Picking Up the Cheques with Rex: The Coffee Scene on the Westside
Sofia and I take on some trendy coffee shops to see if they're legit, or just all aesthetics.
Finding a cool coffee shop is very easy on the Westside. In fact, we have plenty of trendy cafés for aspiring content creators to catch up after bumping into one another at SoulCycle and being forced to make plans. However, after going to Australia over the summer where a great cup of coffee is, like, four bucks, and then returning to LA with its “Australian” style beachy cafés with overpriced, stingy, and mediocre food and bev (coffee), I've got to say I’m over it.
When I say this, I really mean that I’m not truly over it, and was thus determined to weed through our local coffee scene, to find some genuinely good coffee shops, with, yes, cool vibes, but that serve some good, strong coffee as well (bonus points if it’s not for 8 bucks). To do this I needed the help of New Roads’ debatably biggest coffee snob, Macedonia’s rightful leader, my best friend Sofia Locatelli, who does not play around, nor put it nicely when it comes to coffee. Here are our findings.
Coffee Connection - 3838 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Rex:
If you are looking for a place to study in an obscenely busy, spacious, plant-filled courtyard, packed with UCLA students practically moving in at every table, this is probably a great bet! However, if you’re looking for a good cup of coffee, like me and Sofia were the fateful day we walked through the doors, take your business elsewhere, ‘cause, let me tell you, their cup of joe was for us a big no-no.
The drip coffee was the only drink recommended, and the favorite of the barista. Despite the hype, we found it quite weak, and not fixable, even when presented with a plethora of add-ins (which at least they do get some points for).
Overall, we were disappointed, to put it lightly, and will not be returning, also due to some jabroni staring at us from the corner like he was personally offended that we chose to be ordering coffee at the counter right where he was sitting. Its probably good to know that if you plan on working here, you'll likely be greeted by some Gen Z millennial in-betweeners, all glaring at you while huffing and puffing and doing their assignments.
Rex rating: 3/10
Sofia:
Don’t go to Coffee Connection if you are looking for coffee. Despite the homey setting, with its pleasant outdoor courtyard, Coffee Connection felt at worst uninviting and at best, bland. Between the Low-fi music and the weak drip coffee I left the Coffee Connection more tired than when I walked in. If you are looking to study or work, you’ll find about 30 others doing the same but what you won’t find is Coffee beyond a Starbucks Quality or decent food (or a large selection). The service I received was unmemorable but, another in our party, junior Maya Ryan, experienced negligent attendance. Following the order and purchase of her iced cold brew with almond milk, her order was mistakenly taken by another customer. Then, when his drink was offered up at the counter, an iced cold brew with whole milk, the barista, fully aware of the confusion, expected Maya to accept a dairy filled fate. To which Maya did, because she is not one for drama. This moment reflects the greater feeling of Coffee Connection, it is a careless place, in which finding a table not occupied by a person behind their computer is impossible and orders get messed up without hospitable reparation.
Sofia rating: 4/10
Alana’s - 12511 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
Rex:
If a cafe were a person Alana’s would be the hipster we saw somehow fiddling with the analytics of the roasty-ness of the beans in the background on his computer. If this cafe was a word, one might pick “soymilk” as a good contender, or perhaps “Prius,” “DUMBO” or “Portlandia.” However, do not get my playful slander confused as a distaste for Alana’s, as they make a great cup of coffee, despite their insufferable friendliness.
Our barista recommended the cortado, and a cappuccino, which were really good, having been made from the already mentioned and technically roasted beans. The flavor was nice and a little acidic, though not super strong, unlike Alana’s latte art and foamed milk game which is very strong and in fact awwn poiiint. However, while I enjoyed Sofia’s cappuccino more than my less milky, stronger cortado, we didn't feel like we had an extraordinary coffee.
Rex rating: 7.5/10
Sofia:
After Coffee Connection has failed to connect you to the coffee department, Alana’s, just down the road might help you find what you are looking for. When you step inside Alana’s you can tell they take their coffee seriously, especially being that they roast their own beans. I ordered a cappuccino and was delighted by the boldness of the espresso with its nutty and earthy undertones. The customer service was nothing to write home about however I did enjoy the latte art that complimented the richness of my cappuccino. If you can find seating, the outdoor patio is lovely because the interior portion is quite cramped. Alana’s is a solid, reliable and delish cup of coffee.
