Issue 49 — THAT ME ESPRESSO

Caffeinated at my hometown coffee shop.

May 29, 2024

Both Rhode and Summer Fridays are bringing back their coffee inspired lip products (tints, peptides, whatever) just in time for iced coffee season. I love a Plainsight-esque product shot as much as the next guy — I mean truly, these photos are stunning. I would have loved to be on set. But I think we’re all ready for some less redundant imagery? Maybe?

A coffee shop boom has hit LA again — Community Goods opened just over year ago. Telegrama felt like a fresh addition. K-town caught a wave. But now, it feels like a new opening is happening every week.

H.I.G.T.E. — (aka How’s It Going To End) Not my favorite name for a coffee shop. Whether you’re typing it, or saying it aloud, it’s clunky… BUT it sure is pretty!
The new Montrose spot was designed by @wrk_shp, the architects behind a ton of Blue Bottle’s spaces. The landscaping was done by @terremoto_landscape, who worked on some favorites of mine — The Walker House, Sea Ranch Lodge, Platform Park + Scribe. (I hear the coffee is good too. I think they serve Heart.)
Camel — a popular chain from South Korea has arrived in Silver Lake, expect to wait an hour. Curious about their double cup method…
Lil East — an 8’x8’ cafe started by pastry chef, Jocelyn Todd in El Sereno
Ondo Coffee — (previously The OX LA) now in East Hollywood
Loop Espresso Club — Tokyo inspired espresso bar in Eagle Rock
Lumen — I used to walk by this spot on Fig all the time - been curious
Flowgood @ Slowjamz — a weekend-only hi-fi retail & coffee shop in Arts District
Dayglow — just opened another location in Larchmont
Concierge — a Berlin coffee shop for concrete + wood enthusiasts. They came to LA because ‘the rest of Germany is just kind of boring.’

Concierge Coffee’s interior features arched windows, natural light, and sculpture-like modern furniture made out of concrete blocks. — Concierge Coffee, Arts District

I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with the options. At one time in my life, I would have made an effort to check out all the new spots promptly. But I’ve been leaning more into the mentality that ’the best coffee shop is the one closest to you…’ I simply can’t be bothered.

In addition to the coffee itself, and good coffee shop should check a few other boxes. Very few check them all. (I’d say even Maru is missing one…)

easy to get to / park
has a comfy place to sit
interesting interior
music that doesn’t suck (if you notice it, it’s either really good or really bad)
entertaining people (for watching or eavesdropping)
located on a decent block to walk around (or proximity to something else)
a menu item to crave (something that keeps you coming back despite the lack of parking, available seating, etc.)

High turnover is essential to the business, so patrons can’t get too comfortable. But there has to be something in between a low backless stool and a la-z-boy right?

Civil Coffee in highland park has cushioned stools + chairs with backs. Can you think of any others with upholstered seating?

Bites

Fondry lines aren’t getting any shorter. I’ve heard they’ve been stocking Loquat + Kumquat with croissants on weekends — might be your best bet. 🥐
Baker’s Bench pastries (vegan friendly) are now at Dada Market Fri - Sun. Their Alpine St. location is opening soon!
Every time Good Luck Bar posts on IG, I think they’re going to reopen. ‘Stranger things have happened 🛸’
Gran Blanco has ditched their faux Tulum interior, and entered their Izakaya Era.
Another remodel — N/Naka got botox.

Dimly lit dining room of N/Naka in Los Angeles. — Zen Sekizawa for Eater

Apparently Amazon has a secret war room to ‘crack Trader Joe’s and dominate everything’ — for those hit with the WSJ paywall, here’s a reel.
Smart. Thingtesting shares their case studies publicly — like this campaign they ran for Sauz, converting over 350 new customers, generating $9,500+ in sales.
Our Place made a cookbook, Dinner at Our Place ft. Woon’s Keegan & Mama Fong, DeVonn Francis + others. Ships in October.
Priya Krishna wrote a cookbook for kids — this might be more my speed.
No more leaky lids for Grillo’s Pickles — new design, same great pickle.
Evie says, ‘Hot girls love brine’ and she’s right.
5 restaurant owners explain why they left the industry to the LA Times
- “It’s just hard to justify being at work 12 to 14 hours a day and also not make any money.” — Spencer Bezaire, Eszett
- ‘We can’t afford to be open. We can’t afford to be closed.’ Waxpaper owner Lauren Lemos said in another ‘State of Restaurants’ article.
Speaking of closures, Gjelina Take Away is closing early June.
I was wondering where Konbi’s dinnerware ended up… 🍽

