CoffeeBar

Closed

The patio at Coffee Bar gives a great view of the tall bank buildings all down Spring St in either direction. Don’t be fooled though, the short metal fence gives little protection from downtown’s wandering weirdos. Nonetheless, the shade from the buildings is great on a warm afternoon.
Easy parking: When is parking ever easy downtown? Never!
Large drink under $ 5: Yes
Friendly staff: Yes
Indoor seating: Plenty
Outdoor seating: Some
Décor: Urban, exposed beams and pipes
People with laptops: Yes
Hipsters: Mixed with the occasional business man
Famous Faces: No
Foam Art: No
People watching: Great, close to the fashion district
In & out quick: Yes
The challenge continues!

Hands down, best coffee shop on 7^th ave. The service staff isn’t «coffee haughty» like most shops (insert yawn), the patio is spacious and well designed, and the brew is superb. They even serve beer & wine, plus, Antica on the rocks FTW.
They also have a great selection of juice and waters. With the rusted steel service station and an almost flawless music selection, some very clever designer (s) must own this spot. There is really no other choice in the historic core.
Probably my second favorite coffee shop in LAC in-​between Deus Ex and Cafecito Organico.

**update**
From what I understand, Starbucks has dealt a blow to this joint, so they will no longer be serving coffee. The owners are converting the space for other uses instead (a bar?).
Might as well be, only drunk people can put up with the crap service and electronic dance music served up here.
******
I thought it looked an awful lot Intelligencia when it first opened 2 blocks down from my loft. Nonetheless, I welcomed the rustic and open, airy interior– with subway tiles, chalk boards, and eclectic light fixtures
The music here is hit and miss, depending on the barista on duty (who apparently also functions as the house DJ). Sometimes it’s the perfect mix of melancholy folky tunes, sometimes it’s rave and trance. Poor music choices for a coffee shop.
My experiences with the customer service here are rarely pleasant.
Every time I go up to the counter it’s like I’ve donned a magical cloak of invisibility. The barista today muttered «I’ll be right with you…», or something along that line. Then he wobbled over to the cash register, iPhone in tow, furiously texting. I’d like to think he had a very good reason to be texting at the moment he was serving a customer. I got an iced tea, filled ¼ inch from the top. Why? Are you saving me room so I can add cream to it? Or I can just dilute it down with more water? Why can you not pour a cup of iced tea properly!!!
So irked. What’s with Downtown LA’s nincompoop-​y customer service!!!

Went her with my friend Eli, and noticed that it was a rare coffee shop in the middle of downtown LA. Sure there are some pubs that serve coffee, breakfast diners, and a Starbucks across the street, but the ambiance is unmistakable.
We were glad to know that they have only been open for a couple day under this new format. They are experimenting with how it should run, what to keep, and what will change. But I enjoyed my experience, immensely.
Not only do they have a wine list and beer, they also have tea and coffee.
And most important change is the arrival of a new menu filled with culinary works. Not only does the food taste great, the presentation is art.
I had the Pork Belly and my friend had the Pork Cheek. They were not lying about being able to cut the meat with a knife. The Pork Belly was garnished with onions pickled from hibiscus and garnish with a pleasant (almost) vinaigrette. Not overcooked, melts in your mouth.
I tried the Sponge Cake for desert, consisting of a chocolate pudding, a grapefruit syrup and a sprinkling of sponge cake. Interesting.
Parking is a problem in this area.
The service was fantastic, very accommodating, and willing to express their shortcomings. They were open to suggestions and quite helpful.
I am hoping they keep this setup, but I will soon be back to experiment further.

Coffee milieu guru, not gonna lie. Just moved to DTLA and this is one of the first things I had to seek out — like a gym rat would a weight room. I need an alternative place to work, having to escape the apartment almost daily. With that intro…
This place is phenomenal! For a number of reasons; good music playing overhead, at good levels. Plenty of outlets around the bars and at the various high-​tops indoors. A damn nifty bean selection (from Verve to Handsome) and heating lamps outside on their not-​to-​be-​scoffed-​at street-​side patio (which I’ll enjoy a cigar at from time to time). To sum it up: this is the best away from the office vibe you’ll find, hands down.
I’ve been to Spring For and a few other «best brews» in DTLA, but I’ve yet to find another place I can really chill at. This environment just hits.
(They have wine and beer as well, Mex Cola in the fridge, though I’ve yet to dabble.)
THE ONLY reason I had to put them at 4 Stars was the operational hours. Only open till 6p? That I don’t get. Maybe I’m not dialed into the history of this joint (new?) but it seems like they should be open until at least 10 — especially if they have a booze license. Hopefully that’s the case because they’ll see my face plenty inside the joint and out.
PS the Wifi is top notch, which is a must as downtown cell reception is bogus

