BAP on the Go: 23 Places for Great Coffee in LA
Oh man - not only did I get the opportunity to go back to work in live theatre for the first time post-pandemic (YAY!), but I got to spend 2.5 weeks in one of my favorite cities, Los Angeles!! If ever there was a place with a vibrant coffee scene, its LA. Put me in coach, I’m ready!!!
Staying in Pasadena and working mostly in East LA, I got to explore a lot of incredible coffee shops on that side of town in addition to some really great spots in other neighborhoods. Here is a roundup up of all of my caffeine hits in between opera rehearsals and performances (and for those keeping track, yes this means that sometimes I went to more than one coffee shop in a day. Come at me.)
Highland Park
Highland Park has some serious coffee finds - and Civil Coffee is right up there as a top choice for excellent coffee in this neighborhood and I was so glad to see that they are still thriving and doing so much business despite the Covid protocols. Civil is a great place to grab a high quality beverage or a healthy and flavorful bite to eat (with lots of allergy friendly options). Most notable is the housemade Cashew-Nut or Oat-Hemp milks which pair nicely with their specialty beverages, two of which I tried. If you’re in the mood for a sweet latte, Civil is not the place to come - the drinks are very coffee-forward (or whatever your base may be), and they let their high quality roasts shine through.
I had both the Arroyo and the Liquid Gold - The Arroyo is espresso, milk of choice and “the best darn lavender syrup you’ve had”. I had this latte with the oat-hemp milk, which is delightfully creamy, and it was quite delicious. Again, not too sweet - the lavender was definitely a companion to the espresso, and the nut milk is not sweetened so each component comes through. The Liquid Gold is ceremonial grade matcha, cashew-almond milk, lightly sweetened with lavender served over ice and I of course asked for 2 shots of espresso to be added to this bad boy and had it as a hot latte. I loved the combo of flavors, although I think I’d personally prefer this bev with the oat-hemp milk combo if adding espresso. I found this drink to be savory, earthy, herbacious and not at all sweet. It was a very unique drinking experience, and I’d definitely be curious to drink it as intended (iced and without espresso) but of course I always have to go rogue :)
Pasadena
”Life is too short to drink bad coffee” - Now this is a slogan I can get behind! With a focus on high-quality and locally-sourced ingredients and their housemade syrups, the coffee experience at Republik was one of my favorites in Pasadena. They also turn into a wine bar at night so Republik is kind of killing the game. Come here for a coffee, for a meal at any time of day or for a drink after hours - it will always be bustling and there’s a reason why.
Picking a drink to try was tough - I almost went with the Cardamom Oat Latte with coconut condensed milk (DF!) but the Black Pearl Freddo was calling to me - frothed vanilla bourbon (almond) milk (!!!!), activated charcoal and espresso. Hot dog, this drink was excellent. The super-frothed milk made for a fluffy, creamy, almost slushy latte experience that I didn’t know I was missing. The charcoal and vanilla bourbon combo reminded me of a cookies and cream flavor, but the coffee was still allowed to shine through. I had to work very hard not to chug this drink. BIG fan of Republik, and would definitely recommend visiting if you’re in the Pasadena area!
Los Feliz, Arts District
I stumbled upon Maru on my way back to where I was staying one afternoon and I’m so so glad I did. A small batch roaster with a clean, minimalist store front in Los Feliz, I was immediately charmed by the friendly barista who greeted all of the customers waiting for service by first name. I could tell from the simple menu and window display that they mean serious coffee business at Maru. I knew that my drink was going to be outstanding before I even ordered.
I was intrigued by the Cold Cappuccino, essentially a shakerato, but had to go with the Espresso Tonic, my favorite midday coffee drink. As I was chatting with the barista about their different seasonal beans, I asked him to select some for me to take home and try - he said that hands down I needed to try the washed processed Mexico Bella Vista from Chiapas, and since he could tell I was a serious coffee lover, he kindly threw in my Espresso Tonic free of charge. :)
Served with a dehydrated orange slice, the beautiful Espresso Tonic smelled heavenly and tasted even better. One of the best I’ve had!! The espresso was so sweet, had a great mouthfeel and so much character. I cannot wait to get these beans in my french press and experience another one of their custom roasts. {UPDATE: You guys. Literally one of the best cups of french press coffee I have ever had. I am blown away by these beans!!!! Notes of Oroblanco and Dark Chocolate really come through. Worth every penny}. You can also order their beans online now, and I have a feeling I will be utilizing that service very, very soon.
