Java Cafe employee Selam Zerihum brews up the Fort Myer store’s first batch of coffee for Sgt. Maj. Andrea Marks at the grand opening of the new facility June 19.
No matter how hot the weather gets or how late we are for work, the working masses always find time for the daily caffeine connection. There have been small wars between best friends over who sells the best coffee. People are loyal to their favorite brand and their favorite barista blended beverage.
The only problem with this cultural phenomenon is location. Just when you would love to smell the aroma of a latte or cool off with a frothy frappuccino, the problem is your favorite coffee shop is not close enough for a quick run. However, Fort Myer’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation has a solution.
Java Café, the newest food operation to come to the installation, opened with fanfare on June 19 inside the bowling center. Those who attended the grand opening were served samples of the most popular menu items and all guests were entered into a drawing to win such prizes as a digital camera, iPod Shuffles, a digital picture frame, gift cards and Brunswick bowling equipment. Not to mention Java Café freebies given out to event attendees at random.
The coffee bar, the 18th Java Café to open worldwide on military installations, serves Starbucks-brand coffee beverages and the usual delicious sweet treats and breads. Beverage selections include such famous favorites as the Caramel Macchiato, Iced Cappuccino, Caffe Americano, and Tazo Hot Teas. To compliment the flavors in the coffee and tea, Java Café serves pound cake, biscotti and a variety of muffins.
Marco Rosa, Northeast⁄Southeast Area Manager and Executive Chef for Family, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Command, said, ‘‘We are making things better for Soldiers and families alike all over the world. This is just one of seven theme operations that we have in our branded restaurant portfolio. Each one is unique and provides the community with a viable and affordable option to their usual choices.”
But not everyone has been to a Starbucks and the terminology can be a bit confusing. So here is a quick lesson in ordering:
‘‘Tall” is considered a small beverage. ‘‘grande” is a medium beverage. A latte is a coffee made with hot milk. A mocha is a made with espresso and chocolate. A cappuccino is prepared with espresso, hot milk, and milk foam. A Frappuccino or Javachcino is a frozen coffee drink — similar to a milkshake and icy like a slurpee. Now you can go forth and practice your new vocabulary at Java Café!
‘‘The MWR mission is to provide quality programs and services ... and, in this case, comparable restaurant options to our service members and civilian workforce,” said Mark Cauthers, director of FMMC’s MWR. ‘‘We know we’re meeting our objectives and satisfying our customers when the grand opening of a new project is such a success.”
Java Café is open Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. and Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m. For more information on the grand opening, visit www.fmmcMWR.com.
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