Summer Coffee in Los Angeles' "Towns"

My coffee house visits this summer had me exploring numerous "towns" in Los Angeles. For example, I never knew there was a Japantown in LA aside from Little Tokyo. See below:

Japantown

Balconi Coffee Company

11301 Olympic Blvd. #124

Los Angeles, CA 90064

Balconi is a small quaint coffee shop in the revitalized Sawtelle Japantown area. Just off the 405, this 4-block stretch on Sawtelle near Olympic has numerous Japanese and Korean restaurants and stores. I enjoyed a delicious Almond Essence Latte. They sell almost equal amounts of coffees and teas as well as a small selection of pastries. There is plenty of free parking on the side streets of the 1- to 2-hour variety. Just make sure you check the street signs as those time limits are strictly enforced. Both when I left my car and when I came back, I saw parking enforcement officers patrolling the neighborhood.

Beantown

45 N.  Baldwin Ave.

Sierra Madre, CA 91024

Beantown has a laid-back community atmosphere with lots of coffee choices as well as smoothies, ice cream, and an array of sandwiches - everything one needs to spend a day getting work done. Lots of space. On the record hot day I came here, their iced cherry latte really hit the spot.

Koreatown

LaB Coffee & Roasters

429 N. Western Ave. #5

Los Angeles, CA 90004

My mocha had a very strong coffee flavor that would keep me humming for the next few hours. The diverse crowd was comprised of a few Koreans, a few Latinos and a couple of Caucasians. The current demographics of the neighborhood. Bags of coffee beans were used as décor and plaques on the wall discussed the sourcing of their coffee beans. LaB Roasters was a nice find. Having been born and raised in Koreatown, before it was known as Koreatown, it was nice to see a legitimate coffeehouse open in my old neighborhood.  It is small, but large enough for a number of tables, including communal tables with people working on laptops.

Tinseltown

Coffee + Food

5630 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90038

From the few tables out front you can see the world sitting atop Paramount Studios and iconic Astro Burgers. Quite a few people who work at or want to work at the studios come by here. One woman getting out of her old beat up car had headshots in hand. Drinking my mocha, I had a really good lunch while people watching.

Zweeting Roasted Vegan Dinosaur - LA Coffee Shops In May

Four coffee houses to try this month: one with outstanding mochas, another with amazing pies, another created for writers, and one with horchata lattes.


 Best Mocha

Stamp Fine Foods

4500 Los Feliz Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90027
One of the best mochas I ever had. Very creamy. This coffee shop in the Los Feliz area also has a pretty large breakfast and lunch  menu. The décor has lots of wood giving the place an old timey feel. I couldn't resist ordering a meal here seeing the customer's plates around me. I had the vegan banana buckwheat pancakes. Good stuff.

Best Pies

Dinosaur Coffee

4334 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90029
Yes, there is a dinosaur in the bathroom. Hearing about this is one of the reasons why this coffeehouse piqued my interest. Another was the excellent reviews on the coffee. The reviews were correct, the coffee is good. They also have a pie or two brought in daily by Nicole Rucker. I had a delicious slice of blueberry pie. Also across the street is the LA County Store - all things made locally. It is where I purchased my coffee cash wallet.

Writer's Paradise

Zweet Café

4682 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
While I enjoyed my mocha here, I really liked the vibe. When I walked in, there was a writers group meeting at one table, a black board field with "inspirational" coffee quotes, and many interesting items to gaze at as you think about the next line in your novel. An added bonus was that after 3:00, a number of pastries are priced at a dollar for that little extra sugar push to get you over the edge.

All Types Here
Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters
260 Allen Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91107
This coffee shop has a special drink menu. On the day in May I went in, they had a creamy iced horchata latte which had lots of yummy cinnamon in it. Jameson's had a good flow of people coming and going from students to professionals to firefighters. I liked their cool mood music and the fact that they had a rewards program with specials on your birthday. It is also away from the hustle and bustle of Old Town and PCC.

