Located in the heart of fashion-centric Melrose Place, Alfred {Coffee+Kitchen} focuses on just that. Their baristas wear only Rag & Bone. And they are all about that mustache branding. Everything is quaint, well-placed, and the decor is adorable. However, their coffee fell slightly unnoticed. Alfred brews Stumptown (Hairbender espresso) and unfortunately it tasted slightly muddy (although they didn't pull the shot too long or anything). Overall, this place is so cute and a great place to hang out on a weekend or even study and they also have great outdoor seating. I came here on a Sunday morning when there was a great farmer's market right outside on Melrose Place. 

Recommend: Go on a Sunday and hit up the farmer's market!  Great outdoor seating on a beautiful day.

Notes: Not the best coffee, but a great vibe.

Price: $$$

Espresso Rating: 6/10

Overall Rating: 7/10

Hours:  Mon-Sat 8 am - 7 pm, Sun 8 am - 4 pm

Website: http://www.alfredcoffee.com/ 

It's simple enough on the wall of Broome St. General Store: "If you don't see it, ask for it!". Tucked away off the humming street of Rowena, across from an elementary school and a small neighborhood of Los Feliz or Silverlake (it's getting hard to distinguish), Broome St. General Store is somehow both friendly and trendy. It is both exclusive (hidden away among the trees) and inclusive. The shelves are lined with bits of everything reminiscent of a true general store of the 1950's: a few shirts, pants, shoes, candies, soaps, pillows, pickles and sauces. And surprisingly enough, none of this could compare to my excitement of the red sign in the window for Gimme! Coffee. For those who don't know, Gimme! Coffee is a fantastic coffee company out of New York that I had not been able to find anywhere on the West Coast! That is, until the General Store met my every need, including my ridiculous espresso needs. Even better, the espresso tasted exactly like I had remembered in NYC with Gimme! Coffee's Leftist Blend Espresso. For some reason, I had always related Gimme! as a perfect medium between Third Wave espresso and Italian espresso. Sitting outside on Broome St General Store's shaded patio, I was reminded of why. Gimme!'s Leftist blend balances sweet and intense flavors like dark chocolate on a sunny day. Overall, I want to live in Broome Street General Store. Especially considering I wouldn't have to set foot outside that house for some delicious espresso. 

Recommend: There's a reason Gimme! Coffee has an exclamation point. Gimme! some Gimme! Coffee. Seriously try it and then meander around looking at all the lovely, interesting, and largely useless (for me) goods in the store. Also, Fried Chicken Fridays is a thing here?

Note: Parking can be kind of difficult. Outdoor seating is really the only option so come on a nice day if you want to sit down for a bit.  Also, they have WiFi!

Vibe: Hipstery schmipstery (but not in a pretentious way)

Price: $$ (for coffee), $$$ (for everything else) 

Espresso Rating: 8.5/10

Overall Rating: 8/10 (lovely but the location and lack of indoor seating seems problematic) 

Summer Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-7pm; Sunday 9am-5pm

Winter Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30am-7pm; Sunday 9am-5pm

Website: http://www.broomestgeneral.com/ 

If you are ever in Los Feliz and in need of some good espresso, Bru is the place to go. Located on the lovely street of Vermont, Bru Coffee serves Ritual Coffee out of San Francisco. It was one of the first places I discovered when coming to USC two years ago, and I've been back a few times whenever I'm in the area at vintage clothing stores, the great restaurants in the area, or seeing a movie at the adorable Los Feliz 3 Cinemas. This past visit to Bru I had their Seersucker Espresso from Ritual. This espresso is their Summer seasonal espresso and the flavors were described as "root beer" or "caramel" and I actually liked it better than past experiences from Bru, although they served the espresso extremely hot. The coffee bar itself has a cool layout with an upstairs seating area, outdoor porch, and very high ceilings. I wouldn't say this is my favorite coffee shop, but it's definitely a good go-to when you are in the Los Feliz area.

Recommend: Walk around Vermont Ave! This is the great part of Vermont (not further South near USC)--good restaurants, shops, and cinema. 

Note: WiFi available, good place to study, good area for people-watching outside.  Also, it's open until 10 pm on Friday and Saturday, so it's a great place to go before a late movie!

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 7.5/10

Overall Rating: 8/10

Hours: Mon-Thurs 7am-8pm, Fri-Sat 7am-10pm, Sun 8am-8pm

Website: http://www.brucoffeebar.com/

When I was sitting in Cafe Demitasse in Santa Monica, two peculiar things happened. The first was that a man was complaining about his Gibraltar not being perfect. For coffee nerds, one should think that it's quite silly outside of a Blue Bottle to order a "Gibraltar" considering one of Blue Bottle's first baristas randomly coined the name. The other peculiar thing that happened made me respect the baristas at Cafe Demitasse to no end. A man came in acting all high and mighty, asking for a lemon rind in his espresso. A WHAT? YES, HE ASKED FOR A LEMON RIND IN HIS ESPRESSO. Shocked and offended at such a silly request, I made eye contact with the barista who happened to be smirking and politely refused the man his lemon rind. Thank goodness. Anyways, enough with the shenanigans. As I've clearly shown, Cafe Demitasse stays true to their coffee. My most recent visit was to their second location in Santa Monica (newly opened in early May) while the original is in LIttle Tokyo, close to Cafe Dulce. They roast their own coffee locally and you can tell that all their baristas are full-on coffee geeks. Siphons, pour-overs--you name it, they know it. During my past visit I ordered a single-origin espresso from Tanzania and it was fantastic--grapefruity sweet and yet a little bitter. Even better, the new shop was relatively empty, pristine, and quiet. The Little Tokyo location is equally cool and coffee-centric. There is even a bar around the siphons to sit and watch all of the magic happen. Overall, both locations are great for coffee nerds or even a quick cup of lemon rind-free espresso.

Recommend: Talk to the baristas about any of your coffee questions! They're quite knowledgable. 

Note: Don't ask for a lemon rind like you are speaking to bartenders. You will look silly and also be refused. 

Price: $$

Vibe: Coffee nerd, quiet, clean

Espresso Rating: 8.5/10

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Hours: Little Tokyo, Mon-Thurs 7-10, Sat-Sun 8-10; Santa Monica, Mon-Wed 7-8, Thurs-Fri 7-10, Saturday 8-10, Sunday 8-8

Website: http://cafedemitasse.com/

Japan knows their coffee. Thankfully, Cafe Dulce in the heart of Little Tokyo is a testament to this. Although it's a bit hidden in the pagodas of the Japanese Village Plaza Mall, it's worth finding. Cafe Dulce is probably the only place I've encountered in Los Angeles that carries MadCap Coffee out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in addition to Verve, and Stumptown. Their menu offers a wide variety for everyone from coffee connoisseurs (with a variety of pour-overs) to people with a sweet tooth (Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Hong Kong Style Milk tea, Masala Chai, Green Tea Latte, etc.). Even more crazy are their selection of pastries--with maple bacon donuts and different flavored rotis. And I haven't even gotten to their espresso! I went in the morning of July 4 and they actually told me that they were using a blend of Costa Rican and Colombian from a friend's company called Andante. Served with sparkling water (finally! people have really stopped doing this these days), my Andante espresso had awesome notes of fruity strawberry and a bit chocolatey--and although most espressos will be either chocolatey or fruity, this one tasted quite unexpected and flavorful. Even better, the barista who served it to me voluntarily started telling me about the espresso and asked me to tell him what I thought. How refreshing! The baristas were not pretentious or snobby and just really love coffee. Overall, this place is fantastic and cute and has great coffee. And even if they took away all their fancy shmansy donuts and cute logo, I would still love the place for their quality and friendliness. Go here!

