Handsome Coffee Roasters

3/12/2013

Great coffee all the time!  They've only got espresso and whole milk here and it ain't cheap but definitely tasty.  

The place is on a pretty quiet corner in dtla.  I've never really seen it too full but there are always people at this place.  There are a few tables and seats around the interior and just a small bench outside.  I think its more of a place people go to grab coffee and then head back to work (definitely not the same atmosphere as urth).

11/16/2013

If you're an espresso lover, than this place deserves your attention and patronage. Out of the 3-4 coffee spots I've been to that are highly rated on yelp, this one has the highest quality espresso. I try to stop by there every time I'm near downtown, and I've bought their beans many a times. It's always delicious.

9/10/2013

They do not offer any sugar and they do not advertise this fact. The coffee I got there was bitter and it was super hot outside and no air conditioning at all. Although I am not a vegan they also do offer any milk substitutes, I think for the price of the coffee they should rethink their approach.

4/8/2013

Good coffee, nice atmosphere, great job partnering with Egg Slut. But ughhhhh can't we have cute, delicious coffee places that aren't sort of intimidating? Maybe one day?

1/31/2013

Simple yet delicious!

I was taken aback that no sugar is provided. I got over it real quick once I tasted my latte and realized that sugar was not necessary.

10/16/2013

cool, hip modern coffee shop in hidden area near downtown LA. It's a bit similar to intelligentsia but lack just a bit in flavor. They have roasting factory with a transparent window so customers can watch all the process. Cool.

7/14/2013

No sugar. Pretentious. Don't bother.

2/24/2013

Damn good cup of coffee.  And the bagged beans are superb -- it's the best cup I've ever prepared at home, bar none, and I've made a lot of it over the years.  Rolls around on your tongue, hits every eligible tastebud and your third eye too, for what that's worth.  

A really unique ambience and vibe at the place, as other reviewers have noted.  You don't get a lot of choice, but that's the point.  What they're brewing up for you is so inestimably good, you shouldn't be ladling in sweetener and flavors.  

If you're discriminating about expresso and coffee, this should be high on your list of places to check out.  And soon.

12/15/2012

Handsome Coffee Roasters is located in the maze of haphazard, potholed back streets and alleyways of the eclectic Arts District. You expect any establishment in this neighborhood to have a personality, and Handsome does. It's Minimalist. You walk in, and everything is sleek and modern. Then there's the menu. There's just coffee and milk, in various proportions. If you attempt to order anything with sugar or milk substitutes, it will be politely declined. The barista will suggest that you try their coffee on it's own.

Incidentally, this is the way I enjoy specialty coffee myself. You wouldn't mix vintage merlot into a wine cooler, would you? Milk and sugar are for burned beans, to smooth over the bitterness.

Handsome Coffee roasts their own beans on site. Like most other specialy coffee companies, they source their beans from single origins and mark every bag with the roasting date to guarantee freshness. Handsome's signature is their categorization of every roast as "Comfort" coffee or "Adventure" coffee. Comfort coffee is roasted to bring out rich, earthy, and chocolatey flavors, while the Adventure coffees are very lightly roasted. This showcases other flavors: tangy fruit and sweet floral essences.

The espresso I ordered was well pulled with a range of flavors from tangy to a hint of bitterness. However, it was almost too sour. And I like a tangy espresso.

Come here for the LA vibe. Come here for the coffee, and embrace the minimalist decor, menu, and attitude. You'll see, in Los Angeles, Not Having an Attitude is an Attitude.

10/13/2012

I'm conflicted, dammit.  This place is awesome and yet it annoys the shit out of me.  You walk in on weekend mornings and it may as well be a hipster bar on a Saturday night.  It's bumping full of artsy hipsters who will soon gentrify Boyle Heights to my dismay.  The decor is beautiful.  The location is great.  And the Eggslut Truck parks right outside on weekend mornings.  

