January 21, 2025 Your Source for Brentwood News

Four the Love of Coffee

4 Essential Coffee Shops on the Westside

By Kerry Slater

For coffee lovers, winter in Los Angeles means ditching the cold brew for a hot cup joe. With craft coffee shops popping up in nearly every neighborhood, the hard part is picking which establishment to choose. While the search for the perfect cup of coffee never ends, here are four Westside staples that do a near-perfect job of warming the soul, awakening the mind and pleasing the palate with their unique approach to brewing coffee.

Balconi Coffee Company
11301 Olympic Blvd #124, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Balconi Coffee Company baristas brewing coffee in siphons. Photo: Facebook.

Balconi Coffee Company’s small storefront on Olympic Boulevard may be easy to miss but all it takes is one sip for their coffee to be remembered by taste buds. Prepared with a siphon, Balconi takes what are already quality single-origin beans and brews them into something truly special. The “siphon method” gives the coffee the rich flavor profile usually found with a french-press but without the sediment. In addition, the extremely knowledgable staff, cool jazz and books to browse make Balconi the perfect place to sit down and enjoy a mug of warm coffee.

Menotti’s Coffee Stop
56 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291

At Menotti’s espresso-based drinks take center stage. Photo: Facebook.

With 90s hip-hop vinyl records bumping on the speakers and baristas pulling top-notch espresso shots, Menotti’s Coffee Stop makes the most out of their small Venice storefront. Menotti’s keeps it simple with their menu, which is primarily geared towards their specialty: espresso. Even those who may not normally have the palette for a straight espresso should give one at Minotti’s a shot, no pun intended.

Metro Cafe
603 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Metro Cafe in Santa Monica makes great coffee in a friendly environment. Photo: Kerry Slater.

Is the coffee at Metro Cafe above average? Yes. Is the coffee at Metro Cafe the best in the world? No. Does it deserve a place on this list considering the plethora of Westside coffee shops serving top-notch coffee? Absolutely. Located in Downtown Santa Monica, Metro Cafe’s welcoming enviroment and friendly staff foster a sense of community rarely found in urban coffee shops. The coffee is all donation based/name-your-price. In addition, Metro gives back to the community by operating a food pantry for individuals experiencing homelessness and others in need. With a modern indoor seating area and a spacious outdoor courtyard, Metro is a great place to grab a cup of coffee, have a conversation or get some work done.

Demitasse
1149 3rd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

At Demitasse, which boasts some of the best cold brew in Los Angeles (pictured), the hot coffee is also top-notch. Photo: Kerry Slater.

While their specialty may be Kyoto drip cold brew, Demitasse baristas make every drink memorable. With a selection of single origin pour-overs that are constantly being updated, frothy lattes and unique barista signature creations, the constant theme that ties Demitasse’s extensive menu together is quality. Located in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica, just north of the Third Street Promenade, Demitasse is the perfect place to get a pick-me-up during work or a refresh after a long day of shopping and sightseeing.

Honorable mentions: 

  • Love Coffee Bar (1732 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405)
  • Coffee Tomo (11309 Mississippi Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025)
  • 18th Street Coffee House (1725 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404)
Related Posts

LeBron James Confirms Family Evacuated Brentwood Home Due to Palisades Fire

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

Los Angeles Lakers Star and His Family Were No Exception of Mandatory Order Los Angeles Lakers star and four-time NBA...

Governor Newsom Expands Tenant Protections for Firestorm Survivors

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

Eviction Safeguards Offered for Tenants Sheltering Displaced Individuals Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order extending eviction protections to...

Crypto ‘Godfather’ and LASD Deputy Admit to Civil Rights Abuses in Federal Case

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

The Duo Face Decades in Prison for Conspiracy, Extortion, and Tax Fraud A cryptocurrency entrepreneur and a Los Angeles County...

Two Arrested By LASD for Impersonating Firefighters in Palisades Fire Zone

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

Suspects Detained After Attempting to Access Evacuation Areas Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau investigators announced the arrest of...

Windblown Dust and Ash Advisory Issued for Los Angeles County Amid Strong Santa Ana Windstorm

January 19, 2025

January 19, 2025

Public Health Warns of Poor Air Quality, Health Risks as Winds Stir Pollutants From Burn Scars The Los Angeles County...

Red Flag Warning: Santa Ana Winds and Extreme Fire Danger Again Predicted This Week

January 19, 2025

January 19, 2025

Winds Up to 100 MPH Expected; Residents Urged to Prepare for Critical Fire Weather  The National Weather Service has issued...

LAFD’s Repopulation in Brentwood and West LA is Complete as Wildfire Evacuation Orders Ease

January 17, 2025

January 17, 2025

Residents in Brentwood, West LA Granted Reentry; Power Restoration Efforts Underway Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) officials repopulation efforts are...

LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund Launches with $12M to Support Artists Impacted by Wildfires

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Getty Trust, Philanthropists Unite to Aid Artists, Arts Workers, Devastated by Los Angeles Fires. A coalition of arts organizations and...

Power Restoration Underway for Some Brentwood Homes Amid Fire-Related Outages

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

CAL FIRE Clears Some But Not All Circuits for Re-Energization Today The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)...

LADWP Refutes Fire Hydrant Misinformation During Palisades Fire’s Unprecedented Demand for Water

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Utility Addresses Online Claims, Confirms Water Systems Remained Operational The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)  is seeking...

Brentwood Evacuation Update: Residents East of Kenter Canyon Cleared to Return Home

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Proof of Residency Required; Areas West of Kenter Remain Under Evacuation Orders Senior Lead Officer Matthew Kirk announced in an...

LA Restaurants Step Up: Feeding First Responders, Evacuees, and Communities in Need

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

From Free Meals To Fundraising Campaigns, Local Eateries Are Supporting Wildfire Relief  Many restaurants all over the city are doing...

Los Angeles Restaurants Rally to Feed Fire Victims, First Responders—Now They Need Your Support

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

Amid Tragedy, Local Restaurants Are Serving the Community While Facing Empty Seats By Dolores Quintana The city of Los Angeles...

Palisades Fire Incident Update for January 15, Nine Lives Lost, Evacuation Zone Unsafe for Residents

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

Firefighters Continue Suppression Efforts, Damage Assessments Reveal Significant Destruction. The Palisades Fire, which has scorched 23,713 acres, is now 21%...

Seven More Suspects Arrested in Santa Monica for Burglary During Wildfire Evacuations

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

Suspects Accused of Targeting Homes, Vehicles Amid Mandatory Evacuation Zones The Santa Monica Police Department officers have arrested 7 individuals...