Join us for a tour around L.A.’s San Fernando Valley, including quaint cafés like House Roots Coffee, a bakery & coffeehouse nestled in the Granada Hills neighborhood.
BY EMILY JOY MENESES
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photo via Pixabay
Known for appearing in generation-defining films like Clueless and Mulholland Drive, the San Fernando Valley—fondly known as “the Valley”—is an integral aspect of Los Angeles culture, not to be forgotten alongside more frequently mentioned areas like Hollywood or Downtown. Join us as we tour the San Fernando Valley’s specialty-coffee scene, which is speckled with both longtime shops and newcomers to the coffee world.
House Roots Coffee
House Roots, which has locations in Granada Hills and Chatsworth, recently celebrated its eight-year anniversary. The shop, which notably offers memorable bakery items like black sesame loaves and white chocolate matcha cookies, has an impressive array of beverage choices, including Korean banana milk lattes and what they called the “Hojicha Dream,” a hojicha latte made with Rocky’s Matcha and topped with a salted vanilla cream foam.
Ideology Coffee
Bright and airy, Sherman Oaks’ Ideology Coffee is the perfect place to grab a quick cup while soaking up some sun in the ample outdoor seating, or chilling inside. While the menu features all of the standard espresso-based drinks, the shop also gets creative with offerings like the Blue Jasmine Matcha, ceremonial matcha atop almond milk steeped with butterfly pea flower and jasmine green tea for 12 hours.
Re:Coffee
Northridge’s Re:Coffee opened at the start of 2024, and the shop brings their own unique spin on trending coffee drinks like Einspanners—cue their seasonal special, a Pumpkin Spice Einspanner featuring pumpkin purée and a housemade cream.
“Our mission is to deliver exceptional coffee experiences through meticulous attention to detail and ingredient quality,” the Re:Coffee team shares. “We carefully measure every component to ensure consistency in taste, using only the finest ingredients to enhance the richness and flavor of every cup.“
Cara Vana Coffee
Located on North Hollywood’s Lankershim Boulevard, Cara Vana Coffee offers an array of tempting specialty-coffee drinks, brewed with Sightglass Coffee. The shop is well-known for drinks like their Tamarindo Cold Brew and lavender rose latte, featuring a house-made lavender rose syrup. At Cara Vana, you’ll also find an expansive food menu, including smoothie bowls and croissant sandwiches.
The Baker’s Daughters
Head up to Simi Valley and you’ll find The Baker’s Daughters, a coffee shop and bakery known for their impressive breakfast spreads and coffee menu. Standout drinks include the Rosemary Latte, made with house-made rosemary syrup, and an Olive Oil Vanilla Latte. The shop uses dark-roast Brazilian espresso, a nod to owner Yasmin Almeida’s Brazilian background. Almeida explains how her father was “the first person to bring sourdough to Brazil” and ran four bakeries in Rio de Janeiro—a legacy she continues today with her shop.
Coffee and Plants
Located in Studio City, Coffee and Plants boasts the title of Los Angeles’ first 100% plant-based coffee shop. The shop’s drink menu is as colorful as its plant-filled interior—alongside your typical espresso menu, you’ll find drinks like Zion’s Cold Brew—cold brew infused with orange and topped with a fluffy coconut foam—or their Pink Matcha, infused with a house-made rose and hibiscus syrup.
This list of cafés offers just a glimpse of the myriad gems nestled within the San Fernando Valley. Whether you’re a Los Angeles local or a visitor looking to get a taste of lesser-traveled areas of the city, these coffee shops are a great place to start.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emily Joy Meneses (she/they) is a writer and musician based in Los Angeles. Her hobbies include foraging, cortados, vintage synths, and connecting with her Filipino roots through music, art, food, and beverage.
Subscribe and More!
Out now: It’s the August + September 2024 issue of Barista Magazine! Read it for free with our digital edition. And for more than three years’ worth of issues, visit our digital edition archives here.
You can order a hard copy of the magazine through our online store here, or start a subscription for one year or two.
