Los Angeles is the city of fun, glamour, and paparazzi, but it is also a city with a rich coffee history. Not only does it have some of the best restaurants in the country, but it also has some of the best coffee roasters in the Union. From coffee shops and cafes operating independently to coffee shops with roasting facilities, Los Angeles Coffee roasters are a part of the city’s history.
If you are looking for the best roasters in LA, then you are in the right place. If you stick with us for the next five minutes or so, we will present you with some of the best roasters shops in Los Angeles. Here we go.
Cognoscenti
Cognoscenti is virtually an urban legend in this part of the country.
If you are looking for the best shops offering rich, single-origin coffee roasts, this is one place to be. It opened in 2009 as a pop-up shop by a trained architect called Yeekai Lim. Kim partnered with Na Young to open Proof Bakery.
Proof Bakery offered high-quality pastries and coffee to diners and was very popular until both Lol, and Young Ma decided to open Cognoscenti. Today, it is one of the few locally founded Specialty coffee shops in the area offering brewed coffee and single-origin coffee roasts
If you are looking for the best Los Angeles Coffee roasts, Cognoscenti is the place to be. Two of the best options on their menu list are Bento Nenka of Ethiopia and El Diamante Guatemala. You can visit any of their locations. They operate one in Culver City and two in the Downtown part of the Fashion District.
Alana’s Coffee Roaster
Another very good coffee roaster in LA is Alana’s.
Alana’s is the brainchild of Eric Stogsdill. Eric began roasting coffee in 2009 at one of Los Angeles’s farmers’ markets, and he decided to use his daughter’s name. Within a very short time, his business blew up for two reasons; quality offerings and creative marketing.
To market his product, he made his customer press their faces into bags of coffee beans to smell the aroma.
Then his major break came in 2017 when he opened Alana’s in Mars Vista to cater to the local community. So far, so good, the business has formed a very strong emotional attachment with the local community, and a significant percentage of Alana’s customers live and work in the community.
His flavor notes are mixed with blueberries and chocolates that smell and taste great. A visit to Alana’s will be worth your while. The roaster shop is located on the Northside or Venice Boulevard.
Also Read: Best Boston Coffee Roasters!
Demitasse Café
One of the best Los Angeles Coffee Roasters originates from Little Tokyo.
Founded by Bobby Roshan, this business owner was not originally a barista or a coffee connoisseur. After graduating from law school, he worked in the corporate line until he developed a hobby for brewing coffee. Subsequently, his hobby turned into an obsession, and the result of his newfound love is Demitasse Café.
The main feature about Demitasse is that they are unique with the way they brew their coffee. If you are looking for flavorful coffee that will give you that wow feeling, Demitasse coffee is what you need.
They are particularly known for roasting and brewing traditional Colombian beans. Some of their varieties are mixed with rich spices for a richer taste. Currently, Mr. Bonny operates two shops. One in Santa Monica and the other at Mid Wilshire.
Trystero Coffee Shop
Most times, great achievements start with little beginnings, and that best explains the story of Trystero Coffee shop. It is called a garage coffee shop because it was started in a garage by the owner, Greg Thomas. For 10 years, Greg Thomas has served the community through his creation, Trystero.
This one-man operation operating out of Atwater village has been a remarkable success. The quality of Greg Thomas’s coffee is second to none.
His Ethiopian roast is highly demanded for its quality, while buyers who want ready-made beverages order his espresso coffee served and packed hot.
Today, the garage spot has closed, and now, the much bigger business operates two outlets. Handy Market a d Spoke Bicycle Cafe
House Roots Coffee
House Roots Coffee was opened by a group of friends who grew up in San Fernando Valley. This coffee roaster shop offers high-quality yet affordable coffee roasts to buyers looking for premium, unadulterated roasted coffee beans.
House Roots Coffee specializes in double origin beans of Ethiopia and Guatemala. However, they also roast single-origin beans as well.
If you want to enjoy brews coffee instead of just buying roasted beans, you can visit them to place your order at their Thank You Coffee shop in Chinatown.
As for their coffee roast, a 12-ounce bag costs $20, and you can subscribe for 3-6 months to continue receiving a 12-ounce bag every month.
Joules & Watts Coffee Roasters
One other shop many regard as one of the best Los Angeles Coffee Roasters is Joules & Watts. This business operates out of Malibu village shopping center. They run a café and a Roastery simultaneously.
The café serves brewed coffee, gelato, and espresso drinks to customers who walk in for a quick drink. As for their roastery, they run it on a subscription-based model. Customers can order weekly or monthly package roasts according to their needs.
Customers are also allowed to make specific requests if they want something different from what is on the menu. Although Joules and Watts offer different coffee beans origins, their most demanded is Guatemalan coffee.
Joules and Wats sell roasted coffee in 12-ounce bags starting from a $15 monthly subscription.
