<![CDATA[AUTUMN ENOCH - CoffeeMate Blog]]>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 15:26:37 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Feature: Jones Coffee Roasters in Pasadena]]>Sat, 17 Sep 2022 02:55:50 GMThttps://www.autumnenoch.com/coffeemate-blog/feature-jones-coffee-roasters-in-pasadenaPicture
It's been a long time, coffee mates, but I'm back (just busy, busy, busy at my day job)! Second-wave coffee shops aren’t dead – they’re hiding in plain sight. Jones Coffee Roasters invited me to their first location in South Pasadena where it was a thriving, tight-knit neighborhood scene that transported me back to 90’s Seattle coffeehouse culture. Jones reminds me a lot of another favorite old-school coffee shop in Long Beach, Viento y Agua – they’re both coffee shops that double as art galleries and a quintessential community meet-up spot.
Local artists, musicians, brick-wall murals and regular customers make Jones a true part of the community – not to mention their direct trade relationships with coffee producers. The story behind the logo (and chairs floating from the ceiling inside) is an adorable extra coffee-cherry-on-top: The roastery was established by Chuck and Larry Jones in 1994. As the retail/café side of the business grew, so did the need for seating. When they exceeded the city’s specified seating limit, die-hard customers began bringing in their own “talking chairs” to assure they’d have a place to sit and talk with friends the next time they came in (taking the term “regulars” to a whole new level). As such, the Jones Coffee Roasters logo is inspired by this act of community building.

Walking into Jones, and up the stairs to the second floor gallery, truly feels like falling down the rabbit hole and into a 90s Portlandia-style wonderland. The baristas were friendly, though I think a bit thrown when I asked some questions about the coffees available (nothing too technical, just the roast, origin, etc.). From a large pastry case (courtesy of Cos & Pi) the manager recommended a strawberry almond pastry which was delicious and fresh. If you’re in South Pasadena and want to get a vibe for the neighborhood; if you want a homey new cafe where you can get cozy and make a corner seat your “regular” spot – Jones is the place to go. 

My ratings for Jones Coffee:
Coffee: ☕☕☕
Cold brew: ☕☕
Espresso: ☕☕☕
Baked goods: ☕☕☕☕
Customer service: ☕☕☕☕☕
First date spot: ☕☕☕☕
Seating: ☕☕☕☕☕
Work spot: ☕☕☕☕☕
]]><![CDATA[Feature: Lo/Cal Coffee in Fairfax]]>Tue, 14 Dec 2021 01:04:16 GMThttps://www.autumnenoch.com/coffeemate-blog/feature-local-coffee-in-fairfaxPicture
Santa Monica sweetheart Lo/Cal has a new(ish) location in Fairfax, just steps away from The Grove and The Original Farmer’s Market. 

The manager of the Fairfax location is as sweet as their vanilla lattes, which lends to the comforting ambiance of this gorgeous, rustic space. They operate a “5th St. General Store” in tandem (think Schitt’s Creek) with local goods and artisan products like candles, succulents, books and more. Not to mention, lots of Lo/Cal swag. The inside also has brick walls, patterned black and white tiles, lots of birds of paradise and hanging plants, wood cafe tables/chairs and painted leaf murals (largely a warm boho/chic vibe).​..
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Stumptown is Lo/Cal’s purveyor, and the cold brew is definitely better than the hot brew. I’ve always liked Stumptown’s espresso and their light single origins (just had a delicious Ethiopian), but Lo/Cal normally only has a medium or dark blend that’s too dark for me. So I almost always get cold brew, which comes with pebble ice -- a nice differentiator and keeps from melting as fast as standard ice. As for espresso, I recommend a vanilla latte (housemade vanilla syrup). I haven’t had much food here, but I definitely recommend the pastries (from nearby Cake Monkey), specifically the sage & gruyere croissant. Mwah! Delicious -- ask for it to be warmed.

