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    Saero

    4.4 (115 reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Closed 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Saero Takeout or Delivery

    Saero Photos

    Business Info

    SAERO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Saero

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    Reviews With Photos

    Marian X.

    Stopped by this shop on weekday, there was only one staff but she was so friendly and helpful. I ordered a hand pour- Huke Washing Station, Ethiopia. Unfortunately all of their beans are light roasted, so the acidic level is high/noticeable. I'm not a fan of high acidic coffee in general, but I still wanted to try. As described, I tasted mostly the mandarin note and unavoidable notes of sourness. My coworkers ordered matcha latte, they use brown sugar as their sweetener which is very unusual. They rated their matcha latte as average. Overall this place is slightly highly priced, the portion is very small. The store is small but clean and simple. A great place for a quick drink, but not highly recommended. Parking is also tough.

    Layered matcha and matcha einspanner
    Carlo G.

    The layered matcha here was strong AF. Good if you're looking for a strong matcha that's almost bitter. There was still a subtle sweetness though. I got it with oat milk and it was $10 I also tried my friend's matcha einspanner and that one was good, just less strong. Coffee shop inside had an aesthetic design with some seating and tables outside in the hall. I don't think it's ideal for working/studying at, but more so a pit stop to relax at.

    Cornbread Latte
    Kris N.

    *Note: TDLR at the end of the review Cornbread Latte: 6/10 It was good? Corn flavor is there. Espresso was good. The breadcrumbs on top was weird. Granted it is a "cornbread latte." Idk I'd rather you put a thin slice of moist cornbread on top or something. Or like a cornbread crisp. I'm taking a sip and then BOOM, I'm choking on some cracker crumbs LOL. I appreciate the thought of trying to add texture, but the crumbs are just weird and don't mix well. Also, bro $8.25 For a fuckin toddler's cup? Yeah yeah it's DTLA, but shit, at least be worth the $8.25 instead of being two sips of coffee and a cup full of fuckin ice. Service: 5/10 It was service. They take your order, make your coffee, and call your name. Ambiance: 7/10 It was a super small place, but the inside and outdoor were aesthetic af. Cool place for a short chat, but I'd say it's more of a grab and go for sure. It's super cramped when there's a line. Super instagramable. For parking, it's DTLA, you know already. TDLR: I swear all these reviews are performative af. Coffee absolutely not worth the price whatsoever. Small size and full cup of ice for $8.25. Idgaf that it's DTLA. I will say that it's Instagram worthy, so if you want aesthetic photos, this place is great. Absolutely would not come back here lol.

    Layered Earl Grey - Full of Earl Grey flavor! But Layered Matcha is better!
    Sarah C.

    2/20/2026 LAYERED MATCHA Matcha is from a small farm in Kagoshima in Japan. Unnamed brand. White label. Creamy, sweet, bright, clean, light bitterness at end. Vegetal in taste, light nutty almond flavor. Matcha is pre-mixed and made. However, this layered matcha was so good! It is life-changing matcha! The matcha itself is sweet with a creaminess to it. Good mouthfeel. It was so good that I ordered two! Do not sleep on this drink! LAYERED EARL GREY Strong Earl Grey flavor, strong bergamot scent. Creamy sweet. Not sweet as in sugar, but the cream was sweet. As an Earl Grey fan, this was delicious! However, the Layered Matcha was better, if I had to compare the two. SAËRO SIGNATURE This tasted creamy and sweet as well. Definitely from the cold top. Sharp smoky flavor of the coffee. Personally, it tasted like the usual cold top coffee you get anywhere minus the smoky flavor of the coffee. They have two savory baked items: Butter Salt Bread and Everything Salt Bread. SEATS / BATHROOM There are some seats inside and outside. It's all wooden bench seats. Not the most comfortable, but I did see people working on their laptops. Very quiet inside and no music playing either. The bathroom is right next to Säero. But you have to ask the security guard to open it for you. CUSTOMER SERVICE They were helpful and friendly. They answered some questions on where they source their matcha. PARKING Super hard to find parking! No street parking, super rare and difficult to find. Best to park at the paid public parking lot directly across the main entrance of Arcade Building. It is $13 for all day parking. You can purchase the ticket via machine. No attendants. This part of DTLA is crazy. Personally, this is my one and done place. I would come back if they opened elsewhere in a better area. Many shops have closed inside the Arcade Building. Not a lot of operating shops or restaurants inside. Not sure why they took that space. Parking is super difficult and also a difficult area to walk around too. That means less foot traffic, which is needed for businesses.

    Matcha latte with oat milk
    Olivia N.