Caffe Luxxe
Café Luxxe commenced operations in 2006 after its founders, Mark Wain and Gary Chau, opened the Café.
Today, the business has expanded to other major centers in Santa Barbara, Long Beach, Santa Monica, and the Pacific Palisades. Caffe Luxxe is not just an average café but one with expert brewmasters.
Customers can order any of their coffee roasts ranging from their special Rustic Canyon House Blend to their Mornin Becomes Eclectic Coffee Blend. Caffe Luxxe roasts and brews single and double origin beans according to the customer’s orders. Today, you can order coffee beans from different regions of the world like Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The café is also a nice place to relax and unwind, with cool tranquilizing music playing in the background as you enjoy your coffee. The average price for a 12-ounce bag of Caffee Luxxe roast is $18.
Goodboybob
Located in Culver City, Santa Monica, Goodboybob serves as both a café and a restaurant. This spot offers a rich menu of expensive wine and coffee and good food.
As for their coffee, diners are treated to two classic offerings, namely the Classic coffee and the Real Coffee. Customers who order Classic may choose to receive a new package once or twice a month, while Real Coffee orders are a selection of the coffee menu on offer during the period the order is placed.
Two of their best roasts are the Guatemalan El Socorro Gesha and the Natural Anaerobic Pacamera from El Salvador.
Both are shipped to customers in jars and custom wooden boxes to preserve the beans and the jars. Goodboybob coffee is tasty and rich in natural minerals. The roasting process they employ protects the organic profile, so what you get is rich coffee and nothing less.
Canyon Coffee
Canyon Coffee is the creation of Ally Walsh and Casey Wojtalewiczwicz.
The business opened in 2016, and today, they supply many shops and cafes in the area and especially in the La Brea neighborhood. Over the last five years, Canyon has spread its tentacles to supply stores in Costa Mesa and Atwater village.
They roast and sell different beans origins from Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil, Rwanda, and Guatemala. You are not limited to the number of bags you can order. If you are buying directly from them you will have to subscribe for three months at the minimum.
They also have 6 months and yearly packages. Canyon Coffee remains one of the best Los Angeles Coffee Roasters around.
Go Get Em Tiger
Go Get Em Tiger operates right out of their headquarters in Vernon, but they supply different cafes and retail stores with their Single Origin coffee.
They have light, medium, and dark roasts that you can order in sealed bags. They also cater to diners via their cafés located at strategic points.
The easiest way to order a pack is to do so online. Another way to order is to visit their place of business or café. This coffee roaster offers weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly subscription supplies, so you are at liberty to pick the one you want. A 12-ounce bag starts from $19.
Compelling Coffee
Operating out of Hollywood is Compelling Coffee. This Roastery is a great spot for coffee enthusiasts who enjoy the richness and goodness of quality coffee.
They offer four types of roast, namely the Brown Betty, Blueprint Dark, Roaster Choice, and Coperhead Light.
Founded by Loan Abedini, each bag of coffee comes with a card that provides you with information about the origin of the beans, the brewing recommendations on how to get the best results, and the required flavor notes.
This after-sale service is perhaps what makes Compelling Coffee as compelling as any coffee should be. This business also operates on a subscription-based model.
Forge Coffee
Forge Coffee is a Roastery located in La Canada Flintridge.
The micro roastery operates from the nearby farmers market, but they also have service locations in West Hollywood and DTLA. They roast and sell single-origin coffee beans, decaf, and espresso blends.
Their business model places value on fair trade and sustainable farming, which is why they partner with farms and businesses with similar business cultures. A 12-ounce bag sells for $14.50.
Patria Coffee Roasters
Patria Coffee Roasters is located in the Compton area of Los Angeles.
It was opened by Geoffrey Martinez after he discovered a small space close to hair salons operating in the area. After acquiring the space, he set up a small micro roastery at the back of his coffee bar, and today, the rest is history.
Patria has now expanded into a bigger Probat Roaster facility and has increased production and supply.
Geoffrey Martinez sells his coffee beans in packs ranging from 12-ounce bags to 5 pounds bags. Individuals and businesses place orders for his coffee ahead of time as stocks are always in short supply.
Subscription for 12-ounce bags starts from $18, and you can order as much as 5 pounds of roasts.
Rose Park Coffee Roasters
Last but not least is Rose Park Coffee Roasters operating from Long Beach. They serve coffee brands from different regions such as Ethiopian Arosala, Peru Cajamarca, and limited Yemeni and Kenyan roast editions.
Rose Park utilizes delivery riders to supply homes and businesses in the area. Due to the strong connection with the local community, about two-thirds of its customers are locals. They also ship to Southern California and other parts of the US.
There are many more best Los Angeles Coffee Roasters in the city besides the ones we have reviewed. If you wish to go on a tasting tour, we are sure it would take you more than a month to taste all the coffee sold by the dozens of roasteries operating in Los Angeles.
