Washington, DC: A tour with Lost Sock’s Roberto Rios 🇺🇸

The United States capital is known for many things, but probably not any of those below. A son of immigrants, Roberto Rios has spent his life in and around Washington, DC, and it’s as a local that he recommends his favorite spots to get lost in a book or enjoy a nice patio. Roberto is the general manager at Lost Sock Coffee Roasters.

*The son of immigrants, Roberto Rios has spent his life in and around Washington, DC. Photo by Mikayla Bryant*

Filter: What do you do for fun around Washington, DC?

In colder months, you’ll find me and my bestie Mikayla at Menya Hosaki mumbling and cackling in between slurps and sips. I’m browsing through books and albums or meandering about museums until a spark warms me through. In warmer months, I’m biking everywhere and nowhere, sitting on a patio with or without pals, but always with something to read.

Filter: Where are your favorite places for those activities?

Hana Market—a tiny Japanese market with onigiri for sale midday while supplies last. Joint Custody—vintage clothes, cassettes, vinyl, independent publications, the friendliest folks. Lost City Books—books! but also an amazing magazine section. Worthy staff picks: Mezcalero—gorditas, quesadillas, and tamarind mezcal margaritas. And Suns Cinema—independent films, amaros, a patio too.

Museums are free! Hirshhorn is my favorite.

Filter: Favorite park in the city?

Grant Circle Park. An island formed by a roundabout with colorful flowers of all types in spring, a burning sun in summer, intimacy shared on a bench in autumn, it’s 5:00 pm and already dark in winter. In the center stands a most majestic pine tree to witness it all. An imagination and good company is encouraged, although not required.

Filter: What are some quality walks around DC?

During lockdown, I found myself uncovering wonders walking through the networks of alleyways in Petworth and Mount Pleasant. Architectural details, cats and rats, fully functional furnishings, running into someone familiar or strange, and playlist-powered solitude were some of those wonders.

Filter: What’s another coffee shop there you admire?

Little Hat Coffee! Slingin’ shots with beans from A Toda Madre Roasters (Gaithersburg, Maryland) in the Streets Market on 14th and Belmont St NW. They popped off on the pop-up circuit and soon after set up shop at Streets in autumn of 2023. Hwan Choi, one of the founders, and I went to the same high school. I'm proud and privileged to know him. Lil’ Hat is making big waves and dreams reality. Get the Oaxaca Mocha.

Filter: What makes DC feel like home?

In high school I'd leave during lunch to catch the 100—an express bus that only made one stop: Shady Grove Metro Station. I’d hop onto the train, go underground, emerge, and get lost. Ending up in Adams Morgan one afternoon, the 18th St. strip quickly siphoned my suburban-pizza-shop-earnings. A field day fueled by falafel, books, popsicles, and albums. It was the first time in my adolescent angst that I felt free. I was creating memories and becoming myself.

Filter: How’d you end up in the DC coffee scene?

I’m the son of immigrants—my father’s Boricua and my mother’s Salvadoran—who brought me up in Germantown, Maryland. Later in life I lived some time in Mount Pleasant and then Petworth. Currently, I’m in Takoma Park—a part of Maryland sharing a border with DC.

It must’ve been back in 2017… I met Dennisse through a friend of mine who had just become the latest addition to their group home. At the time, Dennisse was working at Compass Coffee as head roaster. With my coffee knowledge bereft and experience in the industry brief, I asked them a million questions, requiring detail after detail having only just met them. Months passed. I gave Dennisse a call, sharing with them I applied for a barista position at Compass hoping they could put in a word for me. They did. I worked with Compass Coffee from 2018 to 2020. In those approximate 2 years, I was a barista, an educator, a production assistant, eventually a roaster for a bit, until moving on to assist with the opening of a cafe and taking on a role in leadership.

Filter: What’s your role at Lost Sock?

Currently, I’m the general manager. When I applied, I was looking to fill the role of kitchen manager. In 2021, Nico and Jeff offered me a hybrid position created based on my experience and aspirations. Wearing multiple hats has been everything since the beginning. We’re a small team at Lost Sock. It’s tight-knight and collaborative. I value this the most. We’re all movin’ n groovin’ always. This year we launched our first iteration of an ongoing exhibition showing works by some of Lost Sock’s greatest. I am really proud of us. In my time working with coffee, I never thought I’d have the opportunity to focus on connecting and curating with artists to put on whole exhibitions.