A top-down view of the Dozo sushi set in a white box with eight pieces of nigiri, tuna sashimi, futomaki, and edamame. — The $39 Dozo Set

Former ‘Jiro’ Chef Nakazawa Now Dreams of Delivery-Only Sushi — I’ve heard it’s ‘fucking good.’ Watch out Sugar Fish!
The chef behind the now-closed Angler has returned with an Italian-ish restaurant in the old La Brea Bakery space, Leopardo. Hella caviar.

PS. What’s up with this obscure restaurant-specific instagram trend? It’s like they all discovered collaging at once. Food pics with decent lighting aren’t cutting it.

Left to Right: Bar Chelou, Barra Santos, Leopardo

More on restaurant’s IG presence in last week’s issue, Instagram 101 for Restaurants.

🗓 Coming Up…

Neighborhood Wine, DTLA Events
Lunasia is hosting ‘Summer Music Nights’ this June / July
6/02 Same Same Studio Yard Sale in Costa Mesa
6/03 Teotl Pop-Up at Cafe Troipcal
6/07 Baker’s Bench is opening!
6/19-6/23 Homage turns 8!
6/27 The Bear Season 3 (All episodes drop)
Pierce Abernathy’s May / June NY Pop-Up Tour
7/01 California’s ‘Junk Fee Ban’ goes into effect.

Recent Bites (hometown eats)

A weekend full of pasta, cae sals + spritz!

Dinner at the Fontana Maisel’s — A perfect backyard dinner celebrating Jessie + Gabe :) The pasta was HOT, there were multiple sauce + salad options (caesar of course). Wine + Aperol flowing all night. We got lucky with an insane sunset. PS. it’s been decided. Jovial is the goated gluten free pasta option.

Piazza D’Angelo — a no frills neighborhood spot in the heart of downtown Mill Valley. The kind of place that splits portions for you if you say you’re sharing. I almost forgot about coursed out meals! Is it time to move on from the ‘last bite of the shared plate’ dance?

World Wrapps — This was a go-to off campus lunch spot in high school. Wraps are pretty easy to get wrong. If the last bite is looking like a mouth full of dry tortilla, I won’t be finishing it. World Wraps does a decent job keeping it all about the salad with an ultra-thin tortilla. Perfect. My order used to be Samurai Salmon but I decided to switch it up with a caesar to stay on theme for the weekend.

Gott’s Roadside — A classic burger place with even better tacos. Real one’s will remember it as Taylor’s Refresher. I’m thrilled they’ve expanded to Marin, but the OG St. Helena location will always be my favorite.

When I said I go to Burmatown every time I’m home, I mean it. The wait is never an issue with a bottle of Niepoort Redoma. I was super excited to see a shrimp toast listed under specials. (I dream about the one from Eszett all the time.) Unfortunately they were sold out, which probably means it’s good. I’m hoping my dad will report back. More Burmatown in Issue 41.

Stillwater — A little touch of LA in Fairfax. Oysters, natural wine… yuzu was on the menu thrice. Old bay fries! Could have been a cute date spot, but alas. My dad was loooving the playlist. Thanks for the suggestion, Andrew!

Equator Coffee — My typical order is an oat capp, but I tend to get more adventurous when it’s my second cup. The raspberry mocha was a little sweet, a little tart, but very subtle. It reminded me of Kumquat’s February special. A perfect post-lunch treat. (P.S. they have locations in Culver City + Laguna Beach)