National Coffee Day 2026

Kisha No E

Sep 29

3 min read

A little caffeine, a little history, and three places that keep my cup happily occupied.

Editor’s Note | The Espresso Pour

Some days call for coffee (or dmn near everyday if your like me). Today simply requires it . ☕️

In honor of National Coffee Day, I thought I’d share three favorite coffee shops that have earned a pretty regular stop in my weekend rendevous known as my Sip Trips. Not because I’m loyal to just one cup, but because a good coffee shop is about more than the coffee. It’s the atmosphere, the ritual I've maintained, the excuse to get out of the house and, occasionally, the perfect place to sit with your thoughts for a while with or without a plus one. It also doesn't hurt that I've become a familiar face **cue Cheers** where everybody knows my naaaaame :D and you build strangers with relationships that you may or may not see again-no pressure, no expectations.

My Top 3 Coffee Stops

☕️ Grind N Crepe | Occoquan, VA: By far my favorite cafe for when I wanna get out the house yet not venture out far. I've enjoyed coffee dates here and plenty of solo time because the aesthetics are moody and soothing upon arrival and the customer service is warm and welcoming. I've had a crepe here and I must say-not baaaad. The coffee is supreme and puts a pep in my step. Whether I'm lingering inside and chatting with the locals or on the outside posing and enjoying the patio area-I love it here!!

My signature is the Crème Brûlée Latte :P

☕️ Commonwealth Joe | Arlington, VA: This coffee shop makes me want to move to Crystal City. Toot and I venture out here where I enjoy their seasonal drinks and we go to the nears by playgrounds and even better if you catch a market of sorts they hold outside or holiday festivals. Good coffee within a small city full of energy!

My signature is ALWAYS a seasonal pick!

☕️ Misha’s Coffeehouse | Alexandria, VA: One of those places that feels like it has become part of my coffee-going history and as a gal who loves choices; this cafe has TWO to choose from in Old Town Alexandria. In the warmer months, I do the location by the water for more alone time and inspiration as the water nearby helps me reset. If I'm feeling social, I do the other location on King St because the locals are friendly. Both spots have good coffee but if your a latte lover like me, you'll need to ask the barista to adjust the flavor to your liking.

My signature is lavender latte with white chocolate ;)

Honorary Mention:

Starbucks is my default and where it all started for me. During maternity leave, I would go here every Saturday and it became my weekend escape which led me to visit other coffee shops and now tours when I'm on a roadtrip or anywhere outside the DMV. I've honed my skills of posing and creating content that led me to sharing my outings. My local Starbucks has definitely become family and building that relationship with kindness and a smile has gotten me some sweet perks.

My signature is Cinnamon Dolce w/cup drizzled in caramel or White Chocolate Mocha w/cup drizzled in caramel

And because every good coffee date deserves a fun fact:

the latte as we know it became especially popular in the United States during the rise of the modern coffeehouse culture in the 1980s and ’90s. The drink itself has Italian roots, but Americans embraced the combination of espresso and steamed milk and turned it into something of a coffeehouse classic which I've grown to love because plain black coffee taste like cigarettes-in my mind.

So today, whether your cup is a latte, cappuccino, cold brew, espresso, or whatever delicious concoction has your name on it from a barista or at home, I hope you take a moment to enjoy the ritual and take it all in to exhale gratitude. It's a full on experience beyond the lifestyle of it all that I legit enjoy.