espresso

I have been dying to go on a coffee tour of Los Angeles for way too long! I knew I wasn’t going to be able to visit everywhere on my coffee bucket list in one day, so I summoned a couple of friends that I thought could take the caffeine overload and set off to conquer Hollywood and Koreatown!

We started off our day at Alfred Coffee on Melrose. This place is what I imagine heaven to be like: a beautiful layout, a hidden chocolate shop downstairs, and $9 waffle cone macchiatos. Here, we indulged in a traditional latte, iced coffee, and two of the #instafamous waffle cone macchiatos. Proudly brewing Stumptown (like many other coffee shops in the LA area), they set themselves apart by providing us coffee lovers with a true experience from entrance to exit! If you stop by, you MUST go downstairs to Compartes Chocolate shop! It is divine! You are surrounded by the most decadent and flavor-packed chocolate bars! I bought soooo many to use as stocking stuffers and they did not disappoint.

Our next stop was Awesome Coffee. If you have a sweet tooth, this is the place to be! We started off with some liquid nitrogen coffee ice cream. It was rich and creamy with a bold coffee flavor. Next, we enjoyed a classic iced chai tea latte. It wasn’t too spicy, just right. Last, but certainly not least, we shared the ‘Waffogato.’ This was just too good; definitely a fun take on a classic affogato! The ice cream was topped with a belgian waffle and a mini-carafe of espresso to pour on top!

YUM YUM YUM!

Go Get Em Tiger was our next caffeine pitstop. We ordered a Prosciutto Sandwich to share and G&B Milkshakes (because we didn’t get enough sweets at our last stop). The coffee milkshake was strong and not too sweet. I love G&B Coffee in Grand Central Market, so I was excited to visit it’s predecessor. Inside seating is hard to come by, but the Christmas tree in the back was a nice touch!

BrewWell would be my new blogging oasis if I lived closer. There is plenty of parking, seating, and natural light. The lavender cappuccinos and vanilla latte were delicious! The foam to espresso to milk ratio was perfect and the lavender tasted natural, and not at all artificial. I will definitely be back!

At this point, we were all delirious and borderline ill from all of the caffeine that we consumed throughout the afternoon. We needed to eat something, pronto! Don’t think I was going to let the coffee tour end there. We ended our day at Sapp Coffee Shop in Hollywood. A favorite of Jonathan Gold and Anthony Bourdain, this Thai place is in an unsuspecting strip mall and serves some bomb grub! I was the only one brave enough to order a Thai Iced Coffee, but don’t get me wrong, the jitters prevented me from finishing it! For noms, I ordered the Garlic Chicken with Rice and a Fried Egg. This place is a hidden gem, and I will definitely be back!

I’m planning more coffee tours for 2015, so keep a look out for the Westside, DTLA, Long Beach and more!

I was invited to join Tastemade at Spazio Caffe in Venice, CA this past Tuesday. They were hosting a summer celebration with a lovely Roman Holiday theme! Guests enjoyed house specialty espresso drinks, small bites, chef and barista demonstrations, a fun photo-booth outside, and the chance to check out the new Fiat 500e! Did I mention espresso drinks? So much caffeine.

Located at 245 Main St., this is Spazio Caffe‘s second U.S. location, the other being 1511 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. Upon walking in, you could tell that there was great care taken to ensure the aesthetic matched the specialty espresso and Italian themes. With clean lines, contemporary seating, and beautiful photos illustrating every drink, the space was very inviting.

Throughout the night, we enjoyed various espresso drinks, with the occasional Peach Bellini. The menu boasts traditional latte’s and cappuccino’s, fueled by espresso and specialty roasts from the Italian coffee brand, Manuel, along with authentic sipping chocolates and gelato. Our favorites include the Baciami, Amaretto, and the Coccolo, all specialty espresso beverages. The Baciami is a hot espresso served with milk and hazelnut cream. I was originally going for something cold, but my ears perked up when I heard they used Nutella Hazelnut spread! It was my absolute favorite! Next, we indulged in two cold specialties, the Amaretto and the Coccolo. The Amaretto was too strong for my boyfriend’s taste, but I loved it! The espresso served with the ice-cold creamy milk and amaretto syrup was strong and rich. The Coccolo was the most pleasant surprise of the evening. Consisting of cold espresso, whole milk, and coconut syrup, this drink was very enjoyable and easy to drink. I am not the biggest coconut fan, but this might have changed my mind. I would definitely recommend this to someone easing themselves in to the espresso experience at Spazio Caffe. Along with the beverages, we enjoyed small bites prepared by Chef Pierpaolo Mattei. Spazio Caffe has a great selection of croissants, omelets, sandwiches, and salads to balance out your caffeine high. Check out Chef Mattei’s recent appearance on KCAL9 for more information on their upcoming seasonal options.

I loved my experience at Spazio Caffe and I can’t wait to return with friends. If you are looking for an Italian cafe experience, but don’t want to deal with the 13 hour flight, I recommend checking out their Venice or Santa Monica locations. I briefly spoke to one of the co-owners, David Sandor King, about his desire to open a location in Orange County in the next couple of years, so keep a look out!

Tag: espresso

Coffee Tour: Hollywood and Koreatown

Summer Roman Holiday at Spazio Caffe