When I opened my first cafe in the Shaw neighborhood of DC, I was naïve.
I thought, “This is perfect! Winter is right around the corner, everyone will be enjoying the cozy season in our cafe!” Oh how I was so wrong.
I guess I was picturing something straight out of Central Perk from Friends. Cue the theme song: You walk into your favorite coffee shop, Compass Coffee. Escaping the treacherous cold of the outside world, you are embraced by the warm solace of the cafe. You let out a sigh of relief as you unbundle your scarf and let your luscious locks free from the beanie that was keeping your head warm. You order from one of our awesome baristas who may or may not resemble Rachel Green, and who you probably fall in love with later on (duh this is in the context of a 90s romcom). They prepare you the most amazing warm hug of a latte you’ve ever had, call your name, pronounced and spelled correctly of course, greet you with a smile and the most perfect latte heart you’ve ever seen. You sip your latte, savoring the warmth, when suddenly, as if on cue, your entire ragtag group of best friends strolls in—because obviously none of you have actual jobs and can dedicate your mornings to soaking in the solace of Compass Coffee. You all find the perfect spot at a table, laughter mingling with the hum of the café, as someone grins and says, “How does anyone survive winter mornings without this place?” (theme song concludes).
Turns out? Absolutely not.
Winter was not the cinematic season of cozy cafe vibes like Phoebe’s wedding outside of Central Perk. Instead, it was 100 days of pain.
Let me set another scene: It’s January 1, the slowest day of the year for coffee shops everywhere. (Who drinks coffee when they’re still recovering from last night’s champagne?) The streets are empty, it’s dark at 4:30 PM, and everyone is in a terrible mood. No one wants to leave their apartment, let alone go to a cafe. It’s freezing, it’s bleak, and it only gets worse as the days crawl through January and into February. At the time, I thought, Oh my God, my cafe is failing. This was a huge mistake.
I didn’t know it then, but I was smack in the middle of what I now call “The 100 Days of Pain.” This stretch of time—roughly from January 1 to late March—feels endless, dark, and downright miserable. Every day, I was terrified we were going to run out of money. I thought maybe I’d misunderstood coffee, maybe I wasn’t cut out for this, maybe my cafe would never survive the winter.
Cold Brew Season in DC: A Sign of Warmer Days Ahead
Looking back, I was completely wrong about winter being the "big season" for coffee. I didn’t know it at the time, but fall is actually the best time for coffee in DC. There’s something about September, October, and November—the crisp air, the pumpkin spice everything, the general buzz of life as summer fades into sweater weather. People are energized, they’re outside, and they’re ready for their hot coffee moment.
But winter? Winter is the opposite. It’s hibernation mode. People are cranky, it’s cold, and nobody wants to leave their warm apartment unless they absolutely have to. That idyllic scene of cozying up in a cafe? Sure, it happens sometimes, but it’s not the rule. Winter in the coffee world is not romantic. It’s brutal.
And then, as if by some unspoken agreement with nature, spring arrives. The cherry blossoms bloom, painting DC in pink and white, and the days finally start to feel longer. People slowly emerge from their winter hibernation, peeling off layers and stepping outside again. Cold brew season comes into full swing, and it turns out, cold brew season starts earlier than you’d think. Even in the crisp mornings of March and April, there’s something about the promise of sunshine that pairs perfectly with an ice cold coffee. As the city wakes up, people start shaking their habits of winter, trading the coziness of home for the lively energy of their favorite cafes. They gather with friends over vanilla cream cold brews, soaking in the fresh air and rediscovering the joy of being out and about in the city. This season of renewed connection and optimism is just the beginning, stretching all the way through the golden days of fall.
