and cappuccino ($3.45) and I had a Chemex ($4.50) brew of Indonesian coffee. Then had shared fantastic croissants (made by Bonaparte Breads in Baltimore, MD) of almond ($3.75), ham and cheese ($6), and chocolate ($3.50).
Even though this was breakfast, I couldn’t leave this shop without having their gelato and sorbet. I split a small cup ($5.45) of Leo peppermint and Valrhona chocolate Amargo gelati. This cup has a taste of the holidays and its dense and creamy. The large cup ($6.45) of pineapple honey lime sorbet and pomegranate sorbet, and Thai coconut milk gelato was wonderful. Dense, creamy (even the sorbets), and the flavors were naturally vibrant.
If I wasn’t caffeinated already, I would have considered having an affogato (gelato with a shot of Stumptown espresso).
To view more photos of this visit, please CLICK HERE or view the gallery below:
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Dolcezza
Website
Visited their Dupont Circle location:
1704 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009
Tel. (202) 299-9116