Pasadena
OK Pasadena, I see you. They are roasting coffee 5 days a week at Jameson Brown, so you KNOW you’re getting amazing quality and freshness no matter what. With a great selection of specialty drinks, it was once again hard to decide what to order here - especially when faced with the option of so many beans to try. So, I went with the best of both worlds and took home a seasonal drink AND some beans. There are TWENTY varieties of coffee beans to choose from!!
I decided to go with the Orange Blossom Latte with a choice of whole or oat milk (I went oat). They described it as lightly sweet and a bit floral, so on a very hot day that sounded quite perfect and I very much enjoyed it! It tasted like they sweetened it with stevia, which isn’t my preferred sweetener, but they do not offer any substitutions at Jameson Brown so I knew going in that I got what I got. I also prefer almond milk, but I loved the orange blossom water and the espresso really stood out as well. I took home some Guatemalan beans which made for a truly fantastic morning cup the next day. Overall, this is definitely somewhere to check out while in Pasadena - just remember, no substitutions on specialty drinks!!!
Highland Park
Kindness and Mischief!!! I love this place. In a coffee-saturated neighborhood, it takes a lot to stand out — but with their cheeky, colorful interior and funky and inventive menu, that’s exactly what they are doing and in a big way. Their food menu has something for everyone, including lots of allergy friendly options, and their pastry menu features four different, local bakeries. And the coffee…
Between the Kindness Latte, Mischief Latte and Pandan Horchata Latte, I had a very hard time deciding what to order. But ultimately, the Miso Caramel Latte with a housemade, vegan caramel with the “salty and umami flavor of miso” was a must-try. And my god - what a latte. It was savory, salty, umami, a tad sweet….all of the flavors in one latte. I got it hot with almond milk and I can’t stop raving about it. I’m not sure why miso caramel lattes aren’t a thing we see more often but it was so delightful, I hope to come back and have this one again!!! 10/10 would recommend this amazing coffee spot!! Also tasted their espresso straight up, and it was incredibly tasty. They honestly had me at the rainbow paint swipe decorating the wall even before I tasted their coffee, though. Kindness and mischief indeed.
Eagle Rock
Seven local roasters are featured at this specialty coffee shop in Eagle Rock. This is definitely a shop I would bring my laptop to and spend a day working with its bright, airy interior and beautiful natural light pouring in - their adorable bright yellow La Marzocco espresso machine is so charming! So much so, in fact, that they feature it on their cup sleeve art!
All of their straightforward coffee offerings are fantastic, including but not limited to their Almond Milk Cappuccino. On a second visit, I had to try one of their items from the menu stating “Darling, let’s be adventurers” - a tough choice, because they had 2 yuzu offerings??!?!?! The coffeeshop of my dreams. But had to go with the Yuzu Cold Brew (they also have a yuzu espresso tonic). Yuzu Honey Marmalade stirred into their bright, flavorful cold brew made for an insanely refreshing beverage. I’d recommend asking for a stirrer or straw to make sure everything is well mixed prior to drinking because you don’t want to miss out on this flavor combo for even one sip! Not too sweet, just the right balance of cold brew and marmalade. Perfection!
Pasadena
Oh Hello, Honey! Ugh, this place is so stinking cute and aesthetically pleasing. Their menu is divided into the most delightful categories - toast bar, espresso bar, lemonade bar, etc. and their baristas are truly some of the nicest I’ve come across. They have been voted Best of Pasadena many times, and it’s not hard to see why.
