Day 8: Taza
If you want a place to just hang out, meet up with friends, and have an artfully prepared cup of coffee, then Taza is what you’re looking for. After All, they tag themselves as “A social place for coffee”.
I came here with a friend after one of our morning hikes in the nearby mountains. I had quite the urge for a coffee drink, and this was the only place I knew of that was close by. It’s the only coffee house of its kind in an area filled with tea houses (and Starbucks). I hope the nearby residents take advantage of this little gem.
Although they don’t grow or roast their own beans, there is something that I really love about Taza. It could be the big picnic table made of wood in the center of the room or the random items that fill the shelves on the wall. Perhaps it’s the fact that they carry Donut Snob and Liege waffles. Whatever it is, I’m sure you too will find something that you love about this little coffee house in the center of Arcadia.
This week’s coffee song is “Black Coffee” by Ella Fitzgerald. I found a special mix version that I think is pretty groovy. You can add it to your coffee drinking playlist. Oh, you don’t have one? Hmmm, might want to rethink that.
Hope you all like it!
Day 7: Tierra Mia
Another coffee roasting company on our journey can be found sprinkled about the Los Angeles area. Tierra Mia Coffee prides itself on selecting micro batch beans and sustaining coffee farmers and their families. Then they take those beans and roast them to flavor perfection at their many Southern and Northern California locations. What sets Tierra Mia Coffee apart from a lot of other coffee houses is their commitment to including Latin culture in everything they do, from their coffees and pastries which are baked in-house daily, to the decor of each location.
Tierra Mia house roasted beans for sale
I visited the newest member of the Tierra Mia family in Highland Park, which is a Northern area of Los Angeles. It’s almost hidden in a residential area, but to me that just gives it more of a cozy neighborhood sentiment. The space inside is rather small with only about three or four tables along the wall. There is also seating outside (which is pretty normal for SoCal). There is a pastry display with some signature items like their tres leches or pina colada muffins and horchata latte cupcakes!
“El mejor cafe viene de tierra mia”
La Marzocco – a staple
Their drink menu includes it’s own set of signatures like the Coco Loco Latte, Mocha Mexicano, Cubano con Leche, and many more. Per the recommendation by the barista and considering it was at least 80 degrees outside, I tried the Horchata Latte over ice. It was sweet and cinnamony (new word), but to me didn’t really taste like horchata. I would still recommend it to anyone who prefers their coffee drinks on the sweeter side though. There is still an overabundance of drinks that I have yet to try here, and I look forward to completing the list!
Only half of the drink menu
Almond croissant and cappuccino
Day 6: Demitasse
I met “Demi” a few years back after a morning of dance classes. I was walking around Little Tokyo, and saw a sandwich board that read, “Friends don’t let friends drink Starbucks”. I chuckled, then I laughed out loud, then I took a picture and sent it to my best coffee friend, Cafesito. Eventually I made it inside the coffee bar. I was immediately enthralled by the “lab” feeling (I was a biology major), and had never seen a siphon in action before.
The small coffee bar does their own roasting in small batches, selecting in-season beans from different sources. You can subscribe and get bi-weekly bags of beans sent to your home (free shipping)! They even will do custom roasting. Fancy that!
The space inside Demi is pretty small and intimate. There is seating around the bar (to sit in awe at mighty siphons at work), and some comfy cushioned seats for small groups as well as a small patio outside.Their menu is pretty special. Each barista at Demi has his or her own signature drink which can only be ordered when they are working. A regular menu specialty is their lavender hot chocolate complete with a roasted marshmallow. I still need to try that one, but every time I go the coffee gets me.
Demi to-go
Day 5: Lavender & Honey Espresso Bar
There aren’t very many places in North Pasadena to get a good cup of coffee, but thank God for Lavender & Honey!
Still in their first year of business, L&H has definitely made it’s presence known in the area. I didn’t even realize how much we needed something like this until they showed up. Not only do they brew delicious coffee, but they have pretty tasty deli options too!
