10 Best Los Angeles Specialty Coffee Roasters
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Hello, coffee enthusiasts! Are you looking for the finest coffee roasters in Los Angeles? Look no further. Los Angeles boasts a vibrant coffee culture with many roasters and cafes awaiting discovery. Whether a resident or a visitor, there’s always a fresh experience around the corner.
For this reason, we have combed through the city to curate a list of the best specialty coffee roasters in Los Angeles. From intimate cafes to eco-conscious roasters, this guide encompasses them all. Each entry will provide insights into their history, address, contact number, and website, ensuring effortless navigation to that next exceptional brew.
Best Specialty Coffee Roasters in Los Angeles
As coffee enthusiasts in Los Angeles, we have been through the city’s vibrant coffee landscape, uncovering some truly exceptional roasters. Whether you are a seasoned coffee drinker or simply searching for a quality brew, Los Angeles has options to satisfy your cravings. Let’s begin.
1: Alana’s
Launched in 2017 by Eric Stogsdill and Erin Ward, Alana’s Coffee Roasters is a demonstration of over a decade of Stogsdill’s coffee expertise, beginning as a home roaster vending at local L.A. farmers’ markets.
Equally enthusiastic about coffee, Ward pooled resources and networks to help launch the cafe. At 12511 Venice Boulevard, Alana’s takes pride in their on-site, small-batch roasting of sustainably grown and directly sourced coffee beans.
Beyond serving premium coffee, this community-centric cafe, adorned with inviting decor, offers a hub for local creatives and families. It hosts summer events like movie nights, open mics, and karaoke.
Website: shop.alanascoffeeroasters.com
Pack sizes: 1lb
Bag price: From $20
Address: 12511 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Contact: +1 310-295-0099
Subscription service: No
2: Verve Coffee Roasters
Established in 2007, Verve Coffee Roasters is celebrated for its uncompromising dedication to quality and environmental responsibility. Prioritizing a direct relationship with global farmers, they obtain their beans to guarantee authenticity and premium quality. Once procured, these beans undergo the artisanal process of small-batch roasting to draw out premium coffee flavors.
Located on 3rd Street, Verve’s café radiates warmth and coziness, ensuring ample seating for patrons. As an added touch, the skilled baristas, with their in-depth knowledge and genuine passion for coffee, stand ready to assist customers in navigating the menu to select a brew that suits their preferences perfectly.
Website: https://www.vervecoffee.com/
Pack Size: 8 oz
Price: From $18
Address: 8051 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Contact: +1 323-424-7008
Subscription Service: Yes
3: Demitasse
Founded in 2011, Demitasse is a reputable coffee roaster and cafe chain. Bobak “Bobby” Roshan, having previously worked in politics and law, ventured into the coffee world and has since achieved notable success. Adopting a direct-trade model, Demitasse collaborates closely with farmers in Central and South America while partnering with reputable importers to acquire coffees from Africa and Southeast Asia.
Boasting three active locations, Demitasse’s signature coffee is now a sought-after choice in various L.A. cafes, eateries, and markets. Their online platform offers a curated selection of blends, single-origin coffees, and decaf options. Moreover, they have expertly crafted a unique blend, tailor-made for refreshing cold brew concoctions.
Website: cafedemitasse.com
Pack sizes: 12oz / 1lb
Bag price: From $17
Address: 135 S. San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90012
Contact: +1 323-844-3233
Subscription Service: Yes
4: Stumptown Coffee Roasters
Originating from Portland, Stumptown Coffee Roasters marked its presence in Los Angeles in 2013. With a reputation built on fostering direct trade ties with farmers, the brand emphasizes sustainable practices.
Their establishment in L.A.’s Arts District occupies an expansive warehouse setting, offering ample seating for patrons. A key recommendation for visitors is their signature cold brew.
Website: www.stumptowncoffee.com/
Pack sizes: 12oz / 1lb
Bag price: From $16
Address: 806 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Contact: +1 855-711-3385.
Subscription Service: Yes
5: Cognoscenti
In 2009, Cognoscenti began its journey as a pop-up store, operating from Proof Bakery and Scoops Ice Cream. By 2012, founder Yeekai Lim collaborated with Proof’s Na Young Ma to inaugurate the first permanent Cognoscenti spot in Culver City.
The brand’s growth led to the establishment of two additional locations: one at 868 South Olive Street and another, which serves as both a roastery and cafe at 1118 San Julian Street, both in Downtown Los Angeles. Significantly, Cognoscenti is one of the city’s rare minority-owned specialty coffee roasters.
Cogniscenti’s commitment to quality is evident in its exclusive roasting of single-origin coffees. These beans are ethically and sustainably sourced from leading coffee nations, including Costa Rica, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Website: cogcoffee.com
Pack sizes: 12oz
Bag price: From $20
Address: 868 South Olive Street, LA
Contact: +1 424-258-7524
Subscription Service: No
6: Intelligentsia Coffee
Established in 1995, Intelligentsia Coffee is an early trailblazer in the U.S. specialty coffee arena. Emphasizing direct relationships with farmers, they procure their beans and undertake small-batch roasting to accentuate the distinct flavors.
