A Coffee Shop Fit for The Gods

Ambrosia refers to the nectar of the gods, some mythical substance superior to all human indulgences. I'm convinced it's the Bakers and Baristas' Butterkuchen. 

The Butterkuchen

Finding myself at a slight loss of words to describe the inhuman level of perfection this pastry achieves, I looked to the coffee shop website for help: 

German for buttercake, this brioche masterpiece is filled with pastry cream and topped with pearl sugar, toasted almonds, and dressed in heavy cream. This is our signature pastry!

Which is a fine description and all, I mean it's kind of just a laundry list of ingredients with a translation and a vague 'masterpiece' descriptor, but at least we have the basics down. Yet, it completely fails to describe the uniquely satisfying (would it be too dramatic to say life-altering) experience when the first creamy sponge bite touches your tastebuds, the symphony of complementary textures as the soft cream moistens the brioche bread, as the pearl sugar and toasted almonds provide a necessary bite. So I went on a search for a better attempt. Washington Post's Holley Simmons does slightly better: 

'How can this possibly taste so good?!' I wondered after biting into the butterkuchen at this new Penn Quarter cafe.  Then I read the ingredient list. The buttery pastry is made with custard and toasted almonds and is 'doused in pastry cream.' The German tray cake is doughy is spots and gooey in others, making every bite a fun surprise. Flecks of vanilla bean assure you this ain't your average sweet fix. A lot of care and primo ingredients went into it.

Inside this gorgeous masterpiece. Just look at that ooey-gooey cream. 

A much better attempt, though still short of justice in my mind, Simmons touches on two pivotal aspects of any food review: firstly, the texture, which can completely ruin an otherwise tasty dish, and secondly, the quality of ingredients, an indicator of the level of care an establishment really has for its products (hint: better ingredients cost more, so cutting corners can save a pretty penny at the price of quality). As DC Outlook's Peter Freeman notes, the price of this pastry is more than fair though: 

[The Butterkuchen] is sufficiently delicate, with crunch on top (toasted almonds) and pillowy custard in between. Sweetness + texture = an amazing pastry. Portion size is generous; and for less than four bucks, makes a great breakfast (or dessert). 

I might not love his use of the word 'sufficiently,' but I do love his 'pillowy,' so I guess it's all a moot point. It seems like I may never be able to articulate or find a description worthy of this heavenly treat.

But the Butterkuchen is just one (very good) reason to visit Bakers and Baristas. A block closer to The Mall from the Capital One Arena on 7th street, the shop is always packed, and tables, when nabbed, are rarely given up within an hour or two. It's the kind of coffee shop where students and young professionals sip coffee while tapping away on keyboards, while residents curled into the high wooden booths around them are too absorbed in their novels to notice the line winding towards the door. The namesake bakers and baristas are always kind, and genuinely welcoming to anyone that walks in the door. 

The counter and wall art behind

The lattes are smooth and full-bodied, creamy but never heavy, locally roasted within 48 hours of being served, and (when ordered 'for here'), come in giant 12 oz porcelain mugs, decorated with a subtle variety of the fancy foam art that cluttered Instagram feeds three years ago.  

The latte and a mug of steeping English Breakfast

The tea as well is served in porcelain mugs, with saucers, something of utmost importance in my house. I've seen my mother get really, truly mad at my dad just a few times in my life, one of which was last year in Edinburgh when my dad ordered her hot, fresh tea to-go. Ever since, mugs have been a necessary condition for ordering tea outside the house, and my dad has not slipped up again. 

Of course, the taste of the tea is equally, if not more, important. This tea delivers, gentle and mellow, yet strong enough to carry the comforting, slightly floral undertone of a good English Breakfast. 

My glorious mug of tea.

Never have I ordered anything less than fantastic from B&B, and never have I been disappointed. Smooth iced coffees, crumbly coffee cakes, chewy toffee cookies, caprese sandwiches with fresh mozzerella, basil, parmesean, tomatoes, balsamic, and pesto on chewy, satisfyingly hollow baguettes... 

I know I was just there yesterday, but I'm ready to go back.