LA continues to become more “artsy,” with coffee drinking more of a lifestyle nowadays. Yet coffee in the cycling world has always gone hand-in-hand. From easy coffee spins to intense training rides, the aroma of a café is something nearly every cyclist looks forward to at some point before, during, or after their ride. With that, here are our top five coffee shops in the LA Basin that we look forward to at some point during the training week.
5. Mantra Coffee (Azusa)
Mantra is something else. It’s that one place you go to when you want to feel like you’ve been invited to your best friend’s house. Mantra’s ambiance is fitting after a long ride in the San Gabriel Mountains when you’re looking for a break in a space away from the physical pain you just felt on the bike. Mantra’s hot espresso and coffee is 10/10 and their cold drinks are even better. Check it out the next time you’re coming out of Azusa Canyon!
4. Copa Vida (Pasadena)
The Cup of Life! If you want to rejuvenate your life in a cup of coffee during your ride, then Old Town Pasadena’s Copa Vida is the place for you. Perfect for stopping after the Saturday morning group ride or a fast ride around the Rose Bowl. Copa Vida’s ambiance is spacious and the ability to watch your bike from inside is ideal with glass windows that spread around the entrance. And if you’re that rare being that doesn’t drink coffee, their hot chocolate is out of this world as well! Whether it’s coffee or not, this coffee shop lives up to its name: after your cup of “life,” you’ll be sure to be back to feeling 100% when you ride away!
3. Verve Coffee (DTLA)
Number three is for all of our inner-city riders and friends! Verve Coffee Roasters is based in Santa Cruz, CA. But their DTLA location is the ultimate coffee stop for those city rides. With a contemporary vibe, Verve also provides a relaxing environment to get away from the hustle and bustle of DTLA. Arguably ithout a doubt that Verve roasts and serves some of the best coffee in California. This spot is hands down the most ideal coffee stop in DTLA.
2. Cactus Coffee (La Verne)
At number two, Cactus has surpassed all marks from coffee to ambiance fitting for a cyclist. Using Compelling Coffee Roasters, another amazing local coffee roaster, Cactus creates each one of their craft coffees with love and enjoyment. Cactus owner Jeremy has also created an ambiance that is welcoming to all, which makes it an ideal coffee shop for pre-group ride gatherings. Bike placement is easy and simple as there are plenty of picnic tables outside to gather around with your bikes right in front of you. Cactus Coffee will either get your ride off to the start you want or will end your rides with a smile on your face.
1. Some Crust Bakery (Claremont)
One of the only cities where riding your bike on the sidewalk is legal, Claremont is one of the most bike-friendly places in the area. This helps even more when you’ve got a super cool bakery/coffee spot that’s tucked away in Old Town Claremont. While Some Crust is more of a bakery than a coffee shop, it still tops our list for a top-notch brew and AMAZING pastries! Some Crust Bakery offers outdoor seating in front of both sides of its bakery location. There’s also a nearby park for enjoying your coffee, though, when the weekend crowd has secured all the tables. Our favorite place to grab a cup of coffee or a chocolate banana danish; there’s no other place like Some Crust Bakery in the Claremont area that offers quality coffee, quality pastries, and a quality environment.
There you have it, five of our favorite coffee shops (we probably have at least 20!). Let us know if you’ve tried any of the above mentioned places and how they stack up to your favorites. Comment below and share, too, which ones we should check out on our next ride!