The question of whether Los Angeles qualifies as a coffee city has sparked lively discussions among residents and coffee aficionados alike. Recently, LAist colleagues, including Antonia Cereijido, have expressed differing views on the subject, creating a platform for further exploration during a segment on AirTalk, a local radio show.
Listeners called in, sharing their thoughts on L.A.’s coffee culture, leading to a variety of nuanced opinions.
Diane from Claremont chimed in, stating, “It is a coffee city. But to be honest with you, you have to drive so far to get one. Part of being a coffee city is being able to grab one on foot.” This sentiment reflects a common critique regarding accessibility in Los Angeles.
On a different note, Richard Bourne made his case on Facebook, declaring, “It’s definitely a coffee city because it isn’t a tea city. The next question is, though, is L.A. a good coffee city? I don’t know about that. It’s got a lot of cool, different ethnic coffee scenes, but it also has an overwhelming amount of crap coffee loaded with sugar and fat served at bland drive-thrus.” His comments suggest a mixed bag of quality in the local coffee scene.
Conversely, John Imig, drawing from his 20 years in the coffee industry, asserted, “L.A. is absolutely a coffee city. I’d venture to say it is home to more U.S. Barista Champions than any other U.S. city. Several shops have been majorly influential on the national industry and it continues to push it forward.” His affirmation points to a vibrant and competitive coffee culture in the city.
Another perspective came from Will Tran, who noted, “To be a ‘coffee city’ means you’re able to export your product. All of the coffee companies that dominate L.A. are from elsewhere: Stumptown (Portland), Intelligentsia (Chicago), Blue Bottle (SF), etc., whereas L.A.’s own (Groundwork, LAMILL, Alfred, Copa Vida, etc.) tend to stay here. Until they can produce a brand that invades another’s turf… we ain’t a ‘coffee city.'” This point raises important questions about the local coffee identity and its national recognition.
Sal from Glendale added another wrinkle to the debate on AirTalk, saying, “L.A. pretends to be a coffee city, but the thing is, all the shops close early. The city wants to be like New York and the East Coast, which grabs a coffee super early in the morning, but L.A. has no reason to wake up early.” This highlights the mismatch between the lifestyles of Angelenos and the traditional coffee culture found in other major cities.
In an effort to enrich the conversation, listeners shared their favorite coffee spots, showcasing L.A.’s diverse offerings. Scott Sullivan from Torrance, who has transitioned from bartending to specialty coffee, listed several must-visit locations.
For those focused on the coffee itself, his recommendations included:
– Play Coffee (Orange)
– Ondo (East Hollywood)
– Loquat (Cypress Park)
– Alana’s Coffee Roasters (Mar Vista, Venice, West Hollywood)
– Maru (Arts District, Los Feliz)
– So Sentimental (Long Beach)
– Good Time (Long Beach)
– Highlight Coffee (Glendale)
For innovative drinks, Scott suggested:
– Our Spot (Long Beach)
– Be Bright (Melrose)
– Mandarin Coffee Stand (Pasadena)
– Gusto Bread (Long Beach)
– Kumquat (Highland Park)
– WYND (Virgil Village)
He emphasized, “Endorffeine in Chinatown should be on every list, but only because I think (owner Jack Benchakul) is the closest to the thought of ‘what would a Michelin-star coffee shop look like?'”
Johnny Luna from Highland Park also contributed, highlighting his neighborhood’s gems:
– Cafe Tropicál (Silver Lake)
– Dayglow (Silver Lake, Venice, Melrose)
– Collage Coffee (Highland Park)
– Comet Over Delphi (Highland Park)
– Civil Coffee (Highland Park, Studio City, DTLA)
– MODU (Highland Park)
Westside favorites came from Ying Xin, who pointed to:
– Rose Park Roasters (Long Beach)
– Endorffeine (Chinatown)
– Profeta (Westwood)
– Cognoscenti (DTLA, Fashion District, Culver City)
Finally, Jason Goble from Palms shared his own list:
– Hooked (Dudley Market in Venice)
– Maru (Arts District, Los Feliz)
– Eyes Peeled (West LA)
– Yeems (West LA and Gardena)
– Mad Lab (Hollywood, Mid-City)
– Goodboybob (Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach)
– Menotti (Venice, Culver City)
In conclusion, the debate about whether L.A. is truly a coffee city continues, fueled by passionate opinions and rich coffee culture throughout the city. As Will Tran offered, “My go-to is Jones Coffee in Pasadena 😊.”
This vibrant conversation brings to light the complexity and variety of Los Angeles coffee culture, inviting further exploration and discovery.
image source from：laist