Living up to its name, Lo/Cal definitely has a neighborhood vibe, and the baristas seem to have a rapport with lots of locals (including me, of course). It took over a space that was formerly a coffee shop/yoga studio with horribly inconsistent coffee, so John and I were thrilled when a new coffee shop took over (always fear an empty space will become a bank or drugstore or something lame). When we lived closer, we’d walk to Lo/Cal every weekend with the pup (Scout), and it’s still a great spot to stop between neighborhood strolls or morning runs. 

There’s some metered street parking on 5th St, otherwise look out for neighborhood permit-only parking. Seating is sparse outside, but it’s a decent churn of in-n-out customers (it’s also not super shaded, so the sun can beat down on ya if you don’t get an umbrella seat)  so you won’t have to wait long for an outdoor seat; and inside there are several 2-top options. I highly recommend bringing your pup, because they give out FULL-SIZE Milkbones! (Scout has paired the treat with the place, so this is now her favorite coffee shop)

My ratings for Lo/Cal:
Coffee: ☕☕☕
Cold brew: ☕☕☕
Espresso: ☕☕☕☕
Baked goods: ☕☕☕
Customer service: ☕☕☕☕☕
First date spot: ☕☕☕
Seating: ☕☕☕☕
Work spot: ☕☕☕☕
]]><![CDATA[Top Coffee Subscription Boxes in 2021, Ranked and Explained]]>Sun, 11 Jul 2021 20:43:02 GMThttps://www.autumnenoch.com/coffeemate-blog/top-coffee-subscription-boxes-in-2021-ranked-and-explainedPicture
Interested in a coffee subscription box, but not sure where to start? That’s how I felt before I tested five of the most popular boxes in the U.S., and now I’m here to give you the skinny.

First, let’s talk about the “why.”

I love the variety of coffee subscription boxes, so you won’t see Panera, Blue Bottle, Onyx, etc. on this list, because those are all direct from the company and come from only one namesake roaster. On the same thread, I love supporting small businesses, and that’s what you do when you purchase from a roaster you’ve never heard of.

Coffee subscription boxes have blown up in the last couple years for an obvious reason: the pandemic. They were gaining in popularity pre-COVID, but now they’re an industry mainstay.

So, here’s what I analyzed for each subscription box throughout 2020-21 and factors into the overall ranking for each...
  1. The selection of roasters
  2. Information on the roasters
  3. The price/pricing structure
  4. The shipping/receiving process
  5. Timeliness received from roast date
  6. The e-newsletter/emails
  7. The website UX
  8. The accuracy of each order
  9. The purchase options
  10. The packaging/design

#5 Atlas Coffee

I love Atlas’s colorful aesthetic, postcards included detailing each coffee and all about the specific origin. But, I found out AFTER ordering for the first time, that they are like many other subscription boxes in that they only have one coffee: theirs. So while it’s not similar in that sense to any of the other boxes I mention in this post, it’s so popular that I felt compelled to rate it anyway. 

There’s no choice in coffee delivery, rather it’s a “coffee of the month” and every subscriber gets the same thing each month in a “tour around the world” (Guatemalan - unimpressed, Mexico - unimpressed). As mentioned, they’re all roasted by Atlas so there’s not as much excitement because variety is limited only to the coffee’s characteristics. 

As for the emails, they were 99% promotional and rather frequent (but not compared to some other companies), which always confuses me -- you already got me, I’m a subscriber, why are you still marketing to me as if I’m NOT?  

​RATING: ☕☕
#4 BeanBox

Bean Box has a confusing UX, to start. There are weird delivery contingencies, flights are rigid and unpredictable. More than once I received a flight that was different than what I’d ordered and was told by customer service that’s normal and due to seasonal availability. I understand that, but not communicating that in the ordering process is what leaves me unhappy.

They do “coffee of the week” texts for limited-edition/supply roasts -- promotional but cool that they’re on the more techy side (they use QR codes to reorder a coffee, text to order, etc.). 

The newsletter is totally promotional with an overwhelming cadence, and overall they put up a very corporate front. 

