Food

17 Spots for The Best Coffee in Los Angeles Every Java Addict Needs to Have on Their Radar

February 21, 2015 by Ashley Lyublinsky

Coffee, java, Joe. The magical elixir that turns you from being a cranky monster to an upbeat, charming individual in a matter of sips. Without coffee, there would be far more homicides and wars then already occur in the world. That’s just a common sense fact. I’m sure that given the chance, half of Los Angeles would actually put coffee into their veins…

Whether you are into espresso, lattes, ice coffee, or the ever-fabulous macchiato, Los Angeles has an endless amount of coffee shops that can cure your java fix. This list has been developed to incorporate at least one great coffee shop in each of Los Angeles thriving neighborhoods. Trust me, it was super hard to narrow down which spots made the list, but in the end it came down to the coffee.

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We are buzzed with delight (and WAY too much caffeine) to bring you the best in coffee that Los Angeles has to offer!

List starts after the jump (in no particular order).

Alfred's Coffee

Credit: Alfred’s Coffee on Facebook

Alfred’s Coffee & Kitchen

This cute neighborly coffee spot is home to some cool menu items. Ever thought about mixing coffee and ice cream? Well Alfred’s has mastered it. Get your espresso in a cute little waffle cone dipped in chocolate. Another popular menu item– the $10 latte, which combines Pressed Juicery chocolate or vanilla almond milk and Stumptown Coffee (which is exclusively brewed here).

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8428 Melrose Place, Los Angeles, CA | 11908 San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA  COMING SOON

Philz Coffee

Coming to us from our Northern brother San Fransisco is the delicious treat that is Philz Coffee. This is the brain child of Phil Jaber, who has been experimenting with coffee for over 25 years. The mission is clear “to better people’s day” and this coffee does just that. All drinks here are customizable which is great if you don’t like your coffee too strong or too weak. Plus all coffee can be ordered in bulk on the site which is great for the real addicts.

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525 Santa Monica BlvdSanta Monica, CA

The Coffee Roaster

Opening their doors in 1987, The Coffee Roaster has been a go-to stop for coffee lovers in Sherman Oaks. Coffee here is roasted fresh every morning on an original Diedrich 12 kilo coffee roaster. With the finest beans from all corners of the globe, Coffee Roaster serves up some of the most meticulously roasted coffee there in Los Angeles.

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13567 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA

Blue Bottle

Fresh is always best for most things, especially coffee. Blue Bottle started more than 10 years ago in San Fransisco and has made it’s way to Los Angeles, and thank goodness. All coffee here is served within 48 hours of being brewed, maintaining the freshness. Now for instant drinking, that seems kind of long but for those who like their coffee to go– all bottled coffee maintain the same quality of freshness that comes from antique German coffee roasters used in house.

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1103 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA | 582 Mateo St., Los Angeles, CA

Dogtown Coffee

The local haunt of surfers and skaters alike, Dogtown coffee is a totally awesome place to get a cup of Joe. Formally an old skateboard shop (you can still purchase skateboards that hang on the wall), Dogtown is known for their sea-salted caramel latte, which compliments your time at the beach.

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2003 Main St., Santa Monica, CA

Dogtown Coffee

Credit: Dogtown Coffee on Facebook

Cafecito Organico

Coffee with a mission! As stated on their website, Cafecito Organico’s mission is to ensure that coffee protects and enhances livelihoods and biodiversity. The addictive Espresso Clandestino is the specialty drink here. It can be purchased by cup or by the bag. The space is super limited at this corner shop, but it does the trick for that coffee on the go.

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534 N. Hoover St., Los Angeles, CA

Intelligentsia Coffee

You can never go wrong with Intelligentsia Coffee. That’s why is it all over this beautiful nation. While the drinks can be a little of the expensive side, and sometimes the line is insane, this coffee is worth it! I promise. It’s smooth and all the baristas go through some serious training to be able to serve you. There are a couple of locations across L.A., but check out Intelligentsia in Silver Lake– a smaller location with less wait.