Recommend: Walk around Little Tokyo if you haven't been! It's right north of Downtown LA (basically Downtown LA I guess)  and even get a fruity pebbles donut!

Note: Cafe Dulce also has a Popup Shop!! I can't wait to try it out but in the meantime the address is 777 Alameda! 

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 8.5/10-- I have returned recently (as of Aug 20) and their espresso quality has declined :(

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours: Mon-Sun 8am-10pm

Website: http://cafedulcelosangeles.com/ 

Currently Caffe Luxxe has three locations in the Santa Monica area--one off of San Vicente, one off of 26th St, and the other off of Montana Ave. I have only been to the San Vicente and Montana locations but they both are quaint and pull great shots of espresso. Most recently I visited the Caffe Luxxe off of Montana Ave. If you haven't been in this area of Santa Monica it has a great high-end, small-town feel. The espresso itself is roasted locally and called Testa Rossa Espresso. The espresso is very dark, chocolatey and Italian-tasting (great if you are into that flavor) and they pull the shots very, very short. The cafe also has other great amenities--it's a great place to study, eat alfajores (yummy sugar-dusted cookie sandwiches with dulce de leche in the middle), or just relax outside. The location off of San Vicente is similar but has a larger outdoor seating area. 

Recommendations: Alfajores!!

Notes: WiFi available, limited seating at the Montana Ave location when people sit for awhile to study

Vibe: Classic coffee shop feel, socializing, studyng

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 8.5/10 (unusual flavor, locally roasted) 

Overall Rating: 8/10

Hours: Mon-Fri 6 am - 7 pm; Sat-Sun 6:30 am - 7 pm

Website: http://www.caffeluxxe.com/ 

 Locations: 11975 San Vicente Blvd; 925 Montana Ave; 225 26th St

Located across the street from the historic Vista theater and off of a messy intersection of five different streets where "Hollywood meets Sunset," Caffe Vita Coffee Roasting Company is a fantastic addition to the Silverlake coffee scene. Yes, we've seen Intelligentsia before. And LAMILL coffee seems to pop up around town pretty frequently as well. But Caffe Vita, hailing from Seattle, Washington, brought something fresh to Silverlake. You know a coffee company is good if they can survive in Seattle, Portland, New York City, and now with a location in Los Angeles, which opened in the past year. Their logo--a jester-- and font is reminiscent of something slightly Medieval or a Viennese coffee shop, although I couldn't put my finger on it. The Silverlake location itself is far from Medieval, but is rather modern and inviting. There is free WiFi, so most of the tables are filled with laptops, but I can't really hold it against them. I'll definitely be keeping this on my list to return when I have tons of homework and need to get off campus. But on to more important things--the espresso! They forgot my order sadly, but when I finally got the espresso it was a great-looking ristretto (very short) pull. To me, their Caffe del Sol espresso tasted orangey with a hint of hazelnut. Yum! I definitely wouldn't call the baristas at Caffe Vita coffee nerds, but they can make a solid, unique espresso.

Recommend: Pastries were great. This is also a fantastic place to come before or after a movie at the Vista theater. 

Note: WiFi is free and they have outlets and all that jazz, but beware because they can be lacking in tables. 

Price: $$ 

Vibe: Classic coffee shop, study

Espresso Rating: 8/10

Overall Rating: 8/10

Hours: Monday - Friday: 6am-10pm, Saturday - Sunday: 8am-9pm

Website: http://www.caffevita.com/ 

In a far away land of East Los Angeles, behind the vine-covered gates of a dingy strip mall, next to the comically named "Thong-Lo" sits an unexpectedly fine coffee shop: Chimney Coffee. My friend who recommended the spot lived down the street at the Brewery (which also has some of the best views of LA if you find the roof), and I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of their coffee. When I first tried this place, they served coffee from Suits & Knives--roasted in Los Angeles (!)-- that I had first tried at Coffee Co Lab Downtown. The first few times I visited, I got a simple cup of coffee - so tasty and nutty! And finally, on a weekend when I was also able to enjoy their breakfast sandwiches, I tasted their espresso. Unfortunately - not so great! And again a few weeks or months later, I gave them another shot at the espresso. Again, a bit of a bust, as it tasted quite bitter. However, I do applaud Chimney Coffee for their deliciously, consistently on-point food menu (I think I got their "Uncle A.C.E." - the one with the mini umbrella), kind service, and for that on-the-way-to-work black coffee that I sometimes so need. Chimney has stopped serving Suits & Knives coffee, but has switched to a different rotational local coffee. I already know I will keep visiting Chimney - and not just out of convenience - but I do hope to keep searching for the perfect espresso here!

Note: Hard to find, but just look for Thong-Lo!

Recommend: Visit Chimney for Brunch on the weekend and try the Uncle A.C.E.--so tasty!

Espresso Rating: 5/10

Overall Rating: 8/10

Address: 1100 North Main Street Suite B, Los Angeles, CA, 90012

Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm; Friday-Sunday, 8am-6pm

It seems like LA is finally gaining some momentum in the coffee scene. In almost every major neighborhood these days, you are able to find a decent espresso or cup of coffee or whatever. I wouldn't say maybe to the standards of New Yorkers, but then again, they always love to hate on LA. :)

Located on North Figueroa Street in the ever-changing Highland Park, Civil Coffee is a good example of the coffee bug that has recently infected this city. With its high, airy ceilings, dark wood furnishings, and MUSHROOM BACON (pardon me), it is setting a stellar example for the best coffee shops around. Did I mention mushroom "bacon"? Anyways, back to the espresso. Civil Coffee serves both Coava and Heart Coffee (again, both great roasters out of Portland). Most times that I have been I have tried their "Tandem", which is one shot of daily espresso alongside their guest espresso. And most times I have been pleased with at least one of the two. Typically single origin madness is hard to pull off well in an espresso anyways. Sigh. Overall, great place for coffee in Highland Park- whether its a quick take away or a place to visit with friends. 

Recommend: Roam around the neighborhood and find next door some cool stuff at The Quiet Life or some dark/mystic/intellectual books and records and things the other direction at Mt Analog.

Note: Try all food on the menu.

Espresso Rating: 8.5/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours: Mon-Sun 7am-5pm

Address: 5629 N Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Located inside LACMA, Coffee + Milk is the perfect start, break, or end to a day at an art museum. The cafe is not only host to Intelligentsia Coffee (Black Cat Espresso), but it has a wide variety of delicious pastries and ah-mazing milk ice cream cookie sandwiches. The cafe uses a La Marzocco Strada to pull its shots of espresso, and they have been pretty consistently good for the many times that I've visited this location. My most recent visit was probably the most disappointing espresso that I've had there (it was pulled for too long and was a little too watery, with an uneven flavor). Overall, the cafe is great. Couldn't ask for a better surprise inside LACMA on a beautiful day.

