Trystero Coffee

It was my first time today. My buddy told me about a coffee shop in some guys garage and it sounded delightfully unconventional and something I had to see in person. I walked into a house (due to the rain, but normally in the garage) where I was greeted by a group of 5 people standing around the island of the kitchen. Some more people came in and joined the conversation, ordering bags of coffee, and laughing with some patrons. Ironically in Los Angeles where some 40 million people live we find ourselves alone yearning for way to connect with people. I found myself talking to strangers (normally the thought of talking with random strangers gives me anxiety big time) but this guy Greg literally welcomes you into his home with records playing, a warm smile and 2 cats walking around. To me this concept to connect with people in a chill environment is even bigger then coffee. If you don’t care about all of that connecting hippie love stuff the coffee is Amazing. I had a couple cups that had notes of cherry that was really good. It’s strong. It’s bold. It’s black. You bring your own mug and when I asked about paying for my coffee the waitress pointed to a donations jar so bring cash. Very unique place that you need to try out for yourself.

Greg is a cool guy. I can’t wait to order some beans from his website. He served us one of the best tasting cappuccinos I’ve had in a long time.

Have to give a Unilocal shout-​out to this place and to Greg, the host and coffee roaster extraordinaire. I will drive miles for good coffee and this place has been on my list for awhile, so once I got a random Wednesday morning off of work, I made a beeline to Greg’s garage (aka Trystero).
Greg is a cool and mellow dude who loves coffee. He’s extremely knowledgable and passionate about those beans. He opens up his garage (literally) on Wednesdays from 10 am — 1 pm. You enter, you sit on his worn out couch and he pours you black coffee. If you’re in the «know» you bring your own cup… The pour of the day I went was Geisha Blonde. This is interesting for two reasons, I’m Asian and I’m blonde, but more importantly, it’s the only unadorned black coffee I’ve ever loved. Mellow and interesting, like the host who poured it. Then he made me the best cappuccino I’ve ever had. Awesome.
I couldn’t stay long, but I purchased (cash only) some of his Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Buna Ababa wet process heirloom varietal with tangerine, honey and black tea notes. Spectacular!
I’ll be back soon to Trystero to see what else Greg is up to!!!

Greg is a super cool, laid-​back, no-​frills and no BS kind a guy… And his bean follows that same ethos!
A friend of mine swung me by this little shop and I was treated to one of the best cappuccinos I’ve had in a long time. And on top of that, it was one of the most personal and inviting coffee experiences I’ve had in Los Angeles. There’s just one table to sit around which makes for some interesting conversation and soon you’ll find yourself 5 minutes into a discussion about Graffitti and making plans to kayak the LA River next summer with someone you just met…
And the best part is the guy pouring the coffee is the same guy brewing the beans the same guy taking the order and the same guy chatting with you when he gets a second to kick back and relax. Greg’s the man and he’s doing something really cool at Trystero

The most personable and committed roaster I’ve found in LA. He’s a great guy and his beans are fantastic.

Funky little coffee hut that serves great espresso. They’re focused on roasting, so if you come in for a coffee, you’ll just pay a buck or two. And then you’ll want to buy some to bring home…

Greg’s roasts are top-​notch. I have gone thru beans from Handsome/​Blue Bottle, Intelli, Demitasse, Coava, Augie’s, Stumptown, Forty-​ninth Parallel, Kuma, Handlebar, Peet’s, De Café Baristas, Paper or Plastik, and Bows x Arrows over the last two years. I think Trystero’s roasts are at the very least comparable to any of them.
For most people, just order the coffee online. If you live near Atwater/​Downtown, he’ll deliver them on bike because he’s just that much of a coffee hippie. Otherwise USPS will bring them to you.
For the real coffee degenerates, stop by the garage sometime. Bring a friend who wouldn’t feel weird at a flea market in a developing country. Good people who care way too much about coffee will be there with you.
oh and BRING YOUR OWN CUP

Wow… Best cappuccino I’ve ever had, hands down.
I am dead serious.
Smooth, creamy, rich, well blended, slightly sweet and perfectly bitter. Great buzz too.
We will definitely be back.

