Coffee Roaster (The), Los Angeles

Passed by it on our way back from Universal Studios. Been looking for a good coffee to stick with. Tried the costa rican coffee. Liked it but not the right one yet. Hope to go back soon for another try. People seemed knowledgable about coffee. They also have some interesting teas. Try the dragon pearl jasmine. We love it.

Coffee Roaster was my favorite coffee store ever when I lived near there 20 years ago. The original owner was there at that time. I came back to the store recently after living out of town and wow has it changed. For one thing, the store was dirty. Not just daily dirt, but black filthy grime under the counters, and along the baseboards and floors. There were crumbs, and straw covers and other debris everywhere and the place needed sweeping badly. Actually it needed a pressure washer. I asked a question about one of the coffees and the guy behind the counter just shrugged and said he didn't know, and didn't show any interest in finding out the answer. I bought a muffin, for $3.00 which was absolutely terrible, dry and tasteless and they gave me a free coffee because I bought two pounds of beans. It was also icky. Been in the pot too long I think. I called the new owner today to tell him, but he made it very obvious that he really wasn't interested in what I thought. Fair enough. I'll vote with my feet (and my voice) and not return. No reason to. He has lots of competition. Even Starbucks has better muffins. for less money.

I came to LA 5 years ago and stumbled across the Coffee Roaster. The owner Dana is knowledgable about coffee and always has great recommendations for new flavors from new regions. They roast their coffee everyday and it is the freshest in LA. I like Peet's but this is a shop owned by a person I can talk to when I shop. I always have a cup while I am there and learn more about coffee.

My husband and I are avid coffee drinkers and never experienced a better cup anywhere. We've been going to Coffee Roaster for seven years and have never been disappointed with any of the coffee we drank on the premises or brought home. All the employees are terrific, friendly, and have excellent knowledge of coffee. I recommend Coffee Roaster to everyone I know. We have our coffee shipped to us because we love their coffee so much. The only people who can't appreciate Coffee Roaster are those who neither appreciate nor understand excellent coffee.

I Just bought a bunch of beans there last week, and I've been drinking various blends of up to 8 different varieties of beans (I mill my own beans & use a French press to brew in, which I highly recommend). I must say I am quite happy with the quality of the beans I got there (I also buy whole beans vacuum-packed at Trader Joe's). The Coffee Roaster's beans seem slightly more delicately roasted than beans I've bought at other places, bringing out more exotic flavor variations, in my opinion. I didn't buy any coffee to drink there, so I can't vouch for the quality of the brewed coffee they are selling (a Starbuck's is right down the street). But I think The Coffee Roaster is really much more a place where BEANS rule. Basically, I buy my beans at a couple of places that have 'em the freshest and best, and blend, mill & brew the best and most exotic coffees in the universe, right *at home*. As a place with the kind of exciting international variety of beans to supply & feed that kind of habit, The Coffee Roaster rocks!

I highly recommend the Coffee Roaster - you won't find better coffee in LA. The help changes alot, and it's mostly kids. Most of them are terrific, but occasionally someone will not -- let's say -- have the courtesy thing down. The coffee is so expertly roasted and brewed that the occasional butthead behind the counter is not really a problem, but the owner should consider being a little more selective in hiring.

I have been buying my coffee at The Coffee Roaster in Sherman Oaks for 17 years now. When I travel, I take my coffee with me. One time the owner wouldn't sell me the coffee I wanted because it had been roasted over four days prior, but he gave me what was left of the "old" coffee. If I call when they are closing they put it out back for me and I pick it up, then pay them the next time I"m in the store. It can't compare to the burnt beans you get at most of the other stores. I've also purchased good beans elsewhere, but at a much higher price. If I ever move out of LA, I'll have them ship the beans to me, wherever I am.