Their regular menu is already inventive and exciting, with things like a Cold Brew Tonic with a citrus shrub, Cold Brew Smoothie and French Lavender Latte. But their seasonal menu was really knocking it out of the park, and I’m still sad that I didn’t get a chance to try the Cinnamon Creamed (!!) Honey Latte - drool. I had to, of course, go rogue and order off the menu - the Mango Chile Limeade+Espresso. This limeade was begging to be topped with espresso - lavender lemonade with mango nectar and a chile lime powder? I mean, hello.
The barista was 100% game to make this for me and was genuinely excited to hear my thoughts on the combo - I’m very used to the skepticism that I am usually met with when I order my espresso lemonades, so this was a refreshing change. And let me just say that it was a fabulous choice. Spicy lemonade and espresso are truly a match made in coffee-lover’s heaven and this mango limeade ‘spro really hit the spot on a hot SoCal day. The barista was so excited to hear that I loved it - do yourself a favor and check this place out when in Pasadena. LOVE!!
Highland Park
I saw the menu for Kumquat on Yelp, and it shot to the top of my list of places to try. Inside the shop are clean lines, minimalist decor, and an incredibly impressive selection of freshly roasted coffee from all over the world. You could spend an hour simply perusing all of their beans and coffee paraphernalia - this is a serious, coffee-lover’s haven (and tea-lovers, too!).
Although the drink named Cloudy (with a Chance of Peanuts) was all but irresistible, I ended up going with the Tennessee with almond milk, because an iced latte with sorghum syrup and smoked salt was too tempting. I imagined this latte would be complex, earthy and savory given the flavor components, and it was everything I was hoping it would be. The sorghum syrup added such a unique flair to this latte, and sweet is not on the spectrum of how I would describe it. This, paired with the smoked salt, made for a truly wonderful latte experience that didn’t overpower the lovely Kindred espresso one iota. They achieved the delicate balance of flavors here - and all this coming from a girl who doesn’t love iced lattes!!
They also had an entire cold brew menu for Cold Brew Fest. I could have visited Kumquat 5 times, and frankly I’m regretting ordering only one drink.
Melrose
I love a good themed coffee shop as much as I love a themed party - which is to say, A LOT. So when I saw this Sasquatch-themed coffee shop in Melrose, I knew it was a must try. It just might be the most delightful decor I’ve experienced - not only is there a super-cute Big Foot silhouette on the wall, but the rest of the shop is minimalist, very aesthetic and airy. I’m obsessed.
I had to go with the Cryptid Latte with almond milk, which was a standard, lightly sweetened latte with rainbow latte art - yes, RAINBOW latte art. And it was just as cute as I thought it would be. The latte, featuring Ritual espresso, was delicious and very well made. The most unique aspect of this latte was the stunning latte art - and the barista really knocked that out of the park. Other menu items that very much intrigued me were the Horchata Latte, and the Rose Cappuccino or the Honey Cardamom Latte. I mean, all of these sound like bangers. {UPDATE: my brother and sister in law visited this shop while I was in rehearsal, and he said the honey cardamom latte was FAB. Not surprised one bit.} Definitely worth the trip to Melrose. Plus, free stickers!!
Silverlake, WeHo
This coffee shop is hands down one of my favorite that I visited in LA. Their gorgeous instagram was enough to entice me, but when I saw these insanely cool beverages on their menu, it was a must-visit. I visited the Silverlake location, which is right on Sunset boulevard and beautifully decorated. Their menu is, in my opinion, kind of ground breaking and super experimental (in addition to having the standard coffee beverages you’d expect from an espresso bar) and I couldn’t wait to try it.
If I hadn’t been grabbing coffee with an old friend, I probably would have gotten all 5 signature drinks - I didn’t want my friend to think I was completely insane, after not seeing one another for 6+ years :). I asked the barista for help in choosing a drink, and ultimately ended up with the RIDICULOUS beverage that was The Belafonte - Hickory Smoked coffee, Hibiscus Grapefruit Campari, Pinot Grapes with grapefruit zest. Wow. I mean, just wow. This drink was absolutely exceptional. It was my favorite kind of drink, which is to say Coffee Mixology - cocktail-inspired, flavorful, herbacious, citrusy. Run, do not walk, to Dayglow and get the Belafonte. And while you’re there, get the Warhol, Warhol 2.0, Hotel Chevalier and the Defund the Military Latte and send me a full report because I am KICKING myself for only ordering one drink.
