Coffee — Page 2

Verve Coffee in Downtown Los Angeles | Espresso Fix

May 10, 2016

Verve Coffee is definitely one of my favorite places to get coffee in Los Angeles. What makes them special is that they actually roast their own coffee. There are probably a ton of cafés here with a good cappuccino that just use Stumptown- but that makes them just like everyone else. So, I try to find places that have different coffee so I know it’ll be worth my time.

I’ve only been to Verve a few times- but I love the ambiance there from the plants on the wall inside, to the very lofty & clean interior. I’m a classic cappuccino + croissant type of gal, and walking down the street with the Verve versions in hand definitely took me back to studying abroad in Italy.

The great thing is now they have a location closer to where I live, in West Hollywood, so I’m definitely adding that to my list! They also serve nitro cold brew (something I want to try although I prefer espresso), tea, and juice from Juice Served Here. They have Juice Flight that I’m dying to try! If you’re looking for a cool & trendy coffee spot to try- definitely hit up Verve, whether you’re a local or just visiting!

Alfred Coffee in West Hollywood | Espresso Fix

April 12, 2016

If you follow almost any blogger, chances are they’ve instagrammed at Alfred. After opening in 2013, Alfred now serves coffee in 4 locations around LA: Melrose Place, Brentwood, Silverlake, and Studio City.

I’m pretty sure Alfred started the “But First, Coffee” trend- how many random things have you seen with that phrase? I may or may not have a shirt from Target that says the same thing.

Alfred serves coffee + pastries along with juices from Juice Served Here & Pressed Juicery, and various cold food like salads and sandwiches. For myself personally, I just come for the coffee! They use Stumptown coffee and have kombucha on tap.

I always get their bestselling Vanilla Iced Latte- even though I’m traditionally a cappuccino girl, I find myself wanting to get what they’re most known for. I haven’t been to Alfred much, but every time I’ve gone I’ve gotten the Vanilla Iced Latte- and for good reason, it’s delicious! The large size will set you back around $6, so it’s pretty expensive for Stumptown, but it’s a worthy splurge within moderation.

Another reason to go to Alfred is for the decor. There are plenty of things that are instagram-worthy in there. But, it’s always packed- so it’s hard to get people out of your photos! 😉

Last time I went there the coffee sleeve was sponsored by Bumble, because it was around Valentine’s Day. They always have super cute sleeves for their drinks that make it even more photo-worthy. Alfred is definitely worth a visit in LA- I love it!

Source: https://www.corpcofe.com/coffee/.

Zia Valentina at The Original Farmers Market | Espresso Fix

February 24, 2016

Milk Chocolate Waffleshot Macchiato at Zia Valentina, $5

You may have had a macchiato before, and surely you’ve had a waffle cone before- but have you ever thought to combine the two? I surely hadn’t- but upon seeing these super cute Waffleshots on social media, I knew I had to try one. Zia Valentina is a cute little stall at The Original Farmers Market by The Grove that serves Italian inspired granitas, coffee, and of course- these Waffleshots.

First off…what even *is* a Waffleshot? Essentially, they fill a cup-shaped waffle cone with chocolate to form a shell to prevent the espresso from leaking. But, Zia Valentina doesn’t just stop there- they’ve combined so many different flavors from nutella, cookies & cream, red velvet, and caramel into these little shots. You can either get espresso, or a macchiato inside of your Waffleshot. I picked a macchiato, because I love me some steamed milk!

Zia Valentina tries to be as health conscious as possible. The granitas are sweetened with stevia, and feature fresh ingredients along with gluten free & vegan options. A fun fact about Zia Valentina is that they wholesale their Waffleshots to other places like Alfred & Nespresso. I had originally seen them at Alfred & had no idea that Zia Valentina was the original until writing this post- so I’m glad I tried theirs first!

