So I'm working next week in So Cal and will be in LA and San Diego for a couple of days. Besides the usual suspects (Intilli, La Mill, Elan) do you know of any other good cafes in those areas I should stop and check out.

If you happen to work in one let me know and I will make sure to stop by and leave you some chocolate sauce.

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the klatch...
yeah, couldn't say that with a straight face.
Good Call, didn't even think about that


Benza Lance said:
the klatch...
yeah, couldn't say that with a straight face.
North of San Diego by only minutes, and in La Jolla, there's Bird Rock Roasters and Cafe:
Click Here for Bird Rock
If you're looking for forward-thinking, cutting edge coffee and coffee experience then I don't think you need to go much further than Intelligentsia Venice Beach and LAMill. Between those two, I think you'll have covered some of the most forward-thinking coffee joints in America today. But the Latino baristas at Urth Caffe Santa Monica are slinging some of the sickest latte art in a high-volume setting that I have seen so far.

Once you've visited those places, there really isn't any other coffee joint that I can think of that's really worth making the trek to visit. Cafe Luxxe in Santa Monica is solid and worth checking out if you're in Venice Beach.

While visiting Intelli Venice Beach, I highly recommend a stop at Jin Patisserie for a pastry in their gardens, which is beautifully executed and the chicken curry omelette at 26 Beach Restaurant (fantastic).

San Diego - I would skip coffee altogether and just go to The Linkery - especially for their Smokehouse Sunday meals (and I've heard Jay is starting a Fried Chicken Fridays dinner as well).
After reading Jay's comment on San Diego, I figured I should elaborate....... Two of the worst coffee experiences I've ever had were in San Diego; one at Lulu's Cafe and the other at Panikans, both downtown. The only reason I mentioned Bird Rock, is that I was visiting Elan Coffee brokers, also downtown on the South end. After I told them about my experience, they recommended Bird Rock. I've been to La Jolla, but have yet to try them out. Outside fo the few houses that were already mentioned, most shops, especially when recommended, suffer from inconsistency. There have been many who've lamented the lack of decent coffee shops in the San Diego area. I'll be anxious to see if anyone has a good recommendation.
not to brag, but we've been doing a great job, if you'd like to come over to our cafe. Tiago on Hollywood and La Brea when you come to LA. We get a lot of Intelli people that are surprised with what we're doing as well. Check out our Yelp listing if you aren't sure. We've got a great vibe that you can't not enjoy us!
Selina.... I'm really pleased that you added your cafe to the short list. I go into L.A. regularly, and enjoy stopping at any specialty coffee retailer location, not just for the coffee, but to check out the overall package; store setup, personnel, customer service level, etc. If it was your shop, I believe I remember passing your shop last month. Are you in La Brea Plaza? And if not, where, and what about parking?

Selina said:
not to brag, but we've been doing a great job, if you'd like to come over to our cafe. Tiago on Hollywood and La Brea when you come to LA. We get a lot of Intelli people that are surprised with what we're doing as well. Check out our Yelp listing if you aren't sure. We've got a great vibe that you can't not enjoy us!
Where's the klatch at? I'm going to be staying in San Diego for awhile so i'm pretty interested in the list.
Tiago that sounds awesome. I'm pretty sure I will be in that area on Wednesday. Thanks Selina

Selina said:
not to brag, but we've been doing a great job, if you'd like to come over to our cafe. Tiago on Hollywood and La Brea when you come to LA. We get a lot of Intelli people that are surprised with what we're doing as well. Check out our Yelp listing if you aren't sure. We've got a great vibe that you can't not enjoy us!
San Diego...lacking the coffee shop experience yes. however, since i've quit the albina press and moved away from portland and found my home in san diego i've also found work at caffe calabria. it's been an uphill battle but some wins have been made. no more blenders in the cafe, educating customers, and inspiring a few baristas to go above and beyond what san diego has to offer as far as coffee. it may not be as flashy as the LA shops which i just visited last week, and i have to say LAMill takes the cake. Shots were awesome, and A+ on presentation. I don't usually like when cafes serve a full menu, but well done. Give Calabria a try, also Birdrock. there are still some of us that will blow you away. hahaha
Cedric, Klatch has their original shop in San Dimas, CA, in the Pomona Valley, in the Target shopping center, just West of the 210 Freeway and Arrow Hwy. It's a couple hours from San Diego, in the Northeast corner of L.A. County.

Klatch Webpage

Cedric said:
Where's the klatch at? I'm going to be staying in San Diego for awhile so i'm pretty interested in the list.
Hey Al! I do the same! Not sure what La Brea Plaza is, but im at 7080 Hollywood Blvd, right on the corner -- by the 3 statues that start the Walk of Fame. Parking is behind us, so coming up on La Brea towards Hollywood, ur gonna turn right into the alley next to the Pink Pepper, and its the parking structure on the right. I'd live for u ti come by and check us out, and ask for me when ur here! Ü

Al Sterling said:
Selina.... I'm really pleased that you added your cafe to the short list. I go into L.A. regularly, and enjoy stopping at any specialty coffee retailer location, not just for the coffee, but to check out the overall package; store setup, personnel, customer service level, etc. If it was your shop, I believe I remember passing your shop last month. Are you in La Brea Plaza? And if not, where, and what about parking? Selina said:
not to brag, but we've been doing a great job, if you'd like to come over to our cafe. Tiago on Hollywood and La Brea when you come to LA. We get a lot of Intelli people that are surprised with what we're doing as well. Check out our Yelp listing if you aren't sure. We've got a great vibe that you can't not enjoy us!

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