Coffees and lattes are becoming the only way I can start the day now.

Don’t get me wrong, my alarm clock and a prayer of gratitude to Jesus get the day going, but a great drink is how I keep it moving. In running this website I’ve come across a handful of great coffee shops. Whether it has been from personal experience, friends, or scrolling through food publications, I’ve discovered a few places that I love. In no particular order, here’s a list of my favorite coffee shops in Los Angeles. From the hot to the iced, these are the shops I keep going to time after time and the best drinks you can grab. One tip: hold the ice, it’s a scam.

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Highlight Coffee
I love a good small business that can make a unique latte and Highlight Coffee is just that. The Asian-owned business has done well for itself considering it now has two locations: one in Glendale and a second in Pasadena. I spend my visits strolling to their Lincoln Avenue shop and always order the exact same drink. Creature of habit? Sure. But when you find a great drink, nothing else matters.

Go-to Drink: Iced Butterscotch Latte

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Address: 2071 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103
Phone: (626) 345-5269
Hours: Daily – 8:00am to 2:00pm
Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Little Amsterdam Coffee
One of my favorite finds is Little Amsterdam Coffee. I discovered them at the height of the Black Lives Matters movement after
swearing off of Starbucks, and I’m glad I did. The black-owned coffee shop run by Joshua Mock serves a variety of sandwiches and pastries and delicious drinks. If you’re in the area and looking for a favorite spot to call your coffee home this place is it.

Go-to Drink: Iced New Amsterdam Latte with oat milk, extra sweet, with light ice.
Read More On ‘Em: This Black Owned Coffee Shop in LA is the Best Alternative to Starbucks

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Address: 1412 South Redondo Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
Phone: (323) 452-9124
Hours: Monday through Friday – 7:00am to 4:00pm, Saturday– 9:00am to 4:00pm, and Sunday 9:00am to 2:00pm
Social: Website and Instagram
Lavender and Honey
Strolling through Pasadena wanting something to drink? Stop by Lavender and Honey. The boutique coffee bar and deli has a beautiful selection of toasts and sandwiches that you can pair with refreshing lemonades. Pre-COVID, it was such a beautiful restaurant to spend time getting work done. Now, make your way to the walk-up window and gaze over the kouign amanns and Italian butter horns. As you drool over the freshly baked items, don’t forget to order a drink—it’s the best part!

Go-to Drink: Iced French Lavender Breve.
Read More On ‘Em: Disheartening Presidential Election Conversations Over Coffee at Lavender & Honey

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Address: 1383 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104
Phone: (626) 529-5571
Hours: Monday through Saturday – 7:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday – 8:00am to 4:00pm
Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Silverback Coffee of Rwanda
Echo Park and Silverlake may be a lively area to spend the weekend, but it’s equally great at the start of the day when you need a solid cup of coffee or a latte. A perect place to stop is Silverback Coffee. Growing much? Absolutely! With an Arts District and an Echo Park location, the coffee shops are beautiful. Not to pick favorites, but the Echo Park is my favorite of the two. It’s the type of place that you can visit to get work done or for a cute photoshoot. Sure, doing that is a lot easier when COVID-19 doesn’t exist but until then hop inside for a drink or pastry and make it a point to make a return visit ASAP.

Go-to Drink: Hot Jen’s Latte

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Address: 1712 W. Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026
Phone: (213) 318-5048
Hours: Monday through Friday – 8:00am to 3:00pm and Saturday & Sunday – 8:00am to 3:00pm
Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Sip and Sonder
If you know me, then you know I love a good latte and I love it even more when it comes from a small business. Starbucks, who? You know. But when it comes from a black-owned female run business I get even more excited. Inglewood’s very own Sip and Sonder is that and more. I learned about this shop thanks to food friend Symphony of The Foodnista. I’m usually in the area at least once a month for work and my car finds parking somewhere near their shop so I can get a latte of theirs. Sip and Sonder feels welcoming and like they’re part of the community at large. From the events they had prior to COVID-19 to the current outdoor seating, it’s definitely the kind of place where you want to linger and sip the day away.

Go-to Drink: Hot Honey Lavender Latte

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Address: 108 S Market St Inglewood, CA 90301
Phone: (424) 800-2242
Hours: Monday through Friday – 8:00am to 2:00pm, Saturday – 10:30am to 2:00pm, and Sunday – 10:30am to 2:00pm
Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.