Order the vanilla iced latte with cold brew. WOW delicious even when I have to order it to work.read more

Absolutely loved this little spot! It was so calm and such a good vibe! Great place to study. There…read moreis a cute little fish tank with a frog that is a really unique touch! 10/10 definitely would visit again. Everyone was very very helpful and it was the best latte I ever had, I wish they had a honey lavender option because it would be magical

Amazing. Spectacular. Give me 14 of them right now…read more I would love to return a million more times! Best americano I've tried to date. The cafe de olla latte has some extra spices (e.g. orange) in it that makes the flavor more complex. The guayaba (guava) pastry was so flakey and delicious. The coffee cake is inspired by LAUSD - it was very fluffy & fresh!! Went in on a Wednesday morning & the service was very friendly. I noticed many items are labeled both in Spanish & English, which is admirable. This small business knows exactly the neighborhood they reside in, and they cater to the residents. The only thing I would change is moving this establishment closer to where I live! Kudos to Picaresca for being loud & proud about supporting human rights.

#183 in my Coffeeshop Chronicles. Picaresca is a cute little coffeeshop around the corner from my…read morefriend's house in east LA. She turned me onto their signature El Pino latte, which is made with chamomile, brown sugar, and rosemary. It tastes amazing with oat milk, so much so that I make it a point to stop by every time I visit my friend. I've always gotten my coffee to go here, but they do have a few tables inside and out. Service was friendly. ****************** My Ratings: 1 Star: Terrible; just thinking about it makes me angry. 2 Stars: Wasn't a fan so Not likely to return. 3 Stars: Meh. Average. Might return if others drag me. 4 Stars: Yum! Likely to return. 5 Stars: Amazing! Would plan my day around it.

I stopped by Damo and ordered their matcha latte, and I absolutely loved it. The matcha was smooth,…read morebalanced, and not too sweet -- exactly how I like it. On top of that, the space is surprisingly huge, open, and comfortable, which makes it a great spot to relax, study, or just hang out. If you're looking for a place with good drinks and plenty of room to breathe, Damo is definitely worth a visit.

My husband has his forever favorite -- the Einspänner -- and of course he ordered it again at Damo…read more It's still his number‑one coffee anywhere, and today was no exception. I decided to try something new and went for the Chocolate Forest Matcha... absolutely divine. Rich, earthy, slightly sweet, and so beautifully balanced. What surprised me most is how different the inside feels compared to the outside. From the street, it looks a little gahtto and unassuming, but the moment you step in, it's a completely different world -- cozy, bright, warm, and welcoming. It's the kind of space that makes you want to stay longer than you planned. Damo continues to be one of those rare spots where the drinks are memorable and the atmosphere feels like a little hidden gem.

Had heard about this place forever ago and finally got to try it, and I really liked it!…read more The vibe is minimalist Japanese aesthetic: clean, peaceful, calming. The workers were super kind and not pretentious at all (which honestly matters, iykyk). Got an espresso and a matcha with almond milk and both were SO good. High quality, balanced, delicious. Definitely a spot I'd come back to.

Wow... literally the smoothest coffee I've ever had. Cannot wait to come back again to try more!!…read more The storefront was so aesthetic and clean. Seemed like there was a mix of people working and other groups of people that were talking. Definitely recommend!

Best coffee in the city. Hands down. The staff is great, location is perfect. Don't change pleaseread more

friendly staff and great service - my girlfriend and I ordered a cortado and a hot cocoa. the hot…read morecocoa was delightfully consistent from top to bottom, and the cortado had the best texture of any cortado I've had. their beans are clearly rested to perfection, and I couldn't ask any more of a specialty shop.

Érase una vez... after visiting Oaxaca, I returned home and found a gem right here in East LA: Yia…read moreCaffé. From the moment you arrive, it invites you to be present. So much care and intention woven into this place. On weekends you can feel the energy of people moving through from opening to closing. Today I needed a little more sweetness in my life, so I ordered the iced Mazapán oat milk latte with peanut butter foam -- magic -- alongside the Tamales de Mole, a weekend-only special. The sweet balanced the savory perfectly. Pansa llena, corazón contento. The flavor profile caters to a range of palates. My partner went for the Oaxacan Mocha oat milk latte -- also highly recommend the Cacao de Mi Corazón smoothie and the Spanish Latte. Know that every drink is made to order, crafted with intention. This isn't fast food. Give yourself the time to enjoy it. Open 7am-5pm daily, they're not stretching themselves thin for the masses, they're building a solid foundation. And it shows. The consistency keeps me coming back. For days when you can't escape the grind, DoorDash pre-order is a must. For days when you want an actual escape... tucked on a busy corner amid freeways, trains, and the hum of East LA, this place carves out a sanctuary. Lush greenery, a pace that slows you down, street parking in the neighborhood, and the satisfaction of supporting a local small business that opens its doors to the community. Oh, and they keep dog treats at the counter. I snagged one for my fur baby-- a small reminder of how beautifully they treat dogs in Oaxaca. Yia Caffé -- a treat, every single time.

