LOS ANGELES COFFEE GUIDE — Top 5 Cafes So Far..
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I have lived in LA for nearly two months now, albeit it feels like much longer. Having only been here a short while, my knowledge of the city is slim, yet I do feel that I have a good grasp of the cafes and coffee culture here. Either by coworkers, word of mouth, or myself exploring cafes (one of my favorite things to do when experiencing a new place) I have somehow found myself gravitating towards certain cafes that I figured would be valuable to share to my readers as Los Angeles seems to be a highly visited area amongst tourists. The good quality coffee can be hidden in this city so I hope that you find this essay to be useful!
I do feel that I have to preface this essay by stating that I am a VERY specific coffee drinker. Some might say I am incredibly picky, judgmental, and maybe even a bit neurotic when it comes to coffee. I just can’t help it..it is my job and after going to Australia I became even more finical. So, in saying that, the cafes that I will be listing in this particular essay are not picked for aesthetic, vibes, and branding (albeit one), it is simply because of their quality of coffee.
In American coffee culture, it is well-known to have a signature drink with some witty title and precarious flavor pairings that, to be fair, do sometimes turn out to be good. I just personally don’t enjoy sweet coffee. I deem sweet coffee to have lost the essence of the espresso’s tasting notes beneath the piquant of flavorings added. This is my take on coffee as someone who works in the industry. Though, if you do prefer your coffee with added sweetener or syrups most of these cafes do offer something for everybody!! None of these cafes will leave you feeling unsatisfied.
As time goes on & more knowledge is curated, I will update this coffee guide for a more well-rounded guide as most of these are located in East Hollywood. For now, enjoy my top 5 cafes so far..!
MY TOP 5 LOS ANGELES CAFES FOR THEIR COFFEE
Ondo — @ondocoffee
A hidden cafe located in East Hollywood showcasing a variety of pour-over and single origin espresso options. This place is a dream for unique tasting, black coffee lovers like me! They use the digitized pour overs via their phones which was my first-time seeing something like this in-person! Their menu is intricate featuring small roasters with a fun, cozy atmosphere!
Canyon Coffee — @canyoncoffee
Ok, I have a love affair with this cafe. Located in the heart of Echo Park, this is the ultimate community-driven, comforting cafe. They offer loads of outdoor seating as their indoor seating is a bit small, but features the most beautiful woodwork surrounding the interior walls. Such a simplistic, minimalist interior featuring various musicians on vinyl. They roast their own beans, host events featuring local chefs and have curated such a beautiful community and vibe to their cafe. One of the things that truly stands out to me, is that the owners created this place from the ground up and, to this day, are in the cafe every day bussing tables or working with their team. It’s pretty incredible and something I strive to embody in my own cafe someday. A very green forward company with majority of their coffee beans being organic and products being recyclable, I truly only have positive things to say about this place.
Read The Room Coffee — @readtheroom
This is a hidden gem within the city! A one woman pop-up that produces incredible coffee! I found out about Alice, the owner, via my coworkers at the cafe that I work at. Currently, she is doing a year-long residency at Melody, a wine bar by night, slinging coffees, toasts, Guatemalan tamales on Tuesdays, and most recently, breakfast burritos. All incredible and handmade. She serves Australian-owned Common Room coffee on a single-group head La Marzocco. My experience there reminds me of my time in Japan where the cafes would not open until 11 and were run by one person using a single-group head La Marzocco. They roasted their own beans and it was a very slow, precise experience. I loved it and I think that is what I love about this cafe in particular. If you are looking for something small, curated, and slower pace this is the place for you!
Kumquat — @kumquatcoffee
Similar to Ondo, this cafe shares a vast display of roasters and offers great quality coffee + teas. Every time I go here my coffee never disappoints. I will mention that this cafe is designed more as a takeaway cafe and a one-stop shop for any coffee supplies you might need. There is some outdoor seating, but none located inside. If you are looking for incredible coffee and a quick-stop shop then this is a place you must visit!
Endorffeine — @endorffeine
If you are a neurotic coffee nerd like me, you HAVE to check this spot out! Former biochemist Jack Benchakul has created this sleek, minimalist, and mindful cafe that can feel more like a science classroom rather than a cafe. His work is prestigious. As a former biochemist, he carefully crafts each espresso, filter, and brew that he makes with the utmost detail. This is a cafe where you enjoy the tasting notes of the espresso or coffee of your choice. No sweeteners or sugars in the cafe, he attracts those that will appreciate his work. Another favorite of mine that must be checked out if you are in the LA area!
I hope this post inspires you to support a small, local business that you may not have discovered yet! It is pretty incredible to see what people are creating and how versatile each place is! Coffee is, obviously, quite a big passion of mine and I want to ensure that people see and appreciate how much work, love, dedication, and passion are put into these businesses. It’s hard, grubby work. As a consume, it can sometimes be hard to see how much hard work goes into literally every single cup of coffee served. There are so many people behind that singular cup.
An ode to those who continue to celebrate the simplicities, ritual, and community that coffee brings to those of us around the globe. Cheers!
Thank you for reading and, as always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or inquiries.
P.S. if you feel so inclined, consider leaving a like or comment here and/or share this post with friends, family, or anyone you feel would enjoy my posts. It really does make all the difference and never goes unnoticed! Thankyou!! I love you all dearly!
xx anni