They also have candles, featured coffee each month from domestic and global roasters, and incredible pastries!
Glendale,Pasadena
OKAY. Finally a place that has coffee and lemonade on their menu!!!! They call it the Nathan Palmer (although my business partner lovingly refers to it as the Policar Palmer - my last name - and that is forever the name of the drink in my mind). The minute I saw that, I made a beeline for Highlight Coffee. However, I didn’t end up ordering the coffee and lemonade because their seasonal espresso+tonic was a must have. Aka their menu is bangin’ and they also offer a very exciting menu of rotating pour over options so honestly you can’t really go wrong here.
The barista was incredibly friendly, and took great care in making my drink - something I appreciated tremendously. The Pineapple-Lime Espresso Tonic, espresso, pineapple, fresh lime and tonic, was fabulous. Very refreshing and such a great flavor combo to complement their tasty espresso. The drink was presented so beautifully as well. I’m a sucker for a pretty layered beverage! A tad sweet, so perhaps I would ask for a little less sweet when ordering it again, but I wouldn’t think twice about having it a second time as pineapple and coffee are clearly a match made in heaven. Big win here for me! I’d be very curious to bring a buddy and taste a couple pour overs at some point so, stay tuned on that.
Altadena, Highland Park
On both visits to Cafe de Leche, I had to wait in a fairly significant line - which should tell you how good the coffee is here. I visited the Altadena location twice, and it is the cutest space. Light, airy, with a gorgeous back patio that is vibrantly decorated and super clean. There is an adorable Altadena mural on the side of the building, and usually a pop-up shop selling local wares as well.
I came here for the Thai Style Iced Coffee, with 24 hour cold brew, coconut condensed milk (vegan), cardamom, almond extract. It was truly mindblowing and I am now totally obsessed with coconut condensed milk. Between that and the cardamom, I was already sold but the addition of the almond extract made this drink truly spectacular. I had to slow myself down from chugging the entire drink in 2.5 seconds but I knew I needed to come back here. But on my second visit, I was feeling a hot bev so I snagged a Latte Campesino with espresso, milk, piloncillo, cinnamon, anise, orange peel and almond milk. YUM. I would recommend getting the small and not the large because the milk to espresso ratio is, in my opinion, better. But this latte is delightful and not super sweet!
I was so taken with this coffee shop that I also brought home two bags of beans - a light Columbia and a dark Sumatra. I immediately got the Columbia into my french press and was very happy with my decision to bring home these beans. I love this place. A must-visit if you find yourself in either neighborhood!
Silverlake
Remember when I said I loved a themed coffee shop? Here we are again, except this time the theme is dinosaurs. I mean, it’s just too cute. I can’t even stand it. The moment I saw the tiny dinosaurs stamped on each cup on their instagram page, I knew I had to visit. Their logo is a stego, aka the best dinosaur, and it is a family operated shop! Due to Covid restrictions, it was window service only so unfortunately I couldn’t fully experience the decor and branding that I peeped through the window but I saw many tiny succulents and lots of dinos. Their beans are clearly very popular, as they were mostly sold out and it looks like they have fabulous dino themed merch.
They feature beans that are roasted at their sister shop, Woodcat Coffee in Echo Park, and offer a straightforward coffee menu with just a few specialty drinks. Among the specialty drinks is the Cinnamon Cardamom Cappuccino, which I knew was the one for me. WIth a cappuccino being my favorite way to enjoy espresso and cardamom being my favorite spice to pair with coffee, I was excited to try this bad boy (with almond milk, of course). Cinnamon and cardamom should always be friends with espresso, and my only regret about this drink is that I didn’t get two of them. It was gone before I made it back to my car, which was just down the block. The cinnamon and cardamom added flavor and a natural sweetness, but the capp was not sweet. It was delectable. I loved it.