Recommend: Pop tarts and Milk Sorbet cookie sandwich

Notes: No WiFi, open/closed around museum hours, not a good website

Price: $$$  (Espresso $3, Cookie Sandwich $7)

Vibe: Clean, sleek, art-crowd

Espresso Rating: 7/10

Overall Rating: 8/10

Located near the corner of Fairfax and Melrose, Coffee Commissary is truly a breath of fresh air in the LA coffee scene. Thus far, I haven't found many other places that use Victrola (out of Seattle, Washington) or Sightglass (one of my favorites out of San Fran) in the Los Angeles area. For espresso at the time that I visited on Sunday they had just switched to  Victrola's Guatemala Huehuetenango for some single origin goodness. It tasted like dark chocolate and was pulled basically perfectly. Aside from the great espresso, Coffee Commissary is in a great location and on Sunday is right around the corner from the Melrose Trading Post (check it out--so awesome!!). Although I wouldn't necessarily study inside there because of the loud-ish music, their outdoor seating is perfect for reading a book on a nice day. If you're feelin' meaty, grab some meat at Lindy & Grundy next door! Overall, awesome coffee shop and I wish it was located closer to me *sigh*. 

Recommend: Go on a sunny day and sit outside! Or go on a Sunday and hit up the Melrose Trading post after (http://melrosetradingpost.org/)!

Note: Music is pretty loud inside usually so unless you have some good headphones, it's not ideal for studying.

Updates: There are two other Coffee Commissary locations in North Hollywood and Burbank. The Burbank location has equally good espresso and great food (make sure to try the french toast)!

Price: $$ 

Vibe: Modern, cool, coffee nerd

Espresso Rating: 8/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours:  Mon-Sun 7 am - 8 pm

Website: http://www.coffeecommissary.com/ 

I hope I do Cognoscenti Coffee justice considering I can't ever remember how to pronounce the name. Cognoscenti, loosely meaning "experts", is pronounced "Kon-oh-shen-tee". Although not explicitly stated, I can't help but think that this name is poking fun at Intelligentsia Coffee. Intelligentsia (intellectual elite) vs. Cognoscenti (experts)... coincidence? I think not. Regardless, I originally found out about this coffee shop through Proof Bakery in Atwater Village. I thought it was a fantastic idea to have a separate coffee shop inside a bakery because usually one or the other loses focus. The coffee will be great and the pastries will be dry and stale. Or the pastries will be fantastic, melt-in-your-mouth and the coffee will fall flat. But this way, both the espresso and the baked goods are stellar every time. Relatively recently (around November), Cognoscenti opened their own place outside of Proof Bakery, while still carrying Proof Bakery goods, in Culver City. Aside from the random location, this is my new favorite coffee shop. The interior is small but carefully detailed. The wall behind the espresso bar is stacked with books (I even saw my favorite Blue Bottle book), interesting clocks, and random of coffee paraphernalia. Cuteness aside, this place has some of the best coffee. I knew from looking at their bags of Four Barrel, Ritual Coffee, Bows & Arrows, Heart Roasters, that they already had a good start. But finally! The amazing aesthetics matched an amazing cup of espresso. Most recently, I had Ritual Coffee's Seersucker espresso. Although I'm not the biggest fan of Ritual Coffee (I think it can be overhyped), the extremely friendly and knowledgable barista (Leo) pulled probably the best shot I've had of Ritual. Go here. Even if it's out of the way (it probably will be considering it's not really near much). Talk to Leo! And don't worry about pronouncing Cognoscenti-- the espresso and baristas will be equally great. 

Recommend: Any day except Monday Cognoscenti carries Proof Bakery pastries-- try their chocolate chip cookies! Amazing. Or, go to their Proof Bakery location and have some fresh brioche and jam!

Note: I think they have WiFi -- and although there are a total of 3 tables, it could be a great quiet place to study. 

Vibe: Modern, coffeeshop, friendly

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 9/10

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Hours: Monday - Saturday 8-5pm (Culver City); Tuesday - Sunday 8-4pm (Atwater Village)

Wesbite: http://www.popupcoffee.com/ 

From personal experience, Pasadena often gets overlooked when living in Los Angeles. There aren't that many reasons that I have to drive out there except for my rare trip to Whole Foods (it has an awesome Whole Foods, just fyi). That is, until now. I have finally found my absolute favorite coffee shop. I awaited the opening of Copa Vida from when I was out of town this summer and immediately visited the first chance I got back. From the pictures, I was expecting the typical LA coffee shop experience--adorable, well-decorated interior, perfect detail--and then mediocre to bad espresso. Not this place, ladies and gentlemen, because I present to you a place that is beautiful inside and out. Well, inside your espresso cup and outside your espresso cup. In fact, it is so great that I came back the very next day and mind you, Pasadena is 13 miles away from me. Enough hype. Copa Vida is located in Old Pasadena in the red brick buildings and relatively walkable area off of Colorado Ave. They have an extremely impressive Strada machine (and know how to use it) and currently carry Verve, 49th Parallel and Ritual coffees, rotating daily. The interior of Copa Vida is spacious and divided into two rooms (the first time I didn't know their was a back room because it can be reserved for private parties). Every time I've been in, they've played great music and the baristas are kind and knowledgable. The shop has a very clean feel with slight accents of Old Pasadena, such as old photographs and dark wooden columns. The three categories that separate their menu are "Steep", "Pressure", and "Brew". Both Single Origin espresso and regular espresso are available everyday, along with many options for tea and coffee. Unfortunately, both times I have visited I was not able to try the food but the pastries and lunch foods look fantastic. On to the important things: espresso. On my first life-changing visit I tried the Single Origin Guatemala from Verve Coffee Roasters. The barista took a good amount of time dialing in the machine, which I am grateful for. I would rather wait ten minutes for an amazing espresso after the machine has been dialed in rather than get a mediocre espresso in ten seconds. Single Origin is usually easier for me to pick up on distinct flavors and in the Verve Guatemala I picked up interesting lavender and lemon flavors. The next day when I returned, a different barista pulled a very decent shot of 49th Parallel's Epic espresso (from their batch of regular espresso). Although it didn't wow me as much as the first day, I was extremely pleased. Everything about Copa Vida is fantastic. Although it could result in drastic gas costs, I will be returning to Pasadena again and again to drink glorious espresso and even just hang out at Copa Vida.

Recommend: A straight up espresso-give it a chance because they actually do it right here!! Also, from the looks of it I would recommend the pastries (Cinnamon swirl monkey bread anyone?). 

Note: It is in Pasadena, but it's worth the drive if you live in Los Angeles for a quiet place to study, meet, or hang out. 

Price: $$ 

Vibe: Laid-back, small-town Pasadena feel

Espresso Rating: 8/10-- The past few times I've been back the espresso has been pretty inconsistent!

