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Santa Monica, CA

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Amai Coffee

4.4 (354 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Updated 3 weeks ago

Order Amai Coffee Takeout or Delivery

Amai Coffee Photos

AMAI COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Amai Coffee

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Reviews With Photos

PANDAN MATCHA (right)
Anh T.

Love the variety of drinks at Amai Coffee. I tried their pandan matcha recently and loved it. The matcha was smooth and earthy, while the pandan was fragrant and slightly sweet. Neither the pandan or matcha was too strong, and it was generally a creamy and refreshing drink. Great service!

Vietnamese iced coffee.
Jeronimo J.

Since my last review the hours have been consistent and so have the drinks. The staff is always very friendly and great at making drinks. Big shoutout to Gladis, Karen and Antonio keep up the good work! (They deserve a raise imo)!

Matcha
Natalia G.

I believe I got a mango Matcha, and it was good. Nothing I would come back for, but I'm glad I got to try it!

Jacqueline C.

Matcha was aight. I got a matcha latte without sugar and while I felt decent matcha was used, the drink itself did not work. Service was super quick and cute coffee shop.

MATCHA EINSPANNER
Naomi W.

Prior to checking out Amai, I was so thoroughly disappointed in the matcha latte I had gotten from another coffee/tea spot. I then went on a mission to find another place that offered matcha. After a couple minutes searching on Yelp, I came upon Amai and decided to try it out. There was a decent line already and I ordered their matcha einspanner. There was only one girl working and she was trying her best to keep up with the register and making the drinks. All together from waiting to picking up my drink it took about 20 minutes or so. I thought the matcha was pretty decent- pretty smooth. I wish I definitely enjoyed it and hopefully can come back to try different items on the menu. The interior had a handful of places to sit and work. Thanks for redeeming my matcha drink for the day!

Joanne Y.

Got the strawberry matcha at a run club event! Antonio was so sweet and efficient! And my matcha latte was refreshing and hit perfectly after a run.

Meera S.

I thought I'd like Amai more but maybe it was just a blip in the universe type of day where it just wasn't happening. Walked into Amai on a Friday afternoon pre-road trip and it was a bit of a stale and ever so silent environment. Nobody else in shop which I mean isn't their fault but for some reason, everything looked run down and tired. Used the bathroom and it too looked like it had a long day. Ordered at the counter with the barista who then immediately started making my drink. What was odd was the fact that he made the drink on the serving counter right in front of me so I saw how little effort was put into the drink. I thought the iced matcha latte was decent but nothing out of the ordinary. Later that day was glossing my credit card transaction history and saw the charge for Amai upwards of $10. I realize I didn't complete the tip page on the screen (my mistake) which is likely where the barista took the liberty to fill it in on his own. Not cool. Maybe one day will be back but also, there are so many alternatives in the area, it's a tough business case.

Banana cream top latte
Natalia H.

Tried a banana cream top matcha & latte here. Both are pretty solid. It is not one of the best ones but is definitely a good one. Stuff & place feel warm and welcoming. If I want something near SM & Venice with banana foam - I recommend this place within area.

Menu
Peggy S.

This coffee spot can get crowded sometimes because it's across the street from Santa Monica College. It's a smaller, cozy shop but didn't have too much problem getting a seat Thursday morning. Hard to find a charger outlet though so bring your laptop charged/ The barista was really nice and greeted people warmly. Ordered the blueberry matcha which wasn't too sweet. There seemed to be a bit of a fizz in there too. Also got the everything croissant which had fragrant toasted sesame seeds and lightly filled with cream cheese. Parking is available in a small strip lot mall.

Matcha
Lianne P.

Signature coffee is good! I asked for less milk and it was perfect. Lots of parking in the lot.

Banana Coffee and Manila Vanilla
Autumn D.

Ok I'm giving a 4 because my coffee did not taste like banana. If I'm ordering a banana coffee I want to taste banana, not coffee oat milk and a random syrup. I saw her put banana syrup in it but I think anything banana needs to be made from banana itself not a store bought syrup. Customer service was great, they welcome me in and everything. Overall presentation of drinks were beautiful as well. Despite my banana itself it still tasted good. My friend's coffee was the Manila Vanilla and he really liked it and said it was good. There's parking !!! WOOOO HOOO Ambience was nice .. enough co working space if I wanted to come back and work for a bit or have coffee with a friend.