​RATING: ☕☕
#3 Misto Box

Misto Box has a decent amount of information on each coffee, but has NO info about the roaster. 

They use a tiered pricing structure (a deluxe $$ vs. exclusive $$$) and a pay/per, 6-coffee and 12-coffee plan, reducing the price of the individual coffee (but this means you’re locked in like a phone contract). Starting at $10.95+ shipping… Pay per coffee is $17.95 +$5 shipping (standardized prices). You pay before selecting your first coffee, which confused me & made me think I was getting a random selection.

You’re able to “pause” your subscription, but otherwise, the prices are so much higher compared to Crema.co or Trade, especially when they charge for shipping. The newsletter is disappointing as well -- mainly promotional, giveaways, LTOs, and it’s waaay too frequent.

RATING: ☕☕☕
#2 Trade Coffee

There’s only one reason Trade initially fell out of favor with me: I found out it was owned by JAB Holdings which has subsidiaries like Peet’s Coffee, Krispy Kreme, Panera, Einstein Bros. Bagels and more. Otherwise, I liked it, but Crema is simply better! I will mention, I’m not sure if they are a part of JAB Holdings anymore because they have disappeared from the subsidiaries page so I’m not sure about their ownership status anymore...

The biggest issue with Trade was the shipping: It always told me a day or more late that my coffee had arrived (thus sitting in the mailbox losing freshness), and they were constantly changing carriers (UPS/ USPS) without tracking data available, and sometimes there was NO update when it had been delivered from the carrier.

Some of the pros were compostable packaging and extremely detailed profiles about each coffee/roaster/etc. The newsletter wasn’t too bombarding, but when I did get emails they were mostly promotional. At the time I tried them they were just starting their blog, “The Counter.”

​RATING: ☕☕☕☕
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#1 Crema.co
Crema has a huge selection of specialty coffees from around the country, and a plethora of details on the roaster, tasting notes, origin, varietal, you name it. And surprisingly enough, I found Crema to be the cheapest of all the other subscription boxes! Cherry on top.

The shipping process is great, transparent and accurate with timely delivery only two/three days after the coffee is roasted.

The packaging is adorable, 100% compostable and the only place (bag and box) where their branding dominates. This is important because some other companies dominate ALL the branding and the roaster is left without much or any credit. They are by far the most personalizable/flexible coffee subscription box company when it comes to every aspect: shipping frequency, coffee selection, “playlist” capabilities and more.

Their pricing structure is simple and straightforward compared to competitors: For instance, Mistobox offers tiered subscription pricing which lends to a lot of rounding up. But with Crema you pay for each bag as it’s shipped and you pay the lowest price with free shipping whether you have a subscription or not.

My one initial (VERY SMALL) complaint was that the “playlist” feature does not have an “undo” button, ex: I accidentally clicked the “fast-track my delivery button” and I wasn’t able to set it back to it’s normal delivery timeline, so I had to delete it and start over.  BUT, here’s my favorite part about Crema: They LISTEN to feedback! They send out surveys constantly and they really do take the feedback to heart and make the changes that make for a better customer experience. 

Crema has a fantastic newsletter and blog, where employees wax poetic about “coffees of the week” or detail new roasters added to the directory or just show off celebrities drinking coffee, just because they love coffee. Oh and, one of my articles was posted in a newsletter/on the blog, too. :) 

They also do lots of giveaways, so they email quite often, but the quality that goes into each newsletter is obvious. It’s never just a promotional email, it always has substance, an educational slant, a personal note from the founder, or a blog post or roaster feature. On 7/12/20 they announced they are ONLY working with independent coffee roasters (bye-bye Intelligentsia, also owned by JAB Holdings), and took a shot at Trade by mentioning they’re owned by JAB Holdings) AND quit social media! A bold move that clearly communicates their values.