Myths, Buddha & Gentrification: LA Coffee Houses In April

Each coffee shop one really surprised me by either its location, décor, menus, or combination of these attributes. I hope this post inspires you to visit at least one new coffee shop in Los Angeles.


Most Relaxed

Urartu

119 N Maryland Ave.
Glendale, CA 91206
I really enjoyed the calming music, golden couch, tuxedo Frappuccino and wall painting depicting a scene from Armenian  mythology. A nice place to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of Brand Blvd. and the Americana. Urartu is surrounded by great restaurants on Maryland and there is free 90-minute parking in the structure at the end of the cul de sac.

Most Interesting Mix of Food & Drink
Fresh Roast

308 S. San Gabriel Blvd.
San Gabriel, CA 91776
This coffeehouse transports you to a different time and place.  Unlike its gleaming steel, pine wood, and white-walled  brethren, Fresh Roast has a distinct Asian influence. From its dark wood décor, Buddha painting, items in its lighted curio cabinet, and its interesting menu, you know you're not on the Westside anymore. Fresh Roast has the typical sandwiches and coffee drinks, but they also have egg waffle sandwiches, coffee with a fried egg on top, and other interesting foods and drinks. I really enjoyed my egg waffle pastrami sandwich and coconut coffee. Definitely a place to take you out of your regular coffee zone. But not too far out. As I walked out, a young guy walked in sporting beard and boots with his girlfriend dressed in a flannel.

 

Nicest Patio
Go Get Em Tiger

4630 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Go Get Em Tiger has a nice tree-shaded outdoor patio that they share with McConnell's Fine Ice Cream. They also have a delicious breakfast/brunch menu and are very popular so finding a chair may be a challenge. I was surprised that I didn't see a stand for sugar and creamer. When I asked for sugar, they gave me an organic syrup sweetener. Very WeHo. When you see the long line for Home State you know you're in the right area.

Largest Contrast Old vs. New
Civil Coffee

5629 N Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Civil coffee is the epitome of the gentrification that is happening in Highland Park. It's three neighbors are a brand-new bowling alley, high-end organic minimarket, and a Home State. Yes, somehow I unwittingly visited two coffee shops this month that are next to a chain of one of the busiest taco shops in Los Angeles. Outside of these neighbors are the older establishments of Highland Park from dollar stores to salons and even the Highland Park Theater across the street. The contrast is stunning. That being said, Civil Coffee makes a great cup of coffee, has plenty of seating, food options and a great tagline "It's a good day to be civil."

 

Religion, Vegans, and Macs: LA Coffee Shops March

Religion, vegans, and Macs were what I found during my March coffee shop excursions. I am constantly surprised by the uniqueness of the Los Angeles coffee scene. See below:

Holy Grounds Coffee and Tea

Serenity Now

Holy Grounds Coffee and Tea

5371 Alhambra Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90032

Serenity. This coffeehouse has a very Zen-like courtyard with a large stone fountain and hummingbirds buzzing around the flowers. Religious icons were placed throughout the courtyard including statues of Mother Mary, a golden Buddha, and a fertility goddess. There was even an area for tarot card and tea leaf readers. Very tranquil. Oh, and they also serve a good mocha and pastries from local bakeries. They also have a small lunch menu. Good place to work.

No Animals Harmed Here

The Butcher's Daughter

The Butcher's Daughter

1205 Abbott Kinney Blvd.

Venice, CA 90291

This place surprised me as the daughter is a butcher of vegetables - a total vegan establishment.  Inside was bright and airy with a central island where baristas worked and patrons sat around eating their butchered veggies and/or drank excellent coffee. They also have another counter for to go orders in case you want to take your beverage with you as you stroll along the shops on Abbott Kinney. Definitely a unique establishment.  I listed it under my coffee house visits as that is why I came - for the coffee, but it is more of a café with wait staff and reservations for the tables, so not necessarily a place to sit and write all day.