Mango sticky rice matcha
Halley K.

Popped in here around 3pm needing an afternoon matcha pick me up and wow did they deliver! The barista was so friendly and kind to make recommendations. They have a nice selection of both coffee and matcha drinks, and I went with the mango sticky rice matcha with almond milk. I was a little nervous about the color of the mango, but not to worry it was absolutely delicious! Great flavor and the perfect amount of sweetness. The space is on the smaller side with a few tables and one community table, but a chill vibe to sit and enjoy. I will definitely be back!

HOUSE MATCHA, BLUEBERRY MATCHA, and MANGO STICKY MATCHA
Andrina C.

We were looking for matcha and ended up here. Their matcha is really yummy. I would come back here again. It was not busy so the service was quick. It seemed only one person was working.

Amai Signature (left), Manila Vanilla (right)

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Van C.

Jeronimo thank you so much!!

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Amai Coffee Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Amai Coffee

Are there outlets here?

Yes!

What types of coffee beans or blends do you use?

We use sightglass’ top tier owls howl for our espresso blend. For our decaf we use sightglass as well! We retail sightglass, cognescenti, little wolf, & onyx though we sell out very quickly.

What type of dairy and non dairy milks do they have?

Hello Katrina! We currently offer organic whole milk, oat milk, & almond milk.

View All 4 Questions

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4.0(1k reviews)
2.3 mi•Sawtelle
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I absolutely adore this place and have been going nearly everyday for about a year. The service is…read morewonderful and it's easily the best coffee in Sawtelle. However, recently they've been playing AI generated music and it's very disappointing to hear. I would much rather hear one song on loop over and over again, than a playlist of AI slop. This coffee shop is so warm and cozy but the change in music really takes away from the space and makes me not want to come in. If you're cutting corners with AI, where else are you cutting it short? I hope this is something that changes because it is my favorite cup of coffee in town!

Disappointing end to 15 years of loyalty…read more I have been a loyal customer of Coffee Tomo since 2011, frequently recommending it to friends. Sadly, that ends today. Over the last couple of years, the charm of this café has faded, culminating in a truly awful experience this morning. The solo staff member working today was incredibly discourteous. Because I had my leashed dog with me, she practically threw me out of the store. While she pointed to the "no dogs allowed" sign, I explained that I was only inside to order and planned to sit outside, something I have done on countless previous visits. After being forced to wait outside, my drink was left sitting on the counter for several minutes. The barista never bothered to let me know it was ready, despite the café being slow. To make matters worse, the beverage was poorly made, with coffee spilled all over the saucer. This isn't the first time I've experienced bad service here, but it will definitely be the last.

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7 Miles Tea Lab - SWEET WHITE PEACH JASMINE

7 Miles Tea Lab

4.5(326 reviews)
2.3 mi•Sawtelle
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Love the boba at this spot - their drink of the day is always a hit :) prices are super reasonable…read moretoo!!

Love the convenient location of this tea shop right in the middle of Sawtelle. The inside is both…read moremodern and cozy with patio seating under pretty string lights available to enjoy your drinks and cakes. Ordering is easy and straightforward, using either the kiosks or the cash register. What makes them stand out among all the dessert spots in Japantown is their super fluffy Japanese-style Cheesetella cheesecakes and freshly baked castella cakes in various flavors. I really love having castella cake with my tea though sometimes they can be too sweet or hard to find, but 7 Miles Tea Lab came through! The mango pomelo sago is a refreshing, filling fruity drink that mimics the flavor profile of a mango sticky rice dessert and has actual fruit instead of artificial syrup. I get excited when I see avocado and fruit combo drinks on menus since they're more unique and the avocado just adds a creaminess that still feels light and healthier but with natural sweetness from the mango. They also didn't make me have to choose between two of my favorite flavors, jasmine green tea and peach, because one of the drinks had both. I was surprised to see lime juice was in the drink because it was subtle enough to just balance the sweetness of the drink without being sour or tart. The jasmine tea with jasmine jelly was my favorite for pairing with the castella cake since it both were very classic flavors and went really well together. Ever since visiting Japan, I've been craving a similar castella cake experience in LA and was so happy to find one right in my neighborhood! Because it's so soft and fluffy, it doesn't feel heavy after a meal. Washing it down with some tea was a nice balance.

