Los Angeles’s coffee scene is as distinct as its 75 miles of coastline and majestic mountains. Operators obsessed with sourcing the finest coffee beans and mastering roasting and brewing techniques mean that the city’s caffeine culture will continue to thrive. Add in Southern California’s multitude of cultures and the results are excellent pour-overs, espresso drinks, cold brews, Mexican mochas, and cà phê trứng (Vietnamese egg coffee). Here are 19 exceptional coffee bars in Los Angeles.
Read More19 Outstanding Coffee Bars in Los Angeles
Caffeinate well with lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and classic drip
10 Speed Coffee
This longtime cafe now has three locations throughout Southern California. Whether visiting 10 Speed in Santa Monica or Sawtelle, the coffee is strong and well made, while the space is a solid place to hang out for the day, especially the cozy Calabasas location.
Laidrey
San Fernando Valley locals love Laidrey. Owner Gacia Tachejian starts with ethically sourced beans, roasts them in-house, and develops one tasty maple oat latte at both locations.
Cognoscenti Coffee Bar
Culver City's modernist Cognoscenti Coffee started in 2009 and is staffed by friendly baristas who know everything about coffee. Cognoscenti doesn’t use fancy drink names and focuses on producing quality drip coffee, cappuccino, lattes, and cold brew in the Fashion District, Downtown LA, and Culver City.
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Community Goods
If headed to Community Goods during busy hours, settle into the line with a book or a podcast. The queue is consistent, as are the stellar coffee drinks like the einspänner latte with sweetened cream, cocoa powder, double espresso, and a pinch of salt. Always order the breakfast sliders to share.
Jurassic Magic
Jurassic Magic is designed as a non-Wi-Fi hangout, so it’s not uncommon to see strangers engaging with one another or reading a book while drinking the cafe’s signature Magic Latte made with condensed oat milk and a spice blend that includes clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger.
South LA Cafe at the Hollywood Bowl
One of LA’s best daytime coffee stops is at the Hollywood Bowl. Head up the long driveway, park for free, and look to the left of the box office for South LA Cafe. Try the teas, espressos, and lavender lattes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. or before concerts. For those not near Hollywood, find additional locations in Exposition Park, Baldwin Hills, and Jefferson Park/West Adams.
Alchemist Coffee Project at the Pearl
Weekday visits to the Alchemist Coffee Project can be quite the scene given its location in the middle of Koreatown. Anyone in need of coffee that uses Onyx Coffee beans or an outstanding breakfast sandwich will be happy to visit this popular cafe. A bonus: the cafe has a free one-hour parking lot.
Obet & Del's Coffee
Right in the middle of Thai Town is the Black- and Filipino-owned coffee shop Obet & Del’s. The exposed brick walls, retro stripe paint accents, and high ceilings make for a cozy 70s-esque room while staff prepare Filipino iced coffee with ube oat milk and Thai Town lattes with sweetened oat milk, cha yen (typically a black and rooibos tea blend), star anise, vanilla, and sweet tamarind.
Memorylook Coffee
The coffee at Koreatown’s Memorylook is as excellent as its matcha lattes, giant matcha brulee, and tiramisu doughnuts. Memorylook is an ideal cafe to work from with indoor and outdoor seating, but gets incredibly busy, so plan accordingly.
Pam's Coffy
Quentin Tarantino re-opened the Vista Theater in 2023 and debuted Pam’s Coffy in February 2024. The film director paid homage to iconic actress Pam Grier and named the place after her 1973 American blaxploitation film, Coffy. Pam’s Coffy uses Tarantino’s custom beans made by Jones Coffee Roasters.
Bloom & Plume Coffee
The colorful facade, warm interior, and honey lavender lattes are what make Bloom & Plume one of LA’s most stylish coffee bars. Co-owner Maurice Harris has ample skill as an artist and floral designer and obsesses over both in his Historic Filipinotown cafe. Food is available too, including gluten-free vegan doughnuts and a bacon biscuit sandwich.
Tilt Coffee Bar
Though the coffee drinks are the specialty at Tilt, the matcha and other tea offerings are extensive. Located on the bottom floor of the Medallion apartments, Tilt is the place for coffee enthusiasts who crave good service and are in the mood for a strong single-origin cold brew.
WAFI Coffee
WAFI Coffee is named after the West African Farmers Initiative, a collective of West African farmers who supply the beans for this roving bicycle coffee bar. Co-founder Dennis Garsinii rides all over LA serving espressos and Americanos on a custom bike.
Patria Coffee Roasters
Patria Coffee Roasters opened in Compton in 2018. It is a cafe but also a community space that hosts special events. Staff serve incredible coffee beans sourced from around the globe and roast them at a site near the cafe. Those who grew up in LA will highly appreciate the LAUSD-esque coffee cake.
Highly Likely
Highly Likely keeps things light during daytime hours with breakfast and lunch fare, plus a robust coffee menu prepared by Dayglow’s Emily Elmore from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Coffee drinks are available any time of day and are best enjoyed on the pleasant patio if the weather permits.
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Rose Park Roasters
A local favorite, Rose Park Roasters has three locations throughout Long Beach. If ordering from the Fourth Street outlet, take a seat and enjoy the floor-to-ceiling windows and house-made pastries. Find beer and wine by the can or bottle at the Pine Street location.
Mandarin Coffee
Prepare to stay awhile at Mandarin Coffee in Pasadena, which is located at the Burlington Arcade’s glass-covered courtyard. This Asian and woman-owned cafe offers a seating area as enjoyable as the espresso drinks, like the cappuccino made with espresso and sweetened coconut cream.
Café Santo
The Oaxacan mocha is the most popular drink at BLVD MRKT’s Cafe Santo. This Oaxacan coffee bar is stationed right at the entry to the shipping container food hall and serves brioche french toast, breakfast sandwiches, and quiche as well.
Trung Nguyên Legend Café
It is worth the trek to Orange County’s Little Saigon for Trung Nguyên Legend Café. Vietnam’s legendary cafe opened in 2023 and serves phin- (coffee made with a Vietnamese filter) and espresso-based coffee drinks using Vietnamese-grown robusta and arabica beans from Buôn Ma Thuột. Everything tastes smooth without an ounce of coffee bean bitterness. Make time to try the dine-in coffee service presented on ornate wooden trays.