I will now only accept macchiatos in Waffleshot form…

I have no clue what kind of coffee they use unfortunately but honestly this is one of the best macchiatos I’ve had since being in Italy. The espresso is strong & flavorful and not burnt tasting at all. And the combination of the chocolate + waffle cone make it even better. You have to drink it somewhat quickly, though- because the chocolate melts fast! But, the last sip with the last bit of espresso with globs of melted chocolate is basically the best thing you’ll ever try.

A bonus for non-Angelenos…Zia Valentina sells Waffleshots online– definitely grab some and take them to your city’s best coffee shop and enjoy…

Zia Valentina @ The Original Farmers Market
6333 W. 3rd Street
Stall #530
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Comoncy Café in Beverly Hills | Espresso Fix

January 12, 2016

Comoncy Cafe Los Angeles Beverly Hills Review Olivia's Espresso Fix — Comoncy’s Cappuccino, $4

Ever since coming back to the states after living in Italy for 3 months, I’ve been obsessed with finding the best cappuccinos in LA that rival Florence’s. I’ve tried a lot of great places but wanted a better way to document them other than instagram. So, I’ve finally taken the initiative to create my first Espresso Fix post (using hashtag #oliviasespressofix because I love a good hashtag.) after coming up with the idea over 6 months ago. I have a lot of catching up to do, so let’s jump right into it!

I found Comoncy Cafe via yelp and as soon as I saw they had orange cups I knew I had to go. Definitely my aesthetic. Plus, the reviews were stellar. Comoncy is the brainchild of the same team as Coral Tree Cafe in Brentwood, which is right by my office but I’ve yet to visit. There are three Comoncy locations: Beverly Hills, Studio City, and Scottsdale, AZ. I ventured to the Beverly Hills location, as it’s closest to where I live, before a hair appointment in Santa Monica on a Saturday morning.

Comoncy Cafe Los Angeles Beverly Hills Review Olivia's Espresso Fix 4 — Now I need an ORANGE espresso machine.

The Beverly Hills location is a pretty small storefront with a handful of tables. It was pretty empty when I visited, but I’m sure it can get busy earlier in the morning and on weekdays. Aside from beverages, they have breakfast & lunch offerings including pastries, eggs, salads and sandwiches. The Studio City location has a much broader menu varying from more breakfast options to dinner, which the BH location does not have. I chose a classic combo, which is my litmus test for any cafe or coffee shop: a cappuccino and croissant.

Comoncy Cafe Los Angeles Beverly Hills Review Olivia's Espresso Fix 2 — Stacks of orange to-go cups

I ought to have photographed the croissant, but it was quite a dainty croissant and I was starved…It was a pretty good croissant- more chewy, less flaky, as many Italian croissants (cornetto/i) are. They’re the perfect vehicle for dipping into a cappuccino.

The cappuccino, on (in) the other hand, was amazing. It was an Italian style cappuccino with microfoam, not an American style cappuccino that has stiff peaks of steamed milk on top. I feel like I can’t describe drinks well, but it was full bodied and truly authentic. I believe they use Equator Coffee (I stalked their instagram), which is a California based company which I haven’t tried before- but after having Comoncy’s cappuccino I was definitely impressed.

The combination of the cappuccino, croissant, and walking through the city on a brisk grey morning had me feeling a bit of deja vu as that is what I did every day in Italy.

Nothing like a stroll through the city while sipping on a cappuccino.

It was a little spendy- I mean, we’re in the middle of Beverly Hills here. Both the cappuccino and mini croissant cost me around $7. Which is almost $6 more than what I’d pay for the same thing in Florence, but the quality is worth it much more than paying the same price for a inauthentic drink from a coffee chain. Looking at you, Starbucks. 💁🏻 Check the Glass Knife website which offers sweet and savory menu options at affordable prices.

I’d highly recommend any locals to check out Comoncy- it’s both charming & high quality, and easily instagrammable, as you can see by my photos. And yes, that’s important. 😊

LA readers- which coffee shop should I put to the test next?