Apparently their other specialty drink, the Sweet Baby Jo, is out of this world but condensed milk and I do not get along so well - if anyone visit Dinosaur and tastes the Sweet Baby Jo, please give me a full review!
Pasadena
Soooo I’m pretty sure that the target demographic at Coffee + Plants in Pasadena is well, me. This is an instagrammer’s paradise. Between the colorful plant wall, flower arch, millennial pink decor, and ultra-modern aesthetic, I was loving every single detail. Plus, the shop is 100% plant based so I knew that all the drinks were going to be dairy free and health conscious. Again, nailing their target demographic. I had to take home a holographic logo sticker.
If I hadn’t had a show that night, I would have ordered multiple things. I almost did - I was losing my head over the menu. There is a Lavender Lemonade that is just BEGGING to be topped with espresso. And a dairy free Horchata, also begging to be caffeinated. I mean, come on. And then there was the 24k Charcoal Latte with espresso, charcoal, vanilla syrup and freaking gold leaf on top. Like I said, losing it. Finally, the Zion’s Cold Brew with orange syrup, almond cream and an orange peel garnish. How was I supposed to choose?!
Ultimately, I ended up with the Rose Bowl Latte - I was in Pasadena, afterall, and it is pink and topped with roses so, when in Rome. Espresso, rose + hibiscus syrup, beet juice and a rose garnish with almond milk. This latte was one of the most interesting drinks I had in LA. The beet juice lends an earthy, savory quality to the latte, which is very well complimented by the rose and hibiscus. With unsweetened almond milk, this latte had a lot to say and each sip was a little bit different! It was not at all sweet, so you really got to experience the full flavor profile. My only regret is that I didn’t get a chance to come back with a buddy so that I could justify ordering the other bangers on this menu. I thoroughly enjoyed my beverage.
Highland Park
Collage is hard to miss on the vibrant York Boulevard in Highland Park - I spotted it while en route to another shop, and decided to make a detour. The colorful exterior is adorned with patterned tiles, and is just downright gorgeous. Their straightforward menu features locally roasted beans from Prospect Coffee in Ventura, CA, and they don’t mess around when it comes to coffee.
I went with my standard Almond Milk Cappuccino here and I have to say, it was one of the best I had while in LA. The espresso was sweet and delicate, in perfect balance with the milk and microfoam. A truly excellent cappuccino. It was gone almost before I made it back to my car. The interior also features the same colorful tiles that you see outside, and the baristas are super friendly and knowledgeable. This spot must be a mainstay for anyone in the neighborhood looking to grab a well crafted espresso beverage, and I could see myself becoming a regular here if I lived nearby.
Worth noting is the addition of the Sprite ‘Spro on their menu. I would venture to guess that they get a lot of the same looks that I do when I order my espresso lemonade. I’m sure it is a misunderstood beverage and is ultimately delicious, but I couldn’t bring myself to go there just yet. I’ll stick to my Espresso+Tonics and Policar Palmers for now :)
Pasadena
I was driving home, sitting at a stoplight and perusing Yelp when I discovered Dash Coffee Bar - I literally turned my car around and headed straight there, even though I had already had 2 coffees that day because they had……Yuzu Espresso Tonic. My kryptonite.
I am obsessed with Asian-style coffee bars. The decor was simple, minimalist, yet modern and very plant-forward. So many succulents. Obviously I am their target demographic once again and their branding is working, because I almost ordered a second, hot beverage simply because their cups are so adorable. They have the cutest rainbow lettering. I resisted, but just barely. They feature Unity Coffee, roasted in LA, and offer a variety of roasts to take home as well as some really excellent-looking pastries.
The Yuzu Espresso Tonic arrived with a gorgeous orange slice, and fresh orange zest on top. The orange and yuzu combo made for the most delightful citrus celebration and this drink was a big winner for me - refreshing, bubbly, bright. It was just a tiny bit too sweet for my tastes, so when I come back I will ask for a little less sweet. But this drink rocks.
