The Great Los Angeles Cappuccino Project

If you know me at all, you probably already know that one of my absolute favorite things in life is coffee. I find many excuses to enjoy a cup, usually at least two or three times a day: beginning with a cup of fresh pour-over Stumptown coffee when I wake up, then typically something creamy like an almond milk cappuccino in the afternoon, and sometimes (if I’m feeling like having ‘dessert,’ but not really) a little decaf espresso after dinner.

Over my ten years here in Los Angeles, the coffee scene has changed drastically. Just a few years ago, visiting a cafe in Portland or San Francisco that really took coffee seriously was an unexpected delight - and finding a place like that in LA was very rare. Now, you can’t seem to turn a corner without running into a hip, minimalist, Instagram-worthy coffee shop tended by bearded men slinging shots of espresso from gleaming vintage-looking machines. Baristas are held in high esteem now, and are gaining just as much fame and notoriety as some of our best chefs and sommeliers. People are finally realizing that Starbucks coffee really isn’t that good, and are seeking (and finding) a better alternative. Oh, and almost every place is serving up almond milk (I mean it is LA, after all).

*Almond Milk Cappuccino at Urth Caffe, Beverly Hills*

This abundance of deliciousness has led to one unfortunate side effect: coffee-seeking laziness. Because good coffee is so easily accessible in all parts of town, it’s easy to lean on a small handful stand-bys out of sheer convenience. Lucky for you, my FOMO has finally overtaken my laziness, and I have decided to embark on an exciting adventure that I’ve been dreaming of for quite a while now…

I’m going to try all the “BEST” coffee shops in LA.

How are the “best” coffee shops determined, you say? Fear not, my caffeinated friend, I have done my research. In fact, I probably overdid it a little bit. I scoured the interwebs for lists of LA’s finest java joints (and goodness, there are a LOT of lists - everyone’s a critic now, right?), then chose the most reputable sources and created a spreadsheet comparing which shops were on which lists. I have compiled a list of 54 coffee shops that are considered “great,” even if they only appeared on one of the eleven most reputable lists. Note: Names in bold indicate that they appeared on at least five out of eleven “best of” lists that I referenced.

For consistency’s sake, I plan to order a simple, whole milk cappuccino at each coffee shop. If house-made almond milk is available, I’ll also try that - because having a list of the best almond milks in the city really can’t hurt anyone, right? - but I plan to skip it if the almond milk is boxed. Nothing ruins a good shot of espresso like an overly sweetened and artificially flavored non-dairy beverage, so we’ll use classic cow’s milk for this experiment.

Are you with me? Follow my adventures using the hashtag #veronicascoffeebreak, and I’ll update the blog regularly with my progress and my favorites. And please, leave us a note in the comments with any coffee shops that you think are missing from this list! I’m open to suggestions.

Get cozy, ‘cause this might take a while… 54 coffee shops, here I come!