Groundwork Coffee

Hollywood Grab and Go

Groundwork Coffee Tea Community

1501 N. Cahuenga  Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90028

Across the street from CNN headquarters and cat a corner to Amoeba Records, Groundwork Coffee is at the gateway to Hollywood. It is only two blocks south of Hollywood Boulevard and is very busy with people coming and going. It is a good place to grab a coffee and head out to visit the local sites or have a quick lunch. The plates from the brunch menu looked very good as did the big cinnamon rolls.  All of the street parking, even on the small side streets, is metered at $1.00 per hour.

Mac Life

Found Coffee

1355 Colorado Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90041

Nice clean open coffeehouse. Chill jazzy music was playing low. The crowd was predominantly Occidental College students. And anyone on a laptop, was on a Mac. There was not a single PC in the place. Considering the décor was predominantly white with blue seats, I wondered if there was a connection. For food, they sold a number of pastries.

Found Coffee

Off the Beaten Path: Coffee Shops February

Los Angeles had a whopping .03 inches of rain in February. That's right, not even a half inch for the entire month!   Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, I visited a coffee stand in Griffith Park and walked across the border to Tijuana and found a really nice coffee house there.

Enjoying the sun in Mexico

 

Nice little find

Tierra Mia Coffee

5528 Monte Vista Street

Los Angeles, CA 90042

Quaint coffee house in Highland Park that makes a very good Mexican mocha.  It is in the middle of a residential neighborhood with a small Mexican restaurant next door that has good Yelp reviews. An off the beaten path little gem.

 

Only in no rain
The Trails Cafe

2333 Fern Dell Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90068

It is hard to beat the location being in the center of Griffith Park. You are surrounded by trees, across the street from the trail to the Griffith Park Observatory. While called a cafe, there is no indoor seating. It is really more of a stand with a few  sandwich items and snacks, and lots of coffee choices. Perfect for a caffeine pick me up before or after a hike.

 

International stop
D'Volada

Calle Ignacio Zaragoza 1692

Zona Centro

20000 Tijuana, B. C.

Mexico

American-style coffee shop with good coffee, pastries, and smoothies. It is a nice respite  from the hustle and bustle  of the tourist area of Avenida Revolucion. Interesting chairs, some small some big and plushy, with outdoor seating for taking a load off and people watching. I had a delicious Mexican Mocha (in Mexico).

 

Cup Of Life: Pasadena Coffee Houses

In January, I visited interesting Pasadena coffeehouses and one in Silverlake. Two specialized in Spanish hot chocolate drinks causing me to deviate from my usual coffee beverage. I hope the reviews entice you to try some place new.

Best name
Copa Vida

70 S Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
Lots of people here including tourists as it is in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. Good place to grab a coffee before taking a stroll along Colorado Boulevard. The back room behind the order counter is a little more laid back for working or studying. They also have a number of hot and cold food items if you plan to stay long. Parking in the city structures is free for the first 90 minutes.

Most Latin flavors

Amara Chocolate & Coffee

55 S. Raymond Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91105

While they sell coffee, I would say their specialty is the variety of hot chocolates from South America and fresh churros.  The cacao latte I had was bitter and went well with the sweetness of the churro. The space is very small, but I did see one person working on a laptop. Like Copa Vida, Amara's is in the heart of Old Town Pasadena so you can walk off the calories with a stroll along Colorado Boulevard.

 Most activities

Jones Coffee Roasters

693 S. Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
Lots of art installations on the walls and even the ceiling. The coffeehouse looks like it is in an old warehouse so there's plenty of space to spread out and talk or work. They hold coffee tastings and various events. Last week they had a tango dancing dinner night.

Best Latin décor

Zona Rosa Caffe

15 S El Molino Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
The other name for this locale is Zona Rosa Coffee. I had a Zocolo Con Platano - cold Mexican hot chocolate blended with banana. It would appear that this month my coffee cravings were curbed by unique latin chocolate offerings at two of my coffee house visits. The drink was very good. ZRC has a Latin décor and second floor seating. ZRC sits adjacent to the Pasadena Playhouse and stays open until 11pm most nights.