Even though I already knew exactly what I was going to order, I sat there staring at the menu wishing that I had buddies with me so that I could justify ordering 4 drinks since they all sounded insanely delicious. Besides the Yuzu tonic, they also had a lemon espresso tonic, a pandan latte and COFFEE JELLY MILK. I. love. coffee jelly. If I’d had my head on straight, I would have had the good sense to ask for coffee jelly IN my yuzu tonic. Alas. I realllllly missed the boat on that one.
Glassell Park
I discovered this little gem on Yelp - I am always excited about an Australian-style coffee shop, and their array of clever toasts, Jaffles (Australian grilled cheese) and interesting beverages looked right up my alley. I am sad that I had just eaten prior to discovering this place, because the food honestly looks insanely delicious - and has lots of allergy friendly options! I should have trusted my gut and gotten two drinks here…
Typically, I grab an Almond Milk Flat White from an Aussie shop. I’m also not a huge iced latte girl, BUT the Little Ripper Latte with housemade Chicory/Cacao almond milk was a no brainer for me and it only comes iced. It was that or the Watermelon Agua Fresca with Matcha, which is so gorgeous and I wish I had gotten both. They really nailed the aesthetic on that one. BUT, this latte was fab. Absolutely fab. The chicory/cacao milk is a revelation and it comes with a little orange slice and that really just tied all of the flavors together. YUM. This is not a sweet latte at all. The chicory adds a depth of flavor that compliments the earthiness of the coffee and the cacao brings out a toasty quality of their beans. They also offer their housemade almond milk in lavender and turmeric flavors, your other options for the Little Ripper Latte.
When I come back, I will have to tempt the dairy gods and order the Peachy Keen toast - whipped ricotta, sliced peaches, honey, crushed pistachios, prosciutto, fresh mint and chili oil. I…need this in my life. That, and I will 100% take home the Glassell Blend beans. Worth the trip to Glassell Park to give these guys a taste!!!
Frogtown
I would never have know that this spot, or frankly Frogtown in its entirety, existed had it not been for my friend that I was staying with. She took me to this absolute gem of a coffee spot on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, when we could enjoy the LA River and some excellent coffee. Thank you, Susan!
A cafe cum bike shop decorated with colorful urban art, this is exactly the kind of place that I hope to discover when visiting a city. The line for food and beverage was LONG - at least 20 minutes, and it was packed with families, people of all ages, and was clearly a hangout spot for the locals who lived in and around Frogtown. The brunch that I saw coming out of the window looked pretty insane, and their sangria bar was calling to me but alas, I had a show that night so I would be sticking to coffee. And lucky for me, Spoke also has an exclusive status in that it is the only shop in town to feature the Frogtown-roasted beans of Trystero Coffee. How’s that for cool?
Onto the coffee: this menu is for coffee lovers. They offer classic drinks, of course, but the specialty menu is where it’s at. An Orange Ginger Cubano was calling my name, and I’m so glad I answered the call. This is not a sweet drink - coffee lovers only! The espresso is the star here, with ginger as its costar. The orange twist makes a cameo at the back of each sip, and I suspect that the brown sugar is the ingredient that marries it all but is pretty undetectable. I loved this drink. Very complex and flavorful and a touch of funkiness. It’s not hard to see why this place is slammed on weekends - great work, Spoke!!
Mad Lab Coffee Roasters
Hollywood
The internet was raving about Mad Lab Coffee, so I made the trek to Hollywood to find out what all the fuss was about. This husband and wife team, who roast their beans right in LA, have won awards in flavor for their coffee and I was very excited to try it. The small, green outpost right on Sunset features a funky seasonal menu alongside their straightforward beverages, with beans and cute merch for sale. KICKING myself that I didn’t pick up beans. Rookie mistake.
I chatted with the barista about what to order before ultimately deciding to get both a hot and a cold beverage. For hot I chose the Dolly Latte, which the barista said was far and away their most popular drink. She described it as a vanilla caramel-esque flavor which sounded a-ok to me - I had this with oat milk. For my tastes, it was too sweet. I felt that the balance to syrup and coffee was disproportionate, with the latter being overpowered by the sweetness. I really enjoyed the flavor, and would like to try this latte again with less of the syrup because I could see the potential for this to be insanely delicious. Next time!