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Dialog Cafe - Equinox SCLA - Caesar Salad: housemade dressing, chicory, parmesan cheese, sesame croutons, cracked pepper

Dialog Cafe - Equinox SCLA

4.2(65 reviews)
2.6 mi•Sawtelle

got the Madagascar vanilla latte + cloud top, cloud top was 2 dollars which was kinda pricey and i…read morethought it just tasted like it was sweet but it pairs well with the latte, i actually rlly liked the latte also got the turkey blt, it came w chips and the chips were crispy thick satisfying and salty and not too oily, my sandwich was good too, at first the bread was a lil too toasted for me and i didnt wanna be annoying but i asked for sum new bread and they were rlly nice abt it and made me a new one w lightly toasted bread and it was rlly good, will ask for lightly toasted from now on interior was very nice and they have free wifi

Hmmmm...the ambiance...is non existent. This is definitely not a comfortable place to....anything…read more It's big, echoey, loud, the chairs are ancient, dirty and uncomfortable. Lettuce in my salad had brown spots in places, and was wilted and floppy in the way that lettuces get when th have gotten too cold, frozen and then thawed. Very unpleasant overall. Totally different quality salad than I have gotten consistently from the West Hollywood location, where the salad is always very fresh. The soft scrambled eggs were on point tho. If you like a real soft scramble, both locations do a fabulous job. The side of avocado that I ordered was also flawless. The coffee was also perfectly serviceable. Be forwarned that the large size (16oz hot) normally comes with 4 (FOUR!) shots, so order wisely or vibrate straight off the face of the earth at your pleasure. They usually ask if you'd like 3 or 4, and even 3 is a lot for this size. I got a side of the brisket, which people rave about in reviews and I had never tried before...I don't think I'll bother again. It's was spicy in a way I just don't enjoy, and not particularly flavorful, moist or nice otherwise. Maybe this is better as a filling in burritos or wraps or what have you. Parking is available in the garage around back for a few (they may validate at the front desk but I couldn't tell if that was only if your have a gym membership or not. My guess is yes. There are also metered street spots around the block, and we were lucky enough to find one in the shade on a hot hot day in August.

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Dialog Cafe - Equinox SCLA - Custom KB90

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Goodboybob Coffee Roasters - 'Nilla Latte $7.00

Goodboybob Coffee Roasters

4.1(450 reviews)
0.7 mi
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EVER SEE A "SANDWICH BOARD" SENDING YOU TO HEAVEN??? When…read morethey said Goodboybob they should'a said GREAT! This placed is tucked away for the cognoscenti only betrayed by a sidewalk announcement "telling you where to go!" But not THAT PLACE! This place has got some amazing coffee, great burritos, resymade sandwiches and overnight oats and VINO, Kombucha and any beverage you can want. Their baristas are "sur catégorie" and the food is so good you might dream about it. THIS IS THE ONLY RESTAURANT I ALWAYS TIP 20% or MORE! THIS PLACE IS MADE BY MINDFUL TEAM AND THEY ARE AWESOME!

Unfortunately, TikTok let me down once again. Came on a Thursday around lunchtime and there was…read morealready a line. The coffee shop is tucked inside a complex but no parking for coffee shop, only street parking, I had to drive around multiple times. I got the BBL, the summer special guava yuzu matcha, and a Gold Coast burrito. The BBL was good, but honestly not "wow, life-changing" like I was expecting. When I first got the matcha, the color didn't look quite right to me, and unfortunately it tasted pretty watered down. I mostly tasted guava and could barely taste the yuzu. The burrito was also pretty small for $16 and was a little too salty for my taste. I did like that they cook it right in front of you, though! Overall, this place would be a pass for me. Maybe I just caught them on an off day, but I wouldn't recommend it.

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