From Melbourne to D.C., Jade Melbourne is following her grind in the cup and on the court
Over 9,000 miles lie between Jade Melbourne’s hometown on the southeast coast of Australia and Washington, D.C., the city she now calls home. But one thing that connects the two places is coffee.
For Jade, coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a compass.
Growing up in Melbourne, she was spoiled by one of the best coffee cultures in the world. Now in D.C., she measures a city not just by its monuments, but by the vibe of its coffee shops.
“Honestly, finding cool cafés is how I get to know different cities,” she says with a laugh. “If your coffee’s no good, I don’t think it’s a good city anymore.”
1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003
THANK YOU CAMEO COFFEE
One thing Jade really appreciates about D.C., beyond its cafés, is the diversity of experiences available. From monuments (she’s not sick of them yet!) and museums to neighborhoods and nature, she’s been pleasantly surprised by all the city has to offer.
“It really is a beautiful city,” she says. “There’s so much to do here, and I like that it’s so spread out. The downtown area is super cool, but then there’s plenty of nature. You can tell the people in the area look after the city.”
For Jade, coffee is not just about fuel for the day, it’s about the right roast in the right space, a ritual of quality and connection that reminds her of home. In basketball, as in coffee, the grind is everything.
A self-confessed “coffee girl,” Jade has developed a knack for knowing instantly if a café is a hit or a miss for her.
“If I see a 12-ounce size for an iced latte, immediately I’m like, all right, this is the one. It’s probably going to be the right color, the right amount of milk.”
Confidence in the ingredients is another signal.
“If they have the beans displayed, that means they take pride in their beans.”
Jade’s go-to order? A small iced latte with an extra shot of espresso. But be careful: if there’s too much milk, it’s game over.
“I really like to taste the coffee,” she says. “The bean. It’s all about the beans.”
Georgetown has quickly become a favorite hangout in the District, thanks to its cafés and cozy restaurants.
“There’s a Maman out there and there’s also a Yellow,” she says, “which is really good coffee.”
When it comes to her top three coffee spots in the U.S., those honors go to Blue Bottle Coffee — a reliable chain for when she’s on the road — Monorail Espresso in Seattle, and Chapel Street in Chicago, an Australian café.
“Chapel Street has Australian beans,” she says, “and unfortunately you can’t top that.”
From Melbourne to D.C., Jade Melbourne is following her grind in the cup and on the court
Over 9,000 miles lie between Jade Melbourne’s hometown on the southeast coast of Australia and Washington, D.C., the city she now calls home. But one thing that connects the two places is coffee.
For Jade, coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a compass.
Growing up in Melbourne, she was spoiled by one of the best coffee cultures in the world. Now in D.C., she measures a city not just by its monuments, but by the vibe of its coffee shops.
“Honestly, finding cool cafés is how I get to know different cities,” she says with a laugh. “If your coffee’s no good, I don’t think it’s a good city anymore.”
1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003
THANK YOU CAMEO COFFEE
A self-confessed “coffee girl,” Jade has developed a knack for knowing instantly if a café is a hit or a miss for her.
“If I see a 12-ounce size for an iced latte, immediately I’m like, all right, this is the one. It’s probably going to be the right color, the right amount of milk.”
Confidence in the ingredients is another signal.
“If they have the beans displayed, that means they take pride in their beans.”
One thing Jade really appreciates about D.C., beyond its cafés, is the diversity of experiences available. From monuments (she’s not sick of them yet!) and museums to neighborhoods and nature, she’s been pleasantly surprised by all the city has to offer.
“It really is a beautiful city,” she says. “There’s so much to do here, and I like that it’s so spread out. The downtown area is super cool, but then there’s plenty of nature. You can tell the people in the area look after the city.”
For Jade, coffee is not just about fuel for the day, it’s about the right roast in the right space, a ritual of quality and connection that reminds her of home. In basketball, as in coffee, the grind is everything.
Jade’s go-to order? A small iced latte with an extra shot of espresso. But be careful: if there’s too much milk, it’s game over.
“I really like to taste the coffee,” she says. “The bean. It’s all about the beans.”
Georgetown has quickly become a favorite hangout in the District, thanks to its cafés and cozy restaurants.
“There’s a Maman out there and there’s also a Yellow,” she says, “which is really good coffee.”
When it comes to her top three coffee spots in the U.S., those honors go to Blue Bottle Coffee — a reliable chain for when she’s on the road — Monorail Espresso in Seattle, and Chapel Street in Chicago, an Australian café.
“Chapel Street has Australian beans,” she says, “and unfortunately you can’t top that.”