More Cali Coffee

Or: why I got lazy and treated myself

Back at it, this one a twofer!

First, happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I’m personally thankful that people actually read this blog and that I’m not just out here shouting into the void.

Now, let’s talk about coffee and what it was like in LA. So, you’ve hopefully read my review of Black Canvas, which was far and away the best coffee I had in California. Definitely keeping it on my list for a revisit once I get back out to the West Coast. It set a pretty high bar for everyone else, that was just unattainable. But let’s get to the breakdown of my next few days and their coffee sojourn. 

First up was a place I was excited to try, so much so that I walked 30 minutes round trip for them: Rise and Grind. If you follow me on Instagram you know this already, but it was probably a better life slogan than it was good coffee. The aesthetic of the place was fantastic. Good bit of wood grain running through the cafe, neon lights with funny coffee slogans, and a cool skateboard mural highlighting their affinity for the sport. The coffee was...middling. It was fine, sure, I drank it all. It didn’t taste bad, it just didn’t taste great either. I knew what sort of experience I was in for when I saw that they were using Stumptown beans, which are more of the mass appeal variety than I’d prefer. Here is where I’ll insert, again, that I’m not a coffee snob, I just like good coffee. This coffee was fine, but I wasn’t down for another 30 minute trek through the streets for coffee any other day as a result of this one falling flat. 

Listen, friends, I’m a pretty lazy guy in general. Why run when you can walk, why walk when you can sit, why sit when you can lay down? Right? I drink coffee specifically because it forces me not to be lazy. 

Speaking of being lazy...I proceeded to go to the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf that was right next to my hotel for the rest of the week’s morning coffee demand. For those of you unaccustomed to the Coffee Bean, think of a Starbucks and you’re about 90% of the way to what it is. They’re mass market, volume driven, and their fancy coffee drinks are great. For the remainder of my trip to LA, my morning caffeine was in the form of a cookie butter latte because I’m not above treating myself. Could I actually taste anything that was reminiscent of espresso behind all those layers of milk and sugar? No. Did that really matter? Also, no. It was great, it was warm, it was close. I may need to go see my dentist, though, because it was also extremely sweet. 

Aside from that, I really didn’t do much. I spent time in an office and I spent time in a warehouse. That’s pretty much life on work trips. Oh, and I worked out in the exercise room at the hotel and watched Netflix. I’m back home now and enjoying the excellent coffee that Austin has to offer. I’ll get back out on the streets after the holiday, so stay tuned. 

Well, I guess that’s all. Short one for today as we go into the holiday later this week. Thanks so much for reading, stay tuned for some fun stuff coming down the pipe here shortly. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and that you have a wonderful day.