#espresso drinks

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Affogato

“An affogato, never fails to make me happy. At Vinoteca, St John Street.” - via Wikimedia Commons

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@Luke Thornton

See more cocktails.

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Indulge your senses with this decadent Salted Caramel Affogato, where hot espresso meets cold vanilla ice cream for an irresistible flavor combination.

Salted Caramel Affogato Recipe

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Loose Cannon Café, 2527 Canada Blvd, Glendale (Verdugo Woodlands), CA 91208

Loose Cannon Café just opened about a mile north of Glendale Community College. There isn’t much in the immediate neighborhood. The café is already very busy. It’s popular with families and dog owners. I also spotted laptop campers but not that many.

Drinks include your usual espresso drinks (milk: oat, almond, whole), cold brew, espresso tonics, and teas. No pour over/hand brew or drip. The pastries, mostly croissants, are from Saint Honore. The bread is by Jyan Isaac. For coffee, they use Stumptown Roasters. You can also order food from the menu: breakfast sandwich, avocado toast, Buddha bowl, BLT, tuna melt, grilled cheese.

Avocado toast ($12): it was simple but good. A super thick slice of buttery toast (like brioche) was topped with smashed avo and pickled fresno chilies. The chilies weren’t spicy, but I heard someone else say that they were too spicy. They tasted sweet and mild to me.  

Flat white ($5) with whole milk: thought it was good, stronger with nice foam art

It’s a cute brick building with large windows in front. The front area is small with the kitchen and counter taking up most of the space. There are stools by the window.  Towards the back there is another seating area with larger tables. And there is a large outdoor patio (no sunbrellas or shade) with smaller tables.

They have a small parking lot.

The plan is to add wine and additional items to the menu.

3.5 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

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Tekosu Café, 57 Wheeler Ave, Unit A, Arcadia, CA 91006

Tekosu Café is an Asian-style café in downtown Arcadia that’s popular with campers. It opened in October 2025.

The pastries (cookies, sugar bun, babka pinwheel) looked good. You can order salads, all day breakfast and brunch (toasts, croissant sandwich), honey butter toast. Breakfast and brunch items are served all day.

For drinks, they have classic espresso drinks, cold brew, espresso tonics, pour over coffee, milk tea, loose leaf tea, ceremonial grade matcha, and hojicha. The matcha and hojicha are sourced from Japan. Milk choices: Whole milk, oat, almond. Cream top is available. I’m pretty sure that the flavor syrups and purees are made in-house. The employee said they didn’t roast their own beans but wasn’t clear on who roasted the beans that they serve.

The matcha latte was rich and tasty with foam art

I can understand why it’s popular camping spot: plenty of outlets, easy parking, free wi-fi, a restroom, and indoor and outdoor seating. The décor is minimalist – white walls, white counter, white tables, white benches, white shelves with touches of black and a few plants. The acoustics amplify the sounds inside. The seating isn’t comfortable.

The entrance is on First St., not Wheeler Ave.

4 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[reelkopi]

Coffee isn't just an art, it's science. ☕🔬 Ever wonder why we froth milk for cappuccinos but not for filter coffee? That pillow of foam on top isn't just for looks. It traps aroma, insulates heat, and balances the bitterness of espresso. We break down: - The chemistry of microfoam (proteins + fat + heat) - Why cappuccinos need 1/3 foam by definition - Home barista tips for frothing #CoffeeScience #Cappuccino #HomeBarista #FrothedMilk

The Science & Soul of the Froth: Why We Froth Milk for Cappuccinos and Other Coffees

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Ten Thousand Coffee, 2100 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754

Ten Thousand Coffee was founded in Sydney, Australia. The franchise has cafes in Seoul, Manila, NYC, Taipei, and Hanoi. Ten Thousand refers to the amount of time it takes for their team to create a perfect cup of coffee (not sure what that means exactly). The offerings feel more Korean than Australian.

For drinks, they have standard espresso drinks, pour over coffee, cold brew, drip coffee, signature drinks (einspanners). The mini pastries (croissants, Danish, cinnamon rolls) are baked on site. They also had cakes, cookies, and macarons (not sure of the source). Order at the register. They use Monin flavor syrups rather than making their own syrups.

Flat white ($5.50): no foam art, quite weak. A flat white is supposed to be stronger than a latte. This tasted like a latte. It wasn’t bitter though.

Ham & cheese croissant ($5.50): this was okay, the filling was mushy and the croissant barely had any layers. It was expensive for a small croissant that wasn’t good quality.

Free wi-fi. Parking was easy to find in the shared parking lot but is limited to two hours. The interior is mostly white with some touches of black and light wood chairs. You can buy coffee beans and merch.

3 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S