Yia Caffe is an absolute gem located in Boyle Heights. You order and pay at the front window, then…read morepick up your coffee at a separate window to the left. There is a cute little courtyard filled with picnic tables that's perfect for communal seating. Between the colorful murals and the abundance of plants and trees, you feel like you've been transported to a hidden oasis. It's a very relaxing spot to get some work done or study for a final. Plus, they're dog-friendly, with treats and water readily available. I originally planned on ordering the Mazapán latte since I love anything nut-related, but upon arriving, the Horchata Latte ($6.50) was recommended to me. It had a lovely creamy texture, and the cinnamon stick inside provided a fantastic boost of flavor. While it's definitely on the sweet side, it was the perfect pick-me-up. The staff were friendly and kind, even though they stay tucked away inside. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu!

Quaint coffee spot located in a mini strip mall that quickly transported me to the shops in…read moreGuatemala. Ulew ties quality coffee, food and ambiance that sends you on a trip to Central America without leaving LA. Our order was taken quickly by one of the friendly staff. We took a seat in a comfortable area with plenty of tables and traditional Guatemalan music in the background, marimba! We had the cardamom, Guate-Mayan mocha coffees and ordered tostadas to snack on, everything was tasty. Absolutely enjoyed this café. Highly recommended.

I was thrilled when my darling girls asked me to meet them here on a Saturday morning. I'm so…read morethankful they discovered this place otherwise I would have never known. Ulew started in 2023 as a pop-up on the corner of Olympic & Soto selling natural juices. Now they have a café where they also serve Guatemalan coffee, pastries, and traditional & creative food options. The entrance is a bit tricky. Go through the doorway by the flower shop and proceed down the hallway. You place your order off to the right and on the left of the hall is the dining area. The lounge is warm & welcoming. It feels and looks like you are in someone's living room. The walls are lined with artwork by local artists, which are for sale, and there are even books & board games for your entertainment. Our order consisted of Café de Olla, Café Del Dia, Latte De La Barrio, and a Jalapeño Cream Cheese Croissant. My Café de Olla was perfect. The first sip was a delight on the palate. I could taste the notes of spices and a hint of orange. The other two beverages were just as good. The bold, richness of the coffee stood out on the Café Del Dia, and the Latte De La Barrio was delicious. I also liked the traditional clay mugs in which they were served. (Large orders are served in a to-go cup.) The Jalapeño Cream Cheese Croissant was also exceptionally good. The croissant was flaky & fluffy with a generous amount of cream cheese filling and jalapeño slices. In addition to the locals, about 10 police officers came in for breakfast. A true testament to how good this place is. I must mention that the staff are incredibly friendly here. The lady at the register, the man who brought us our order and kept checking on us, and the guy who bussed our table. Not only do they care about serving quality food & drink but they also care about their customers' overall experience. *Street parking.

Relaxing coffee shop, refreshing drinks, great time! hibiscus lemonade fire!!! Service is…read moreawesome, 10 out of 10 definitely coming back.

Another Sunday, Another Run/Walk with BlacklistLA!…read more Glad to have found a lovely community coffee shop! The shop has a wide variety of options for all types of coffee drinks. Had a my favorite option of cold brew with a banana cream top! Ham and cheese was a tasty option (I believe they get it from homeboy industries. Parking - Street Parking - Weekend Mornings can be relatively easy.

Cafe Cafe is open Mon-Sat: 8am-4pm…read more Cafe Cafe operates out of a shared kitchen with Macheen and Milpa Grille. I ordered the Ice Hot Cocoa Latte and it was a lovely drink to pair with breakfast burritos and tacos. I will certainly be back to try other coffees.

something about this place called to me...so i had to come try…read more. i was lowkey confused when i first pulled up and walked in ngl because it's part of Milpa but i saw a coffee menu and knew this was it. i loved the vibes in there and all the resources that they had available i ordered an iced americano and a berry jamaica. the americano was great. i had to stop myself from chugging it. the jamaica was taking a minute but it's because they make it to order! like legit from scratch. and it was well worth it. this drink wasn't for me but i tried it and i almost drank the whole thing too lol the texture is kinda thick, because of the puree so it's not thin like actual agua fresca but still good, even if you want to thin it with water

It was kind of hard to find this place but once you're inside it's really nice…read more I loved the interiors and the cars! I ordered matcha with sweetener and Vietnamese einspanner. Einspanner was good. I really enjoyed it. But matcha was lacking in depth especially for its price point! It almost feels like they use sencha instead of matcha. But that's just my perspective. It'll be a really good place to hangout with your friends!

This was such a cool find in Arts District - such a big space with 3 cars inside, a lot of…read moreseating/working areas, and even a photo booth (not free though). Very insta worthy! I was excited for the mango sticky rice matcha but unfortunately they had run out by 2 pm. Ended up ordering the Vietnamese Einspänner which was okaaaaay. I wouldn't go out my way to get their coffee based on that drink.