New Profile Picture

My new profile picture is a camera phone shot I took at Pizzeria Mozza a couple weeks ago. No more stolen profile pictures for me! I will also be updating my coffee shop pictures over the next couple of weeks.

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Kaldi Coffee and Tea (Atwater Village)

3147 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles
323-660-6005

Kaldi (Atwater) is a small storefront on Glendale Avenue in Atwater Village, just east (or is that north?) of Interstate 5. Its owners roast their own coffee and feature Rishi Teas. It is a popular neighborhood joint, competing with the large Starbucks at the end of the block. Its clean, well-lit interior features several tables, and four upholstered chairs. There is also a large front seating area and a back patio. The clientele (the ones who stay around) are primarily students, screen writers, and older teenagers. Weekday nights are quiet. The staff is incredibly friendly, fast, and professional.

Atmosphere: 4 stars
The polished concrete floors and silver walls give Kaldi an industrial feel that matches the always-about-to-gentrify atmosphere of Atwater Village. Every time I’ve been here in the day, the front door has been propped open, letting in a nice breeze. The art on the walls is of varying quality but never bad or laughable. The music volume is often quite low, especially compared to the hum of Glendale Avenue, making this a good choice for those distracted by background music, if not background noise. At night there can be a slight overtone of incense, but I suspect it might be the coffee drinkers, not Kaldi.

Details. Kaldi’s cleanliness helps them avoid the “ick” factor often present when coffee shops feature well-used upholstered chairs. The chairs supplied for the tables are very comfortable, and the tables are at a good height for typing.

Parking. There is ample metered parking on Glendale, although it is only for 2 hours and often crowded. I recommend parking in the block behind Glendale (watch the street cleaning signs).

Neighborhood. Glendale Boulevard is the heart of Atwater village, and there is always light, friendly foot traffic during the day. Since Kaldi doesn’t serve food (other than baked goods), I’ve seen several patrons get a sandwich at the sandwich shop next door. There is also a popular taco place down the block. At night it’s more empty, but the neighborhood’s galleries and studios really brighten up the street..

Hours. 6:30am – 9pm weekdays, open until 10 Friday and Saturday, at 7am on Saturday and Sunday.

Wireless. Free wireless that reminds you to “buy coffee.”

Credit Cards. Nope. Cash Only.

Service. Fast and friendly without being overbearing. Among the best I’ve encountered at an independently-run coffee shop.

Coffee: 3 stars.

Unfortunately, I don’t really like the beans that they roast here, especially the decaf. However, it is pretty affordable. It’s not horrible coffee, but it’s not great, either. A sixteen-ounce drip coffee is $1.50 with tax. I like the espresso drinks more. They are well-made and affordable, never too hot. (Small cappuccino is $3.00, latte $3.25)

Again, the tea selection is excellent and tasty, although I am a little perplexed by the way they price different blends at different levels. The more expensive ones are better.

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Zephyr Coffee House and Art Gallery

2419 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
626-793-7330

Working in Zephyr’s front room and porch, I often hear first time visitors remark on this coffee shop’s charms. (See picture below.) Built into a Craftsman bungalow and carefully tended by its current occupants, Zephyr is a favorite meeting place for job interviews, knitting circles, and Pasadena City College (PCC) students. Self-serve drip coffee, Stash and loose-leaf teas as well as a wide selection of espresso drinks and ice-blended drinks can be had. A large outside patio gets crowded around lunchtime, where patrons enjoy freshly made crepes and omelets. The walls double as a small art gallery, but unlike many coffee shop galleries, the art displayed at Zephyr doesn’t suck.


Atmosphere: 4.5 stars
Zephyr’s appeal is largely its atmosphere. It is furnished by overstuffed couches and wooden chairs, with three large tables close to outlets. A collection of smaller tables inside have always seemed an odd choice to me, but popular with the coffee-and-a-book crowd. Polite little signs admonishing patrons to keep their shoes and feet off the couches, leave the track lighting alone, or to not plug in their computers slightly mar the otherwise friendly atmosphere. Fresh cut flowers and well-tended plants are tastefully placed throughout the bungalow. In the patio, avacodo, citrus, and apple trees provide some of the produce used in crepes and fruit salads.

