February 21, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Cozy Westside Coffee Shops

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

At Balconi, Baristas always let you smell the freshly ground beans. 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

Breaking News: L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Removes Fire Chief, Appoints Interim Leader

February 21, 2025

February 21, 2025

Breaking News: L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Removes Fire Chief, Appoints Interim Leader Mayor Karen Bass removed Los Angeles Fire Chief...

(Video) Rifkin Raanan Dentistry Uses Expertise and Artistry to Give Patients Their Dream Smiles

February 21, 2025

February 21, 2025

For More Info, Go To https://rodneyraanan.com/ For More Info, Go To https://t.co/fqr4Rm1iyi pic.twitter.com/zlNmLvqamj — CCNewsLA (@CCWNNews) February 21, 2025

Celebrate National Margarita Day With Specials on the Westside This Saturday

February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

Weho, Venice, and Santa Monica Bars Serve Up Creative Margaritas For those looking to shake off the start-of-the-year blues, National...

Broxton Plaza Grand Opening Brings Free Entertainment, Skating & More to Westwood

February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

Celebrate LA’s Largest Pedestrian Plaza With Music, Activities, and a Ribbon-Cutting Broxton Plaza, the largest pedestrian plaza in Los Angeles,...

New Initiative Aims to Revive Local Businesses in West Hollywood

February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

With Revenues Down up to 50%, “Weho Gives Back” Launches Local businesses in West Hollywood have reported revenue declines of...

Oscar Nominee Spotlights at the Academy Museum: Exclusive Screenings & Panels

February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

Get an Inside Look at the 2025 Academy Award-Nominated Films With Special Series The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will...

Film Review: The Monkey 

February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

By Dolores Quintana Writer and director Osgood Perkins’ follow-up to his acclaimed 2024 film Longlegs is another animal entirely. The...

(Video) Crowns and Hops’ Teo Hunter Talks About What Makes Their Beer Special

February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

At a pop-up tasting at Hi-Lo Liquor in Culver City, He talks about the beer called The Dopest Hazy IPA,...

(Video) Newly Opened Flour Pizzeria in Brentwood

February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

The restaurant is reborn after they lost their Pacific Palisades shop in the fire. Flavorful Brooklyn-style pies and slices available...

UCLA Alum Chris Kluwe Arrested After Anti-MAGA Protest at City Council Meeting

February 19, 2025

February 19, 2025

Former Vikings PunterArrested After Pro-Trans/Anti-Trump Speech Chris Kluwe, a former professional NFL punter with the Vikings and graduate of UCLA,...

Santa Monica Pier Hosts Locals’ Night with Black History Month Celebration, Drone Show, and Wildfire Relief

February 19, 2025

February 19, 2025

Enjoy live music, wine tastings, food pop-ups, and a special tribute to Black culture on Feb. 20. The Santa Monica...

Celebrate Black History Month With Cultural Events in Westwood This Week

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

From High-Energy West African Dance To Powerful Black LGBTQ+ History Westwood will host three vibrant cultural events in February, showcasing...

Free Legal and Recovery Workshops for Los Angeles Residents Affected By Wildfires

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Public Counsel Offers Expert Guidance on Rebuilding, Avoiding Scams, Trauma Public Counsel, a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to...

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s LA Home Burglarized on Valentine’s Day

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Burglary Part of a Growing Trend of High-Profile Crimes in Los Angeles The Los Angeles home of actress Nicole Kidman...

UCLA Students Protest Suspension of Pro-Palestinian Groups On Campus

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Demonstrators March After University Suspends Student Organizations Groups of students gathered on the UCLA campus Tuesday afternoon to protest the...