Overall Rating: 8/10

Hours: Mon-Thu 7am-10pm, Fri 7am-11pm, Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 8am-9pm

There are very few places that will leave you wanting to pick up surfing, start riding a motorcycle, and serve you great coffee all in one. Deus Ex Machina is one of those rare places. Their Venice location, named "Emporium of Post-Modern Activities" sells customized motorcycles, surf boards, clothing for both activities, and has a coffee bar. This coffee bar at Deus serves Handsome Coffee and (in my opinion) typically pulls better shots than at the actual Handsome Coffee Roasters (not to mention the people serving you are good-looking, surfer/actor baristas). Overall, great hangout, good vibe, excellent espresso.

Recommend: Browse around the shop! So cool.

Note: This also seems like a cool place to study. I think they might have WiFi but I have never inquired.  Also a great place to go before dinner on Abbot Kinney.

Vibe: Venice-y, surfer, laid-back

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 9/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours: Monday to Sunday 7am to 7pm

Website: http://us.deuscustoms.com/location/venice/ 

Although I would not have found this location on my own accord, Dinosaur holds its own in the Silverlake coffee scene. Located next to a McDonald's at the intersection of Fountain and Sunset with an unassuming brick facade, Dinosaur coffee is a beautiful space. They serve Four Barrel Coffee (which has clearly made its presence known by now in Southern California from San Fran) in beautiful ceramic cups which are also for purchase. Although I feel that most of the beautiful coffee shops are calculatingly hipster, Dinosaur has a fresh feeling with the wood work and design that looks like a skeletal underbelly of a dinosaur. As for the taste of the espresso, it was a good take on "Friendo Blendo"--a blend of Guatemalan and Ethiopian coffee that Four Barrel has been serving since the beginning--with a fruitiness and a sweet finish. Although it didn't blow my mind, I will definitely be coming back to Dinosaur for some good vibes and good coffee.

Recommend: Wander to the back and get some life advice. Also go across the street for some great pizza at Garage Pizza or over to Jay's Bar for quality cocktails (you never know what you might need to come down from that caffeine high).

Notes: Lots of taken tables with people on laptops (pro, if you need a place to study... con, if you just need a table to drink coffee)

Price: $$

Vibe: Silverlake neighborhood crowd, quiet

Espresso Rating: 8/10

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Address: 4334 W Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90029

Hours: 8am-6pm everyday

http://www.dinosaurcoffee.com

What is that? In my picture... is it truly... milk? In my espresso? Yes! I finally admit, Princesspresso does truly love a good cortado. And what better place to have one than Eightfold Coffee in Echo Park? It has become quite the joke in that area about how many specialty coffee shops have popped up as of recent (i.e. Dinette, Woodcat, Blue Bottle, Alfred Coffee). The same goes for any vintage clothing store that also sells minimalist jewelry and hand-printed birthday cards ($9.00). But who am I to complain? The more the merrier!

The airy, perfectly lit space of Eightfold Coffee is always my go-to weekend spot (and what better way to relax than the Eightfold Way). Eightfold serves Heart Coffee (from the great coffee city of Portland!), and does a pretty good job at it. Although I'm not the biggest fan of their espresso (a tad bitter and too fruity), I believe their cortados are quite delicious. And I'm an even bigger fan that they are currently host to & Pens Press - the pop-up bookstore (formerly real bookstore a few doors down from Cognoscenti Coffee in Culver City) that seems to always have the best selections of indie-weird books.

So, if you are looking for a cup of joe and a good book, head to Eightfold! (or even more LA) If you are looking for just a cortado and an art zine, Eightfold Coffee is your place!

Recommend: "Every Person in New York" by Jason Polan is right on the table when you walk in. He is one of my favorite sketch/portrait/anything artists around. 

Note: Not much food, but Eightfold is a great place to sit back and read or work (free wifi!).

Price: $$

Espresso Rating: 8/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-6pm

Address: 1294 W Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026

A lot has changed with Elabrew in the past year, although the coffee has stayed consistently good. They have opened a new location in Downtown LA (as seems to be the trend these days), closed their location in Hollywood (read my review here), and are up for hire with a coffee truck. The new-ish DTLA location, located across from Cole's and under the Santa Fe Lofts, is a tiny but impressively painted place. The entire place consists of a front coffee bar and back hallway with a few tables. 

As I had experienced with their previous Hollywood location, the baristas have been consistently open to talking about coffee and educating customers about what they are serving from their rotation of different coffees. Most recently on rotation has been Kuma Coffee's Red Bear espresso (although they do have an option for Single Origin as well). The espresso has been different every time, but on a recent visit from trying El Mirador Colombia coffee, it had a honey sweetness and berry taste. So go, if you are lucky enough to find parking, and experience Elabrew in its welcoming and enlightening environment. And enjoy some damn good espresso.

Recommend: Parking can be tough, but there are plenty of great restaurants and bars around this area if you want to come and stay awhile.

Note: They do have WiFi, but few tables and loud-ish music, so probably not ideal for studying, but great for the espresso itself!

Price: $$

Vibe: Chill, coffee nerd

Espresso Rating: 9/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

Address: 126 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA

Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm; Sat 8am-7pm; Sun 8am-6pm

Website: http://www.elabrewcoffee.com/ (order your catered coffee truck here!)

The first time I noticed Endorffeine, I was sitting across the plaza, staring out the window over a large, steamy, lonely plate of phat thai at Pok Pok Phat Thai. From where I was sitting, Endorffeine looks like a pristine laboratory or an under-furnished pastel bar (?). The logo is a bit tricky, so I truly had no idea that inside held the makings of a semi-coffee lab. I finally read about Endorffeine in Sprudge Magazine, which confirmed my sightings. A bona-fide coffee shop in the Far East Plaza in Chinatown! And better yet, the man who started it all is no stranger to the LA coffee scene. Jack Benchakul - who has a background in biochemistry -  has run or worked at the likes of Cognoscenti Coffee (the pop-up in Good Girl Dinette too!) and Cafe Demitasse. And his scientific precision and coffee experience shows. My espresso at Endorffeine, served by Benchakul from their sleek machines built into the bar, was almost to perfection. The sweeter coffee drinks on the menu are even more exciting, concocted with precision to the very drop on a scale, such as the Palm Sugar Whiskey Iced Latte or the Pandan Vanilla Latte. I am truly excited to see what Endorffeine will hold in the future.

Endorffeine is serving up Portland-native Heart Coffee from 8am to 6pm in Far East Plaza, Chinatown. 

Recommend: Come hungry and get some phat thai after at Pok Pok, or a plate of cheesy fries at Chego!. Or come with a sweet tooth and try the strangely delicious bread ice cream at Scoops. Also, check out East West in the plaza for some tres cool and tres expensive vintage clothing.

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 9/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours: Mon, Wed-Sun 8am-6pm

Address: 727 North Broadway #127, Los Angeles, CA

Espresso Cielo was one of the first good cafes that I visited in Los Angeles four or so years ago. I loved it primarily for getting me to Main Street in Santa Monica, but Espresso Cielo has a lot of other great things going for it. The name insinuates heavenly espresso, and their color scheme reflects that idea with an abundance of robins egg blue matching the frequent color of an LA sky. Espresso Cielo carries Forty-Ninth parallel espresso and is usually better than mediocre, although it is highly inconsistent with whoever is the barista. I always make sure to go to Espresso Cielo when I am in the area and I have great memories of this shop, but I hope they improve on the quality of their espresso shots.

