12 Coffee Shops You Should Try in Los Angeles

Dose of Prose

I’ve been putting my barista skills to the test lately by trying out different coffee making methods and techniques such as Pour Over, French Press, espresso and more. Although it can be economical to make coffee at home, nothing beats getting a coffee from your local coffee shop! Not only does it support small businesses, but also, it saves time and your taste buds are guaranteed to be satisfied. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to throw out coffee I’ve made (or rather attempted to make) myself. Coffee from a coffee shop just hits different.

I’ve lived in Los Angeles for almost 3 years now and have had my fair share of coffee tasting. I even attended a coffee convention which exposed me to a variety of hidden gems in the area. Last week, I had a request to make a blog post on my favorite coffee shops in LA. Although I still feel like I have a lot to explore and discover in the city, I believe I have experienced enough for me to curate some recommendations. The following is a list (in no particular order) with pictures and video of my favorite LA coffee shops and why I like them.

Mini disclaimer: Some of the coffee shops featured on this list are not technically considered local because they were founded outside of Los Angeles…but I have to include them because the coffee is that good.

Philz Coffee

Our mission is to better people’s days, One Cup at a Time. When you visit a Philz store, you’ll see that we do things differently. Our baristas grind your beans and make each cup to your taste, poured over slow, with lots of care and attention. It’s love served in a cup.

I walk to Philz about once a week after my soulcycle workout (in Downtown LA). Philz is a favorite of mine because of how they customize your coffee to your liking and they get it right every time. However, Philz is not your typical coffee shop experience…meaning you won’t be able to get a latte or espresso here. The Philz experience is kind of like going to a bar where you tell the bartender what flavors you like and they whip up a cocktail based on your interests. Basically, you tell the baristas at Philz what blend you want (they have all of their blends listed on their menu) and then you state whether or not you want it hot or iced, how much cream and how much sugar you want. I like dark roast coffee so I always order the Tantalizing Turkish blend, no cream and light sweetness. Another popular order is the Mint Mojito, which is a creamy, sweet refreshing drink that Philz is known for. Speaking of mint, they always put fresh mint on top of all of their drinks, which I love (see picture above). I’ve even gone to Philz with my Dad and he gave it the stamp of approval as well, which is a big deal since he doesn’t drink a lot of coffee and when he does he’s picky about how it’s made. Anyway, if you haven’t gone to Philz, I highly recommend you give it a try!

Alfred’s

But first, coffee.

If you’re looking to drink coffee and instagram it, Alfred’s is the place to be. The cute design of their shops are definitely one of the most Instagrammable I’ve ever seen. If you’re not a huge coffee person, they have an entirely separate menu and shop called Alfred Tea Room, for those who are into tea. I personally always order either a latte, an americano or a matcha latte from Alfred’s. So good. Full disclosure, you’ll definitely spot an influencer, celeb (one time Tessa Thompson and I locked eyes and she smiled at me) or someone deemed society’s standard of beautiful here. A lot of good looking, well dressed, trendy people frequent this place. There’s usually a bit of a line and it can get crowded at times (that’s partially because the space is already small), but the service is quick so I’m not bothered by it. I love going to Alfred’s when I’m about to shoot content for my blog/social media, or if I’m about to do some shopping. There are a ton of stores nearby; the area (Melrose) is walkable which is super convenient. Is this coffee overpriced? Arguably, yes, but as soon as you wake up and walk outside, California automatically removes $100 from your account for breathing, so…a $6 latte isn’t really expensive in the grand scheme of things is it?

Verve Coffee Roasters

We believe the coffee experience is our responsibility from seed to cup. Coffee is our craft, our ritual, our passion. It drives us and inspires us. With this simple truth and responsibility we are bridging the gap between farmlevel and streetlevel. We are Verve. Made in Santa Cruz.

Just like Philz, I go to Verve at least once a week after my pilates class (I guess I have this thing for working out and coffee drinking). I’ve been to all four Verve Los Angeles locations (Arts District, Melrose, West 3rd and Spring Street) so if that doesn’t show I’m a fan of Verve, then I don’t know what does. Whenever I think of Verve, I think of the word vibe, because that’s the best way to describe it. The aura of this coffee shop is just so mellow, relaxed and chill. It’s a great place to get work done (Verve was my study spot while I was in grad school) or sit and read a book. The staff is super friendly too. My go-to order from Verve is their Ethiopian pourover. I find that their coffee in general is smooth and not too acidic. I also love the food/pastries at Verve. I always get their chia seed pudding, biscuits, avocado toast or croissants. They switch up their pastries daily so you’ll be in for a variety of treats anytime you walk in. One time I tried these cinnamon donut hole things and I was in ‘hog heaven’ as they say in the South haha. If you don’t go to Verve, you’re missing out big time.

Go Get ‘Em Tiger (GGET)

The original LA Coffeebar. Go Get Em Tiger recognizes what coffee means for most of us. It’s the moment we take to enjoy and become alive for the day that lies ahead. Coffee is the thing you do before the thing you do, and we’re here to help you get off to the right start.

GGET definitely has a bar feel to it, as their signature drink is called Business & Pleasure which consists of a ‘flight’ of drinks. The flight includes espresso, their Fizzy Hoppy Tea and an almond macadamia milk latte, which gives you a little taste of everything they have to offer. If you’re more interested in the art of coffee tasting, making and the overall coffee experience, GGET is a place to take take your palette.

Coffee Dose

Not your grandma’s coffee shop.

For those who like to drop an expletive or two, Coffee dose is the place for you. This coffee shop has an attitude, but in the best way possible. If you’re looking for coffee with an herbal/medicinal/wellness addition, I recommend trying their Rx Lattes. I like their Detox (it has charcoal) and their Beauty (made with collagen) lattes. Coffee Dose is attached to a popular workout clothing store and studio called Bandier, so if you want to workout, shop and get your caffeine boost all in one swing, Coffee Dose fits the bill.

