Get a punch card! I go here for almost daily cappuccinos. Hits the spot and perfect size. Pie: big portions but meh in flavor. Fancy coffee drinks: super sweet Not comfortable to sit and work inside - this is more of a takeaway place unless you like to sit outside - lots of outdoor space, and people with dogs.

Java Shack is a chill, cozy environment equally good for relaxing or getting some work done. Friendly staff, delicious coffee and espresso, and reasonable prices make this a fantastic local spot. Java Shack is located close to the bustle of Clarendon, but is tucked into a side street that makes it a nice escape, especially on a beautiful day when you can sit outside on the covered patio. When the weather is less cooperative, there are also several tables inside which are perfect for getting some work done. A cool spot with no pretension, I would definitely recommend Java Shack!

Cool little coffee shop right in court house/Clarendon. Great patio but a little small, very busy on the weekends. The coffee is pretty good, but the drinks take some time to make (only a few employees and long lines). Pour over took a long time and probably wasn't worth the premium over drip. The bees knees was interesting - is get it again. Overall a very nice place for a coffee if you live in the neighborhood

Equal/better than the famous Northside Social -- without the crazy long wait. It's a sign of Northside's high quality that there's always a huge line. But ... there's always a huge line! Literally from when you get in line to take your first sip it's 12-15 minutes on average. Just tried Java Shack and the cortado (my go-to drink) is outstanding-- at least as good as Northside -- without the wait. I'll check back and if this quick service is an aberration, I'll update my review. Other welcome features of Java Shack are an old-shoe coziness and friendly, engaging baristas. Sincerely, A Future Regular

Lived in the Courthouse area for nearly three years and my biggest regret is now that I never visited The Java Shack in all that time. Granted, TJS was only a three-star place and has since been elevated to an average of four stars and what a difference that makes. Our official rating for this coffee shop is a solid 4.5 stars, not five, but halves are not an option. However, TJS is better than four stars. Half a star has been docked due to inconsistency in the preparation of our daily mocha. The pour over coffee, craft mocha, Korinator, and the Java the Nut are all very nice. Service. Stayed at a hotel not too far from TJS and decided to check this place out opposed to patronizing Starbucks two blocks over. We were impressed from the first day. Customer service is fantastic! At least ten times better than SB on their best day. Great personal connection with the baristas. All of them. What makes a cup of coffee better is the conversation with the barista. The last thing that I need is a coffee prepared by an unpleasant barista with a bad attitude. Did not encounter that here. Each barista was professional and personable. Coffee. The mocha was bomb on the first day. Alright the second day. Decent on the third day. Alright again on the fourth day. You get the idea. It was never made the same way it was made on the first day. Some days the coffee was weak and the chocolate intense. Other days were the reverse. We decided to skip out on the mocha today and TJS altogether. Unfortunately. We will swing by again tomorrow to see if the same barista is working (the one who prepared the mocha on our very first day). I have enjoyed the pour overs. I have asked for a less sweet Korinator and Java the Nut and found the lack of sweetness to be perfect. The price point of the coffee has been mentioned in a lot of reviews. We live in a part of the world where a venti is nearly $9. Getting two coffees at TJS for less than $10 with tip included is a dream. Not to mention that I have enjoyed the customer service and will pay up for service and smiles on any day of the week! Overall, highly recommend. Try your coffee before you go. If something is amiss the baristas will surely remedy the issue.

I remember this neighborhood back when it wasn't such a yuppy enclave, and this coffee shop is what's left of that former more quaint, roots, down-to-earth Arlington. Yet it's moved with the times, because here too, they have turned on the "nitro" cold brew coffee on tap! The spot still has the feel of a neighborhood chat-house with it's slightly wobbly furniture and its intimate tight space. Yet, it's put a suave foot forward in terms of serving coffee. Their daily pours are pitch perfect. Not too dark roasted, not too acidic, just excellent drinking fuel. At $2, you can't get better value. Ah, and the delights of home-grown tomatoes and chillis from their patio, harvested daily and kept for their customer base to take...you'll be hard pressed to find a home-town cafe in any other neighborhood of the DC metro area with this familiar and cosy charm.

Nice little coffee shop in Lyon Village. The Java Shack is midway between Court House and Clarendon metro stops. It's the perfect place to meet up with friends who live in the area over coffee. They focus on the coffee here and roast their own beans, rather than doing it all with having a huge menu of food items. The wifi is steady and people don't seem to linger here too long, so you'll likely find a seat inside or outside. I'll be back if I want to escape the busy cafes in the district. And I'll try the specialty drinks, too!

I don't know why I go somewhere near and my drink always gets either taken, lost, and/or forgotten. But never fear, these baristas didn't make a stink when my boyfriend asked about my missing chai latte. They even gave us a free drink voucher, which we ended up returning the next day during our stay in Northern VA anyways! This was a short walk away from our AirBnB, so the convenience of coffee after being out late was wonderful. This place is nice inside, and I enjoyed the little water bowls left out for dogs (which due to being dog friendly, I gawked and squeaked over everyone's cute and fluffy dogs). It's clean, and they keep up with clearing tables. The service is chill, and even though we were outsiders, we got to spectate the locals in their natural coffee shop habitat. My chai was great with instagram-worthy foam! My boyfriend enjoyed his latte... which I'm not sure which one, but the chocolate wasn't overbearing at all. I love lattes made well- some flavor but the taste of espresso evident. The next day, he got the cold brew on tap, which ohhh myy was super smooth. I always appreciate a well-brewed cold brew on tap. It's my recent obsession. If I'm ever back in the area, I'd be happy to swing by this awesome place again. AND BONUS- some random guy talked to us for a solid hour and a half about life; location; and happiness. I didn't know NoVA people were soo approachable, but it was a pretty intellectual conversation. 10/10 for the random neighborhood folks who strike up conversations thinking we were locals, lol.

I really liked this place. I went yesterday since I happened to be in Clarendon, and I wanted to try a new coffee shop to spend my lunch break reading a book. It's next to Wylie Wagg, a really neat pet store. Parking before 5pm can be a pain, since the neighborhood that the shop is in is permit parking until then. It has ample outdoor seating, and a few tables inside as well. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and an iced tea. The table tops are decorated in magazine-clippings style collage. I was surrounded by several guys who were on laptops, possibly working or studying. The person working at that time was incredibly friendly. The chicken quesadilla was nothing to write home about, but it was a nice alternative to bagels or muffins since I was there on my lunch. It wasn't a bad price either. The only downside I saw (besides parking, which is inevitable in this part of Arlington) was that they close at 6pm. If I wanted to come here to study and really spend time here, I would never be able to do so on the weekdays after work, and my lunch break isn't long enough to get any real work done.