The baristas are damn good looking and brew a good cup.  They roast their beans on location, behind glass walls so you can see.  Awesome as this all is, it's so pretentious.  There are two kinds of "hipsters," it seems.  The almond milk, coconut water drinking, kale eating health nut hipsters, and the self-loathing hipsters who only drink whole milk with their coffee.  I NEED SOY MILK.  I CANNOT DRINK MILK, LET ALONE WHOLE MILK.  So I guess I'll go to Spring Street for a delicious soy latte.  Good thing Handsome's coffee is delicious black and straight.  Because it's all I can drink here. And it's four dollars for a small cup.  

They only serve espresso, espresso with milk and brewed coffee here.  So if you want your pumpkin spice latte, or even just a little soy with your beans, you'll have to go elsewhere.  

Five stars for their coffee, minus one star for the lack of soy, minus another star for self-loathing hipsters, plus one star for the Eggslut Truck on the weekends and because people around here love dogs.

11/8/2013

Handsome has arguably the best espresso in LA. If you like sugar and all that stuff then skip out and head to Starbucks. But if your a coffee lover then this place is a must. Good place to go and have a cup of coffee with friends. Nice place to socialize.

9/26/2012

I've only had bad experiences here... From the purposely uncomfortable chairs, to the extreme hipsters that frequent and work at this place, Handsome Coffee Roasters sucks.

The first time here, there was a tiny hipster girl with her giant pit bull hanging outside, and I'm thinking, she loves having liabilities around her.  It's like putting a disaster on a leash, some people are just into that, whatever.

So I get inside and it's like all white people (which for downtown LA is weird), it's like all the white hipsters that used to go to Urth found a new place to over-pay for coffee.  And boy, do you ever pay.  The second time I went here, I went with a friend, and I kid you not, two cups of coffee was $18 (iced coffee with milk) without tip.

Oh, and if you want sugar?  You have to bring your own, because their coffee doesn't need sugar. Also, they have retarded hours because the area is "a little rough?"  Are you kidding me?  I've lived down here for 12 years and the area is not rough any more.

The coffee is really, really good.  Is it amazing?  Is it worth $18 plus tip? Yes, if you have a tree that grows money or if you're a visiting drug lord.

12/1/2012

Coffee is better than most, but the arrogance with which they serve it is beyond the pale.

I love great coffee, especially great espresso based drinks like cappuccino, lattes and mochas. At first blush Handsome looked like the kind of great coffee shop I had grown to love through years of living in Seattle and Portland. Vivaci in Seattle and Stumptown in Portland are my go-to places, both excellent. There are smaller shops like Barista in Portland that are also amazing and very cool. At Vivaci they pull shots with such supreme expertise that the shots smell like toasted marshmallow because of the caramelization. No sugar necessary, but of course it's there if you desire.

Here is my gripe with Handsome: No sugar available...... at all. No sweeteners. I have NEVER been to a coffee house that imposed such a ridiculous standard upon it's customers. I don't always use sugar in my coffee, but my wife looked around and noticed there wasn't any. Sensing that this might be their philosophy she asked and was told in a very cheeky way that they don't do sugar and to enjoy the drink the way they meant for you to enjoy it. She wound up feeling embarrassed for asking for sugar in a coffee house. Crazy.

I would understand if Handsome encouraged their customers to experience their coffee they way that they intended, but to impose their philosophy upon me is just plain arrogant. I've gone twice, but I'll never return.

It reminds me of a dinner I went to the very first week I moved to Seattle in 1994. I got a burger and fries and asked for catsup when it arrived. The waitress said they don't have catsup because the owner doesn't like it. Never went back, and over the 10 years I lived there I heard countless identical stories. It closed a few years later.

6/28/2013 Updated review

Below you'll notice there isn't much I can't update in this review as I covered it all. I will say... there's cold brewed iced coffee on deck. Their menu is still as austere & genius. Now that I've seen a few craft roasters go the Quick Cup route, Handsome was one of the first that appreciates the art of ordering "Coffee" and not having to linger while maintaining the quality. Many of these reviews claim to be uncomfortable with this place entirely. Cut the bullshit, look at that menu, that's the most comfortable menu you could ask for: coffee, espresso, espresso + milk. Read on for more.

