frequently asked questions (updated May 2009)

Q: Why "murky coffee?"
A: See "About Us"

Q: What makes your coffee so good?
A: Total commitment to the best quality possible. For those who've known us over our few years in existence, we've made significant changes on more than one occasion to our coffee. Each change represents a new step in our own knowledge and education in coffee and espresso.
But what drives us more than anything is our love for people. Coffee is important, only because people are important. We care too much not to seek the best of the best in coffee for our people... that means you.

Q: Who roasts your coffee?
A: Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, North Carolina. Our espresso that we serve on bar is Espresso Bella Vita from PT's Coffee in Topeka, Kansas.

Q: What kind of equipment do you use?
A: Our espresso machine is a 3-group semiautomatic La Marzocco Linea. Our coffee brewers are FETCO Extractor Series. For espresso grinders, Mazzer Robur, Anfim Super Caimano, and Mazzer Kony. For drip brew coffee, Ditting grinders.

Oh, and Apple Computers are the official computers of murky coffee.

Q: What about your other stuff?
A: Our breakfast pastries are from Hawthorne Fine Breakfast Pastries in Severna Park, Maryland. Cupcakes from BakeshopDC. Our evening pastries (in Arlington) are from Dolce Europa, an Italian pastry importer. Flavored syrups are from Stirling Gourmet Flavors and Routin 1883. Our juices are delivered fresh, twice a week from Naked Juice. Teas are from Intelligentsia Tea Traders, Chicago, IL.

Q: Are you owned by Starbucks?
A: Yes, we are. I mean, no. No, we're not.

Q: What's with the off-limits green room in Arlington?
A: It's our training and cupping lab. We know of no other two-shop coffeebar company anywhere in the world (that isn't roasting coffee) that has a dedicated training room and full-time coffee-quality manager and trainer. Why do we? Because it makes your coffee better.

Q: Did you know that Phil Collins's "In The Air Tonight" was written about this guy who drowned and...
A: It's a lie. Read about it here.

Q: Can I buy wholesale coffee from you for our business?
A: No. Not yet, anyway. Stay tuned!

Q: Do you have a site feed?
A: Is THIS a site feed? If so, then yes. If not, then yes, but we don't know where it is.

NEW Q&A's?

Q: How come you closed the Arlington shop?
A: The building sold last year, and the new rent was too much for us.

Q: How come it's too expensive for you, but not for the new folks?
A: We consciously limited our products to top-quality specialty coffee and not much else. That limits the precious "revenue per square foot" that we could generate in the fairly large building (over 3000 sq ft) that we had.

Q: What's up with this new shop?
A: Stay tuned! Coming June 2009! 475 H St NW, Washington DC 20001.

More FAQ's coming soon.

Have any more questions?  E-mail us.