Homiest feel

Silverlake Coffee

2388 Glendale Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90039
It has a very homey intimate appeal with couches, tables and chairs with slightly dimmed lighting. Out front is a nice patio. Aside from coffee drinks, they sell smoothies, sandwiches and pastries. Most people here were studying, working or reading. Very chill vibe.

Motorcycles, Cats and Bricks: LA Coffee Houses in December

I have visited over 15 Los Angeles coffee shops over last few months and am amazed by how different each one is. Here are descriptions of seven coffee shops I visited in December to help you choose where to grab your next cup of Joe:

Largest variety of places to set up shop
Bricks and Scones
403 North Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
What I like best about this coffeehouse is the variety of areas to work or relax.  Depending on your mood you can be on the tree-shaded patio out front,  upstairs hidden away in one of many nooks, or in the communal room in the back relaxing on a couch. They also have a good-sized food menu.

Great breakfast burritos
Cofax Coffee
440 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
I think half the people came here for the breakfast burritos and the other half for the coffee. The burritos which are one of the only things on the food menu are really good. This place was very busy. It is not a place to sit down and relax as there's minimal seating and a sign that says there is no Wi-Fi "Pretend it's the 90's." It is really a place to grab your drink and burrito and explore the cool shops in the area like Ripndip and Supreme across the street.

Oreo on top
Coffee by the Books
509 E Walnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
This is a small place with friendly servers who seemed to know many customers by name. They have a rewards program which tends to be hard to find in your independent coffee shops. I had a delicious Oreo blended coffee beverage. It even had an Oreo cookie on top.

 
Most unique vibe
Deus Ex Machina
1001 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
Part motorcycle apparel shop that sells surfboards and part coffeehouse, this locale was definitely unique with a fun vibe. The music was a mix of jazz, classic rock and new age. The coffeehouse extends from inside the store through a big opening in the back wall that led to a nice size patio. Most of the seating was around large communal tables which seems to be a trend I am noticing more and more. While our drinks were good, my acai bowl was amazing.


Quaint coffee shop in South Pasadena

Kaldi's Coffee & Tea
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Very laid back coffee shop across the street from the tree-covered South Pasadena library. Crowd was primarily locals getting their daily cup of Joe. There are few tables and couches inside and a few tables and chairs outside. If so inclined you can take your coffee and sandwich across the street and sit on a bench or on the grass under the giant trees surrounding the South Pasadena library. Nice place to a take a load off.

Most potential for entertainment
Open Space Café and Theater
457 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Just up the street from Cofax, this little coffee house is full of surprises.  Not only does it have the usual drinks, but great looking pastries and a community room in the back that hosts comedy shows, speakers, musicians and more.

Most high-end coffee shop
Verve Coffee Roasters
8925 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90069
People here were dressed very well here, perhaps because it is on the border of Beverly Hills. Verve has a very sleek coffee bar and really nice outdoor patio. It was busy when I went on a Friday afternoon and the only space left to sit was along a long outdoor banister that overlooked Melrose. The seating turned out fine as I was able to  watch people come and go and find a question about love.  (See photo) My Kenyan coffee was good, but I couldn't figure out why the almond milk was bubbling to life.

Los Angeles Coffee Adventures November

Here are four interesting eastside coffee shops I visited in November, plus a place to visit when walking with your coffee. If you have any coffee house suggestions to visit in December please leave a comment below.

Most beautiful building exterior

Urth Caffe

451 S. Hewitt St.

Los Angeles, CA 90013

While there were a couple of people working on laptops here, the majority of people at the tables were eating full meals, giving the Urth Caffe more of a cafe feel than coffee shop. That being said, they are known for their organic coffees and teas and there was a line of people waiting to pick up drinks. The food is great, the building is gorgeous and it is in the center of L.A.'s burgeoning art district.

Most interesting coffee food combo

Art + Science Café

101 S Madison Ave.

Pasadena, CA 91101

Sushi and coffee, who would've thought. It works. The place was full of college students. The sushi menu is limited but the owners take their sushi seriously. You can only eat the sushi at the small counter and my server said I had to eat my sushi roll within 10 seconds before the seaweed got stuck to the warm rice. I ate it in about 30 seconds, I can only eat a roll so fast. I did notice a change in texture from the first bite and last bite. The iced caramel latte was very good.

