The Roasted Boon Company (1018 Rhode Island Ave NW) opened in 2000 and serves a unique combination of coffee, tea, wine and bites. General Manager Smret Tewolde said the Eritrean culture’s emphasis on coffee and family is behind Roasted Boon’s concept.
“The whole Roasted Boon concept comes from our Eritrean culture,” Tewolde stressed, “We’re very big on family, and the reason we have that vibe or family feel is because coffee is a big thing in our culture.” The word boon is Eritrean for both coffee and the ceremonial preparation of the beverage.
The café’s roasts their own coffee beans in house every day, something Tewolde believes Shaw locals have come to love. Iced and frozen coffee drinks, teas and smoothies are also available. The menu also features a variety of pastries and desserts that are sourced from local bakery Fresh Baguette.
“All of our espresso drinks are from our beans that are freshly roasted and freshly made in house.” Tewolde explained. “Locals come in and they know they’re going to get fresh beans when they come in and purchase our coffee.”
In the evenings, the café also offers a wine selection, with features from Italy and France. Six-dollar glasses are served during Roasted Boon’s happy hour, Monday through Friday, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Tewolde is pleased that the establishment, with its indoor seating and sidewalk café, has become part of Shaw’s vibrant and diverse community.
“We’re very dog friendly,” Tewolde observed. “We have a skate park and we have schools right across the street from us, and right around the corner. So it’s very family oriented.”
Roasted Boon is open Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Roasted Boon’s freshly roasted coffee beans and ground coffee in several varieties, roasts and grinds are also available for home brewing. For more information, visit roastedboon.com.
Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com.
