Feature: Andante in Fairfax

Andante is a stone's throw from The Grove and my newest residence off Miracle Mile, so this review has been a long time coming! 

Let me start with the good: 
Their coffee, their own. Their coffee = delicious. I always get their Ethiopian pour over, a bag of beans and a cold brew (so I admit I haven't had the espresso yet).  A bag of beans which, BTW, gets you a free drink at time of purchase. 
The Ethiopian Yirgacheffe produces an angelic cup of coffee. I constantly buy a bag of beans for daily home brewing, and I am never disappointed when I grab a cup to go or stay. The cold brew is just as stellar: light and fruity leaving a citrusy zing on the tongue much like their Ethiopian pour overs. I'm rarely a cold coffee drinker, so the fact that it's always a toss up whether I'll get cold or hot coffee when I visit, is a big deal. 

Now, the bad: 
The seating is sparse on a weekend, probably not as bad during the week. Though it's a beautiful space, the furniture probably wouldn't be comfortable for a long stay. 
I've been going to Andante since about June 2019, and noticed around mid-January 2020 that they now have a B card in the window, which is frightening, but also explains why I haven't had any espresso drinks there yet... Unfortunately, I think the reasons are obvious. Every time I go there the milks are sitting out on the counter, and, there are sometimes flies in the pastry case. 
Now back to the good, because I definitely advise giving this place a chance. They have milk alternatives - almond and oat. They have street and residential parking, WiFi and outlets. 

All in all, because it's less than a mile from home, and because they have genuinely good black coffee (hot and cold), I love this place. It's a grab and go shop, for me, due to the lackluster seating and a bit quiet and echo-y for a first date spot. Give it a go and you'll find you may just want to return, if for nothing else,  to grab a bag of beans! 

My ratings for Andante:
Pour over: ☕☕☕☕☕
Cold brew: ☕☕☕☕☕
Customer service: ☕☕☕
Work spot: ☕☕
Seating: ☕☕
First date spot: ☕
Espresso: N/A