Recommend: Go roller blading down the boardwalk and check out the eccentricities of Venice. Also check out the other direction of Main Street in Santa Monica for good shopping or food.

Note: WiFi is here but weak. Also, I would much recommend this over Dogtown Coffee down the street (sorry).

Price: $

Vibe: Laid-back, close to beach

Espresso Rating: 6/10

Overall Rating: 7/10

Address: 3101 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Hours: 7am-7pm everyday

Einstein once said that insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I feel the same way every time I visit a G&B location. They have the pristine, cool coffee shop vibes. They have the right machine. The right beans. The right baristas. And still, I cannot seem to like the way the pull their espresso. G&B stands for the two former Intelligentsia barista names--Glanville & Babinski. My first experience with G&B began back in their popup shop days at Sqirl and I was more mesmerized every time by Sqirl's toast than G&B's espresso. I considered the possibility the toast just trumping anything in its way. When I finally visited their first permanent location in Grand Central Market (Sqirl-free) I realized my mistake. As I said, the coffee shop at Grand Central Market has a great vibe. If you have never been to this large indoor food market, it is located right across the street from Angel's Flight (or as most people know it-- the (500) Days of Summer location where Joseph Gordon-Levitt draws the skyline on Zooey Deschanel's forearm). The market is very eclectic and you can pretty much find any type of food here--Thai, Mexican, Chinese, fresh produce, popsicles, boba, ya know. G&B stands right at the west opening of Grand Central Market, almost separate from the rest of the market. Unfortunately there is a slightly uncomfortable and distinct separation from the type of people that visit G&B and those that are visiting the other food locations. Regardless, the spot is great. There is a light wooden bar that wraps around the coffee bar that a few people are usually leaning against, enjoying a coffee break. Their coffee shelves are typically lined with Forty Ninth Parallel, Intelligentsia, Ritual, and Heart Roasters-- a great variety. On my past visit they were serving 49th Parallel's single origin, Colombia El Descanso. The flavors were noted to be "intense fruity fragrance, juicy mouthfeel, with flavors of blackberries, currants and honey." Unfortunately, with G&B's very unique way of making an "espresso"--which I consider to be more of a americano-- was extremely watered down and the high note-fruity flavors were hard to tolerate for half a glass. Before the espresso G&B usually serves a type of white bubbly tea. Although I'm all for unique twists, this seemed to off-put the flavors of the espresso instead of cleansing my palate as seltzer water would have done. Aside from the single flaw of watery espresso, G&B and the Grand Central Market are lovely. I probably shall return soon enough (as long as my insanity persists) and give G&B another chance. 

Recommend: Walk around the Grand Central Market and come ready to snack or eat foreign food! 

Note: Although I do not enjoy their espresso, G&B seems to have great varieties of tea and a special treat for those with an extra-sweet tooth: the Espresso Milkshake.  

Price: $$

Vibe: Open-air, friendly, eclectic surroundings

Espresso Rating:  6/10

Overall Rating:  8/10

Location:  317 Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Hours:  9am-6pm Everyday

Website: http://gandbcoffee.com/ 

This past Friday (June 28) was the first opening day of G&B's new Larchmont location: Go Get Em Tiger. This location happened to be 2 doors down from one of my favorite bakeries, Babycakes, so I was ecstatic for the possibility of so much goodness in such a small vicinity. Let me start by saying the decor and look of this new coffee shop is awesome. Although I was confused about what the name had to do with G&B, Go Get Em Tiger is bright with lots of lovely details--such as a large astronaut design on the wall, red lamps accenting the very white interior, and cool wooden stools that are hinted with colorful accents. Everything seemed just perfect until I got my espresso. They happen to pull all their shots in small glass cups and my one espresso (probably meant to be a double ristretto) filled up half the cup. The espresso that they were pulling was from Heart roasters and called Chelba. It was watery, and even worse I had to spend such a long time drinking the espresso that had a very sour high note (I wouldn't have even minded as much if it had been a more mellow flavor). The barista that helped me out happened to be very rude and I expected so much more from this brand new, adorable-looking Larchmont location. Oh well, maybe they were just getting their act together on opening day. I might give them another chance if I'm in need for some more Babycakes.

Update: I have gone back more recently since their opening, and a very kind barista treated me to some fantastic espresso. No more watery, in-a-bowl long shots! Hooray! Now I can go back and appreciate their aesthetically pleasing ambiance with a good ole ristretto. Also, they have expanded their food menu to an impressive sqirl-esque type menu (+ waffles) that all looks delicious!

Recommend: Go to Babycakes next door! They're much more friendly and have amazing kosher, gluten-free, vegan donuts!  Also, walk around Larchmont. It's a very cute area.

Vibe: Minimalist, new, uncomfortable

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 8/10 (I've liked Heart roasters in the past)

Overall Rating:  8/10

Website: http://ggetla.com/

"We often despise what is most useful to us"   is the moral that comes from Aesop's fable, The Hart and the Hunter. Although I didn't exactly know what this has to do with a fantastic restaurant and coffee shop located inside the Pali Hotel, I had to call and ask. Apparently, chefs Kris Tominaga and Brian Dunsmoor loved the fable's message in that we must appreciate what is ours and not covet that which we don't have, so they went ahead and named their restaurant after it. Yet, in this whimsical southern country kitchen it is hard not to appreciate what you have. Every single detail is delightfully quirky and well thought out. The hand-drawn chalkboard menu is short and simple for breakfast and coffee and every single item that I have tried is crazy good. I'm talkin' the best of the best-- granola and yogurt, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits (I seriously can't do these biscuits justice with words), smoked trout and avocado toast, and even their cookies! Everything! Their healthy salads at lunch! Not to mention, if you are feelin' more eggs for breakfast, then go get some from the EggSlut truck usually outside. And I haven't even gotten to the espresso. The Hart and the Hunter uses Handsome Coffee and does a damn good handsome job of it. Yes, I go back and forth whether I actually like Handsome coffee and that's because I have had some lovely espresso and some terribly mediocre espresso. From what I've had at the Hart and the Hunter, 4 times out of 5 the espresso will be fantastic--usually depending on the barista. They vary in using Handsome's Adventure or Comfort blend, so the taste varies each time. Usually their Dandy Adventure espresso is very lemon-y and quite a high note--not something I could drink everyday, but if its not too extreme it can be enjoyable. All in all, something about The Hart and the Hunter has kept me coming back. Or probably many things--it's right off Melrose and Fairfax, has some of the best food in town (right up there with my absolute favorite, Sqirl), and most of the time will have a good espresso. It's quite the unique spot that I would recommend for anytime, any meal of the day.

Note: It's only open Monday 7-12, although I usually forget and try to go for lunch (it's like cravin' Chick-Fil-A on Sunday!). 

Recommend: Gah! It's almost too hard to recommend one thing. If you're feeling decadent, go for the biscuits for breakfast. If you want something more savory, go for the smoked trout and avocado toast. It's better than it sounds.  Also, the dinner is supposed to be out of this world--and people know-- because it gets quite crowded.