I’m a huge believer in supporting local businesses, especially in my lovely neighborhood. CoffeeBar is a great alternative to the recent Starbucks that moved into Historic core. Whenever I go in the mornings between 9am and 10am, there’s not a lot of people here. I never wait in line and the wait to get my coffee is very short.
The cashiers aren’t really friendly but they aren’t mean either… just somewhat ambivalent. Eh.
My favorite drink on the menu is their vanilla latte. I always get it iced and it’s perfect.

This is a good place to grab coffee and kick back and work or play on your computer. The coffee is fresh-​tasting and the staff is friendly. The ambience is the typical loft/​modern with high ceilings and exposed aluminum air ducts hanging above. They also have a good size patio out front with chairs and tables.
I ordered an Americano and it was nice tasting and I had no complaints about it. My buddy ordered a Maté soda to be adventurous but he didnt really enjoy it all that much and ended up ordering an espresso which he said was probably one of the best hes had and hes an espresso connoissieur.
That being said, I would make sure to keep an eye any belongings. Although this area has improved immensely, it’s still a bit sketchy in this part of town while it’s in the gentrification stage.
Case in point, as I was drinking my coffee with a friend and chatting, we heard one of the baristas up front by the counter let out a loud «Hey!» We were all startled and it turns out, some girl had apparently walked in and grabbed some money right out of the tip jar up front and ran out the door and up the street. I guess the daring thief had absconded with about $ 20. I’m sure it was a little disappointing for the hard-​working baristas, yet they took it in stride with a stiff upper lip.
Good coffee here but you do have to keep your guard up. Parking is sparse but there are lots at which you can park. Watch out for the ones that advertise $ 2 parking on their signs because it’s $ 2 for only 20 minutes. Yeah, we got baited and the guy said to pay after we get back and when we returned, he said it would $ 5. Yeah, like I said, you got to watch your back in this area.

My sister lives in the loft above this place so I came here daily for a couple of weeks. The décor is minimal and industrial, and they have a huge outdoor patio with plenty of plugs and strong wifi. This was one of my favorite spots to sit and people watch.
The coffee was good and the baristas were super friendly and cool. I can’t speak for the food, but I was able to sip some delicious coffee, get work done and people watch with ease.

Large indoor and outdoor space turned into a bright, modern, airy, casual, loft-​like setting frequented by hipsters and yupsters.
The coffee is sourced from specialty roasters like Verve of Santa Cruz (which I’d happened to have visited just a few weeks prior) and is brewed individually for each customer. As others have mentioned, the baristas seem very knowledgeable and take extra care in preparing each cup.
Fairly extensive, if somewhat pricey, brunch/​sandwich menu, but all done with good, simple ingredients.
There’s a large outdoor patio that’s sheltered from the sidewalk and somewhat shaded, providing ample people-​watching opportunities while not actually being right in the middle of foot traffic. The interior, as mentioned, is large and modern, with a beautiful long counter with lots of high chairs, plenty more seating at the coffee bar, and about a half dozen tables in back.
Overall, good gourmet coffee and a beautifully done space that’s a welcome addition to rapidly gentrifying downtown LA.