3/11/2012

Stopped in this  morning to say hello to the fine folks that run Handsome Roasters. I loved it!

Location: Located in the Warehouse District pretty far away from everything currently. So it's definitely a "destination" - not that this seemed to deter anyone at all. There were groups of folks showing up while I was there, so people are definitely hearing about the spot.

Design: The building is absolutely gorgeous. The design perfectly embodies what you would expect from a cleaned up and modernized warehouse space.

The Coffee: I tried two items - an expresso and a brewed coffee. The expresso (roaster's choice) was perfect. Even without the addition of any sweetener which is not available to you from the store. Note that you can bring your own if you so choose.

I've seen folks complaining about the lack of soy and the lack of sweeteners as an option. This is probably something that will be added but in the interim - Handsome Roasters is a perfect spot to escape the normal boundaries of LA and have a cup of coffee with a friend.

So proud of Tyler too, wish him the best in this venture.

2/10/2013

I'm getting tired of seeing reviews that compare great coffee places like Handsome to Starbucks.  Totally different ball park.  First thing I notice is the decor: there's an industrial feel, it's spacious but still somehow quaint.  The coffee is as fresh as it gets, as they roast their beans in the next room over (which you can see through a large window).  I have gotten their 3oz espresso with milk every time I've visited, mainly because they serve it as one shot alone and the other shot in another cup, but this one with a bit of milk.  You can taste the espresso alone and appreciate how the milk complements this taste.  I plan on getting a larger espresso drink next time I'm here- I always crave more after having the 3oz.  

I haven't tried the drip coffee yet, though my roommate did buy beans- of course, only roasted one day prior- and, brewed using a pour-over cone (Hario V60), it was some of the best coffee I've ever made at home.  So sweet and intense, I had to use a significantly lesser amount of beans the next time.

My only complaint with Handsome is that the espresso drinks sometimes edge on lukewarm (at least most times I've ordered the 3oz).  Won't know how I feel about the absence of sugar until I taste the drip coffee- I'm just a little skeptical because they don't brew cups individually.  I bet it's great.  If I lived walking-distance from Handsome, you can bet I would be there every day to work (in my opinion the perfect work environment) and enjoy some killer coffee.

12/19/2012

I love everything about this place and I knew I would.

The coffee, the brewers, the cafe, the croissants, the logo... My friend and I ordered a regular brew, an expresso with milk and a croissant and thoroughly enjoyed it all.   I had the opportunity to try the Finca from Guatemala and the Kiawamururu from Kenya and liked the Finca better. Not a big place but you'll love just sitting at the bar or shop anyhow to enjoy your coffee and people watch.  I read from previous reviews that they don't offer sugar with the coffee, and I did notice that when I was pouring creamer into my coffee that no sugar was placed out. But it didn't matter b/c the coffee didn't really need sugar.  A more expensive cup of coffee but well worth it to me.

Totally in love with their handsome x sixteen travel coffee kit and wish I could order one for myself as a gift. Beautiful.

10/13/2013

Best coffee in LA, hands down. Always pick up a pack of freshly roasted beans for making espresso at home.

4/12/2013

This is truly a coffee shop. It's not a chai tea shop, it's not an internet cafe. It's a coffee shop that sells (you guessed it) coffee; and it's really well done. This speciality coffee shop is not what many envision a coffee shop to be like. This is not a Starbucks so try to come in with an open mind ready to try coffee the way it was meant to be consumed (that means without sugar and creamer). I've tried their espresso and milk and their drip coffee and can say that they are both very solid coffee brews. If you are a coffee connoisseur or interested in a unique coffee experience, this place won't let you down.

