Written by Emma Kopelowicz AND HOMERO ROSAS
UPDATED AUGUST 2025
Don't talk to me before I've had my morning coffee!
Welcome to a caffeine lover's paradise, where the aroma of freshly roasted beans mingles with the creative energy of the city. LA is home to a thriving coffee scene that's as diverse as the city itself. From charming neighborhood cafés to trendy urban coffee hubs, there's a brew for every taste and a coffee shop for every mood.
In this guide, we invite you to embark on a journey through the city's rich tapestry of coffee culture. Whether you're a seasoned coffee connoisseur or a casual sipper, we'll take you on a tour of the best local coffee shops that Los Angeles has to offer. Discover artisanal roasts, unique brewing methods, and cozy atmospheres that make each cafe a distinct experience.
Photo: Liberation Coffee House
6725 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Liberation Coffee House in LA serves sustainably sourced Verve coffee and local pastries, supporting LGBTQ+ youth through the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Every purchase fuels purpose, community, and empowerment, honoring decades of queer activism and safe spaces.
Photo: Carlin Stiehl for the Los Angeles Times
8157 Santa Monica Blvd Suite A
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Fan Girl Cafe, founded by self-proclaimed “fan girls” Betsy Martinez and Cynthia Temblador, is a vibrant West Hollywood hub celebrating women and queer artists with intentional design, nostalgic playlists, and coffee drinks named after iconic songs — like the beloved “Fade Into You” latte.
Photo: Nolan Wood
2728 E 10th St.
Long Beach, CA 90804
Wood Coffee Co., opened in 2021 by Nolan Wood, is a Rose Park LGBTQ+ owned, fully plant-based coffee shop dedicated to sustainability, community, and showcasing local queer artists, performers, and organizations through events and intentional gathering space.
Photo: LADONN WILLIAMS
Multiple locations (Inglewood, DTLA, and Anaheim)
Founded in 2017 by former attorneys Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas, Sip & Sonder is an Inglewood-based, Black queer women-owned coffee brand blending specialty coffee, creative community, and cultural storytelling to redefine the global coffee experience.
Photo: Auntie's
Check out their Instagram to see where they'll be next!
Auntie’s, a Black and queer-owned coffee and lifestyle brand, delivers exceptional barista and coffee cart services for weddings, film sets, and events, while fostering community and celebrating culture across Los Angeles’s vibrant coffee scene.
Photo: Chiara Alexa
Multiple locations (DTLA and Echo Park)
Couplet Coffee, founded by queer coffee lover Gefen, blends specialty coffee with inclusivity and fun, skipping pretension for approachable, delicious brews, creative artist collaborations, and community events that welcome everyone from seasoned coffee stans to total beginners.
Photo: Saffron Cowboy
Check their Instagram to find out where they'll be next!
Hannah Said, founder of Saffron Cowboy, built her coffee brand from a yard pop-up into a Pasadena favorite, blending creativity, community, and social justice — alongside sister café Neighbors and Friends, and consulting firm Amanah.
Photo: Maru Coffee
1936 Hillhurst Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Maru is consistently marked as one of the best coffee shops in LA by locals and transplants alike. The moment you walk into either of their locations in Los Feliz or the Arts District, you'll immediately feel a sense of serenity thanks to their sleek Japanese-inspired minimalist decor. Their baristas are true coffee artisans, meticulously sourcing, roasting, and brewing each cup to perfection. Whether you're a latte lover, a pour-over enthusiast, or simply seeking the perfect espresso shot, Maru's commitment to quality shines through in every sip. To avoid the long lines, try stopping by at an off-hour during the week.
Photo: Canyon Coffee
1559 Echo Park Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Casey Wojtalewicz and his partner Ally Walsh began Canyon Coffee out of their Beachwood Canyon apartment back in 2016. Starting from neighborhood pop-ups and selling coffee to their favorite LA boutiques, Canyon organically evolved from pulling espresso on weekends to having their coffees served in cafes, shops, offices, and markets across the country. Their hip café in Echo Park is the perfect perch for getting work done – and celebrity spotting too if you're into that sort of thing.