Price: $$ (actually quite a good price for the freshest and best ingredients for their food) 

Vibe: Whimsical, cute

Espresso Rating: 8/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours:  Mon. Breakfast 7-12 Tues. Breakfast 7-3 / Lunch 11:30 / Dinner 5:30-10 Wed. Breakfast 7-3 / Lunch 11:30 / Dinner 5:30-10 Thur. Breakfast 7-3 / Lunch 11:30 / Dinner 5:30-10 Fri. Breakfast 7-3 / Lunch 11:30 / Dinner 5:30-11 Sat. Breakfast 7-3 / Lunch 11:30 / Dinner 5:30-11 Sun. Breakfast 7-10 / Brunch 11-2 / Dinner 5:30-9

Website: http://www.thehartandthehunter.com/-- you can read the fable here! 

If you have never been to Abbot Kinney before and you live in Los Angeles, go. Now. This hipster mecca has a lot more hiding up its sleeve than most streets in Los Angeles. One of these gems (although not so hidden) is home to Intelligentsia coffee. The entrance to the coffee shop itself is magical-- a high arched breezeway always filled with beautiful people in sunglasses. The espresso bar itself has two different La Marzocco machines and sometimes both are in use although I've only usually seen one at a time being used. They offer both Black Cat espresso and a single origin. From having tried a lot of Black Cat recently, I decided to go with the single origin from "Coopedota, Costa Rica" and which they deemed "bright/juicy/effervescent." The espresso turned out to be very "bright" indeed, but it lost any juiciness in its brightness. Most single origins come through with distinct flavors, sometimes even unevenly and overwhelming, but for some reason just got stuck at "bright" and didn't really do it for me. However, in my past visits, I have had stellar shots of Black Cat.

Updated: I went back here recently and I had a fantastic Black Cat espresso!

Recommend: Come here on a nice day and explore all of Abbot Kinney! It's such a lovely area to eat, shop, and walk around. 

Note: They claim to have WiFi but when I tried it it was very spotty... 

Vibe: Hipster

Espresso Rating: 8.5/10 (from past experiences) 

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Hours: 6am - 8pm Monday - Wednesday, 6am - 11pm Thursday - Friday, 7am - 11pm Saturday, 7am - 8pm Sunday

Website: http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/

Ten things I love about Paper or Plastik Cafe (because sometimes you just need to make lists):

1. Intelligentsia Sugar Glider espresso--sweet brown sugary tasting, with a spicy aftertaste (they also carry Handsome Coffee and Coava)

2. Synesso Machine

3. No-snobbery baristas

4. Sqirl Preserves (and many other local ingredients)

5. Their magazines: Gather, Lucky Peach, Kinfolk

6. Laptop-free weekends

7. Good food! All day long (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 

8. Lovely espresso cups served with sparkling water

9. Upstairs and outdoor seating

10. Probably the only decent coffee shop on Pico

One thing that makes me sad about Paper or Plastik Cafe:

1. Their espresso could be even better, I know it!

Recommend: There's an overwhelming amount of good food on their menu--try something that looks good to you! My sister had their breakfast sandwich (Chive biscuit, fig jam, scrambled eggs, greens, bacon, etc.) and loved it!

Note: They have a lot of great events going on at this neighborhood location-- check em out! Especially their Summer Dinners going on right now with a fantastic looking prix fixe menu. 

Price: $$ 

Vibe: Neighborhood, laid-back

Espresso Rating: 7.5/10

Overall Rating: 8.5/1

Hours:  Everyday 7am-10pm

Website:  http://www.paperorplastikcafe.com/

This past weekend, I was with the person who started it all: my father. The espresso addiction! My life! So, the pressure was on (literally, pressure in these espresso machines) to show him the best coffee around LA. Although it has taken me a whole lot of time and failure to realize it, I began to see that drinking espresso, both good and bad, was not simply for the taste. Considering how many awful espressos I have tasted in my life, theres a great amount of fun in finding the rare good ones. And once you find those gems, that must mean the coffee beans and barista will always be good, right? The same bean, the same barista, the same flavor, right? Wrong. Even if you stay at the same coffee shop all afternoon and have three or four espressos, even from the same barista, they will all probably taste completely different. I hadn't realized until this past weekend that the main excitement in trying espresso is that you don't know the outcome until you see it, smell it, and drink up. I have had a lot of these recent disappointments at some of my favorite places in LA, so I figured I'd give a whole new place a shot with my father. That's what brought me to Primo Passo Coffee Company on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. I immediately sized up the place as having potential. The variable pressure machines, the random mustache sticker on the wall, the tastefully decorated, well-lit interior--it all pointed to good espresso. And my calculation was correct! This time, at least. The well-hidden Stumptown beans behind their Primo Passo Coffee brand turned out quite well. I have been having a lot of Stumptown Hairbender espresso recently, and it has generally resulted in something good. At Primo Passo, my espresso yielded flavors both sweet and nutty, although the nuttiness probably came from my father's "Nutter Butter" cookie I kept stealing bites from. Overall, Primo Passo passes my test of a good coffee shop. And although every time I go there the espresso will be different, it has the basic equation of a quality coffee shop. If you are in the Santa Monica area and want something other than the "triple-ristretto" Italian taste of Caffe Luxxe coffee that seems to dominate this area, I recommend Primo Passo. Even if you just want to see a beautifully decorated, high-ceiling coffee shop or a large picture of a man with a beard down past his waist, check this place out.

Recommend: Come here after a morning at the beach for an afternoon coffee and mozy around Montana Avenue. It has a unique small-town feel on this street.

Note:  NO Wi-Fi, lots of room to sit, outdoor seating, and the works.  Parking is usually not that hard to find on the street.

Vibe: Coffee connoisseur, wealthy crowd, small-town feel.

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 8/10

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Hours:  Mon-Sat 6:30 am-6:30 pm, Sun 6:30 am-6 pm

Location: 702 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA

Never would I have expected for quality coffee to be near the tourist-trap, preteen hangout that is Third Street Promenade. I was so thoroughly surprised by The Refinery off of Santa Monica Blvd. between 4th St and 5th St. Even their chalkboard sign outside their shop was a good start-- it said "Super Sweet, Malty, Full-Bodied espresso". The Refinery is quite the oasis from Third Street Promenade-- it wasn't crowded and the baristas were some of the most friendly that I have encountered. Their espresso cups are also some of the coolest I've seen- apparently made by a company called Terra. And even better, their Ritual Coffee espresso was everything they claimed (super sweet, malty, and full-bodied) and was pulled from a Hydra Synesso machine. I couldn't get over my surprise about the place. They have a cool setup--some round tables in the middle of the store, and some bar seating to the side. It seems like a great, quiet place to study (probably a different story on the weekends when it would get more crowded). Overall, awesome!! Coffee nerds shall appreciate this place and there's definitely a lot to offer for non-coffee nerds as well. 

Recommend: Go there during the day during the week when it is super quiet and you can just chat with the baristas. 

Note: WiFI available, great place to study. 

