Feature: Kaldi in Atwater Village

Keep an eye out for a dancing goat, or you'll walk right past this place! Kaldi is one of outer LA's best kept secrets... So much so, that I selfishly hesitate to spill the beans.

Named after the herder who's goats discovered coffee around the ninth century, this was my favorite spot when I lived in Atwater. Not to mention, it's got a prime location down the street from the Anthony Bourdain-made-famous hole in the wall Tacos Villa Corona. You'll see swarms of people with Kaldi coffee and a breakfast burrito in tow on Saturday mornings, as it's a heavenly combination. (I recommend putting in your food order, then stepping away for coffee -- because your food still won't be ready by the time you walk back, due to popularity)
If you have a sweet tooth, Kaldi has some of the best pastries a shop can buy! I highly recommend the "escargot" (if they're not sold out). It's a swirled roll with almond, pistachio and raspberry (my new favorite flavor combination). ON POINT.
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Kaldi has a small interior, with plenty of outdoor seating and probably my favorite big coffee brand: Counter Culture. They rotate drips every week or two, and while I like their espresso, the coffee is brewed to perfection, hot and cold. If you're a cold brew-drinker, do NOT miss out on theirs, made with a light & fruity coffee, all the notes come through even on the hottest of days. Counter Culture is consistently fresh, flavorful and pure -- as is Kaldi's preparation of it. 

The baristas are admittedly hipster af, but without the attitude. They're just what I look for: knowledgeable, sincere and mellow like a Sunday morning. The vibe is very chill, everyone's on their laptop, maybe with dog in tow (Atwater is notoriously dog-friendly), at teeny tables spaced out just enough to side-slide between.
Paid street parking is ample (on the weekdays), they have WiFi, all the alternative milk options and a restroom! Come stay a while and enjoy the highest-quality coffee LA can buy.

My ratings for Kaldi:
Pour over: ☕☕☕☕☕
Cold brew: ☕☕☕☕☕
Espresso: ☕☕☕☕☕
Customer service: ☕☕☕☕☕
First date spot: ☕☕☕☕
Seating: ☕☕☕
Work spot: ☕☕☕