Photo: Intelligentsia Facebook
3922 West Sunset
Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
90029
This Chicago-based
roaster took over the iconic Sunset Junction back in 2005, turning the area
into the ultimate destination for those who can afford to while the day away at
a café. Tucked beneath an adobe red archway, the blue-tiled coffee shop is one
of the best spots in the city to people watch and maybe get some work done. Kick
off a possibly productive morning with one of their meticulously brewed lattes and a
strawberry almond croissant from local bakery, Sugarbloom. Or, stop by in the
afternoon for a little mid-day espresso shot that might just give you enough
energy to write a few pages of that screenplay you’ve been putting off. Whether
or not you’re feeling inspired, Intelligentsia is always a good idea.
Photo: Civil Coffee
120 E. 8th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
From slinging coffees out of the back of their red pick-up truck to setting up home base in Highland Park, the brothers behind Civil Coffee are now bonafide celebrities when it comes to the Eastside coffee scene. Their drip coffee and espresso drinks are cult favorites, and now the Morales brothers are taking their delicious coffee downtown with a new outpost just steps away from Sonoratown. Alongside beautifully roasted obscure single-origin blends, Civil also offers a short but sweet food menu with dishes like their hefty barbacoa burrito and their signature avocado toast with labneh, peas, mint, and lemon vinaigrette. Catch us whizzing through some work at their new dreamy glass and gold-accented space.
Photo: Alfred Coffee
8428 Melrose Pl.
Los Angeles, CA
90069
While some of you may roll your
eyes at the fact that a coffee place that sells an $11 latte made this list, we
promise that the rest of their menu is not nearly as obscene. Over the years,
the Melrose Place hotspot has gotten a rep for being an influencer magnet, but
scene-yness aside, it’s a solid place to get your caffeine fix. If you’re into iced
vanilla lattes, you should probably try their world famous take on the classic
b*sic b*tch drink. If you prefer drinking tea, Alfred’s has their own
shade-grown, single-origin matcha blend which is best served “Americano-style.”
Of course, what kind of coffee shop would call itself Instagrammable if it did
not have a signature “Pink Drink?” You’ll wave your Very Berry Hibiscus
Refresher goodbye after one sip of their strawberry, pomegranate, beetroot,
vanilla, and cinnamon drink. Oh, and did we mention that cult-favorite bagel
shop Yeastie Boys often posts outside their Melrose and Studio City locations?
Photo: Muddy Paw Coffee Facebook
4610 Eagle Rock
Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Adorable puppies
and great coffee — say no more. You can play with cute dogs, enjoy a great cup of joe,
and support local animal shelters all at the same time at this Eagle Rock
oasis. Since 1992, Muddy Paw has been roasting their own beans and donating a
portion of their profits to various animal shelters around LA (including Karma
Rescue). Muddy Paw’s laidback patio is the perfect space to sip on a specialty
latte while your pup laps up some time in the sun. Their “Terrier” mocha latte
with a touch of orange and raw dark chocolate is a fan favorite,
but any of their hand-roasted original blends will satisfy your caffeine
craving. Don’t forget to pick up a house made treat for your pooch!
Photo: Café de Leche
5000 York Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Since 2008, Café de Leche has been serving incredible single-origin small-batch coffee to the Highland Park community. Founder Anya, a native Nicaraguan, and her husband, Matt, opened this shop in homage to her mother and culture, hoping to bring families and the community together one cup of café at a time. They also offer a coffee subscription service if you prefer to get your caffeine fix at home.
Photo: Doubting Thomas Facebook
2510 Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Silverlake and
Echo Parks’ economies pretty much rely on independent coffee shops, but this
fantastic spot in Historic Filipinotown is giving all those cafés a run for
their money. Chef Naomi Shim’s bright and spacious spot serves excellent drip
coffee and a marvelous muddy chai. The former l’Orangerie and Salt’s Cure chef
crafts hyper-local baked goods and life-changing braised pork shoulder
breakfast burritos. Come for your morning coffee run and stay for a slice of
whatever pie they’ve whipped up for the day. If you’re lucky, you might snag a
piece of their coveted passion fruit pie.
