Oh, Community Goods, the cafe with the never-ending long line, no matter what time of day or day of the week. You have to play hard to get with Community Goods, not getting too attached. Be totally carefree and ready to drive away or commit to a line. I am always the latter because I do not do lines, so I often find myself skipping this place and just using the moment to try another matcha on Melrose. The good thing is, there are actually a lot of great places around here that you don't have to spend your entire first half of your day waiting for a drink that you'll finish in two seconds. So, whether you are looking to try a new coffee shop or you find yourself at the corner of Melrose and Edinburgh frantically googling "matcha near me," because the line is around the block - look no further, I got you.
Another popular and trendy pick, often skipped due to the attraction of Community Goods. But the matcha here is delicious and has a nutty note, which I love. They also offer an insane cream top and a hojicha latte that I've been meaning to try. They also have crazy pop-up drinks and collabs; right now, it's tiramisu.
The best vibes you will find on Fairfax. Not only can you order a delicious matcha and relax, but it's the music hangout of your dreams. With a live DJ creating the mood and vinyls and stereos all over the walls, it's the best place to channel your creativity. The coolest part is that you can go totally old school and pick your own record, throw on some headphones, and feel cooler than everyone else. This cafe is what Urban Outfitters wishes it was.
The matcha is the perfect color, and it reminds me of a cafe you would find on the Upper East Side. The funniest part is, it's an eight-minute walk from Community Goods, and they use Rocky's matcha, a housemade vanilla syrup, and high-quality nut milks. So they are basically the exact same as Community Goods. Someone (ok, me) should order both and compare. If you find yourself at Community Goods on a Sunday and the line is atrocious (which it will be ESPECIALLY on a Sunday), you can cruise on over here and stumble through the Melrose Trading Post while you are at it. And then you can get the same drink you would have waited two hours in the sun for.
A classic. You know what you are getting, what to expect, and that you can rely on them. But maybe you didn't know there was one right down the street. Now you do. Of course, you should order the NOLA Cold Foam. Not only is it a fan favorite, but it's probably better than the one you were going to wait too long in line for. Sorry, I'll stop bringing up the line. I think you get my point.
With so many seating options, you can even order your drink "for here" and sit back to enjoy it in a nice glass. They have a "black vanilla latte," which I'm assuming is made with either black sesame or charcoal. I'm not sure, but I do want to find out. While this spot may not be your first choice for food and drink, you can chill here as long as you want, and you can always count on an open seat or an open couch. No need to wobble on tiny wooden stools like you are babysitting a four-year-old!