17 Aug Head East to Lamill Coffee

Los Angeles is a big city and I am happy to drive anywhere to try something new. But, after heading east to Silverlake to try Lamill Coffee, I so wish they would come to the westside! Lamill Coffee is one of Los Angeles’ first hometown roasters, having started roasting and brewing coffee in 1998. Their Silverlake location opened in 2008. I ordered an espresso when I arrived and it was perfect. It is a constant complaint that no one knows how to make a proper espresso in the US and that they are always too big but Lamill does it right! Having passed the espresso test, I moved on to the food. This niche coffee house offers a menu of simple clean food and everything is made in-house except the gluten free pastries and croissants. In addition to taking coffee seriously, their food menu is spot on as well, having had Chef Michael Chimarusti and Chef Walter Manske as previous consulting chefs. Now Chef James Trees, from Hutchinson Cocktail and Grill in West Hollywood, is the consulting chef. The toasts are big thick slices of tender bread with crispy crust and topped with a variety of tempting ingredients – so I ordered them all. Avocado Toast with radish, pickled red onions, chili-almond gremolata Smoked Salmon with house schmear, cherry tomatoes, red onions, capers, lemon, dill Housemade Ricotta with macerated strawberries, toasted hazelnuts, lemon, basil For a light, bright lemony salad, go for the Baby Kale, Brussels Sprouts and Farro Salad with dried cranberries, grapefruit, pickled onions, almonds, lemon vinaigrette. For a heartier salad, get the Roasted Cauliflower and Black Quinoa with apples, walnuts, almond gremolata If you have a sweet tooth, do not miss the doughnuts – but then you will have to chose between the soft, flaky, sweet doughtnuts or the more bready doughtnut holes. Warm Brioche Doughnuts with maple-espresso glaze Warm Brioche Doughnut Holes with vanilla whipped cream Lamill Coffee has a full coffee and tea menu to chose from and the mocha, made with rich chocolate, was perfect to wash down the doughnuts. In addition to coffee, Lamill Coffee also offers a small but interesting wine by the glass selection. I will head east again to enjoy Lamill Coffee or will have to book an international flight to enjoy it in the International Terminal at LAX. But, maybe one day Lamill will open on the westside…..I can hope! Lamill Coffee 1636 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (323) 663-4441