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3922 W Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake, CA

The Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa

Having once spent a pretty awful blind date here, I almost had vowed not to return based on the memory alone. My ruling was quickly over turned when I was getting an iced coffee for the drive back and started talking to the very knowledgeable staff. They know their coffee here. The place itself is quiet and small and a popular hang out for Sony employees.

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10117 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA

Spring For Coffee

This relatively tiny coffee shop in the heart of downtown is not the place you go to grab some java and study for three hours for tomorrow’s exam, but the brew is damn good. They feature a selection of roasts from Stumptown, Blue Bottle and Ritual, and their baristas make a real effort to put some artistry into their craft. Some find the vibe to be a bit elitist here, but it’s hard to argue with the quality of what’s served.

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548 S Spring St Los Angeles, CA 90013

Tierra Mia

Coffee that comes with culture? Yes, please. Sticking with their Latin American roots, Tierra Mia roasts their coffee in a 1957 Probat roaster and utilize La Marzocco equipment and Mazzer grinders to create artisan espresso. They also serve up their famous drinks such as: Mocha Mexicano, Coco Loco Latte, and my personal favorite Horchata Latte. Lucky for us, there are Tierra Mias scattered all over Southern California.

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1202 N Alvarado St., Echo Park, CA

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Tierra Mia Coffee

Credit: Amatullah Guyot via flickr

Urth Caffe

All organic, all the time. For all you health conscious folks out there, Urth Caffee is your jam. Starting out in 1989, Urth Caffe is the first exclusively organic coffee retailer. Everything here is under strict standards, from the machines to the beans. Also a great place for those who choose to get their caffeine intake from tea.

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8586 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA | 267 S Beverly Dr., Los Angeles, CA | 594 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena,CA

Javista

According to our last mention on this list, a Javista is a coffee fanatic. Someone always look for a great coffee experience. If that’s the case, then this spot is accurately named. Only two years old, Javista is making a name for itself in the Hollywood community. Want to try something different? Have some hemp milk with your coffee. We promise it’s just milk. 😉

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6707 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028

Jones Coffee Roasters

Stepping into the expansive space of Jones will give you an immediate industrial vibe, and the ampleness of available seating is only surpassed by the quality of the coffee and friendliness of the service. Jones is definitely in the running for best coffee in all of Pasadena, and if iced coffee is your thing, may we recommend the Nitro Cold Brew, which is created by pumping liquid nitrogen through it to give it a creamy finish and smooth texture.

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693 S Raymond Ave Pasadena, CA 91105

Javista Coffee

Credit: Javista on Facebook

Stumptown Coffee

Get your coffee from the main source for some of the spots on this list! Stumptown has been around forever (1999 to be exact) and has been the go-to for tons of coffee shops across this great land. Stumptown opened it’s first SoCal location in 2013. Relationship building is what’s important to Stumptown and that speaks through each cup that gets handed to customers. Public tastings are held every Wednesday, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at noon.

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806 S Santa Fe, Los Angeles, CA

Viento y Agua Coffeehouse

It’s hard to argue you’ll find a better coffeehouse in Long Beach than Viento y Agua. Beyond the chill vibe, great live music, and eclectic decor, you’ll find great organic coffee blends that are never over-roasted. If you enjoy a little chocolate flavor with your caffeine fix folks rave about the Mexican Mocha.

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4007 E 4th St Long Beach, CA 90814

Demitasse

These people are geeks about coffee, and the learning never stops. Coffee here is roasted in small batches and features coffee from a select hand picked regions. Passionate about the coffee and coffee enthusiasts, they constantly host events from coffee cuppings to home brewing and roasting classes.

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135 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA | 1149 Third St., Santa Monica, CA

Lamill Coffee

Boutique coffee at its finest! Started by Craig and Gene Min to bring the best possible flavors to us coffee lovers. Some of the signature menu items? How about orange infused cappuccino? Or if you are feeling super fancy try their blanco y negro which coffee with a scoop of vanilla gelato. YUM.

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1636 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

We know coffee tastes and preferences can be highly subjective, so if you have other favorites you think we missed let us know in the comments below! 🙂 

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