Details. Since Zephyr is a house, it features three small rooms and an enclosed porch. Some patrons are shy to enter one of the small rooms if someone is already there, I say go for it! There are board games and design magazines strewn about, and Zephyr also pays for a shared copy of the LA Times. A frequent drinks card means the eleventh coffee is on the house.

Parking. There are about 10 spots on Colorado. Although they are marked 2 Hour, no one has ever been ticketed for staying all day. If these spots are full, a quick drive around the block will yield more options.

Neighborhood. Zephyr is a sunny spot on an otherwise pretty bland stretch of Pasadena’s eastern Colorado Boulevard. Occasionally, the free wireless from the Comfort Inn across the street makes its way into the front room.

Hours. 7am – 7pm weekdays, closes 6:30 on Friday; Opens at 8:30 on Saturday. Closed Sundays.

Wireless. None as of January 31st, 2007.

Credit Cards. Nope. Cash Only with an in-house ATM machine.

Service. Very friendly and efficient. Unless you order the self-serve coffee, they bring the coffee to you. This really cleans out the line by the cash register, but means that many patrons don’t bus their tables when they leave. The owners and managers are young and often the ones serving you.

Coffee: 4 stars.

The drip coffee is self-serve and affordable.. A small cup is $1.50 and a large cup is just $1.75. Refills, 50 cents / 75 cents. Espresso drinks are well-made and well-priced, never too hot. (Small cappuccino is $3.40.) They really keep on-top of refilling the pots, too.

The tea selection is a stand-out feature of Zephyr, although a little expensive. They also will ice any flavor you want. Iced Moroccan mint tea is a summertime favorite of mine.

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18th Street Coffee House

1725 Broadway, Santa Monica
310-264-0662

This bright and breezy café occupies a special place in my personal coffeehouse pantheon. In many ways it was my first love. The best seats for working are the indoor booths near outlets; the large, shaded outdoor patio is a great place to meet up with friends. The drinks here are reliably good but rarely outstanding. Lunch offerings include sandwiches, organic wraps and quesadillas. Come for the atmosphere, ocean breezes, and celebrity sightings.

Atmosphere: 5 stars

I am a sucker for fresh air, good light, and a friendly vibe. 18th Street is less than a mile from the beach, and with its ceiling fans it is comfortable on all but the hottest days. Given the area, many of the regulars are graduate students and screen writers. This helps make 18th street a comfortable place to work for long periods of time. However, the patio is just as large as the indoor area, and there is almost always plenty of room for a casual cup of joe. A large murals and other pictures decorate the inside of the building.

The booths are the best working spots, and most of them are close to an outlet. Seating is consistently good. My only complaint is that the pretty tile tables are an awkward surface for a laptop or single piece of paper. Also, the smaller booth on your right as you come in is too high for comfortable typing.

Parking. There is a small lot in the alley to the west of the building, a little street parking on 18th Street, and a good amount of metered parking on Broadway. Be careful not to park in the synagogue’s lot, tow trucks will come.

Boxing Ring. Rumor is that there is a secret celebrity boxing ring in the basement. Who knows? Several boxing pictures and photographs do adorn the walls.

Neighborhood. The Santa Monica Co-op is right down the street, a good place to stop for smoothies, bulk bins, and organic lipstick. Like all of Santa Monica, the area is gentrified and gentrifying.

Hours. 7am – 7pm weekdays, closes 6:30 on Friday; Opens at 8:30 on Saturday. Closed Sundays.

Wireless. None as of January 31st, 2007.

Credit Cards. Yes. Five dollar minimum.

Service. Friendly and efficient, but without the speed of many of the chain stores.

Coffee: 3 stars.

The drip coffee is self-serve and affordable. 18th Street brews Groundworks beans. A small cup is $1.50 and a large cup is just $1.75. Refills, 50 cents. Espresso drinks are well-made and well-priced. (Small cappuccino is $3.40.) Also serve a wide variety of teas, many of them organic. Usual Los Angeles assortment of “Ice Blended” drinks as well.

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