​RATING: ☕☕☕☕☕
Here’s who didn’t make the list:
  • Espresso Yourself (Alana is a friend, therapist and the founder of this fast-growing small SoCal business and I love everything about it -- I am on the more minimalist side however (and in the middle of moving), so I don’t like to acquire more “things” if I don’t need to, but I highly recommend this box for the perfect self-care + coffee present to yourself)
  • Angel’s Cup (the UX was too AWFUL to try more than a couple times, and it’s about as easy to quit as a gym membership)
  • LA Coffee Club (I love these guys, so this is their shoutout, but I love branching outside of my own community to try new roasters)
  • One Fresh Cup (I did a review for them sometime last year and it’s awesomely convenient, but it’s all their own coffee, and not a sustainable model)

Hopefully this helps you select the best subscription box for you -- but thankfully, coffee shops are reopening around the world, and as corporate America finds its rhythm in a new hybrid-world, you’ll still have a subscription box to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Cheers, 
Autumn  ☕
]]><![CDATA[Best Valentine’s Day Sweets in Los Angeles, 2021]]>Sun, 07 Feb 2021 19:59:59 GMThttps://www.autumnenoch.com/coffeemate-blog/best-valentines-day-sweets-in-los-angeles-2021Picture
As we all know, outdoor dining is back in LA, just in time for Valentine’s Day. But, many are still apprehensive to dine out (rightly so) due to COVID, so I think coffee, baked goods and champagne suffice for a lovely, intimate at-home V-day. 

​Thus, I give you some of the best LA bakeries and patisseries for a 2021 pandemic Valentine’s Day:
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Upscale pastries:
Artelice Patisserie (Sawtelle)
  • Haven’t been yet, but… Chocolate passionfruit tart, mango eclair, hazelnut praline sponge cake, raspberry pistachio macarons… Yeah, I get why it has FIVE stars on Yelp. 
Tartine (Hollywood)
  • Just next to Tartine is the beautiful Sightglass Coffee with rivaling pastries. The cinnamon roll from Sightglass is TO DIE FOR -- I’m often torn between Sightglass and Tartine for pastries. But the best part is that this is a two for one: coffee and baked goods in one trip.
La Tropezienne (La Brea)
  • Don’t miss the raspberry, almond, pistachio croissant!! Everything is good here, but that’s what I get every time. And every time... It delivers. 

Baked goods:
Canter’s Deli (Fairfax)
  • Anything here is good, but of course, the Jewish pastries are where it’s at. Another great two in one: Cofax is just across the street. Snag a Canter’s-specific parking spot and then hit up both!
Milk Jar Cookies (Mid-Wilshire)
  • IYKYK. All I gotta say is… chocolate chip FTW. You’ve never had a better fuckin cookie. And I’m a connoisseur. Specifically, a chocolate chip cookie connoisseur.
Sycamore Kitchen (La Brea)
  • Located next to Neighborhood (serving never-failing Canyon coffee) this place has delicious morning buns (on top of other pastries and delicious brunch).
Porto’s (Multiple Locations)
  • If you’re a native and you don’t know Porto’s… Well, that’s insane. Their reputation is well-founded, and the guava pastries are my favorite sweet there. The Burbank location is just down the street from the uber-Instagrammable Palm Coffee Bar and, depending on the time of day, you can find plenty of street parking.
Proof Bakery (Atwater Village)
  • Similar to my relationship with Tartine and Sightglass, just across from Proof Bakery is Kaldi -- the epitome of a hidden gem coffee shop with divine pastries (don’t miss the "escargot roll," which is usually sold out by noon). Proof has lots of street cred, too, mainly for their flaky-af croissants. Like Cofax in Fairfax, Kaldi serves Counter Culture but has a wider selection on tap.
Village Bakery and Cafe (Atwater)
  • Dog-friendly, not belt-friendly. This place has so many delicious baked goods I don’t know where to start. I’ve yet to have anything I dislike here so, get whatever speaks to your heart.
Magnolia Bakery (Beverly Grove)
  • I’m told the cake-based goods here are delish, but I’ve yet to try. The frosting work looks beautiful and they have so many unique cupcake flavors! They also have Valentine’s Day-specific treats.
Frosted Cupcakery (Belmont Shore, Long Beach)
  • This place beats Sprinkles every time. First off, the nicest human beings work behind the counter here. Second… NUTELLA CUPCAKES. For me, that’s nuff said. This. Place. Is. Dope.  
Pitchoun! (Multiple Locations)
  • Finally tried this place and OMG… The coffee cake. GET. The coffee cake. Heat it up for ~10 seconds. Eat. Die. Go to heaven. If you’re at the Beverly Center location: Eggslut is next door and Coffee Commissary is on level six!

