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