The San Fernando Valley was more or less a specialty coffee desert for my first two decades in L.A. Sure, a smattering of roasters managed to build a local following. For instance, Barclays Coffee and Tea dates to 1973 in Northridge. Richard Healy founded The Coffee Roaster in Sherman Oaks in 1987, clearly before SEO was a consideration. Groundwork Coffee debuted in Venice in 1990 and initially focused on the Westside, but has been roasting coffee beans in North Hollywood since 1996 and has run a coffee bar in an old NoHo train depot (and current Metro G Line station) since 2017.

For years, I implored local up-and-coming coffee roasters to open cafes over the hill, knowing that specialty coffee would also resonate with Valley residents, to no avail. Operators told me that Ventura Boulevard was the only viable option, though that real estate hypothesis turned out to be untrue. As it turns out, even deep Valley neighborhoods like Chatsworth and San Fernando wanted better roasts and drinks. Coffee Commissary was one of the first contemporary coffee businesses to make the leap, adding a studio friendly Burbank branch in 2013 that’s still popular. I’m not sure if Coffee Commissary demonstrated proof of concept, but now it’s much easier to find good coffee along the 101, 118, 134 and 170 freeways in neighborhoods like Northridge, North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, and Studio City. Learn about some of my favorite places to drink San Fernando Valley coffee based on visits since 2021, including must order drinks.

Amp Coffee – North Hollywood ↓
Must Order Drinks: Rivero (Matcha Tonic), Ronaldo (Espresso Tonic)

Awkward Coffee – Chatsworth ↓
Must Order Drinks: Bittersweet Memories, Knuckle Puck

Bodevi – San Fernando ↓
Must Order Drinks: Guava Espresso Tonic, Iced Cinnamon Mocha Cold Brew

Churro Hub Cafe – Arleta ↓
Must Order Drinks: Abuelita Latte, Iced De La Olla

House Roots Coffee – Chatsworth + Granada Hills ↓
Must Order Drinks: Cold Brew, Gibraltar, Gold Mint

Re:Coffee – Northridge ↓
Must Order Drinks: Pistachio Cream Top

Yonder Coffee – Northridge ↓
Must Order Drinks: Cold Brew with Ube Cold Foam