​I’m sure I missed only like… 5,000 other bakeries and pastry shops, and I can’t even start with donuts. Dear god do I love donuts… Anyway -- this is obviously a sliver of what LA has to offer, so drop me some must-have recommendations in the comments!

Cheers and Happy Valentine’s Day ;) ❤
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Me and my valentine in Paso Robles, 2018
]]><![CDATA[Feature: Coffee For Sasquatch in Melrose]]>Mon, 11 Jan 2021 19:04:36 GMThttps://www.autumnenoch.com/coffeemate-blog/feature-coffee-for-sasquatch-in-melrosePicture
On the east-end of Melrose, before the trendy sneaker shops, pop ups and Kobe murals, there lies a sleeping giant: Coffee For Sasquatch. 
This Insta-friendly woman-owned minimalist cafe serves up SF-based (also woman-owned!) Ritual coffees along with seasonal pastries and year-round smiles. While the owner, Claire, lives in New York, the manager, Andrew, is her on-the-ground confidant, acting as her eyes and ears. “It’s been tough during the pandemic,” he said, “but she trusts my judgement.”  Personal note: Near the end of 2020, Andrew married another barista he met at CFS (Kailee) and they are moving! Coffee brings so many people together (happy tears). Ehem...
This shop is the epitome of quality and authenticity. They have been hit hard by the pandemic, like surrounding shops, because of their location. “We aren’t getting commuters anymore, and parking is tricky,” said Andrew. But they have more parking than other spots on Melrose, and so much to offer, so I knew I had to give them a (long-overdue) blog post.

Let’s start with the obvious: COVID updates.
I’ve never seen so much as a flake of dust, a drip of coffee or a straw wrapper littered about. So cleanliness is not an issue. 
If you’ve taken a road trip during the pandemic you know how hard BATHROOMS are to come by. Well, CFS has one open bathroom -- enjoy? (nerd face)
Finally -- to stay or to go? Take your pick. They have three tables (two chairs at each) out front but it’s on Melrose, so it can get quite busy/loud. Otherwise, like most places, their indoor seating is off-limits for the time being (but that doesn’t have to stop you from snagging a selfie with Sasquatch).

COVID or not, I wouldn’t call this place a good date spot since it’s kind of echo-y, hyper-modern (hard seating) and on Melrose (again, outdoor seating is loud and traffic-y). But this is a great Insta-worthy spot and grab-and-go shop -- I used to stop here all the time on my way to work. I have to emphasize their baked goods -- they change up seasonally but they are ALWAYS delicious, can’t go wrong with an almond croissant. A final note about the cold brew: sometimes, I thought, it could be inconsistent -- however, if you just ask they will give you some water if it tastes a bit dark for your liking! Otherwise, you can always let it water down a bit.  Either way, whatever hot African option they have for pour over is always on point.

My ratings for Coffee For Sasquatch:
Coffee: ☕☕☕☕☕
Cold brew: ☕☕☕☕
Baked goods: ☕☕☕☕
Customer service: ☕☕☕☕☕
First date spot: ☕☕
(COVID) Seating: ☕☕
Normal seating: ☕☕
(COVID) Work spot: ☕
Normal work spot: ☕☕
Espresso: ☕☕☕☕☕
​
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*Note: Photos were taken before the pandemic
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