The seasonality of DC cafes can be thought of in terms of amplitude—how big the swings in business are—and volatility—how unpredictable or erratic those swings feel. Changes in traffic can fluctuate by as much as 30%, creating a real sense of whiplash for some locations. Neighborhood cafes, like our Shaw location 1535 & 7th, tend to have smaller amplitude, with business rising and falling in more manageable waves. These neighborhood regulars come rain or shine, whether it’s 10 degrees or 100, keeping things steady. In Chinatown 650 F, the abundance of seating and connection to a massive business building lobby helps cushion some of the fluctuations, even though business still ebbs and flows with the schedules of nearby office workers. While holidays like Christmas and New Year’s create some dips, the changes aren’t as volatile as cafes like 849 and 18th. This particular location, modeled after a classic Italian espresso bar with no seating and a focus on quick visits, experiences sharper spikes and drops. The European professionals from the IMF and World Bank who frequent this cafe travel often and are more impacted by weather, which amplifies the effects of seasonality. Each cafe’s rhythm is different, driven by the unique mix of its customers and how tied it is to the city’s cycles of work, travel, and weather.
Weathering the Storm: Lessons from a Brutal First Winter
The first winter running a cafe felt like navigating through "The Fog of War”—a term from military strategy that describes the uncertainty and chaos of battle. I was unprepared for the challenges of planning, predicting seasonal trends, and enduring the harsh winter. Every day felt chaotic and uncertain, like responding to the unexpected twists of battle. Then, spring arrived. With it came blooming cherry blossoms, longer days, and a revitalized energy as people returned to the cafe, shedding winter layers and rediscovering optimism. The city seemed to exhale in unison, leaving the struggles of winter feeling like a distant memory.
My Life Hack for the 100 Days: Resilience and Two Perfect Cocktails
Fast forward to today, and things are very different. Over the years, I’ve learned to anticipate the 100 Days of Pain. Instead of being caught off guard, we now plan for it. Winter is no longer a time of panic—it’s a time of preparation. I’ve found many vices to get me through the 100 days of pain, and today I will share two of my most popular: The Emblem Espresso Martini and The Perfect Manhattan.
There are drinks you make, and then there are drinks you tell stories about. The Perfect Manhattan and Emblem Espresso Martini are both. They’re delicious, memorable, and, most importantly, they are a great way to warm you through the cold and gruesome 100 days of pain.
These drinks are more than recipes—they’re part of the legacy of Coffee Yoda. Yoda is the wise, elusive mentor who taught me how to roast coffee, can tomatoes, and (of course) make the best Manhattan known to humankind. His influence is everywhere at Compass Coffee. We use the roasting algorithm he shared with me every day. It’s the same algorithm that transformed roasting from a mystifying dark art into a craft I could master. So when Yoda tells you his version of the Manhattan is better than the original, you listen.
The Wisdom of Coffee Yoda
True enough, the Manhattan’s staying power is a testament to its brilliance—but as Coffee Yoda taught me, even brilliance can be improved with the right mindset and a little creative rule-breaking. Coffee Yoda is the most fascinating human I’ve ever met. He’s the kind of guy who builds stereo systems, collects race cars, and casually rewires coffee roasters in his spare time. When I met him, I didn’t know anything about coffee roasting—it felt impossible to understand, let alone repeat. But Coffee Yoda took me under his wing, showed me the ropes, and unlocked a sixth sense for flavor that guides everything I do today.
Because he’s Coffee Yoda, he understands the rules of the universe and can bend them to his will. Where others see limits, Coffee Yoda sees opportunities to push boundaries. He taught me that the foundation of mastery lies in understanding the rules deeply enough to know when—and how—to break them. The roasting algorithm he shared with me is the same one we use every single day at Compass Coffee to craft our signature blends. It’s the blueprint that ensures consistency and quality, but it’s also a testament to his philosophy: trust your intuition, and never stop refining. It’s the same wisdom that shaped the Perfect Manhattan—a drink that transcends the traditional ratios and becomes something extraordinary.
The Perfect Manhattan Recipe: A Coffee Yoda Masterpiece
Forget the 2-1-1 Manhattan. This is the real deal, courtesy of Coffee Yoda himself.
