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The Best Coffee Bars in Los Angeles
The craft coffee movement has really picked up steam here in L.A., bringing a tsunami of third wave roasters, cafes and coffee bars with it. Here are the ones we think are doing the best in the biz.
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Photo by Krista Simmons/LAist
Stumptown
Similarly located in the oh-so-hot Arts District, this Portland roaster also has an awesome coffee bar. Though there's not much in terms of seating, they do a bang-up job on their brews, namely their cold brew rocket fuel, which is perfect for sunny summertime sipping. You can even take some to go in a growler, for those who really need a massive fix at home.
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Stumptownis located at 806 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, (213) 337-0936
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Photo by Krista Simmons/LAist
Verve at Vibiana
The famed Santa Cruz roaster has set up shop at Vibiana Cathedral, teasing the opening of their first SoCal location, again proving that Downtown is ground zero for the ever-expanding craft coffee movement in L.A. Sip on a simply perfect macchiato while basking in the sunshine in the courtyard, and see just why it is that all these roasters are moving to L.A.
Verveis located at 214 S Main St, Los Angeles
Intelligentsia
The Chicago-based Intelli brought their first shop in Silver Lake in 2007, and now they also have locations in Venice and Pasadena, too. The original is still our favorite, even if there are always lines. The baristas might get a little snobby if you ask for iced mochas, but the sunshiny patio and signature bright blue tile work is worth it.
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Intelligentsiais located at 3922 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 663-6173
LAMILL Coffee
This high-end coffee boutique has become a Silver Lake staple, especially for those who need a buzz while walking the Reservoir. Their patio is dog-friendly, which means you can sip your pour-over while your pooch enjoys a lap of water too.
LAMILL Coffee is located at 1636 Silver Lake Boulevard, (323) 663-4441
Coffee Commissary
Coffee Commissary uses a rotation of top notch roasters like Coava, Sightglass, and Victrola to keep their customers fueled. The excellently pulled espressos keep you coming back. They have locations in Fairfax, Burbank and Hollywood.
Coffee Commissaryis located at 801 N Fairfax Ave #106 in Fairfax, (323) 782-1465. They also have a location at 6087 W Sunset Blvd in Hollywood and 3121 W Olive Ave in Burbank.
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Photo of the Business and Pleasure at Go Get Em Tiger by Krista Simmons/LAist
Go Get Em Tiger
Kyle Glanville and Charles Babinksi's Larchmont Village coffee bar is an excellent spot to hang on a Sunday morning after hitting up the farmers market. Not only do they make an wicked cheddar corn bread waffle with honey, but there are top notch brews to boot. Try the Business and Pleasure: a shot of single origin espresso served with a back of a slightly sweetened almond macadamia nut latte.
Go Get Em Tiger is located at 230 N. Larchmont Avenue, Los Angeles, 90036
G & B at Grand Central Market
Also owned by Babinksi and Glanville, this coffee bar is located inside the ever-changing Grand Central Market. It started out as a pop-up at Sqirl in Silver Lake, but now they're rocking out downtown with drinks like their ultimate milkshake made with Straus Family Creamery vanilla bean ice cream, two double shots of espresso and whole milk. If you're a lightweight when it comes to caffeine, try their refreshing carbonated citra hop tea.
G&B is located at 324 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles, (312) 555-5555
Cognoscenti Coffee
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Yeekai Lim started out as a pop-up too, and eventually moved into the Proof space, before getting his own full-blown space in Culver City. The shop is located in the architectural district, which makes sense since Lim is a former architect himself. He gets in whatever single origin beans he's feeling at the moment from places like Sightglass, 39th Parallel, and the like—then uses them in simply perfect pour overs.
Cognoscenti Coffee is located at 6114 Washington Blvd., (310) 363-7325
Menotti's
This small-but-mighty shop near the Venice Boardwalk brews San Francisco's Four Barrel coffee. They also happen to have one of the best baristas in town, Nicely, who not only lives up to his name, but also crafts some of the most gorgeous latte art and rosettes you'll see.
Menotti'sis located at 56 Windward Ave., Venice Beach, (310) 392-7232
Handsome Roasters
What started as a pop-up in back of an Arts District roasting facility has now grown into one of our favorite coffee bars in L.A. There might not be WiFi or any sweeteners for your coffee, but that's because the guys at Handsome are coffee purists, which shouldn't come as a surprise since it was started by three Intelligentsia vets.
Update 9/26: Handsome Roasters was bought up by the Oakland-based Blue Bottle. Blue Bottle has also expanded into Venice. We recommend their iced coffee in a carton.
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