For my cold drink, I had to go with the Sloe Gin Fizz if for no other reason than because of the creativity. Coffee, peach, rosemary, tart black cherry…not sure what else was in there because the menu is cheeky and vague but this drink was off the chain (do people even say that anymore?). Peach and rosemary really complimented the flavor of the coffee, and this to me was coffee mixology at its finest. VERY pleased with this decision.
I want to come back and get a cappuccino straight up, but also to try their other seasonal beverages which sound insane. They have a Dole Whip Sipper - an homage to my all time favorite Disney treat - a Lime Chronic, and an Espresso Tonic with Lavender. Also, someone needs to try the Creamsicle Cappuccino for me and send a full report because I was sad I couldn’t try it (dairy). Doesn’t that sound delicious?!
Cypress Park
I passed by 1802 Roasters a number of times on my way to and from work, and was intrigued by their art-covered cafe exterior with a busy drive through window. A small batch, micro roaster with Filipino flair that responsibly sources their beans and roasts them right in Cypress Park was a must-try for me. I wish I’d caught them on a day when they had Filipino food vendors in the back of the shop, but alas - I guess that’ll be for my next visit!
For my first coffee of the day I typically gravitate toward a hot beverage, but the 1802 Cold Brew, brewed with Filipino chocolate, was not something I was about to pass up. I ordered it with a splash of oat milk to bring out the sweetness of their coffee - because of our masks and a very loud vehicle passing by, the barista misheard me and some stevia also ended up in my cold brew. I am not a fan of stevia, but I wasn’t going to hold it against the incredibly sweet barista so I enjoyed it regardless! I LOVE a cocoa cold brew - the only other place that I have seen do a cocoa cold brew is Songbird Coffee and Tea House in Phoenix, and I’m sorry it is not more widespread because it is delightful. The coffee was flavorful and bold, and the addition of the cocoa just brings out the flavor of their yummy roast.
WHY didn’t I come back for their summer specials?!?! An espresso tonic with calamansi and coconut milk?! I can’t even deal. Someone please go order this and FedEx overnight it to me.
Sawtelle/Japantown
My brother and sister in law came in for my show, so I finally had some buddies to try drinks with me!! My sister in law found this place on instagram and once again, the target demographic is whole lot of me. So much cute, so much rainbow, so aesthetically pleasing. We couldn’t wait to come try their beautiful and funky drinks.
The menu is so much fun - the drinks have names like The Incredible Hulk and Coffee for Breakfast, and there are some really unique flavor combos. The pastries also looked SO gorgeous, with lots of matcha-infused options. We came for one of the rotating specials, the Banana Bread Latte - hot with espresso for me, iced with matcha for my sister in law. My brother ordered the Strawberry Macadamia Milk Matcha and a breakfast burrito from The Rooster, voted best breakfast burrito in the city. He was pretty blown away by this burrito - he wasn’t sure he could name one he’d had that was better. So, there’s that.
I’m once again so glad that I had friends with me because it was a treat to get to taste the Banana Bread Latte in both iterations. As a hot latte with espresso, the cinnamon and roasty banana flavor really come out, making this a warming and satisfying latte. However, this flavor REALLY shines as an iced matcha latte. Holy cow, I couldn’t believe how tasty it was and how different. The banana bread really speaks for itself with the matcha preparation, and it was a super unique drink that was unlike anything I’ve had before. The real star of the show was the Strawberry Macadamia Milk Matcha, which was like Strawberry Nesquik but leveled up and caffeinated. This drink really captured the essence of that flavor profile and did it so delicately. And NOT SWEETLY. None of these drinks were sweet, just flavorful.
Please bring back the Le Bron, which featured my first love, Fruity Pebbles. I was dying to try their cereal milk latte, Coffee for Breakfast, but cinnamon toast crunch is not gluten free. Sure looks pretty though…
Eagle Rock
Swork was absolutely and completely slammed when I visited in the late morning on a Friday. The line was nearly out the door, and the inside of the shop was also filled with people busily working on their computers - this is clearly a spot frequented by regulars and Eagle Rock locals. Serving up the wonderful coffee that is La Colombe , they have a straightforward menu that focuses on classic coffee beverages.