Lately I have been spending all of my money on this stuff. I drink it all day everyday and I love it. Halp!

The best espresso I had in a long time. It’s not really a coffeehouse but Greg knows a lot about coffee, he is a very nice guy. Will be back soon.

Opium den-​esque, chotchkie sprinkled, bean aroma infused pop-​up roast hole out of a dude who knows his brews’ (a brew bawss, if you will) aluminum sided garage. Free shots, cold brew, cappuccinos (tips are really acting as the payment – don’t be a dick) facilitates a tasty time machine into an age where Thomas Pychon is god and putting bad things in your mouth is punishable by exile. If you can find the carved out charmer along the string of tract houses, take a seat in Greg’s lounge, order some expertly and independently roasted coffee – the crying of lot 2974 is open for beanness. You’ll probably make some new friends while you’re at it.

Greg is a rad guy, passionate about coffee, roasting out in Atwater. I recommend swinging by his place to enjoy a shot or two with some milk and order a bag of these beans.

We Await Silent Trystero’s Espresso.
This is (for now) a home business– type thing. Great value labor of love coffee roasting from a nice lit nerd/​bike guy. I suspect he’s going to blow up bigger than blue bottle, etc. Get in on it before that so you can say ‘I know him when’…
DID YOU KNOW?:
The location is confusing– it’s in a residential neighborhood.
Check the website for days they are available/​open it changes
The first time I went there a German TV crew was filming for a special on coffee culture
Geeking out on politics, bikes, and literature is more fun when drinking excellent coffee

A great value for some high quality roasted coffee beans from a home roaster.
I highly recommend checking out their website and ordering a bag of beans as I did.
I have heard that Greg roasts the best coffee in the city. You can order via email and pay via Paypal.
Enjoy!

Local flavor…
When you first hear that a friend of yours is deciding to go into business for himself, there really is only one thing you can or should do… support him/​her! If or when they succeed, you should be proud of them and happy for them for the trials and tribulations of a first time small business owner should be enough to earn a figurative medal.
While I was not privy to the initial conversations that Greg, the owner, had in regards to starting a coffee roasting business, it’s obvious that his foray into the small business world is a labor of love. A love of coffee, roasting, brewing and everything else it entails. In a word, passionate. If you know Greg, you know he’s as passionate about coffee as he is about records, photography and bikes… the quadfecta!
Trystero Coffee is located on «little» Glendale Blvd. right before you reach the bridge where Glendale turns into Hyperion, if you’re traveling in an eastern direction. If you’re in Atwater Village, Los Feliz or Silverlake, you now have a local coffee spot that roasts and sells some of the best coffee in Los Angeles. What, you don’t believe me? Ask the baristas at Café Demitasse in Little Tokyo which has held numerous blind tastings only to have Trystero coffee come out on top, time and time again.
While Trystero does not have a traditional storefront, their roasting schedule can be found on their website and if you subscribe to their email newsletter, you can find the times he opens his garage during the week for brewing days. Yup. You can have Greg personally make you a an espresso or cappuccino. He’s a pretty affable dude who loves to talk about the the ins and outs of roasting. Again, there is no traditional storefront, so don’t just stop by looking to buy beans. Contact him first.
Coffee selections are rotated weekly and monthly, so you have to check their website to see what is available. Thankfully, he’s pretty diligent about keeping things up to date and as his website states, he offers… «free delivery around Atwater Village, Burbank and the Redline corridor.» If that doesn’t work for you, he can also mail you your beans… like Mims, one his customers said, «I had no idea my mailbox could smell so awesome! Thanks!!!»
If you’re a supporter of doing business locally and keeping your money circulating in the community AND you’re a lover of coffee or someone who needs their morning cup of joe to kickstart their day, Trystero Coffee is, again, your new spot!