Coffee Commissary

Coffee Commissary is proud to have been serving Los Angeles neighborhoods for nearly ten years. As the original multi-roaster in L.A., we work with the best roasters to serve the finest coffees in the world. We are ever growing, learning and investing in Los Angeles and it’s communities.

Coffee Commissary is a coffee shop you don’t want to miss. I’ve been to the Hollywood and Beverly locations, which are both great for my fellow working professionals in a rush or those just want to grab-and-go when it comes to their coffee. The cartoon designs on the inside give the shop more of an artsy/hipster vibe, which will definitely make you feel inspired to think outside of the box.

Nossa Familia Coffee

Nossa Familia’s (Portuguese for ‘Our Family’) focus is on exceptional coffee stemming from exceptional relationships. This tradition starts with our founder’s family coffee farms in Brazil, which date back to the 1890s. We take a holistic view of sustainability, and are deeply committed to ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Relationships with our farmers, community, and customers are our top priority, and we’re always strengthening these connections. We’re proud to offer you great coffee from great farmers.

Nossa Familia is the definition of a hidden gem. Based in Portland, OR, this Brazilian-style coffee bar is tucked away in an office building in DTLA which makes it a bit hard to find, but well worth the effort. The historic lobby is open to the public and offers high quality espresso and filtered coffee drinks in light-filled Art Deco environment.

Carrera Cafe

Carrera Cafe is a charming European style Cafe with delicious salads and Italian subs. Fine espresso based drinks and lovely people. p.s. Ask for the secret egg sandwich.

Similar to Alfred’s, Carrera is another notable ‘Instagram worthy’ cafe. The shop is right next to a popular tourist attraction called the Paul Smith wall (yes a wall – it’s bright pink and everyone is obsessed with it for whatever reason) so you’ll definitely see a lot of traffic in and/or near this cafe throughout the day. I haven’t tried any of their food so I can’t comment on that, but I have seen people order salads and sandwiches there often. I like Carrera due to its European feel and it’s overall just a cool place to just hang out. Their menu has a variety of fancy espresso drinks, which I’ve heard are good, but I’m pretty Plain Jane when it comes to coffee and I always go for a standard americano (espresso + water). Pro-tip: I order americanos not only at Carrera but pretty much at any coffee shop I go to because it’s quick to make, but easy to mess up, so I’m able to really decipher whether or not a coffee shop is ‘good’ depending on how well they make americanos. I can confirm that Carrera Cafe gets the job done.

Blue Bottle Coffee

Deliciousness, Hospitality, Sustainability. Usually in that order.

Here’s another coffee chain that technically isn’t local since it was founded in Oakland, but I digress. Blue Bottle is on my favorites list because of how rich and earthy the coffee is. BB is definitely a place to try coffee from all over the world, as they offer a rotating selection of blends and single-origin beans. Similar to Verve, I also love the vibe and architecture design of Blue Bottle. Every Blue Bottle I walk in makes me feel ‘cool,’ if that makes sense haha, and it’s another great place to get work done as well.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters

Our founders Todd Carmichael and J.P. Iberti built La Colombe on a simple but ambitious mission: to make the world better through coffee. What started out as a vision for serving the best coffee to the country, became an opportunity to influence meaningful change around the world. From cafe to can, we’ve been innovating coffee since ’94.

I haphazardly stumbled upon La Colombe while I was walking around trying to find a place to grab lunch after I had completed a job interview. I’m so glad I discovered this place! I was in the Beverly Hills location and absolutely loved the chill, modern and rustic atmosphere. Their menu has a ton of coffee/tea options. They even have coffee on tap! I’m obsessed with their Brazilian cold brew. Although the coffee shop itself is a small space, it’s still a great place to do work, read or go on a date.

Bluestone Lane

Australian-inspired coffee, cafe & lifestyle brand providing a genuine daily escape for all our locals through premium coffee and delicious healthy eats.

If you want to experience Australia in Los Angeles, Bluestone Lane has you covered. Everything about this coffee shop is inspired by the ‘Down Under,’ including their menu. I’ve tried their long black (aka americano), cold brew, chai tea and seasonal iced tea…all delicious. They have a food menu, which I have not tried, but again have seen multiple folks order food there before so it has to be decent. The West Hollywood location has a beautiful seating area with a ton of flowers (the building used to be a flower shop – go figure). Also, I’m not sure if this is only for this specific location, but keep in mind that BL is cashless, meaning you can only pay for your coffee with your card. Happy swiping and sipping!

Cafe Dulce

⁣Coffee, tea, donuts & a whole lotta goodness made fresh daily. 

Cafe Dulce was my go-to coffee spot in graduate school, especially since it was so close to campus. I tried an oat milk latte for the first time thanks to this place. If I’m not getting coffee, matcha, or tuna salad sandwiches from Cafe Dulce, I’m definitely fulfilling my sweet tooth cravings by getting their vegan cookies n’ cream donuts. Another random quality that I like about this spot is their music playlist. Whoever controls the music (in both the USC Village and DTLA locations) has great taste.

Whether you’re a LA native who is looking for new local businesses to support or you’re just visiting LA and want a place to get your caffeine fix, I hope this post is helpful. Check out these shops, snap a photo when you do and tag me on Instagram! If you’re on a budget and want to start making more coffee at home but need help getting started, let me know. I’d be happy to make a video on how I make my coffee at home. Until I master my personal home café; however, I’ll let the professional coffee connoisseurs work their magic and continue to support local coffee shops. I encourage you to do the same.

-Kaamilah