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Looking for pumpkin spice beyond the chains? Try these Eastside cafes instead
A carrot cake latte at Semillas Café y Flores.
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Courtesy of Semillas Café y Flores
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Fall is here, and so are the cozy, seasonal drinks. If you’re looking to skip out on chain lattes and support local instead, this guide is for you.
Whether you’re a pumpkin spice lover or not, these Eastside cafes have a variety of drinks and pastries to choose from.
Cafe Niña
Add a ghost design to your drink at Cafe Niña.
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Courtesy of Cafe Niña
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What started as a home-based coffee shop in Boyle Heights has now expanded to a brick-and-mortar location in East Los Angeles. Find their fall menu at both locations. If you’re looking for spooky vibes, ask for a ghost design on the inside of your cup.
- Pumpkin pillon latte: Pumpkin with piloncillo
- Durazno Latte: Peach cobbler-inspired latte
Location #1: Boyle Heights: 3264 E. 4th St., Los Angeles, CA 90063
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday-Monday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location #2: East Los Angeles: 3923 1/2 E. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90023
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Find them on Instagram: @justcafenina.
Acurrúcame Café
The pumpkin spice latte is made with fresh pumpkin and espresso at Acurrúcame Café.
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Courtesy of Acurrúcame Café
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Sponsored message
This cafe is known for specialty drinks available only to customers who order in person. Its pumpkin spice matcha and latte are available now, while the Franken-Berry latte and the Beetlejuice matcha will be available starting September 26.
- Pumpkin spice matcha or latte: Made with fresh pumpkin and either matcha or espresso
- Franken-Berry latte: Made with espresso and blueberries
- Beetlejuice: Matcha made with blackberries
Location: 2609 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Find them on Instagram: @acurrucamecafe.
Semillas Café y Flores
Maple brown sugar shaken espresso from Semillas Café y Flores.
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Courtesy of Semillas Café y Flores
)
Pair your fall pastries, including maple pecan blondies, ginger molasses cookies or a slice of pumpkin loaf with your choice of fall drinks:
- Carrot cake latte: House-made spiced carrot syrup, espresso, cream cheese cold foam with pecan crunch topping
- Manzanita tonic: Spiced apple cider, tonic water, espresso, house-made canela syrup with apple crisp topping
- Canelita cold brew: House-made canela syrup, Chiapas cold brew with cinnamon cold foam
- Maple shaken espresso: Maple syrup, sea salt, espresso shaken with ice, topped with a splash of milk and maple cold foam
Location: 1850 1/2 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90033
Hours: Daily; 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Find them on Instagram: @semillas.la
Cafe Cafe Mobile Coffee
The butternut squash latte topped with cookie crumble from Cafe Cafe Mobile.
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Courtesy of Cafe Cafe Mobile
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Sponsored message
Not a pumpkin spice lover? Cafe Cafe Mobile has you! Its butternut squash latte has been a crowd favorite during the fall season.
- Butternut squash latte: An ode to pumpkin spice but with butternut squash spices, topped with cookie crumble.
Location: 2633 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033 (Inside Milpa Kitchen)
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Find them on Instagram: @cafecafemobilecoffee.
Cake Girl
Pumpkin spice cold brew from Cake Girl.
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Courtesy of Cake Girl
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Location: 2100 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Find them on Instagram: @hellocakegirl.
Anhelo Coffee
For all the cookie butter and piloncillo pumpkin lovers out there, Anhelo Coffee has you covered:
- Cookie butter latte: Cookie butter blended with espresso; iced version available with cream top and sprinkled with crushed Biscoff cookies.
- Piloncillo pumpkin spice latte: House-made piloncillo pumpkin spice syrup blended with espresso.
- Piloncillo pumpkin spice cold brew: Cold brew coffee topped with house-made piloncillo pumpkin spice cream.
- Cookies & cream matcha: Matcha blended with cookies and cream
Location: 3609 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90063
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Find them on Instagram: @anhelocoffeeshop.
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