Photo: @cafedulcela
134
Japanese Village Plaza Mall, Bldg E
Los
Angeles, CA 90012
Tucked inside
Little Tokyo’s Japanese Village Plaza is this bustling all-day café with great
Vietnamese coffee and even better baked goods. It takes a lot of willpower to
walk out of this shop without picking up something sweet, but their signature
panko encrusted sausage donut is a savory delight that will convert any corn
dog enthusiast. They often sell out by noon, but don’t get discouraged. Café
Dulce’s exceptionally fluffy roti buns and sweetened condensed milk-soaked
brick toast are worthwhile all on their own.
Photo: Kind Grounds
3759 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066
The name really says it all. This sweet coffee shop just past the corner of Venice and Sawtelle Boulevard radiates positive vibes from the moment you walk in. The staff is friendly, the drinks are delicious, there's a gorgeous back patio, and best of all, they don't charge extra for non-dairy milk substitutes. Kind Grounds also has an on-site compost bin, so you can come by anytime to drop off your scraps. They also donate a portion of their earnings to local non-profits and host a number of socially and environmentally conscious community gatherings, from compost workshops to bike meet-ups.
Photo: Go Get Em Tiger Facebook
230 N Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004
This locally
adored chain brews delicious coffee across the city, from Larchmont to Santa
Monica. LA has a thing for slightly bitter beans, so if that’s your preferred
flavor profile, then GGET cold brew will be right up your alley. If you prefer
something a little sweeter, then go for their seasonal fizzy hoppy tea or a silky
turmeric almond milk iced latte. GGET also has a solid pastry case full of fluffy
scones and salty chocolate chip cookies, but in truth, we think the coffee shop
makes one of the best avocado toasts in the city (yes, you can quote us). The classic
version comes with pickled red onions and watermelon radish, but this time of
year, they’ve serving a Meyer lemon variety with fresh chive oil.
Photo: @eyespeeledcoffee
2839 S Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
On a random
stretch of Robertson Boulevard that you’ve probably driven by hundreds of times,
you’ll find one of LA’s latest and greatest additions to the coffee shop circuit.
The second you walk into this bright and airy shop a friendly barista will
greet you with the biggest smile and instantly make you feel like a regular.
The AAPI-owned business makes exceptional lattes with Santa Barbara-based Dune
Coffee Roasters beans and a mean iced matcha. Their soon-to-be-iconic bacon
cheddar biscuit with addictively good house made smokey hot sauce often sells
out by the morning, so act quick before the commuting crowd rushes in. We’re serious
about this biscuit: it’s going to be a new LA cult classic — just you wait.
Photo: @cogcoffee
868 South Olive St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
While we all love
the idea of going to a coffee shop for a productive work session; in reality,
most spots barely have enough room to fit you and your cold brew — let alone a
laptop and a notebook. At Cognoscenti, space is never a problem. Their light-filled DTLA shop has plenty of table space which means you can go there and
get some work done in peace. If you decide to stay awhile, you can
keep the caffeine flow going all day with their excellent array of house roasts,
from a chocolatey Guatemalan blend to a lemony Costa Rican roast with notes of
raspberry and jasmine. While their rotating daily drip will impress any coffee
enthusiast, Cognoscenti also makes delicious specialty beverages like the slightly
sweet Zoar Maple latte or the earthy Chaggaccino.
Photo: Sightglass Coffee
7051 Willoughby Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
This Bay Area-based coffee chain moved down to SoCal back in 2022, and we couldn't be more thrilled. The sibling-owned company uses small production methods that allow its discerning team to scrutinize every detail of their beans, from their smell to a slight change in color. Their complex and detail-oriented process produces some of the most flavorful and layered cups of coffee we've ever tasted, and we'd gladly pay top dollar for their roasts. Sightglass' LA location is a bright, wide-open space with tons of table space and a simple – but no less delicious – all-day breakfast menu. Whether you need a space to crank out a presentation or somewhere to hunker down between errands, Sightglass is the ideal pitstop.
Photo: Menotti's Coffee Stop Facebook
56 Windward Ave.
Venice, CA 90291
Prime views of
the Venice boardwalk, great vinyl records blasting through the speakers, and
award-winning lattes: does it get much better than Menotti’s? After catching
some waves or rolling out of bed (we don’t judge), head to this chill spot for a
flat white or espresso and tonic inspired by the Venice location’s old-school cocktail bar
neighbor. Whichever way you pour, Menotti’s is always the move.
Written by: Emma Kopelowicz
