Santa Monica’s Comprehensive Coffee Guide

Barring having the status of a millionaire, trying out every coffee shop in Los Angeles would bankrupt most individuals. Santa Monica, however, with a population of just over 100,000, is a much smaller beast to tackle. I am not sure exactly how many coffee shops Santa Monica has, but I would guess the number is under 50 (not counting chains). For most people, this means nothing. For a fella with a keyboard and a food blog, however, this is an opportunity and an excuse to visit each and every one of these establishments.

I will post a short recap/review of my experience at each of these coffee shops. At the end of this journey, not only will you know how many coffee shops there are in Santa Monica, but will know all too well my opinion on each and every one of these establishments.

To keep my evaluations on track, I will follow a rough guide when writing a review.

Coffee. This is the most important and simple criteria: was the coffee good or was the coffee bad? 

Setup. This addresses the nuts and bolts of the coffee shop. Things that will be considered in this section include brewing equipment and menu (i.e. prices).

Ambiance. A coffee shop’s environment is often the determining factor in whether or not I will return in the future. Here I will consider the seating, music and staff on hand.

Intangibles. Basically this is where I get to rant if I feel like it.

It is important to understand that these blog posts are not journalism. I am neither researching these coffee shops nor interviewing the baristas/owners. I am simply ordering coffee, sitting down, and writing my opinion. Therefore take what I have to say with a grain of salt and if you really want to experience what a particular coffee shop is like, go there yourself and try it out. Finally, if you are in Santa Monica getting coffee, let me know and I will gladly join you (provided I know you personally).    

Demitasse Santa Monica

With so many artesian coffee shops opening up in LA, separating the good from the great becomes difficult. It used to be that any coffee shop that prepared drip-to-order was worth going to, but now even Starbucks, with their Clover system, does this, so other things are taken into consideration when evaluating a particular shop.  First and foremost is the quality of the coffee. This criteria may seem a bit redundant, but it nonetheless cannot be ignored. Second is the ambiance. This includes the equipment being used in addition to the way the shop is decorated. Decoration may seem frivolous, but considering it characterizes the shop, I consider it to be important. Third is the staff. Anybody can call themselves a Barista, but places passionate baristas stand out. Demitasse, a coffee shop on Wilshire and 3rd in Santa Monica, is a place that has become my go-to for coffee because it fulfills these criteria. In the following paragraphs, I will use their Kyoto Drip, as the beverage of choice in explaining why Demitasse is an elite coffee shop.

Ice Coffee is a difficult thing to master. The traditional method of adding ice to coffee, is flawed. The ice will melt, and subsequently water down the coffee. For cheap, bitter coffees, this is fine, as it makes the beverage more palatable. For a finer coffee, however, adding ice is on par with adding milk, as the nuances that make the coffee special are destroyed. Kyoto drip is made in a Japanese slow dripper, a device that resembles an egg timer morphed with a oversized Christmas ornament. The process, which takes upwards of 36 hours, yields a coffee that, in the words of James Freeman (owner of Blue Bottle Coffee), is akin to drinking a fine rum or bourbon. Demitasse is big on Kyoto drip, boasting three Japanese slow drippers. This is a beverage meant to be consumed sitting down in the store. The futuristic looking decanter it is served in has a section hollowed out for ice. This keeps the coffee cold, while preventing the ice from watering down the coffee. The coffee itself is thick and slippery, almost like a syrup. It is very strong, yet in no way bitter. Citrusy with fruity undertones make this drink refreshing and sweet, perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. It is served on a beautiful bamboo tray, with the decanter and a small glass. It is this attention to detail that separates Demitasse from its competitors and makes it a special place.

Demitasse has a very modern looking interior, but unlike many similar places, avoids feeling cold. There are two reasons for this, the layout of the store and the equipment. Demitasse only has a handful of tables; the best place to sit is at the bar, which allows you to see your coffee being prepared. While sitting at the bar, the sheer amount of equipment Demitasse has cannot be ignored. From an espresso machine, to the Steampunk, a $15,000 siphon machine, to the Japanese slow drippers, Demitasse feels like a candy store for coffee lovers. On top of this, the staff knows how to operate all of these machines, and are passionate in doing so.

All the people working at Demitasse love coffee. The owner is always in the shop, either making your coffee, or sitting – drinking coffee – on her computer most likely doing managerial work. Always talkative, she is open to answering any questions about the place. What stands out about Demitasse, however, is the freedom the baristas have. Everyday there is a barista signature drink, which is usually espresso based, and entirely the creation of a certain staff member. Some of these are delicious (the Handlebar), and some are straight up strange (Seoul Fog). The point is that the baristas are given free reign. I know Intelligentsia is similar in this regard, but most coffee shops I have been to curtail the creativity of baristas. This experimental side of Demitasse shows how it’s not just a money-making venture, but a place passionate about coffee.

The Caffe Luxxe Patio

Caffe Luxxe, a fixture on Montana Avenue known for their excellent espressos, has two additional locations, both in Brentwood. The flagship location on Montana (between 9th and 10th) has one drawback: the customers. Pretentious, Lululemon wearing mothers pushing $500 Bugaboo strollers. “Writers” who spend their entire day in there doing nothing but browsing Twitter and Facebook. Like Intelligentsia on Abbot Kinney, it’s always frantic and noisy inside, but the quality of the coffee makes bearing this atmosphere worth it. The location on San Vicente, between Montana and Bundy, however, is more laid back and down to earth. Natural lighting floods the cafe, and baristas read the newspaper and chat to costumers while waiting to take an order. Even though the traffic of San Vicente is a mere 30 feet away, the courtyard in back in completely removed from any distractions. With Mid-Century modern architecture, palm trees, and various forms of succulents, it is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee.

Knowing I would be there for bit while my brother was at the dentist, I ordered a drip rather than an espresso. I chose the Indonesian as the other option, their house blend, wasn’t that impressive last time I tried it. For starters, the price, $3.50, was very reasonable for the quality of coffee being made [1]. The barista knew what he was doing, measuring out the beans, wetting the Melita filter, and using a nice, spiral pouring motion. After he was finished, I asked for a glass of ice water, and brought my coffee to the outside patio. The coffee was  decent. Medium body, smooth finish with hints of orange and nuts, it was neither too bitter nor too weak. It was a simple cup of coffee that didn’t have any dominant characteristics; positive or negative.

While the coffee itself wasn’t extraordinary, the atmosphere of the courtyard made it a memorable experience. As already mentioned, most upscale coffee shops tend to blast loud music, and are in a perpetual state of frenzy. This is all well and fine, but there is something to be said for enjoying a cup of coffee in a calm environment. At home this can be achieved in the afternoon sun, with nothing more than your coffee, a book, and a cookie. Rushing through coffee in the morning is understandable; wanting to get the day started efficiently. But in the afternoon, it pays of to take a bit of time to savor the moment, read an article, and enjoy your coffee.

1. Most places on the Westside tend to charge anywhere between $4 and $6 for a cup of hand drip coffee.