Balconi Coffee Company

Gave this place another try years later and got just a cap. really good. shouldn’t have gone with the popular drink last time. def will come back.

Balconi Coffee serves delicious coffee from top quality roasters, and they make a killer matcha green tea latte. What’s not to love?
It’s tough to find a good matcha latte. Matcha tends to be very bitter, but these guys are buying the best of the best. They also serve my favorite coffee from Four Barrel !!! Plus blends from the equally delicious roaster, La Paz. Thanks for bringing a little bit of San Francisco to LA, Balconi!
You know what else I like about Balconi Coffee Company? They serve organic milk from Strauss (also local to the Bay) #winning. I can’t handle much dairy or I die inside, so I had my latte prepared with soymilk. I only wish they had more alternative milk options for the non-​dairy folks. The food options were also fairly limited.
Overall I love the cozy atmosphere, friendly baristas, and quality selection of coffee and tea. It’s an ideal spot to cozy up with a book or have a drink with a friend!

Only whole milk and soy milk? No 1% or even almond? Come on too cool for school. Pass.

Soothing place to enjoy a cup of creamy matcha latte on a gloomy Sunday with a good friend.
The line was short but it did take a while for the barista to take my order. Usually I’ll get irritated but he was juggling his duty as a cashier while making drink orders and keeping everything around him tidy at the same time. I was pretty impressed. He came back to let me know that he ll be right with me while he was busy running around.
We ordered:
Matcha green tea (not coffee) — loved it! Subtle bitterness with a strong flavor of green tea. The drink was very creamy and the temperature was just right.
The popular almond latte– my friend loved it. The almond flavor wasn’t overwhelming.
I was planning on getting a pastry but I decided not to because I passed this adorable crêpe shop next door, Mapaya, on the way to the coffee shop lol
Tip:
— parking available in the residential area
— get their special drinks if you love sweet coffee like me
— they do take credit cards
— be patient with the barista
— check out the crêpe shop for food next door

One of the best customer service I’ve received at a coffee shop! Like all the other reviews, the barista is super nice and informative. He patiently explained the different kinds of coffee when I asked and also allowed me to smell the coffee ground as well. Cozy little coffee shop. I got the almond latte and it was very delicious-​not too sweet, just enough. 5 stars because of awesome service and good coffee :)

I think this place is great for coffee if you’re a connoisseur. Their specialty is siphon coffee. They are less pretentious than most places that are for coffee lovers. The staff is friendly and the coffee is indeed very good. But what I don’t like is everything else. The place is tiny and there’s a chance you won’t get to sit down if there’s more than 6 people already here. The seats are pretty uncomfortable. It’s $ 4 a cup of coffee. The bathroom is in another area around the block which is strange. There’s no wifi. No outlets. If you want to come here, just make sure you come here with the intention of just hanging out for a good cup of very oily coffee and a friend to have a good conversation with.

I can’t believe I’ve never been here during undergrad. This quaint coffee shop on sawtelle is so awesome. You just kinda feel like you’re in Tokyo and just way cooler than you probably are.
The Almond Essence was yummy! I usually don’t like almond flavored things but this one is an almond powder that makes the coffee taste really good and different. Oh and tip: try the coldbrew iced coffee. It’s not on the menu but you can order it if they haven’t run out.
My only complaint is that there are no outlets for if you want to study here. But overall, still 5 stars because I felt like a cool kid. Can’t explain it.

Everyone is friendly. Coffee is unbelievably great. Have the almond essence. Music and wall art are neat.

Wow! The Almond Essence Latte is to die for! I’ve never had a drink like this before. It is unique and so delicious. There are bits of almond in it as well. The almond flavor is noticeable but neither under-​nor overwhelming. It is seriously perfect. If you’re ever nearby, drop in and grab one to go. Each drink is made to perfection, so you might be waiting a great deal if there is a line. Don’t be like me and get out of line to wait for it to die down. If you do that, only more people will come in and make your wait even longer! However, with that said, the coffee is definitely worth the wait. Also, I came on a Friday evening when I expected it to be quiet, but there were many customers. That speaks to the quality of their product. The space isn’t ideal for doing any work (no wifi, small tables, etc) but you can definitely catch up with a friend and play a round of chess. The bathroom is out the door and around the corner. Just keep walking left and you’ll find it. Metered street parking. Meter maids be patrolling to give tickets too!

I had an iced almond essence– it tasted weird. I’m a black-​coffee kind of person, and let’s just say this place wasn’t my cup of tea. Also, they only have whole milk for the latte/​cappuccino.

Located in the Sawtelle strip, where all the other awesome food spots are-​very convenient.
Almond essence latte is a crowd favorite. It taste like petals. I dont know why that is my first reaction but it is. If you like little coffee stops you will like this spot.
Small space and long lines so be prepared. Coffee takes a while to make since it is made to perfection with this «Sherlock Holmes» type of coffee maker machines
It is almost $ 4 a cup so be advised. Parking is either valet, structure parking or street.

We got their almond essence latte and cappuccino. The cappuccino is just okay but the almond essence latte is lacking taste. I think I was expecting a bit more flavor. The milk overpowered the almond.

