5of five · Espresso · Arts District
Blue Bottle Coffee Arts District
Specialty roaster · $$
The Oakland roaster's first LA café, in the Mateo St space where Handsome Coffee Roasters started before Blue Bottle bought it in 2014. It's still where all of Blue Bottle's LA beans get roasted. The room is open and industrial, with a patio.
Counter orderOrder at the counter or ahead online for pickup. There's no wifi. Street parking is limited, but there are paid lots nearby.
Good for
Early startsOne of the first counters open in the neighborhood.
Coffee on the goQuick counter service and a patio.
Laptop-free catch-upsNo wifi, so the tables turn over.
Save is private and adds it to your shortlist. Vouch is public: it tells the editor, but doesn't change the rank.