I've done a more in depth review of this place on my blog, but won't bore you with all the details here on yelp. Check it out here if you are interested.

lifeandsomecoffee.blogsp…

12/6/2012

I tried a shot of espresso and a espresso with 3oz cup.
Sometimes I put a sugar in my espresso, sometimes not.. so no sugar served was totally fine with me. however, roasted coffee tasted too sour to me and not rich or flavorful at all. I don't think I would ever go back to grab a coffee there.

Modern and Industrial interior looks great and a huge coffee roaster attracts people.
And one more plus is...
Yes, as the title says, baristas are handsome.
That's pretty much it.

11/13/2012

Real coffee drinkers need only apply. Deliciously caffeinated, pretentiously served coffees at its best.

These guys are coffee purists so if you are used to drinking a Grande Starbucks blah-di-blah frappuccino with syrup and sugar and whip cream and non-fat milk blah-di-blah and you want your name (misspelled) on your cup - then this is not the place for you. They don't write anything here - they just brew coffee.

Whole milk only, no sweeteners whatsoever - Who cares!? Just drink it people!
It's tasty!

It's expensive, yes, it's pretentious, yes, but it's also very good.

Oh, and don't call it an "Iced Coffee"  - it's a "Cold Brew", brah.

5/28/2013

I don't like giving bad reviews, so I'll try to make this as brief as can be...
I'll start by saying that this place looks great, and when you walk through the door you are greeted by an enthusiastic smile. First impression is looking good. But then...
If you prefer black coffee or are able to digest milk and have no need for wifi, then this may be the place for you.
However, I am severely allergic to dairy, don't really like black coffee, and at times need wifi to do work.
I believe it is good business to offer items that can help create a feeling of inclusivity for your customers. Instead, what I felt at this place was a pretty limited and somewhat pretentious vibe.
There are so many great coffee shops in this city, and like I said, if you like black coffee/milk/no wifi, then this place is your jam. It's a good spot.
But if you're like me and have allergies/different preferences/a need for wifi, then I would go elsewhere.

11/19/2012

I want to start out by noting that Handsome Coffee Roasters does, in fact, crank out some of the best roasted coffee in the country, as pertains to the "uppity" coffee folks, those who are absolute snobs. That being said, most joints offering this roaster's beans do so utilizing artisan brewing methods.

Unfortunately, for a regular cup o' joe, they are doing drip here. 'Nuff said. Why don't they take a couple minutes and make a pourover? Additionally, $4 is the most steep I have gone for a machine-made cup of coffee.

Like other coffee shops, they are still offering up a pretty great experience in which to drink your caffeinated beverage, boasting the awesome roasting plant in the back, a sleek storefront, and a snazzy seating arrangement.

The location is tucked  behind Little Tokyo, into the warehouse district, so there isn't really any need to run over here, but if you want some fresh coffee, this is your spot. This is where the magic happens, as they distribute all across the caffeine-dependent nation.

10/2/2013

Absolutely love this place. Great coffee, simple menu... Friendly people!
I would absolutely recommend this place for any one who love coffee. Great place to hang out around LA's art district.

9/3/2012

1)Will you open a Coffee Place and called yourself HANDSOME? COME ON...
2)They have a big roasting warehouse at the back of the shop. Very Very good looking, very handsome.
3)I tried they espressos. Nothing too good or bad, bland. BTW, they don't serve sugar in this HANDSOME place.
4)LA has lots of hip and fun places.  This is a good spot to go if you have no place to go besides LA.
5)Once you stopped by PDX, Austin or Seattle's coffee joints, you will never come back.