I came here last Sunday on my way to a co-worker’s house. It’s right on busy Olympic so it’s a bit easy to miss. Parking could also be difficult but I was lucky enough to find street parking on the cross street.
The place itself had a typical industrial café look. There were less than a dozen people in the place so service was attentive. The girl at the register was friendly and asked if I needed a recommendation. Since reviews seem to rave about the Almond Latte I decided to give that a try. I did sub regular milk with soy milk (kinda bummed that they don’t carry almond milk). The drink was good but nothing phenomenal.
I was also tempted by the homemade biscuits that were out by the register. They apparently make them daily in house so I couldn’t resist (plus they had truffle in them!). They were good but would have been much better had they been heated.
Will come back if I’m in the area.

Stepping into this coffee spot is like finding a little hidden gem. And by that a mean the place is a little tricky to spot (it’s around the corner from the small shopping center next to it) and it’s quite literally a small space.
There’s lots of natural light pouring in from the windows, but the décor and the size definitely keep the shop from having that open, airy, industrial warmth that Los Angelians come to expect from trendy independent coffee shops. If you’re looking for a place to set up camp on your laptop… I would guess the size and limited seating would make this a hit or miss.
If this place isn’t about the atmosphere and it isn’t about providing plenty of workspace… what the hell IS it about, you may ask. The coffee, guys. This place is about the coffee. Espresso done RIGHT: tasting and looking beautiful. Smooth. Flavorful. Yesssss.
How does this translate for the Starbucks/​Coffee Bean crowd who isn’t used to the espresso bar life? You can still get your lattes, kids. Hot or iced. For here or to go. All of their cows milk is organic (woo hoo!), but keep in mind that their only non-​dairy option is soy (super sad face).
Friendly, fast baristas make this a great place to grab some high-​quality espresso goodness to go. (If you can find parking.)

I love almond essence, so as soon as I heard about Balconi I had to try that latte!
—Iced soy almond essence latte: I was expecting to be wow’ed but the latte didn’t live up to the hype
They’ve got seating inside and outside
NOTE: I was also irritated because I was in a rush and when I asked the worker where the restroom was (outside toward the back of the building) she did not bother to tell me I needed the key so I made the trek back there for nothing

Ugh. Another hipster coffee shop, where you’re gonna make me feel like a complete asshole for not knowing EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT COFFEE.
Except, oh my god, no wait. You guys… this place is different. You walk in and it’s unassuming. I mean, the place looks like the cool basement of your weird friend who is super into chemistry, but not to make meth.
I don’t know what it is but this place has my heart. Their almond essence latte is perfection in a cup and saucer, paired with their raspberry coffee cake. Consumption of such items is considered «the perfect morning,» and if only I could will myself out of bed earlier to stop by on my way to work.
Ryan gets their regular «drip» coffee, black, without sugar or cream. They let you smell the coffee beans you’ve chosen. Oh man.
Knowing this place exists means I will, more than likely, never go to another hipster coffee shop in the area again. Ever.

BCC…
Because Coffee Can. Make your day better.
* YES — Good coffee types & selections; carries popular NorCal brews
* YES — Great latte, didn’t get try the famous Almond Essence Latte, next time!
* YES — Friendly service
* YES — Mellow study environment with free wifi or for catch-​up pow-​wows
* YES — A couple small tables outside, several small tables inside
* YES — Offers some baked goods & snacks
* WOA (words of advice):
— Street meter parking available (but near congested Sawtelle area)
— Accepts credit cards

I love when coffee shops have special selections. Intrigued by the almond essence latte, I came here with my friend. I absolutely loved it. They mix in pulverized almonds as well do you taste the subtle texture. My friend got the green tea latte but I’m generally not a fan of green tea latte but that’s just personal preference.
The shop is very small but cozy enough for you to come with a friend. The menu includes just coffee and pastries. I’d come here again.

High quality coffee beans. I bought a couple bags home and was impressed with the beans. It gives you a very fragrant aftertaste. I just wish it wasn’t so fruity, I don’t think coffee is as enjoyable when it’s all citrus-​y. The almond latte is sweet, but there isn’t any caffeine so it’s not very useful to me :(
I have to say, the baristas here ALL know their stuff, more so than any other barista I’ve ever met. They know exactly what kind of coffee they’re brewing and can describe every flavor you’re about to taste. I was blown away.
The inferior is so clean and they have cool old fashioned typewriters that add a bit of personality.
Bottom line: Balconi is a quiet café that I’d go to chat with friends. But I wouldn’t say it’s my first resort for coffee.

This unassuming little coffee shop has one thing that the big guys don’t — care.
The barista and who I assume is also the proprietor, is an artist with not just the designs he is able to achieve in your foam covered beverage, but also with the selection of the roasted beans he uses to brew the perfect cup of joe. My cappuccino had an excellent balance between all the tastes, somehow even umami, and was topped with just the right amount of foam while keeping the milk content low not to dilute the drink, yet just enough to sweeten it.
So why don’t you come in, check out the art on the walls, ogle at the chemistry lab-​esk devices for brewing coffee, and sit at the bar, a table, or right on the sidewalk of Olympic Blvd. And if you’re not into coffee, that’s okay too. Just get a cup of tea.