Price: $$

Vibe: Study, coffee shop

Espresso Rating: 8.5/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-6pm, Sat 8am-6pm, closed Sunday

I don't really have much to say about this Stumptown Roastery other than what will be obvious if you visit the location (or even what I could try and capture in the pictures): it is beautiful and big and impressive. The high ceiling, clean color patterns of black and tan, and the big windows looking in to the roastery itself, let you know that Stumptown has a lot of money, and they used a lot of money on this location in Los Angeles. I find it endearing that the superiority of the Pacific Northwest coffee would find their way into the Arts District of LA--on their opening day when I visited I even noted to a barista that I was happy they came to LA and he smirked and said nothing else. I am also thankful that it is around the corner from my absolute favorite restaurant, Bestia. Other than that, I have been to this location three times hoping for good espresso and every time it has tasted muddy and bitter. Keep it up, Stumptown! Maybe spend more time on training your baristas to make espresso than how to dress like hipsters... *zing*. 

Recommend: The Arts District is becoming very popular for coffee, awesome restaurants, and other cool projects. Maybe don't wander the streets, but there is a lot to see in this small and seemingly-dingy area. Go around the corner from Stumptown if you are there towards the evening and have dinner at Bestia! It's the Best...ia.

Note: Outdoor seating, rooms for coffee cupping, impressively strange donuts.

Price: $$

Vibe: Snobbery, clean, money

Espresso Rating: 6/10

Overall Rating: 6.5/10

Hours: 7am-7pm everyday

Website: http://stumptowncoffee.com/

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Location: 806 S Santa Fe Los Angeles, CA 90021

Think of the best piece of toast and jam that you've ever had. And then think of something a million times better and this is what you'll find at Sqirl. I originally came here for the coffee from hearing about G&B-- who has now moved to two locations at Grand Central Market and Larchmont. They served Forty-Ninth Parallel espresso back in the G&B days and pulled pretty consistent shots, although not the best that I've had of "Epic Espresso" by Forty-Ninth Parallel. However, the espresso usually got overshadowed by the AMAZING toast that they serve there. Recently, after G&B moved on to bigger things, I've been back twice. The first time (only a week ago) they were serving great espresso from Kuma Coffee but when I went back this morning (June 27), they had already changed the espresso to Phil and Sebastians Coffee Roasters. Personally I had never heard of it, but the espresso was pretty good- I thought it was kind of nutty and honey flavored, with a bitter aftertaste (not my all-time favorite). From the label on the espresso bag I found out that these roasters actually roast their espresso with honey and their espresso is from Finca Hartmann, Panama. They claim notes of "chocolate, orange and vanilla." Those particular flavors didn't come through for me, but I'll live... **Awesome side note: I went back on July 1, and they were serving ANOTHER different espresso-- Heart's Stereo espresso. I asked them why they kept changing it up and they said that they wanted to switch between brands so it was always tasting its best. So refreshing to hear that.

Overall, this place is the bomb diggity. It's pretty small inside but on the *rare* beautiful LA days (sarcasm), the outdoor seating is lovely! As I said before, the food is delectable and I can say that this is one of my top favorite places in Los Angeles.  Also, the people that work there are incredibly friendly and don't give you weird looks when you stuff your face or start yelling about how good the food is.

Recommend: TOAST! With their nut butter and (my current fave) Murray Berry Jam (The Japanese Raspberry- my sister and I have decided to move there for their raspberries). 

Note: Not a great place to study but instead a great place to eat, socialize, hang out, or drink copious amounts of coffee!

Price: $$ (a bit pricey for the food, but worth it) 

Vibe: Friendly, homey, relaxed

Espresso Rating: 8/10- they keep changin it up! 

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours: M–F 7a–4p, S–S 8a–4p

Website: http://sqirlla.com/

Some experiences, no matter how cliche, are home to the Los Angeles experience. One of those key experiences is hiking to the Hollywood sign, which I happened to do this past weekend. After one of those beautiful LA days, I had to have a post-hike espresso and lunch. Luckily, I've been to a great place a couple times in Griffith Park that is the Trails Cafe. Located a little ways up on the drive to the Griffith Observatory, this cafe is easy to walk or drive past, elevated and hidden behind greenery off the road. The wooden shack may not look like much but has much to offer.  It's even worth the wait if there is a long line (which there was), but I wouldn't come here in a hurry (but who goes hiking in a hurry anyways?). Their menu is full of deep dish pies, quiches, honey lavender shortbread cookies, savory and sweet scones with crazy flavors, sandwiches--grilled cheese, avocado, or pb&j, vegan crap that Los Angelenes like, and most importantly, Stumptown coffee. Before Stumptown really hit Los Angeles a couple years ago, this was one of my favorite places to find it at. It is hard to beat the scenery of Griffith Park for a simply good espresso spot. The one drawback? Their lack of real espresso cups. They serve their delectable Hairbender espresso in paper cups. I may sound like quite the espresso brat and you may even think that I've gone too far-- but alas, I am a stickler for real cups when it comes to espresso. Paper cups tend to change the temperature and taste of espresso where you get a papery taste along with your Stumptown. Other than that, I absolutely adore this place. 

Recommend: Go hiking and then reward yourself here! Try any of their food! Aside from their espresso, I love the unique Honey Lavender Shortbread cookies and their Avocado Sandwich. 

Note: Closed Mondays, so don't hike on Mondays. Also, parking is usually not an issue in this area but the wait can get pretty long and the line can move pretty slowly.  Great place for people with dogs!

Price: $$ 

Vibe: Outdoorsy, Hiking-friendly, Family

Espresso Rating:  8.5/10

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Hours: Tues-Sun 8am-5pm; CLOSED MONDAY

Address: 2333 Fern Dell Dr Los Angeles, CA 90068

Manhattan Beach always catches me a bit by surprise--it's just south of LAX and bears no resemblance of being anywhere near Los Angeles. It's a quintessentially quaint small beach town and I had no clue that it was home to a lovely coffee bar--Two Guns Espresso. The shop is run by two New Zealanders (happily called Kiwis) and is probably 5 minutes from the picturesque Manhattan Beach pier. The shop uses Caffe Vitta Coffee from Seattle and I knew it was a good sign when I watched the Kiwi duo fiddle with their La Marzocco machine for more than just a few minutes, pulling tester shot after tester shot to get me a good espresso. I frankly love waiting for an espresso because I know it has that chance of being good-- I ain't no thang about fast customer service when it comes to coffee. It turned out just as I had hoped, balanced with a lovely honey sweetness but slight citrusy flavor. The space itself was also great with its natural lighting and copies of New Zealand newspapers. And although I try and stay away from recommending places to sit around all day on a laptop, this would be a good option if you are in the area. I personally loved coming off the empty shores of Manhattan Beach, enjoying a quick espresso, and heading on my way. 

Recommend: If you are sick of the crowded beaches of Santa Monica and Venice, come a bit further south and hang out around Manhattan! The whole town is quaint-- and I hear a great brunch spot is nearby at M.B. Post. 

Note: This is probably a good place to study but is only open until 2:30pm during the week. 

