LOS ANGELES | Finding the best coffee in Los Angeles doesn’t have to be a chore with this convenient guide. While its true that there was a time when it was difficult to get a quality cup of coffee in Los Angeles, the fact is that today, there are several places offering fantastic coffee, brewed using almost every style you can think of. Whether you’re after a creamy latte, punchy double espresso or refreshing cold brew, our guide to the best coffee in Los Angeles has you covered.
Dinosaur Coffee
Dinosaur Coffee fills a bright, white space, with a large bar in the centre of the room and seating at the bar,the front, and on communal tables.
San Francisco’s Four Barrel Coffee roasters provide the coffee beans here, and all of the kinds of brew you might want are available – cold drip, espresso, pour over, Dinosaur’s got it. Pastries are delivered daily by Farmshop, and sometimes there’s a food truck parked out the front offering something that you can bring in to eat – for example the fantastic Yeastie Boys bagel truck.
Dinosaur Coffee
4334 W Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles
California 90029
United States
Cognoscenti Coffee
Owner and former architect Yeekai Lim ran a series of coffee pop-ups around town before opening bricks and mortar venue Cognoscenti Coffee. Unlike many specialist coffee spots, Lim sources his beans from roasteries around the country, depending on what he thinks are the best beans available at a given point in time.
Cognoscenti Coffee
6114 Washington Boulevard
Culver City
California 90232
United States
G&B Coffee
G&B Coffee resembles a bar more than a typical coffee counter. It’s a 360 degree space, with 18 stools surrounding the bench and the action in the middle. There’s a lot on offer here, from espresso based drinks through to filter, cold drip and anything else you can think of.
G&B Coffee also sell interesting creations like hop-infused, barrel-aged, carbonated ice tea, and unique sparkling sodas.
G&B Coffee
317 S Broadway
Los Angeles
California 90013
United States
Eightfold Coffee
Eightfold Coffee is a bright, minamilist, airy space which has quickly built up a following amongst locals who visit for the quality coffee on offer. Beans come from Portland’s Heart Coffee and are brewed however you like. As well as coffee, Eightfold also has a highly regarded tea program.
Pastries are supplied by Rockenwagner, and a Japanese influence means you’ll also find a rotating selection of bento boxes, and matcha lattes.
Eightfold Coffee
1294 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles
California 90026
United States
Woodcat Coffee Bar
Woodcat Coffee Bar is a fantastic Echo Park neighbourhood spot for those looking for a caffeine fix and a small bite to eat. Beans come from San Francisco roasters Wrecking Ball Coffee and all of the main styles of brewing that are popular in town are available.
If you’re looking for food, the menu’s not extensive, but there’s enough breakfast pastries as well as cookies and other treats to keep the hunger at bay.
Woodcat Coffee Bar
1532 W Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles
California 90026
United States
Paramount Coffee Project
Owners Jin Ng, Mark Dundon and Russell Beard used to brew coffee at the local cafe for the former Australian HQ of Paramount Pictures, and now find themselves running Paramount Coffee Project just a 10 minute drive from Paramount Pictures HQ in Fairfax.
All of the good things you here about Australian coffee are present here. Beans are sourced from roasters across the US and Australia, like Portland’s Heart and Sydney’s Rueben Hills, and form the basis of a variety of tasty brews. Breakfasts are also a cut above the usual, with things like Aussie favourite “Smashed Avo on Toast” on offer.
Paramount Coffee Project
456 N Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles
California 90036
United States
Alfred Coffee & Kitchen
Alfred Coffee & Kitchen opened on Melrose Place in 2013 and today have six locations across LA. It’s is one of the best places in town to get you caffeine fix, with quality coffee beans from Portland roasters Stumptown used in the brews.
All kinds of brewing methods are offered here, and there’s also tea, juices and pastries available. Just the spot for an early morning pick-me-up.
Alfred Coffee & Kitchen
3337 1/2 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles
California 90026
United States
Menotti’s Coffee Stop
If you’re looking for some coffee before hitting Venice Beach, Menotti’s Coffee Stop should be on your radar. It’s a hip spot with smartly dressed baristas brewing coffee to the sounds of tunes playing on vinyl. Owner and two time World Latte Art Championship winner Christopher Abel Alameda and his team transform beans from San Francisco-based Four Barrel Coffee into some really tasty coffee.