3/1/2013

I was very excited to try this Handsome Coffee (I guess the baristas were handsome..^^) because it had been recommended by a barista from my favorite coffee shop in Seattle (and maybe everywhere..no where else compares! Seattle Coffee Works, FYI). I came with high expectations. Maybe that was bad.  Anyways, it's in the arts district so the buildings around Handsome are adorned with colorful murals. Pretty neat location. The shop itself has large windows for natural lighting. Today was hot. Like 85 degrees. So being near the windows was no bueno. The greenhouse effect was trapping in all the heat and the sun was beating down on me. Not the shop's fault, but just letting you know..on a sunny day, try to sit farther into the store. haha

I love their menu. Simple. 2 things. Espresso or Espresso with Milk. I opted for the largest Espresso with milk ($5 flat). I thought that it was good, but like I said, nothing compares to the coffee I had in Seattle. However, I'd have to say that the coffee here was better than Starbucks and many other coffee shops that I've been to LA. Granted, I haven't been to too many, but I've been too quite a bit. I still have more shops to try out though.

All in all, I think that if you're in the area, give Handsome a try. They play good music and it's a laid back atmosphere. It's also just about half a mile from restaurants like Wurstkuche and Pie Hole.

7/19/2012

This is a toughie as I truly want to love these guys and what they do but I just can't.

The space is kind of awesome (downtown industrial with cool cold hard lines) and the fact that they roast their own beans fantastic but the end product is sorely lacking.

Been about four to five times since they opened and just cannot bring myself to go back for more.

Coffee is just ok.  Much better than Starbucks but nowhere near as good as Spring for Coffee, Intelligentsia or the Coffee Bar.  And for the price they are charging (about $4 per cup of coffee) I would prefer to spend my money there.

The limited choice of pastries and savories are fine - nothing mind bending but again better than average.

The food truck and vendors they promote to be outside during business hours is a nice plus - if you like your food off a truck - which I don't.

Do yourself a favor and travel a bit further to the Bread Lounge where the coffee is better and the bread based sweets and savories are in another league as well as the back patio to enjoy them in.

Sorry guys - I really wish I had more to say other than thank you for making the neighborhood better now please work harder on your product.

12/4/2012

No you may not have sugar with your coffee.  Don't ask.  YES YOU WILL LOVE YOUR COFFEE!

This coffee isn't for the feint of heart and is absolutely delicious.  The staff is great and takes the "assembly line" feeling out of waiting to get served.  I spent 5 minutes just chatting with my barista and could have kept going if I didn't hear the foot tapping in back of me.  THAT IS SERVICE.

REGARDING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE NO SUGAR - Have you never ordered from a "no substitutes welcomed" menu?  Get over it.  It's coffee.

9/27/2013

Handsome is my jam in LA. The shop is gorgeous, has plenty of seating, and the perfect not-too-quiet (you don't feel like everyone else in there is listening to you) but-not-too-loud (you don't have to shout) noise level for holding meetings or hanging out with friends. All the baristas are darling, super friendly, and make great coffee, and the coffee itself is consistently great - I also regularly use their beans at home.

In general, I'm a big fan of companies that specialize in a very specific thing and then do that thing very, very well. Handsome is an awesome example of this.

12/3/2012

A lot of people end up here because its trendy and a fad. WHOA! a coffee place with no sugar??!?! HOW COOL!!! People love rules, and just like the Father's Office burger has rules...people love the fact that this place had rules.

Welp. I go here because I work across the street. and I must say, nothing matters except the fact that this place is delicious. I crave their coffee all the time now. Its the best, Basta.

(oh yeah, the baristos are super friendly and cute too.)

3/9/2013

one of the best coffee in Los Angeles! They roasted their own beans. Always meticulous poured. Love it..

8/9/2012

I heard about Handsome Coffee from the owner of a cute little place in Pasadena, Alibi Coffee.
I decided to give it a try since it is relatively close to my house: what a disappointment...
They are the "soup nazis" of the coffee world. You don't get to choose anything: no other milk than whole milk, no natural sugar, artificial sweetener,, or  and for that "privilege" you get to pay $5 for a standard size cup of "I've tried so much better" coffee.
You would think that $5 would include the use of the wifi. You are totally wrong. They do not even have a wifi connection (Paid or free)
So, if you want to get a non-option overpriced cup of coffee a la Portlandia, then that's your place! Bottoms up!