The coffee here is from Klatch, a roasting company in Upland, CA. They serve your standard espresso and coffee drinks, but as the name suggests there is so much more to try! Drinks like their honeybee latte and lavender breve are very popular, and set this espresso bar apart from the rest. They also have a French lavender lemonade for you non-coffee drinkers.
If you come here for breakfast you must order one of their carefully put together toasts. The classic L&H toast has a spread of goat cheese topped with a honey drizzle and sprinkled with fresh lavender. Pair it with a latte and your morning is more than made! They also have a Pasadena toast which is an avocado toast with red pepper slices on top. I’m a huge fan of that one as well (I like it hot). You can also choose from a selection of salads and sandwiches (even ice cream sandwiches), and the kiddies have their own menu as well. So bring the family!
Classic L&H Toast
I love how L&H is decorated with subtle (or not so subtle) themed items such as the honeycomb shelf on the wall and the jar of lavender near the bar. Their small retail area offers item such as Bloom honey, Sweet Lady Cook preserves, and Almond Kulture granolas. All are exceptionally delicious. There isn’t a whole lot of indoor seating, but there is plenty on their outdoor patio. I particularly like the bench seat in the windows facing the street. It’s the coziest little spot to enjoy a warm drink.
Day 4: Verve Coffee Roasters
Formerly known in LA for wholesaling their beans to local brewers, Verve has finally settled in dtla’s fashion district. Originally from Santa Cruz, this coffee roasting company sources its beans from all over the world, and makes it their own in their roasting and brewing techniques. You can really taste the extra effort!
I came to Verve before it even opened, before I even knew it would be Verve. I was on a walk with the pup in dtla, when I came across what was obviously going to be some type of food establishment, yet still a work in progress. A few weeks later I discovered that what I had seen would be a Verve cafe, and from then until opening day I waited anxiously. I even dropped in a couple times while they were clearly still setting things up just to ask “when will you guys be open?”
When I finally got my chance to experience Verve, my barista somehow convinced me to try a vanilla latte (I never order those), but since it was comped I decided to go for it. It wasn’t bad, just not my normal thing. Every time after that has been my usual regular latte though. I love my lattes! You can never go wrong with a well-made regular latte, imo. My favorite latte from Verve was made by barista Jordan. The cup was pretty hot for me to hold, and I didn’t notice any cup sleeves. In stepped Jordan with his oh so innovative mind, and creates the perfect napkin sleeve for me. It was so adorable, and looked like my latte was dressed for a formal occasion with a bowtie (#blacktiecoffee)! Thanks Jordan!
Vanilla Latte
Formal Latte, complete with bowtie
It may be the “LA” in me, but I was also really excited to see that Verve has teamed up with Juice Served Here! I know they’re a little pricey, but when you really need a cold-pressed juice to-to it’s so great to have them around. They even offer juice flights so you can get a taste of a variety of their juices. I really like the Hot Lei, and the Tres Leches (not in the flight). They also make lattes with some of the milk drinks from Juice Served Here and frozen juice treats (get some for the kids)!
Tres Leches and a Latte
The space inside Verve is straight-edged, but still very social. At the counter there’s a nice sized pastry display, a couple of automated drip coffee makers, a huge Kees Van Der Westen espresso machine, and the two menus on the wall. The colors are mute (stone and wood), with plenty of natural and artificial light. There is a long bench-seat table and bench seating along the wall. A small shelf filled with retail items separates the service counter from the seating area. It feels like a typical LA workspace to me. Outside is much different, however. The semi-enclosed patio area is walled with bright green plants and the seats are a warm, dark wood. The rounded tables seem a lot more cafe-like (and appealing) to me. The overhead lights are hidden among hanging plants. I’d much rather sit outside, especially on a sunny day.
Eat. Go. Learn. Live. 