Sofia rating: 7/10
Cafe Bolivar - 1741 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
Rex:
It's hard to maintain journalistic integrity and base my review solely on the coffee when a place is as cool and unique as Bolivar is in Ocean Park, but luckily for them, their coffee is also super good. Unlike other Santa Monican cafes that start with b’s, Bolivar’s prices aren't anything crazy, and you get some really original, good coffee, also hard to find at said places… my “Tacuba,” or coffee with “Mexican caramel” was divine, bitter, not very acidic, super frothy, and smooth. Sofia got the “Bolivar,” a latte with condensed milk, which was also great, both of our drinks of course being the barista's recommendations.
This place also has a crazy cool vibe goin’ on, with people who look like they own a surfboard company, or who drive an electric, converted, old school VW bus, on their computers, getting work done.
Rex rating: 8.4/10
Sofia:
Despite originally being drawn to Bolivar for its arepas, this cafe has become a staple for Rex and I. Enjoying a cup of coffee, pastry, arepa, or juice in Bolivar feels like home, with the cafe's quiet, smart, and homely atmosphere. Bolivar doesn’t over-extend itself, even with their speciality drinks. I was recommended their Tacuba, a latte with Mexican caramel- which is normally an area of concern for me. I do not love a latte and sweetened lattes are always a risky move because between all the syrups I always find my espresso to be overpowered. However! The caramel in this drink was not some simple syrup, and its authenticity really complimented the richness of the espresso. Between Cafe Bolivar’s minimal yet cozy space, kind service and deliciously fresh food and coffee, it has easily taken its place among my favorite cafes in LA.
Sofia rating: 7.5/10
Coffee Tomo - 11309 Mississippi Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Rex:
Coffee Tomo, while not serving a necessarily life-changing cup of coffee, is really very good, and would be my personal pick for a place near campus to get some work done. Even though it's right off of the busy main strip of Sawtelle, it’s a pretty unassuming, small café with great coffee and stuff to eat.
The vibe is very intimate, not pretentious or intimidating, and crowded with people doing their work. We were recommended the Tomo latte, which had condensed milk like the one at Bolivar, and Tomo’s caramel latte, containing “real caramel syrup,” apparently differentiating it from those served at other coffee shops. While the Tomo latte was good, the caramel latte was flat-out great and has a very signature taste. It's not often that you find a flavored, sweet latte that has a genuinely nice, balanced, and enhanced flavor, and one that’s not just a guilty pleasure drink.
Rex rating: 7.5/10
Sofia:
Coffee Tomo feels very separate from its location. Between the jazz playing, people reading and dim light, Tomo is stripped of Sawtelles typical modernity, tucked away, snug in a manner that teeters on stuffiness. We had a lovely Barista take and make our orders and she recommended the caramel latte and “Tomo” latte (a latte with condensed milk). I was a little disappointed in these recommendations and their results. The caramel latte was good, but nothing special and the Tomo latte was bland at best. Despite being a nice place, Tomo was pretty forgettable.
Sofia rating: 5/10
Intelligentsia -1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Rex:
Intelligentsia, while a very cool spot, is still a little intimidating to those who aren't familiar with how to act near Abbot Kinney (myself.) It really is a very hyper “LA” spot, crammed with guys wearing old tradesman clothes and nose rings, talking about “Italian disco,” and their braided Birkenstocks, all pretending to be doing work on their laptops, as opposed to indulging in some weird passive social scene that is the ecosystem of a trendy coffee shop.
Unfortunately for my heart rate, I ordered the “Angelino,” without realizing that this iced coffee favorite, with oat milk and vanilla, had 4 shots of espresso in it… however, while I endured a near heart attack and a quick transformation into a world of full awakeness, Sofia got a cappuccino, recommended by the barista, which was very expensive, but super smooth, a little bitter, and very well balanced.
Overall, there is some really good coffee here, just be cautious because the baristas might try to kill you. Probably not quite my cup of tea, as the pretentiousness here is more obvious and cold than at others (e.g. Alana’s).
Rex rating: 6.9/10
Sofia:
Intelligentsia fits right in with its neighbors on Abbot Kinney, with its exposed brick, high ceilings, mat black lighting fixtures, people wearing neon beanies in 75 degree weather and pop art photos of Malcom X and MLK. Now normally I hesitate to believe places that seem to function just to propagate a vibe but my barista did perfectly make his latte art in front of me (I admire the confidence and talent), the lady taking my order looked away when I was selecting my tip amount and my cappuccino was delectable. Sourcing from over a dozen countries seeming to employ quite the professional batch of baristas, Intelligencia has figured out an effective formula for their coffee. Personally I could not seem to get comfortable in the space itself and service and cafe goers were very monotone.
