Quat LA has mostly been doing coffee tastings somewhat reminiscent of what you’ll find in Tokyo (koffee mameya, cokuun, fuglen sanguubashi, etc) and sometimes in LA (endorffeine special tastings, coffee ahma, maybe tangible gratitude?). They’ve been doing mostly pourover. But at the recent tasting on Saturday, they noted they plan to expand the range of events they’ll offer, including stuff like this dessert course!
As for the tastings, they are a treat. Recent one was at $55 and had 3 listed geshas, a special extra pour, and a pastry. All coffees as pour over though they have an espresso machine back there too. The counter is generally being run by Esther Kim who won the US Brewers Cup this year and they use their fancy custom ozik grinder. Apparently very rare in the US and tuned for wider burr and slower speed to reduce heat andfines(?) during the grinding process. The coffees also came through wonderfully. Very delicious.
For anyone curious, the quat atelier q concept also plans to include hosting guest baristas as well as an à la carte option, which seems similar to mame coffee in Tokyo (you make a reservation and then have them help you choose their competition level rare coffees). The focus does seem to be finer coffee similar to those Japan concepts I mentioned. Really neat to see this and looking forward to more (my wallet disagrees though).
A foodie friend saw a new cafe on IG and passed this info on: Louisa Coffee in West Hollywood. Looks like they may have opened around beginning of the month.
Louisa is a chain in Taiwan (which I’ve discovered has a ton of awesome coffee/very strong coffee culture). This is their first US location. IG shows a really great space. Roasting appears to be in-house though not sure to what level. When looking around, the Taiwan stores do appear to serve light roast pour overs (which is what I like to see in a more specialty-learning shop).
The article provides some context on the relationships between the chain and the local management.
There looks to be a bit of an art aspect so some of you might enjoy that. I’m not sure if/when I’ll go so if anyone makes it please share anything you learn and what you think of the coffee!
In other news I went to a new cafe in Irvine called Commons Cafe serving pour overs featuring beans from Stereoscope, Oasis (Taiwan) and Glitch (Japan). Jeez, maybe there’s an Irvine premium but pour overs looked to be almost double other shops. I’ve also noticed a general trend of shrinkflation as pour over sizes seem to have gotten smaller (most noticeable with to go cups). Anyways, neat to have an option at least, though the crowd was predictably 95%+ lattes/fun drinks. Thanks to noddles for the heads up on Commons.
Guatemalan coffee and Chinese tea. They’re a mobile coffee/tea truck. Operated by a duo of Ex-Somni FOH/BOH. So far, they mostly seem to frequent Silver Lake and surroundings with location postings to IG approximately from morning to 2 PM. Haven’t been yet but on my list.
Adorbs! When I first heard the name on your post, I’m like… Rice and Beans? Casamiento is a common side dish in Central American cooking, its often a child’s first food. But now looking at the story (And yes, in some Latin American Countries it does also mean marriage hence the rice and beans combo)… it’s so apt!
MadLab. A block from where Verve used to be on Spring St. Probably my favorite pour overs in DTLA. I like the balance of roast and acidity. I’m not fond of the sterile San Diego-ish decor though. But most people seem to like San Diego, so I guess I’m an outlier.
it’s 2026, any new leads for excellent cafe sua da in LA proper? I want to like Nam Coffee on Fountain but maybe I hit it on an off-day because it just didn’t do it for me.
I lived within walking distance of this place two years ago and was on that stretch of Broadway a lot. The Super Saver Market, El Gallo Panaderia, The Heights Sandwich Shop. There is Moos of course and the Airliner bar. There is both Tierra Mia and La Monarca for Coffee nearby as well and they have done well for years there.
The other thing is it’s proximity to County, Keck and HSC. Although not as pronounced as Cypress Park on the other side of us, there was some changes already happening in the neighborhood due to it’s really advantageous location. I really loved living there since I was on the side near the Metro station. It was just so damn hot though.
Chinatown Dayglow / Niteglow just opened. I’m excited!
It’ll be so nice to have a coffeeshop in the neighborhood with seating. & open late. i’ll be a camper here. unless they kick me out. Insta says free cup of coffee with a bean bag purchase this weekend!
Also according to Insta, Awan opening is delayed & will be operating out of Niteglow for a little while …
I feel bad because dayglow sunset has been part of my life fabric for many years but I will probably go to this new location now. It’s closer to me and much more spacious, and hasn’t life gotten a little stale anyway? all three baristas worked at dayglow sunset so I am not alone.
Dayglow Venice has not been great. One of the baristas there all the time on the weekend is both surly and incompetent. Forgets to make our pour over until reminded. The last straw was last weekend when she remembered but it tasted like soap (I suspect not completely washed glassware). I’m super conflict avoidy (well outside of ppl I know well lol) so I guess I’ll just stop going