CoffeeBar serves high quality coffee that is individually brewed. Beans are measured precisely and are ground to order.
Around two to three types of beans are available for the pourover daily. I had the Burundi from Handsome on the chemex ($ 4.50). It had a clean and a subtle citrus fruity taste (grapefruit or orange) with moderate acidity. Espresso drinks are also on the menu, and I believe Noble beans are used.
Baristas appear to be very professional. They pay meticulous attention to the time and temperature required in the chemex operation.
A pourover on the chemex yields around 2 cups of coffee (12 – 16 oz. total). The coffee is served on a slick rotating plate brought directly to your table (see photo).
Plenty of electrical outlets are available throughout the shop. This makes CoffeeBar an ideal location to do work at. Outlets are located underneath every table near the bar and along the walls for the tables. The bar can seat around 10 people and the 3 tables can seat 2 – 3 people each.
Chairs and tables at the «bar» area are comfortable. Very industrial environment. Reminds me of the 1970’s.
Free WIFI. Contrary to what most reviewers have complained about, the connection was consistent and I never had a problem with it. Ask any barista for the password, it’s a pretty cool one.
A large variety of whole beans are available for sale (i.e. Handsome, Sight Glass, Blue Bottle, Four Barrel). Most of the beans are fresh (roasted ~5 days ago as opposed to the bags you find in markets which were roasted 2 – 3 weeks ago). I liked the variety that was offered.
Overall, my experience at CoffeeBar was nothing less than positive. The quality of the coffee served here was exceptional. Come here for a sit down place to do work or just for a chat. If you are looking for a quick to-​go place, walk over to Spring for Coffee to get slightly cheaper coffee without a sacrifice in quality.

As I sit here and use their shotty spotty WiFi, I can’t help but wonder how perfect this place would be if the WiFi wasn’t so dreadful. In, out, working, not working, oh hooray I think I got it, yeah um no maybe not.
Coffee, really damn good. They use Sightglass. They sell Handsome and Blue Bottle.
Outlets are everywhere. This is a huge plus as you will for sure drain your battery bc you will be here longer than planned bc it will take that long to get internet service.
More than ample seating.
Parking on my visit was a breeze. But it’s street by 1hr meter or an arm and a leg flat rate for a lot.
Maybe this place isn’t so close to perfect after all.

Los Angeles ist keine Stadt für Kaffeehausliebhaber, gemütliche Läden zum nett drinnen oder draußen sitzen habe ich eigentlich keinen einzigen gesehen. Die Coffee Bar ist da keine Ausnahme: weder drinnen noch draußen will man wirklich bleiben, drinnen wirkt es eng und die Tische sind ungemütlich, draußen rauscht der dichte Verkehr an einem vorbei.
Getrunken habe ich einen grünen Tee mit Pfefferminzgeschmack, definitiv die falsche Entscheidung, das sind zwei Teesorten, die nicht miteinander kombiniert werden sollten. Positiv anzumerken ist das nette Personal und das kostenlose Wifi.

I wanted so much more from this place. I’m finally here. Sitting here right now. Been wanting to come for months. Finally had time this President’s Day.
Bad first impression.
They don’t have what I want — Lox Bagel.
Bad coffee.
Depends on who you ask about coffee refills… One guy told me $ 2, but when I went to get my refill I was told that they don’t do coffee refills. I paid another $ 4 for a new coffee. They do refills on iced coffee and iced tea only.
Sub-​par service.
Homeless people hoard up in the one restroom. Had to wait a long time to get in, and when I did, it smelled.
The 5-​grain scone is good. The vibe and ample seating areas are superb. Love the outdoor area. Really appreciate all the outlets.
Really shoddy internet. My boyfriend and I have decided that they must do this on purpose to get people to leave, as they are in hot demand, and an empty seat would last one-​second. I wonder if we are correct in our assessment.
Lines out the doors. Have to wait 10 – 15 minutes to order or get a refill or ask a question.
I would give this place a 2.5-star, but the décor, vibe and location bumps me up to a 3.5-star.
Yeah, I won’t be coming back here, unless it’s a hot day and I could sit outside and not bring work with me, and only stayed a short time. Then it may be nice to be at CoffeeBar.

cute inside.
nice and friendly.
i like their lattes. pretty yum.

Smells SO good in here! I love the layout of this coffee shop, circular bar focused on the masterminds of the coffee bean. The staff was so helpful and had no problem talking to you about the process of a particular drip, or even where the bean originated. I’m most definitely into this type of service, and I expect to be a regular soon. Bottoms up!