Ask for the “secret menu”, which features and range of interesting coffee-based concoctions like the “Cafe Rico”, a double shot of single-origin espresso, half-and-half milk, orange zest, a dusting of cinnamon and vanilla syrup made with pods from Tahiti.
Menotti’s Coffee Stop
56 Windward Avenue
Los Angeles
California 90291
United States
Verve Coffee Roasters
Santa Cruz based Verve Coffee Roasters’ store in West Hollywood is a casual spot notable for its large outdoor patio, airy, sun filled interior and large 35-foot-long copper counter. Espresso based drinks are the specialty here, and for those not in the mood for something espresso based, there are lots of other options like nitro-charged cold brew on tap, V60 filter, kombucha on tap and cold pressed juices.
Verve also have stores downtown and on 3rd street, and apart from each venue’s location specific specialty drink, you’ll find the same quality options on offer.
Verve Coffee Roasters
8925 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles
California 90069
United States
Blacktop Coffee
Blacktop Coffee is a small cafe owned by Tyler Wells, who started Handsome Coffee Roasters (bought by Blue Bottle in 2014). Sightglass coffee, Straus milk, and the best coffee making equipment pair with fantastic knowledge and skill to produce some great, mostly espresso based, cups of coffee.
If you’re hungry, you can get Sugarbloom pastries and a range of toasts.
Blacktop Coffee
826 E 3rd Street
Los Angeles
California 90013
United States
Intelligentsia Coffee
Intelligentsia Coffee Silver Lake is the granddaddy of third wave coffee in Los Angeles, and this Chicago import is still going strong after ten years. The space is clean and modern, with a large tiled coffee bar being the showpiece of a venue whose clean lines and light timbers make for a sort of LA meets Stockholm.
Intelligentisa offer an array of ethically sourced, fair trade beans, brewed to perfection from a choice of almost any brewing method you could want. Try the signature quadruple shot of espresso shaken with milk, agave, and ice. It’s delicious and refreshing, and will have you buzzing off the walls.
If you can’t get to Intelligentsia Silver Lake, they also have cafes in Venice and Pasadena.
Intelligentsia Coffee
3922 W Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles
California 90029
United States
Go Get Em Tiger
Go Get Em Tiger is the Larchmont sister store of G&B Coffee and along with their Los Feliz shop, serves up the same quality coffee and experimental teas that you love. Expect around six rotating varieties of beans on at any time, sourced from roasters around the country.
Pastries and food are made in-house, and there’s a great patio from which to chill out and enjoy your drink and food.
Go Get Em Tiger
4630 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles
California 90027
United States
Rise-N-Grind
Located along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rise-N-Grind is an industrial themed cafe that serves quality cups of Stumptown Coffee, brewed almost any way you can think of, including two cold brews on tap. A great option in an part of town that’s lacking in quality coffee.
For those in the mood for something less alcoholic, there are smoothies, a range of teas from Art of Tea, and cold pressed juices by Pressed Juicery. Danishes, pastries and cakes are brought in by the always reliable Homeboy Bakery, and a range of salads, paninis, sandwiches and breakfast dishes are also available.
Rise-N-Grind
6501 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles
California 90028
United States
Endorffeinee
Ever since Chego opened back in the day, Far East Plaza has slowly seen a stream of dining hot spots open up side by side with more traditional Asian eateries. Those looking for a coffee fix in Chinatown need look no further than Far East Plaza’s Endorffeine. Opened by former biochemist come pastry chef come barista Jack Benchakul, Endorffeine is known for its Heart Coffee-roasted brews and sweet latte creations. There’s occasionally a range of pastries on offer too, but in Far East Plaza, lack of good food isn’t a problem.
Endorffeine
727 N Broadway #127
Los Angeles
California 90012
United States
Blue Bottle Coffee
The behemoth that’s Blue Bottle have several stores in Los Angeles, and the quality is pretty consistent across all of them. Our favourite is the Arts District store, Blue Bottle’s first in the city when they took over the space from Handsome Coffee. Beans are roasted on site, and available brewed however you want. For us, the iced cold filter with milk always hits the spot.
Blue Bottle Coffee
582 Mateo Street
Los Angeles
California 90013
United States