Most industrious

Swork Coffee

2160 Colorado Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90041

I walked in not knowing what to expect as I was headed to another establishment that I did not know had closed the week before. There was only one person sitting outside and one person sitting at a table by the window, so I was surprised when I walked in to see 15 people working on laptops and drinking coffee all along the far wall. It appears to be popular with students and professionals. I had a Mexican Mayan Mocha. Along with coffee drinks, they also have healthy gym-influenced blended drinks.

Brand New

San Marino Cafe and Marketplace

2507 Mission St.

San Marino, CA 91108

Quaint little cafe in San Marino that advertises the best coffee in town on a blackboard out front. Unfortunately, I was unable to try the coffee as I was still recovering, but I had a delicious smoothie. People are always coming and going here, some sitting and working, and the owner is very friendly.

Take a walk

Lacy Park

1485 Virginia Rd.

San Marino, CA 91108

My first excursion after surgery. Beautiful large open park seemingly out of place in Los Angeles. Great for picnics or taking a walk with your coffee.  Free to visit during the week, but there is a fee for nonresidents to visit on the weekend. 

Los Angeles Coffee Adventures October

I hope the coffee shop list below provides you with the same fun and opportunities to get the creative juices flowing as they provided to me. These coffee shop writing excursions have taken me all over LA including going over San Francisco-style hills in Silverlake,  through communities oozing money, and others desperately poor.  If you have any suggestions on shops I should visit in November please add in comments.

Here is a quick note about each of my visits and my favorite things about each one:

Friendliest Baristas

Coffee Commissary

801 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles California

Iced Kumo coffee and chia seed muffin. Wide range of people here: most women wearing yoga pants, a homeless guy, a man in a leather jacket and cowboy hat, a woman running her business on her laptop and phone, a woman with tattoos asking an older guy for a job. In terms of food, they only had a few baked goods inside the shop, outside they had a food truck.

Favorite Décor

Lamill Coffee

1636 Silver Lake Boulevard., Los Angeles California 90026

Scenes of ancient Greece covered the walls, golden chandeliers hung in the main room, the walls were red. Wide variety but pricey food. Tacked on service fee to offset minimum wage increase. Being a Saturday morning most people were in workout clothes: walking, running or yoga. Definitely more of a community feel than some of the other coffee houses I visited. The zucchini bread was really good. Valrhona mocha.

Most Impressive Presentation

Intelligentsia Silverlake

3922 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029

They place the mug of coffee on a wooden tray with cup of milk and pitcher with extra coffee. I also liked the blue tiled floor. They only had baked goods. Tough parking on the weekend as everything is permit only on the side streets. I parked on Santa Monica two blocks away.

Best Cold Drink On Hot Day

Starbucks

454 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

My boss gave me a gift card to Starbucks when the temperature was over 105 degrees. It was a day that definitely called for a venti Java Chip Frappuccino. I know Frappuccinos are travesty to coffee purist but sometimes you just need to have that 600 calorie caffeinated brain freeze to get you through the day. Lots of free parking and nice fountain outside.

Best Food

Paper or Plastik Café

5772 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles California

Great food menu and delicious food. Had a delicious iced Almond Joy coffee. It left me wired for rest of the day.  While the benches outside were a little hard, there were large  orange cushions that provided great back support. Staff was friendly here and you could find parking a block south on the side streets. I was only able to stay an hour but it had such a good vibe that wish I could have stayed longer.

Best Slogan

Alfred Coffee & Kitchen

8428 Melrose Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90069

Had cappuccino and small tasty breakfast burrito. Everyone wearing black here and well groomed. Perhaps it was because it was in the middle of Melrose fashion row. Nice area to walk around after a writing session. Farmers Market takes place out front so parking can be tough. While it was crowded, the tables turned over pretty quickly. I loved the slogan their cups "We are here to inspire you."