I would not have known about CoffeeBar if I had not developed such a strong curiosity for Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles.
Their design is simple yet modern. Their logo is painted on dark wood — font spelling out «CoffeeBar» in clear, white lettering and a thick blue bar hovering above the text. The outside patio in front is spacious, filled with patrons chatting and sipping their lattes and teas. The quieter customers frequent the inside of CoffeeBar, turning the pages of their newspapers and savoring their drinks and morning pastries.
We came in around noon and were happy to find that there was enough room for the five of us to sit. After some pondering, I decided to get a ham and gruyère croissant with a cup of chai latte. Two friends ordered the Nutella Ganache Latte and the roasted turkey sandwich with gruyère, sun-​dried tomatoes, and arugula on ciabatta. The other two ordered espressos and fresh mozzarella, roasted tomato, and basil sandwich on ciabatta.
The drinks were out in a reasonable time… the food took a little longer, but from the looks on the faces of my friends after their first bites, I could tell that the sandwiches were great. As for my croissant, I would have liked it if they served it warm (it wasn’t carelessness — they just don’t serve their pastries warm), but it was still had great flavor and maintained the crispy outer-​shell and soft layers that all croissants should have.
So as you can probably infer, I really enjoyed CoffeeBar. I love their concept, their creativity in minimalism, and the drinks and food they make. Despite the few negative reviews for CoffeeBar on Unilocal,I still suggest that everyone pay a visit to this this little café.

F– our stars only because their wifi does not work.
O– therwise, they’d have 5 stars for their coffee
U– should definitely try the 1906. Four Espresso Shots!
R– eally love the décor. So Industrial, So DTLA
S– it in their outdoor seating area. It’s delightful.
T– ransients and beggars here and there but hey it’s DTLA
A– nother set back is that they only have lowfat not nonfat milk
R– eally enjoy the heart and leaf designs in the lattes
S– eriously, you need to check it out!

I think I’ve found my DTLA coffee shop.
Cappuccino ($ 3.50)
— perfect temperature
— aromatic coffee
— not too bitter, not too sweet, just right
— nice latte art
Environment: hipster and mainly for coffee aficionados. Indoor bar stool seating available. Reminded me of Intelligensia in Pasadena. Good amount of outdoor tables for those who prefer the fresh air. Sometimes it gets loud sitting outside with all the traffic on Spring St. I believe there is free wi-​fi.
Overall, a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee and do work or read a book. Also a great place to chat with friends over coffee. There is some parking available in front but I’m not sure how readily available that is. The prices are typical of coffee shops. Definitely check this place out if you’re in DTLA.

Coffee Bar is in the same vein as Intelligentsia and other LA coffee shops that combine super hip décor, little hipster employees, craft-​like coffee and very few food choices. I know it’s an obvious marketing scheme targeted at yuppies in their late twenties who want to feel cool as they get their morning coffee, but I admit it — I’m a sucker for it. I love the rustic-​slash-​modern look inside, the cute coffee mugs (which sell for an outlandish $ 20 if you want to bring one home… sadly I actually considered buying one), a kind of self-​righteous stubbornness about only making simple coffee drinks in those little funnelly things of theirs, the bar-​like seating perfect for those with mobile offices and outdoor seating for those who like to see and be seen. I could totally see myself setting up shop here daily if I lived in the area and spending my whole life savings on those damn lattes.
My only complaint is one that coffee lovers probably won’t even see as a negative: the coffee here is TOO strong! I didn’t even finish my iced coffee doused with half and half at about 3pm, and by 3am I was still wired, laying miserably in my bed with my eyes wide open. I have a feeling that I’ll soon be developing an immunity to it, as I see myself coming back very often!

Thanks to Richard T, CoffeeBar was on my radar and luckily for me I was in the area yesterday so I checked it out. It’s not hard to miss and that open patio is going to be a killer spot to hang when the weather permits.
It’s super industrial looking, which is extremely fitting for this part of DTLA and there is ample seating, an abundance of outlets, and free wifi.
It’s pretty pricey but we don’t live in a world of $ 2-​$ 3 coffee drinks any longer, so sometimes you just have to suck that aspect up. The one qualm I have is that I love a soy vanilla latte, which I understand is far from coffee snobbery and is «very LA» but it’s what I like and most places cater to my unrefined java palate, however CoffeeBar was quick to inform me that they don’t have vanilla syrup or anything like it (which I totally understand because that doesn’t align with their vibe). The gent helping me wasn’t exactly forthcoming with an alternative, but we got there eventually and I walked back to my laptop with a $ 5.50ish small mocha with a cute design. I guess that’s what hip will get you these days!