The specialty drinks didn’t excite me, but the wide variety of alternative milks did so I opted for Macadamia Milk Flat White - I adore macadamia milk. I know I love La Colombe espresso, and this was well prepared, made just right. An excellent flat white! I could see myself coming here if I wanted a coffee shop to work from while having a solidly delicious beverage.
They are also the first coffee shop with a kid friendly playspace, and the first in the city to offer a computer driven workspace. This is definitely a spot for the atmosphere and community above all else.
Downtown
Leave it to my sister in law to find a Harry Potter-Themed coffee shop. Again, here for the themes!!!! As avid Harry Potter fans, we knew that this was a must-visit for us and we were so excited to come. I LOVE supporting small coffee businesses, and especially love supporting women-owned businesses so I was doubly excited to visit when I found out this this was owned and operated by a mother-daugher team.
I also knew that since I had friends with me, I could order 4 drinks and not feel sorry about it (not that I ever do, let’s be honest). Their entire menu is quite magical, and it was hard not to order 5 things - I resisted the Dragon’s Breath, a dark cherry lemonade with gold fairy dust that was obviously going to be topped with espresso - and am still kind of sad that I did but I guess that means I’ll just have to come back! All four drinks were ones that I would order on repeat, and here is what we ordered and shared:
Notorious Black - We tried this one hot, as recommended by the barista in order to really get the full rosemary experience. Espresso, activated charcoal, housemade rosemary syrup, fresh herbs, almond milk. This latte is very aesthetically pleasing, with its gorgeous black color, and herby aroma. Honestly, if I was only trying this drink I would have been thrilled - I loved the savory flavor profile, the fact that is wasn’t sweet and the unique quality that rosemary brought out in the coffee itself. This drink ultimately did not end up being my favorite of the four, but that is not to say that it wasn’t wonderful. I would absolutely order this again if I wanted something on the more savory, earthy side.
Orange Is the New Hex - Iced espresso, housemade orange vanilla honey syrup, almond milk. Wow. This was the clear winner for me. There were real bits of orange in this truly wonderful honey concoction, and you could see the vanilla beans swirling about the cup. This drink is a BANGER and I absolutely loved it. I expected this drink to be a little bit sweeter, and it was, but not overly. Just the right amount, in my opinion and I would 100% order this again and again. So refreshing and light!
(Vegan) Witches Cold Brew - This was my brother’s #1 pick. 24 hour cold brew with coconut condensed milk, oat milk and spices. I have to say, this was a really fascinating drink. We each tried to pinpoint exactly which spices we were tasting, which made each sip fun. The coconut condensed milk added a complexity to the overall flavor profile, and brought out the coffee’s character. Also just the right amount of sweetness here, well balanced and tasty!!!
Mandrake Matcha - Ok, ok. This seasonal drink is pricey - but if you’re going to trek all the way to Nimbus, why not get the full experience, amiright? This drink is layered with matcha, white chocolate (almond) milk, a mexican fudge layer at the bottom (the dirt!) and sprouting from the top is the “mandrake” - which are mint sprigs, cleverly “planted” into the ice. When you “harvest” the mint sprigs, you find a charming, lightning bolt of white chocolate and it just tickled the crap out of me. This drink is so cute and fun and REALLY leaning into the theme. It is also absolutely delicious. Now, this is a decadent treat and I expected it to be as such, but I wasn’t expecting it to be quite as tasty as it ultimately was. I couldn’t stop drinking it. Matcha+Chocolate 4eva. Well done, Nimbus, on the cheeky, fun, interactive beverage experience.
The theming is super fun and the coffee is GREAT. I would want to drink these drinks again regardless of their homage to our fave little literary friend.
That’s it for my visit to LA!! If you have other recommendations or favorite spots for my next visit, please send them my way. I had a blast tasting my way through all of these drinks, and if you visit one of these shops I’d love to hear about it!
Until your next coffee run,
L’chaim!