9/15/2013

Good coffee! I will say this, we only wandered into this place because we needed to kill time before chicken fest BUT glad we found it. The only reason it isn't 5 stars is because there is NO air conditioning!! and because there is essentially no menu, rather like 3 options( espresso,brewed, +milk/iced- yup that is it). There is only this wooden sign w/ sizes and milk amounts..um yeah I need choices people!!. Cute inside and the iced latte ( only thing  I could think of drinking in 80+ deg weather) was very smooth. If you are in the area worth trying but if you like sugar um be prepare to BYOS(ugar).

3/7/2013

The coffee was pretty good, in and of itself I would give it 4 stars. However, there's no wifi in the place and while the industrial interior looks fantastic, the seating just isn't all too comfortable, and it's not conducive to getting any work done. Maybe I shouldn't be judging a coffee house based in part on how conducive its environment is to work productivity, but that's just one of my criteria in how well-rounded a cafe is.

Easy parking and bonus for having Egg Slut stationed right outside.

2/25/2013

Dropped by this morning for the first time after hearing good things about this place and it didn't disappoint!

Not much parking, so had to street park a half block away.  Not a big deal.  Also, not in the most central part of Downtown... unless you happen to hang out around the arts district.

I ordered a large latte and it was crafted masterfully.  Milk was steamed perfectly and not burned, unlike a lot of other places (lookin at you Starbucks!).  The top foam was rich and creamy, but didn't overtake the sweet and earthy crema.  And it was finished off with some nice latte art on top.

Can't say if this is my new favorite latte in LA, but comes pretty damn close.  My other favorite is the Conservatory in Culver City.  

I also asked for their recommendation on some whole beans to take home for my pour over; a little nutty, smokey, balanced, and not too bright.  Their recommendation, Regalo de Popayan, hit the mark!  Just made myself a cup tonight and it was wonderful!

The service was friendly and quick.  They were very helpful, especially when I asked about beans, and weren't snooty at all (I'm looking at you Intelligencia!)

Unfortunately, they're a bit far from me.  But if I find myself in the area, I'm dropping in for a cup (or at least some beans)!

7/14/2013

5 stars for the quality of coffee - I agree with the rest of the glowing reviews...

...

Personally go just for the beans - not cheap, but brewing your own gives more yield per buck *duh*

...

Using Aeropress on a few different beans from Handsome, I've gotta say, ALL OF THEM were TOP NOTCH!!!

...

Minus 1 star for a slightly snobbish and pushy service.
C'mon, you're still a business, what's so wrong with making the paying customer feel great about him/herself?

...

MY CONCLUSION: Home brewers, you will LOVE their beans.

8/14/2013

Cool vibe. Uncomfortable seats, no sugar... A little too purist.

5/6/2013

This place was alright.  I had the latte (10 oz. drink - espresso + milk), and it was decent.  It didn't blow me away.

I asked what the best pastry was, and was told the Almond Croissant, or this other pastry (forgive my forgetting).  This was pretty good.

But what bothered me was the vibe.  It was a pretty chilly atmosphere, everyone seemed depressed (both baristas and people enjoying their beverages).

Pretty expensive for a slightly-above average latte and pastry.  Probably won't return.

6/14/2012

If you write a bad review because there is no sugar or vegan milk (yes, I'm lactose-intolerant too) you're missing the point. This isn't a 'coffee joint,' it's a coffee roaster who brews their coffee for you to experience.

Don't consider this place comparable to a coffee shop, not even to intelligentsia (who serves meals and snacks as well)... This is a coffee brewer. I wouldn't expect to find cocktails if I were at a winery, so don't expect 'frappachitos' or 'machiacrapos' if you're at a 'roaster.'

Handsome coffe is great coffee, and they want you to enjoy their (underline) coffee.

2/18/2013

Strong coffee but tastes good. They don't have sugar packets. Easy to find street parking.

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