    I came here because the color and picture of the matcha looks promising. Nice spot to hang out with limited seatings in the cafe. The barista was nice and friendly. I got the matcha latte with oat milk (one size) for 10$. Sizing wise I think about 12-14 oz. I usually go to places and try matcha latte first without matcha foam or sweet/salt foam to taste matcha quality. There was some astringency and mostly bitterness. The notes were definitely earthy rather than nutty. I usually look for more nutty or floral notes than earthy/grassy/vegetal notes. I didn't find the matcha sweet enough to balance out the bitter umami. Matcha color seems to look better for the layered matcha than the regular matcha latte, which seems duller and a bit more yellow. If you prefer places like Community Goods for balanced nutty umami notes, I would not recommend this place. If you do not mind earthier, bitter, umami matcha, this place is for you.

    Exterior
    Grace I.

    Great matcha! Strong and delicious. I got the strawberry matcha, and my friend got the einspanner. Solid all around, a little pricier, but I'd say it's worth it for the most part. The space is located in a sort of literal food hall, and finding it can be a little tricky, but after a little walking, you will. The space is small inside, but they have "patio" seating outside the cafe itself, so it's a good place to sit and chat. It's very aesthetically pleasing with your typical minimal japandi style things. Because it's DTLA, parking can be a bit of a pain, and that's the only major downside. The baristas were kind and knowledgeable of the menu and made our drinks pretty quickly.

    Gabby K.

    Yes yes yes, a thousand times yes! Saero is one of those hard to forget matcha stops. This teeny shop with beautifully designed interior found the balance of having unforgettable crafted drinks and perfect vibe. I landed on the layer matcha, which is literally what it sounds like, a matcha base with a matcha cold foam. The matcha was perfectly colored, slightly sweet and all flavor. I overheard a few saying how their coffee is immaculate, so it seems like Saero is just overall doing it right!

    Saero Signature, Cold Brew, Ddalgi Matcha Einspanner
    Brenda S.

    Went on a coffee run to Saero Coffee today and it was a nice little coffee stop. I tried the ddalgi matcha einspänner, cold brew, and the Saero signature, and all three drinks were okay. The ddalgi matcha was a good blend of strawberry, matcha, and cream, your typical strawberry matcha. The cold brew was strong without being too bitter, and the Saero signature had a really rich, creamy flavor, but a little bitter. The cafe itself has a clean and modern vibe but it is pretty small. Service was friendly and the drinks came out quickly.

    Strawberry matcha
    Julie T.

    Yumm the matcha & coffee here is delish! Been coming here multiple times throughout the year and brought a few friends with us and they never disappoint us. The owner is friendly and the vibes are on point. Would def recommend. Loved the cornbread latte and strawberry matcha

    Menu
    Arissa B.

    Was in the area and decided to try this place with a friend. We ordered the Säero Signature and the Layered Matcha, and unfortunately both were disappointing. The Säero Signature tasted mostly like milk, with the coffee coming through only as a faint aftertaste. I honestly couldn't distinguish any of the flavor notes. The Layered Matcha was just okay. The foam was very liquidy and quickly melted into the drink. While I liked the flavor of the foam on its own, it mixed in almost immediately, which weakened the matcha flavor. Once combined, the drink wasn't very creamy and felt flat overall. On top of that, parking was very difficult to find, which added to the overall frustration. Personally, I wouldn't return.

    Tati V.

    I was in the area picking up a cake so I decided to pop in for some coffee and was excited that they had a corn latte since they happen to be one of my favorite since becoming popular. The latte was really good and the corn flavor was perfectly balanced so it didn't overpower the coffee. I would definitely go back and try some of the other drinks.

    Ddalgi Matcha Einspanner
    Charlie N.

    On TikTok they were talking about their strawberry matcha, so I had to see what the hype was about! GETTING THERE: Very easy to get there via Metro. I believe it's street parking. Note that this place is tucked inside an arcade building, so if you navigate their via Google Maps, walk into the building looking thing and it's inside. WHAT I ORDERED: Ddalgi Matcha Einspanner THE DRINK: This was nice. The strawberry flavor definitely came through without overpowering the matcha, and the matcha was clearly good quality. I'm unsure if this was the best strawberry matcha I've ever had, especially for the price (this was $10.83 after tax, before tip, with an oat milk sub). SERVICE: Very open to answering my questions and drink came out fast! VIBES: Cute place that would be nice for grabbing coffee with a friend. There's some seating (including outside the shop) there but I don't necessarily think I would go there to get work done. BOTTOM LINE: I think this place is fairly solid - I would definitely want to come back to try the other drinks like the earl grey.

    Melissa G.

    Good coffee. Full bodied and rich in flavor. Definitely on the more expensive side. Store has an industrial/ minimalist feel, it's quiet with very low light, it's the type of place where you're not sure you're allowed to sit on the benches because they look like art. Service was fast, not friendly but not cold, just kind of sterile (maybe just have an ordering screen then?) It's not the type of place I would go to catch-up with a friend but would def come back just for the coffee.

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    Ask the Community - Saero

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    Saero - coffee - Updated July 2026

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