Ingredients:
- 60ml (2 oz) whiskey (choose wisely; Yoda wouldn’t stand for mediocrity)
- 11ml (⅓ oz) Carpano Antica Formula
- 11ml (⅓ oz) Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
- Luxardo Maraschino Cherry
Directions:
- Add the whiskey and vermouths to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir gently (but with intention) for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a Luxardo cherry—no substitutions, because Yoda says so.
This drink isn’t just balanced—it’s elevated. It’s everything you want in a Manhattan but richer, smoother, and somehow more complete.
Espresso Meets Cocktail: The Emblem Espresso Martini
While the Manhattan is classic, the Emblem Espresso Martini is modern, bold, and totally mine. This drink was born out of late nights, endless tweaking, and a lot of laughter with friends and family at Compass Coffee. Coffee in cocktails can be tricky—bartenders often treat it as an afterthought—but with Yoda’s guidance, I knew we could do better.
Ingredients:
- 60ml vodka
- 15ml coffee liqueur
- 30ml Compass Coffee’s Emblem Espresso
- 10ml vanilla syrup
Directions:
- “Shaken not stirred” - James Bond. Shake all ingredients with ice until well-chilled and frothy.
- Strain into a martini glass and garnish with three coffee beans for good luck.
The secret here is the Emblem Espresso—a shot of coffee so smooth and rich it can stand up to vodka without flinching. Paired with a touch of vanilla sweetness and the perfect shake, it’s your new go-to cocktail for celebrations.
Beef and Booze: Keeping Morale High During the 100 Days of Pain
As a leader, getting through the 100 Days of Pain isn’t just about keeping the cafés running—it’s about keeping the team motivated. Winter in DC can be harsh, but it also brings a certain magic that’s worth embracing. At Compass Coffee, when the snow falls and the roads are iced over, we turn to one of our favorite rituals: beef and booze. Even when the city slows to a halt, we show up at the Ivy City roastery, ready to keep things going—even if it’s just a handful of us.
Steak is the ultimate comfort food. It’s rich, satisfying, and takes you back to simpler, cozier times—whether it’s a backyard barbecue or a family dinner. Pair that with a Manhattan or an Emblem Espresso Martini, and suddenly, the freezing weather doesn’t seem so bad. On one particularly slow snow day, a few of us gathered at Ivy City. I brought steaks, and we got to work. The sizzle on the grill and the first sip of an espresso martini reminded us that even in the hardest days of winter, there’s a kind of strength in leaning into the season. Winter demands hardiness, and nothing says “we’re still here” like indulging in the warmth and heartiness of a steak dinner with your team.
During this time of year I like to organize team lunches or outings to do something fun. Washington DC has so much to offer during the holiday season like checking out the holiday lights, hitting an ice rink, or grabbing a bite at a favorite spot. Sometimes, a change of pace is all you need to shake off the winter blues.
It’s also the season to focus on things you can’t get to during the busy months. Maybe it’s time to tackle a project you’ve been putting off or even plan a short trip out of the city for a fresh perspective. Winter is tough, but it’s also an opportunity to lean into team bonding, reset, and remind everyone why we’re here. These little moments go a long way in keeping morale high and making sure we’re all ready to crush it when spring rolls around.
Finding Warmth in the Winter
The 100 Days of Pain taught me more than I ever thought it would—about resilience, about getting creative, and about how important it is to have a great team by your side. Winter wasn’t the cozy, romcom dream I pictured when I opened my first cafe, but honestly, it’s become something even better. It’s a season that pushes us, keeps us on our toes, and brings us together in ways that matter.
From mixing the perfect Manhattan to grilling steaks at the roastery on a snow day, we’ve found our own ways to keep things warm and keep going. Winter is tough, but it’s also where traditions are born, camaraderie grows, and you find out what you’re really made of. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that no matter how long the winter feels, spring always comes.