Their venue in Silver Lake captivates visitors with its inviting ambiance, covered in abundant natural sunlight, ensuring that every cup they serve meets high standards.
Website: www.intelligentsia.com
Pack sizes: 12oz
Bag price: From $20
Address: 3922 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Contact: (323) 663-6173.
Subscription service: Yes
7: LAMILL
LAMILL emerged as one of the pioneering specialty coffee roasters in Los Angeles. Its roots trace back to the mid-’90s, but it took its current form in 1999 when Craig Min reinvented his father’s business, giving it a fresh identity.
Today, they boast two cafes — one at 1636 Silver Lake Boulevard and another at Los Angeles Airport. Beyond these locations, LAMILL’s coffee graces over 300 venues nationwide and several international spots.
Their online catalog presents an extensive collection of coffees featuring a diverse mix of blends and single origins, primarily from Latin America and Africa. Notably, they have curated blends tailored for drip coffee aficionados.
Collaborating with Steeped Coffee, LAMILL has introduced specialty-grade single-serve coffee bags, offering the simplicity of tea bag brewing to coffee lovers.
Website: www.lamillcoffee.com
Pack sizes: 12oz / 5lb
Bag price: From $14
Address: 1636 Silver Lake Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026
Contact: (323) 663-4441
Subscription Service: Yes
8: Blue Bottle Coffee
Blue Bottle Coffee originated as a modest roastery in Oakland in 2002. Since then, it has grown its footprint, gracing multiple cities, including Los Angeles. Recognized for their unwavering dedication to quality, they’re also famed for innovative brewing techniques, notably their hallmark pour-over.
Their LA Arts District establishment stands out with its aesthetically pleasing design and ample seating. The knowledgeable and friendly staff there are ever-ready to assist patrons in discovering their ideal cup of coffee.
Website: www.bluebottlecoffee.com
Pack sizes: 12oz / 5lb
Bag price: From $13
Address: 582 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Contact: +1 510-653-3394
Subscription Service: Yes
9: Portola
Established in 2011, Portola stands out as an acclaimed specialty coffee roastery and cafe chain founded by the dynamic duo Jeff and Christa Duggan.
With Jeff’s scientific prowess in math and chemistry, he efficiently supervises Portola’s roasting process, ensuring top-tier quality and uniformity across all products. Portola has expanded its presence with six outlets throughout the Greater Los Angeles region.
At the heart of Portola’s principles is a genuine commitment to sourcing. Embracing a direct trade model, they nurture close ties with their farmers. Notably, they guarantee payment rates at least 25% above Fair Trade standards, often generously surpassing this, paying up to 50% more to champion quality and sustainable practices. Their assortment, spanning blends and single-origin coffees from South America and Africa, can be accessed online and in-store.
Website portolacoffee.com
Pack sizes: 12oz / 5lb
Bag price: From $15.95
Address: Portola Coffee Roasters 3313 Hyland Avenue, B2 Costa Mesa, California 92626
Contact: +1 714-656-7996
Subscription Service: Yes
10: Go Get Em Tiger
Go Get Em Tiger (GGET) evolved from G&B Coffee, a prominent cafe in downtown Los Angeles spearheaded by Charles Babinski and Kyle Glanville. With rich backgrounds in the coffee realm, this duo has previously served renowned coffee establishments and proudly holds U.S. Barista Championship titles.
Initially, GGET operated as a ‘multi-roaster,’ featuring coffees from various external roasters. However, by 2018, their growth prompted them to start roasting independently. This transition led them to establish a sprawling 16,000-square-foot roasting facility in Vernon, equipped with Mill City and Probat roasters.
Their enterprise has flourished remarkably, sporting ten outlets throughout Los Angeles.
GGET offers a seasonally curated selection of coffees. Their current lineup showcases single origins from Colombia, Peru, and Ethiopia, complemented by a distinctive blend and a decaf option. Coffee enthusiasts can procure these at G&B, any GGET cafe, or their online platform.
Website: gget.com
Pack sizes: 12oz
Bag price: From $17.50
Address: 230 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, California
Contact: +1 213-513-7798.
Subscription Service: Yes
My Personal Favorite
When it comes down to a personal favorite, my vote goes with Cognoscenti. The main reason is because it specializes in roasting single-origin coffees from coffee-producing regions like Costa Rica, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda. This means that you can experience the distinct flavors and characteristics of coffee from specific regions. Ideally, this is something what a true coffee fan would crave the most! Plus, I really like the fact that Cognoscenti is committed to ethical and sustainable sourcing of their coffee beans.
On the other hand, Bilal prefers Alana’s Coffee Roasters mainly because he prefers freshly roasted coffee. Alana’s offers on-site roasting of sustainably grown and directly sourced coffee beans. Plus, he also prefers them because it gives a community-vibe. Alana’s hosts various community events like movie nights, open mics, and karaoke. If you enjoy the ambiance of a cafe that brings people together and offers more than just coffee, Alana’s could be your choice too.
Conclusion
In my opinion, Los Angeles has some amazing coffee roasters to explore. I’ve checked out a bunch of them, and they each have their own special story and great coffee. Whether you’re a coffee pro or just starting, these places have something for everyone. So, if you’re in LA, don’t miss out on the chance to try some fantastic coffee from these roasters
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