CremaPhile Senior Member Joined: 5 Nov 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Brooklyn, NY Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Gaggia Espresso Grinder: Innova I2 Drip: French Press
Posted Sat Nov 6, 2004, 12:08am Subject: best espresso in CA?
Is there any concensus on what cafe or cafes in cali consistently makes the best espresso? Here's a review of my favorites. I'm sure theres plenty of places I havn't been. Please throw me some suggestions. I live in SoCal, so here's my experience.
Kaldi in South Pasadena is my favorite local spot. I'm a regular so I've had anywhere from good to excellent espresso here, depending on who's pulling the shots. There's also a newish location in Atwater Village that I went to once and found it to be almost comperable to the South Pas location.
I also just discovered The Conservatory in Culver City this morning. It was my first time going there. The espresso was outstanding. My expectations weren't all that high, judging from the yuppie clientele (its across from Sony Studios), but when I saw the bags of beans and the roaster inside i thought i would gamble and order a double shot. the gamble paid off. i can only hope that i didn't just luck out with their best barista. i will go definitly go back and see how consistent they are. anyone else been here? comments?
aside from these two spots, i havn't found anything else in LA thats even worth mentioning. I hear great things about the place in San Dimas, but havn't made it out there yet. Anywhere else worth trying? LA's a big city. I can't believe there aren't a few more good places out there.
In my old hometown of Santa Barbara, the now-defunct Espresso Roma on State Street used to be the best (and only) place in town for good espresso. For a good 3-4 year period they had quite a team of all-star baristas (including several of my good friends) and a faithful following. Then management changed and the resulting mass defection of said baristas ultimately led to its unfortunate and untimely demise. If you were lucky enough to get a shot here in its heyday then I'm sure you would attest to its greatness.
Speaking of Espresso Roma, there is also another excellent member of this otherwise mediocre chain in Berkeley on College and Ashby. (I understand there's another Berkeley Location in the French Hotel which is also excellent, but I havn't been). I make it up to the Bay Area a few times a year and always have to make a pilgrimage here. What this place lacks in character, it makes up for with probably the best espresso I've had in the states. I've been here probably 10 times in the last 4 or 5 years, and everytime, its the same couple of unassuming looking hispanic baristas behind the counter slinging some insanely good shots without even trying. anyone who says there's no good espresso in Berkeley hasn't been here. And best of all you can wash it down with Sierra Nevada on tap.
The only other decent place I've tried in the Bay Area is Simple Pleasures on Balboa in the Outer Richmond. My friend lives right above it, so I've been there several times. All I can tell about this place is that its inconsistent. I've had a couple great shots there and a couple pretty mediocre shots. Nice cozy place, though. Where else in the SF area should I try? I havn't yet been to this Barefoot place that everyone's talking about, but i suppose i'll give it a try when i'm up there in a couple weeks. I first heard about this place from one of the guys in Nickel Creek, and now I see it mentioned on every other post on this board. is this pretty much the place? its certainly seems to get a lot of attention. where is it exactly?
mauijim Senior Member Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Maui Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Isomac Tea Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Sat Nov 6, 2004, 11:33pm Subject: Re: best espresso in CA?
FYI, there will be a shop opening in the San Jose area in the spring of '05. The owner has the capital, know-how, passion, and attention-to-detail to do a 1st-class job. It'll be worth checking-out. I'll keep CG posted.
MarshallF Senior Member Joined: 1 Jun 2003 Posts: 484 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Dalla Corte Mini Grinder: Cimbali Max, Solis Maestro Vac Pot: Hario Nouveau, Bodum ESantos Drip: Bodum French Presses, Chemex Roaster: None
Posted Thu Nov 11, 2004, 8:24pm Subject: Re: best espresso in CA?
Is there any concensus on what cafe or cafes in cali consistently makes the best espresso? Here's a review of my favorites. I'm sure theres plenty of places I havn't been. Please throw me some suggestions. I live in SoCal, so here's my experience.[x}
Groundwork, a couple of locations around Venice and Downtown L.A. The owners are serious coffee people.
Urth (West L.A., Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica). Beverly Hills isn't as frantic as the W.L.A. store. Linger by the counter for your espresso, and don't wait for the waiter.
CremaPhile Senior Member Joined: 5 Nov 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Brooklyn, NY Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Gaggia Espresso Grinder: Innova I2 Drip: French Press
Posted Thu Nov 11, 2004, 11:24pm Subject: Re: best espresso in CA?
several people have told me that urth is good, but that the yuppie scene can be borderline unbearable. i live in pasadena, so i'm kinda allergic to the westside as it is. is it really worth braving the elements? because if its not i'd just as soon stay home at kaldi. i havn't heard of groundworks. i will definitly check that one out, especially if they have a downtown location. thanks for the input.
MarshallF Senior Member Joined: 1 Jun 2003 Posts: 484 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Dalla Corte Mini Grinder: Cimbali Max, Solis Maestro Vac Pot: Hario Nouveau, Bodum ESantos Drip: Bodum French Presses, Chemex Roaster: None
Posted Sat Nov 13, 2004, 12:49pm Subject: Re: best espresso in CA?
CremaPhile Said:
several people have told me that urth is good, but that the yuppie scene can be borderline unbearable. i live in pasadena, so i'm kinda allergic to the westside as it is. is it really worth braving the elements? because if its not i'd just as soon stay home at kaldi. i havn't heard of groundworks. i will definitly check that one out, especially if they have a downtown location. thanks for the input.
Then you should probably stay where you are. Many people on the West Side find Pasadena provincialism unbearable. So you probably wouldn't enjoy yourself. Personally, I've always felt comfortable on both sides of town.
CremaPhile Senior Member Joined: 5 Nov 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Brooklyn, NY Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Gaggia Espresso Grinder: Innova I2 Drip: French Press
Posted Mon Nov 15, 2004, 5:30pm Subject: Re: best espresso in CA?
haha. i've never noticed the pasadena provincialism that you speak of. but i guess that proves your point. in all seriousness its not so much the people on the westside that i'm allergic to, (although at times thats certainly part of it) but more just inconvenience of the drive and the unbearable traffic at all hours of the day. i guess what i'm saying is that if the espresso is stellar i would put forth the effort.
I visited the BH one last night. The scene was kind of silly, but the place was cozy if a bit too loud. You might find the crowd amusing, nauseating or hip depending on your particular viewpoint. I drank a cap because I rarely order straight espresso in cafes anymore. The coffee was good, not outstanding. They do get props for their skills though, the foam on top of the drink was very thick, best I've had in town by a wide margin.
In CA I've had better coffee at Barefoot in San Jose and Global Blends in Mountain View. And in LA specifially I think City Bean makes great drinks. I've been to the one in Westwood village, but their must be others? -Sam
PureArabica Senior Member Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 267 Location: Los Angeles, CA Expertise: Professional
Drip: Chemex, Chemex, Chemex Roaster: GotHots
Posted Mon Nov 29, 2004, 6:09pm Subject: Re: best espresso in CA?
If you can stand the drive, Redlands has a shop thats amazing. Its called Stell Coffee & Tea. They have the best espresso I've ever had in my life. I'm about to start ordering their espresso for my shop.
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