We met over coffee. Then we built a coffee company.
We met in Old Town and built our family here. In 2020, right after we got married, we couldn't travel for a honeymoon, so we bought a commercial roaster instead and started roasting in our basement.
We almost named it Linchpin, after Seth Godin's book: the unsung part that holds everything together. Pull the pin and the wheel falls off. That's what espresso is for a lot of people. But it felt like too much to explain, so Brittani had a better idea: Dream Chasers. Coffee that fuels people who are chasing something and helps them get their dreams out into the world.
Leo roasts. Brittani takes the beans and turns them into the drinks people come back for, her rotating Brittani's Creations.
"Help other dreamers become doers."
Keep dreaming. Keep chasing. We'll keep the coffee coming.
Meet the Roasters
Leo Maggio
Leo is passionate about the craft and chemistry of bean roasting. Sourcing primarily high-altitude Ethiopian beans and clean Colombian sugarcane-process decaf, Leo roasts in small batches to preserve vibrant citrus clarity, deep caramel resonance, and chocolate finishes.
Brittani Maggio
Brittani turns Leo's roasts into signature craft drinks that build community. Hand-crafting seasonal syrups and shaken creations with care and warmth, Brittani gives regulars a new experience to look forward to with every visit.
How we kept going.
Since 2020 we've roasted, served, opened a café, lost a location, and kept building. Here is our story through the years:
The Spark
Leo smells coffee beans roasting in a friend's skillet and becomes fascinated by the craft and science of micro-roasting.
Meeting over Coffee in Old Town
Leo and Brittani have their first date on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. Coffee is at the center of their connection from day one.
The Proposal
They commit to building a shared future and family in Alexandria.
The Basement Roaster & Linchpin Idea
Married during 2020, they couldn't travel for a honeymoon. Instead, they took their honeymoon savings, bought a commercial roaster, and set it up in their basement. Brittani gave it the name 'Dream Chasers'—fuel for people getting their dreams out into the world. The original name idea, Linchpin, lives on as their flagship espresso blend.
Farmers Markets & Pop-Ups
Pouring fresh-roasted Ethiopian coffee at local farmers markets and weekend pop-ups across Northern Virginia, building their first community of regulars.
Valletta Espresso Bar
Opened Valletta Espresso Bar (powered by Dream Chasers Coffee) inside Valletta Port in Old Town North, crafting signature drinks for the neighborhood.
Community Rallies
When the host restaurant abruptly closed, 100+ community supporters rallied via GoFundMe and local advocacy to keep Dream Chasers alive.
A New Chapter with Building Momentum
AEDP and the MOVE cohort connected them with The Garden, where Building Momentum opened their doors to welcome a permanent coffee bar.
Reopening Inside The Garden
Dream Chasers Coffee Lab officially opens at 5380 Eisenhower Ave, Suite C, right off the Van Dorn Metro.
Helping Dreamers Become Doers
Serving in-house roasted Ethiopian coffee, Colombian sugarcane-process decaf, and Brittani's rotating creations weekdays at The Garden and Sundays at Montgomery Park Farmers Market.
“You guys are the reason why we kept going.”
When our previous location closed abruptly in early 2026, over 100 supporters, regulars, and the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) rallied around our family. That community support opened the doors to our new home inside The Garden.