Shimba Hills Coffee Shop Opening This Week

Does anyone think this coffee shop will survive? I love the new Juan Valdez, but the foot traffic pails on comparison to the Starbucks at 7 and E. Any thoughts?

It won’t survive because it is a terrible name for a coffee shop. Shimba Hills sounds like a place you would buy a throwrug or something similar.

The location also looks much to small to house any seating beyond a few chairs. Juan Valdez has plenty of seating and tends to be less noisy than the opposing Starbucks.

Well, they’re definitely milking their proximity to the Verizon Center with such coffees as: Wizards Blend, Mystics Blend, and Capitals Blend. I don’t know if gimmicky coffee names is a good marketing strategy for a coffee shop.

I hate the gimmicky coffee blend names… what does “Wizards blend” tell you about how the coffee tastes? Juan Valdez has great coffee and a great space and great prices, so I think it has my vote for now. But I like SH’s charity stuff. That may be a good selling point in a place like DC (though maybe not this neighborhood of DC…).

How many coffee shops does one neighborhood need? I would like to see a little more variety in the neighborhood. However, I don’t wish for anyone’s business to fail. I wish them luck. I think they will do ok by being in the Verizon Center. It’s a relatively captive audience.

If you are looking for better quality than SB or JV (I am) then Shimba is worth checking out.

From what I read his barrista was trained by Nic Cho (murky coffee).
I’m looking forward to it!

Well, after reading the info on the website I’ll give it a shot…interesting that they are also serving liquor? It looks like a REALLY small place unless there is a downstairs.

Still not open. Looks like they still have a few things to do inside. Hopefully sometime this week, it will open.

It looks like they’re still held up for some reason. All they need to do is install some tables, chairs, and coffee-making equipment. And also get rid of that ladder or broom I keep seeing in the back of the shop!

For those in the know, Shimba Hills is on the East Coast of Kenya and houses the rare Sable Antelope. It is also home to a large number of elephants (rather unique in Africa) and a myriad of rare species of wild animals. Actually really pretty.

I must admit that I just had a cup from Shimba Hills and it is by far the strongest brew I’ve had in a long time. If you’re a real coffee connoiseur, then Shimba is definitely worth checking out.

I was at the shop once with friends and we all loved it. The food was good (fresh salads), the desserts terrific and the beverages more than satisfactory.

I am going back tomorrow.