5 Favorite Cafes in Los Angeles (PART 2)

Over a year ago, I wrote about my favorite coffee shops in Los Angeles, my hometown. While I still enjoy going to those hotspots, I have since checked out more, and more that I’ve grown to love. There remains hundreds of cafes that I’ve yet to try out in town, but until then, here are some more for coffee lovers out there. Enjoy, and cheers!

1. Hi-Fi Espresso (3 locations- Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach)

Established in 2017, Hi-Fi Espresso is a local find in the Beach Cities community (encompassing the coastal cities of Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beach). Conveniently located a block away from the ocean, Hi-Fi is a great place to grab-and-go your morning brew before heading to the beach. Or you may choose to stay a while and enjoy their selection of brunch items to enjoy al-fresco on their patio.

Personally, I’ve only ever ordered to-go, and my signature drink has got to be their “Bee’s Knees,” which is a mocha that’s infused with hot honey. You get that warm and comforting chocolate blend, which is then followed by the spicy kick from the hot honey. Even if you’re not a fan of spice, the Bee’s Knees definitely leaves you intriguing and wanting more!

2. Corridor Flow (1 location- Lomita)

Honestly, this café has one of the coolest, hippest names out there: it sounds like it was taken out of a spoken word, hip-hop lyric. Founded in 2019, this Filipino, family-run coffee shop serves up some excellent drinks from the heart.

I’ve actually never gone to Corridor Flow in person. Rather, I’ve only ordered my drinks online and had them delivered to me. Regardless, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of their lattes, with their ube latte being my absolute favorite: incorporating the signature Filipino ingredient ube, the latte is sweet, starchy, and absolutely creamy– you even get chunks of ube purée in it! The cafe also serves some Filipino pastries, including an ube-cheese pandesal, which is the perfect snack to pair with your latte. Definitely worth every cent!

3. Sip & Sonder (2 locations- Inglewood and Downtown LA)

Just like with #2, Sip & Sonder is also a cool name for a hip café. Established in 2017 by a lawyer duo, Sip & Sonder is a Black-owned business located on trendy Market Street that’s bringing back to the community. The term “sonder” is defined to be “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own”, and this café definitely takes this to another level, offering a space to observe and interact with people from all walks of life– all over a cup of coffee.

I’ve only ever grabbed coffee to go at this establishment, but they do make a mean lavender honey latte. Fragrant and sweet, it’s the ideal pick-me-up after lunch, and it has honestly saved me from crashing at work in the afternoon. Sip & Sonder also has other herbal-flavored lattes like rose, and I’ll need to head back to check out more of their selections!

4. MillCross Coffee Bar & Kitchen (1 location- Culver City)

MillCross is always busy, no matter which day you go. There’s a good reason why it’s constantly packed– it’s that good. From its extensive drink selection to equally-extensive food selection, MillCross has perfected its craft in both breakfast and coffee.

I would definitely recommend their lavender-sage latte. While many cafés do their own version of lavender lattes, rarely do many craft a lavender-sage latte– let alone a good one. You get that hit of floral and herbal in one go, and, while I usually prefer to get lattes hot, this drink is even better iced! Definitely my go-to, and it’s not a surprise!

5. Copa Vida (various locations- Glendale, Pasadena, Torrance and San Diego County)

Scattered all throughout southern California, this coffee roastery offers well-crafted drinks and a limited, but enticing breakfast menu that’s perfect to take to-go. Founded in 2013, it offers delicious coffee sourced from Costa Rica, all the while with a calming, spacious ambiance that’s perfect for chilling (with or without friends) and/or getting work done.

I’m a sucker for their honey latte, ideally with oat milk for that extra creaminess. Their honey latte is similar to Hi-Fi Espresso’s “Bee’s Knees,” except without the heat from the hot honey. Rather, Copa Vida’s honey latte is 100% mellow and warms you right up. The café is a great place to grab coffee to go on the weekdays, but my only gripe is that they aren’t open on weekends…all the same, I cherish it!

Let me know your favorite coffee spots in town– I’m still searching! Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day! 🙂

— Rebecca

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