It’s true. I’ve seen them. More than one. I’ve even spoken with them and found them rather nice, the hip people, that is.
I don’t know what it is about this town, but the intelligent-looking, hip crowd is a real challenge to spot. So when I find a space that seems to have more than one or two of them hanging around, well, I flock. Or, perhaps I should say that I make it part of my regular suburban landscape.
The spot? Curious, aren’t you. Well, I’ll spill the beans: It’s Orinoco Coffee House over off McGaw Road, near Apple Ford, in the new “strip mall” type area that is also home to Green Turtle, Atlanta Bread Company and Red Asian Parrot, among other restaurants.
And why is it that hip crowd goes there? You’ll have to find out yourself. But here are a few clues: The place has style. It’s intimate. It’s family-owned by a family that is serious about their product, service and reputation. They have free wi-fi, and plenty of outdoor tables with umbrellas for shade. (Rumor has it the wi-fi reaches outside, too.) It’s a great place to work. A great place for a casual business meeting. A great place to catch a bite to eat. (They have tasty sandwiches, salads, pastries and soups … all made on the premises.) And they open at 6:00 a.m. for those of you wanting a lovely way to start your day.
Oh, and they have incredibly good coffee. Incredibly good. My personal favorite is the Tanzania Peaberry, and more than one of my friends has received it as a hostess gift.
Plus, they provide great service in a clean and welcoming space.
Stay tuned for the summer jazz performances coming to Orinoco. In the meantime, if you haven’t checked it out yet, come by. You might just see a hip person or two. 
___
Owners JC Ramirez and his brother, whose name eludes me at the moment, are also both 13ers: 1964 and 1963. Their new cafe is just one of their coffee ventures. Their factory is located in Columbia, a key location for serving the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Here’s a Baltimore Examiner article about their business.
* I guess I should add that as a ‘63er myself, my definition of “hip” may vary wildly from someone else’s.
9 Comments
May 30, 2007 at 1:38 pm
I haven’t been there but will now!
Also, I enjoy the fact that your comments about HCCA have sparked conversations about Next gen politicians and civic leaders…
Here’s to continued dialogue…
May 30, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I wholeheartedly concur, Orinoco is my new favorite coffee place!
Yes, the wifi does work at the outside tables. Since my bricks and mortar office is located over by the airport, I have begun using Orinoco as my Columbia “branch” office.
I may not be hip but I think their coffee is a good sip!
-wb
May 30, 2007 at 10:08 pm
If you like good coffee, try Mayorga’s coffee. It is roasted locally, so it is very fresh. It is the best.
May 30, 2007 at 11:03 pm
Mayorga Coffee is a great place and space. And it’s in an incredible spot that was redeveloped in a sweet way during Silver Spring’s revitalization. The first time I was there, I was shocked by how many people were working there, laptops on their tables. Nice vibe.
http://www.mayorgacoffee.com/SSPage.html
May 31, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Orinoco Coffee House also roasts coffee locally since it is owned by Orinoco Coffee and Tea, Ltd which is down the road from Orinoco Coffee House on Oakland Mills Road.
June 9, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Love it! I stopped at Donna’s on Friday morning and their coffee makers were down. I remembered Orinoco on my way into work and got a medium house blend – fantastic! I went this morning for a large house blend and a croissant and just chilled for an hour. Had a friend meet me for a coffee after yoga. I love the location (windows and sun on all sides), the indoor and outdoor tables, and free WiFi!
Thanks for the heads up!!!!
Not sure what’s funny about coffee, but I may have to blog about it…
http://morucci.blogspot.com/
Cheers,
m
June 11, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Orinoco’s has relegated Starbucks to the “desperate for coffee” status. Their lattes are wonderfully delicious with rich notes of chocolate.. the food (Soups and salads) is fresh and hits the spot, not to mention their desserts (I stay away from because I know I would be addicted if I tried them and about 40 lbs over ideal body weight).
JC (one of the owners) is friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about coffee. The ambiance is friendly and relaxing, stop in and meet the friendly smiling faces, you never know when you might end up having a stimulating discussion outside sitting at the tables or inside at the coffee bar. This is a wonderful addition to Columbia!!
July 29, 2007 at 5:18 pm
I stopped by Orinoco Coffee House Saturday, early evening, for a touch point with sanity and stellar customer service (after having just experienced one of the wildest bad experiences with customer service at a corporate chain).
Orinoco was rockin’ with a sweet vibe! On the last Saturday of each month, through October, Orinoco hosts a jazz night with local band Tres Amigos. The place was alive with pretty people, cute kids and the aroma of top-quality coffee.
If you like this local coffee shop, consider telling others why, with a quick comment posted on HocoLoco Girl.
September 6, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Here’s a little hidden gem in Columbia: Orinoco Coffee House, after lunchtime, has the perfect space for outdoor seating. The way the sun creates a sweet spot of shade and the way the tables are positioned outside … well, it just makes one of the best places for an afternoon cup of coffee. I often bring material to read or edit, or my GTD binder so I can do some focused thinking. And, I just love their coffee!