Vibe: Laid-back, naturally lit, beach

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 8.5/10

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Hours: Mon - Thurs: 6:00am – 2:30 pm, Fri - 6:00am - 5:00 pm, Sat/Sun: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm

Website: http://www.twogunsespresso.com/

Location: 350 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

The moment I had been waiting for. I signed on to Twitter a few weeks ago for the first time in months, just in time to find out that Verve Coffee was opening their first location outside of Santa Cruz that day (January 30) in Downtown LA. I have tried Verve's coffee at a variety of locations (Superba Food+Bread, Single Origin in the Grove, Cafe Dulce, and their Roastery in Santa Cruz) and have been pretty consistently pleased. I had first anticipated Verve's arrival in LA with the buzz and rumors about Blue Bottle and Stumptown taking over the Arts District. And all of a sudden, in seeing their beautiful airy space, impressive Strada machine, and a collaboration with Juice Served Here, I realized that Verve would fit seamlessly into LA. Aside from frustrating parking situations, my experiences with Verve thus far have been flawless from the kind baristas to the juice samples to the great espresso. Verve serves two blends for espresso--Sermon (Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia) and Streetlevel (Colombia)--that are equally delicious. I had Streetlevel when I went and it is a nice balance of caramely sweet and juicy citrus. Overall: lovely space, good espresso, nice people. I will definitely be coming back regularly (although I will be biking to avoid parking). 

Recommend: If you are feeling in the mood for espresso, get that. But if you are feeling in the mood for juice, try the Green Milk! Divine. And if you are feeling the mood for both, they make coffee juices! And they make their own almond milk in house. Mmm. Also, feeling hungry? Verve serves food from Short Cake and Cafe Gratitude.

Note: Verve is set to open two more locations soon, so keep your eyes open for that! One will be in Melrose and the other in the Arts District.

Price: $$$

Vibe: Airy, spacious, hip downtown

Espresso Rating: 8.5/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

Address: 833 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA

Hours: 7am-7pm everyday

As I was driving to Karaoke on this past Friday night in Korea Town (naturally), it made me wonder. Where were the great Korea Town coffee shops? The next morning, my prayers happened to be answered. BrewWell Coffee Shop was having their grand opening the at 8th and Oxford, carrying both Handsome Coffee and Coava Coffee. When given the option in their quaint, beautiful, naturally-lit coffee shop, I just had to have both the single origin and Handsome espresso. As an opening day perk, I also got a delicious free watermelon popsicle and everyone who worked there (lots of girl baristas-- finally!) were extremely helpful and friendly. And to top it all off, the espressos came in beautiful, unique ceramic cups that had horn-like handles and came alongside sparkling water, all on a delicate wooden tray. My sister had their bacon scone and enjoyed it. Although neither espresso was extremely flavorful--the Coava Single Origin from Brazil and the Handsome "Adventure" espresso--I  really commended their efforts. Currently (August 2014), BrewWell has been serving some awesome Stereo espresso from Heart Roasters. Overall, a great addition to Korea Town that will hopefully help the growing coffee scene in the area.

Updates: I have gone back to BrewWell so many times, which is rare for me to say about a coffee shop. Every single time I've been back the baristas have been extremely friendly and take their time to make a great espresso. I absolutely love this place! They also began to carry Heart Coffee as well, and I'm a big fan! Keep up the great coffee and vibes, BrewWell. 

Recommend: Try their toast and jam if you are in need of some buttery warm goodness! Also, if you are not into straight espresso, they had some very creative drinks on the menu.  

Note: This is a great location to study-- it's not too busy, and has great tables and chairs. 

Price: $$ 

Vibe: Koreatown, chill

Espresso Rating: 8/10 (They've totally improved every time I've been back!)

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-6pm, Fri-Sat 8am-10pm, Sun 11am-5pm

One of the most rewarding parts about traveling to all these coffee shops has to be when the baristas actually talk to me about the coffee. Coffee bars tend to physically divide the barista from the customer. On the occasional lucky day, I get to interact more than handing over a credit card and repeating that "yes, my espresso was good" when it's usually not even the case. Elabrew Coffee was one of those lucky days. This quite frankly random and well-designed coffee stand is beneath the CNN Tower on Sunset. There is no indoor seating but instead the coffee hut has a front window to order at and a back window for coffee delivery. I'm not going to lie, this place surprised the hell out of me. Wary of Groundwork Coffee across the street (not my favorite), I was lucky to find that Elabrew carried Heart Roaster's Stereo Espresso: Good sign #1. And then after I ordered an espresso, the barista who handed it to me took the time to explain the roaster and the origin of the beans: Good sign #2. And then I took a sip before I could even think to take a picture. I couldn't imagine the next sips of espresso could be even better or even smoother. I've tried Heart roasters at G&B and if you read my review, you will know that I'm not a fan of the way they pull their espresso. However, this Heart espresso took me by surprise. It was like biting in to a cherry that you think might have a tang of sour but is smooth sweetness: Good sign #3! Even better, half way through drinking it the barista came out from the coffee stand and started talking to me more about the coffee! And he quickly realized my secret identity. He literally called me a coffee junkie. I wholeheartedly approve. Naturally, I had a second espresso: Good sign #4. And with that, I'm sold on Elabrew Coffee.

Recommend: Alex was my barista and he killed it with great espresso! They change up their pour-over coffees way more, so if you want variety, I'd recommend that.

Note: Parking can be a bit difficult and there is no indoor seating. Also, it's more of a coffee-break place than a coffee-study place (although they do have free wi-fi?).  So sit down and eat a damn good pastry or cookie...  Also, they have a location in Santa Monica that I haven't checked out yet!

Vibe: People on their work break, random Hollywood

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 9/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

Hours: Mon-Fri 7 am - 6 pm

Website: http://elabrewcoffee.com/ 

I first heard about Handsome Coffee before it officially opened and went a few times to get espresso from the back in the unfinished roastery where they had set up a temporary, unofficial coffee shop.  Today, when I go back on the weekends the line is out the door and I can't even find a seat. The ever-present "Eggslut" food truck is equally busy outside serving people eggs on eggs. I would have expected Handsome Coffee to only have gotten better from that first time I tried it while they were still under construction, but unfortunately I haven't had the best experiences since then. Their coffee falls into two categories: Comfort and Adventure. The obvious distinctions are that comfort will be softer notes and adventure is more intense flavors--probably ones that you wouldn't be drinking every day. Their options for the drinks itself are incredibly simple-- epsresso, espresso+milk (3 sizes), and drip coffee. Some may view this as very efficient and purist, but I see the lack of quality coffee brewing methods (chemex, siphon) as simplistic--even as a non-coffee drinker. When I went back this past Saturday I was pleased to see the world-renound barista and co-owner of Handsome, Michael Phillips, pulling my espresso shot. I had high expectations. Alas, the espresso tasted pretty boring. There were no great flavors that jumped out at me and I was quite overwhelmed by everyone and their bikes and their fresh pressed juice and Eggsluts bouncing around the store to really relax. On a less busy day, one will notice the intricate carvings in the wood bricks or will be able to relax at the few tables around the store and actually find a seat. It's no lie--Handsome is an expanding business and one can find its coffee all over the US, but I hope they return to focusing on their quality and less on their branding image.

Recommend:  Although the Eggslut food truck is almost taking more business than Handsome and over-crowding the quiet coffee shop, I would recommend their food for breakfast or lunch.

Note: Good place to study on a quiet weekday. Cool places to eat around here for dinner, such as Bestia (my favorite!!) or Little Bear.

Price: $$ 

Espresso Rating: 7/10

Overall Rating: 7/10 (for now) 

Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am to 6pm, Sat-Sun: 8am to 6pm

Website: http://www.handsomecoffee.com/