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Coffee Connection
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
3838 S Centinela AveLos Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 391-1380
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 6:30 am - 9 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for Coffee Connection
Review Highlights
"...standard cafe drink menu including a decent Mayan mocha."
(in 3 reviews)
"Did I mention free wi-fi."
(in 3 reviews)
"...for a quiet and chill place to study, with free wifi, this..."
(in 3 reviews)
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Kristin C.
West Los Angeles, CA
1/18/2012
As much as I am secretly yet desperately trying to become a Gold Member at Starbucks (coffee baller status), I am still very partial to coffee houses like this one.
The Coffee Connection is cute and cozy. They have lots of tables and chairs, and clean and comfortable couches. After a long meeting, there is nothing better than an afternoon cup of coffee, relaxing on the couches with my co-workers. Finally a place to vent, I mean discuss work related topics.
The pastries were delicious, especially the monkey cookie (had banana, walnuts and chocolate chips).
The outdoor patio is sweeter than your vanilla latte. Its so inviting you will look through the windows while standing in line to order, longing to be sitting out there.
Do as the Europeans do, and sit and enjoy a nice cup of coffee, for longer than usual. Unwind with free wifi.Listed in: Coffeeee
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Review from Ben V.
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place makes me wish I lived in West LA. Great cup of iced coffee, solid wireless connection, beautiful courtyard, and many many many places to plug in and charge that computer (that's KEY).
The baristas are very nice, and are beyond patient with some customers talking their ears off.
Five stars every time. -
Review from correy s.
Los Angeles, CA
2/22/2012
amazing service! they use Ghirardelli chocolate in their drinks. soooo good!!
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Review from Emma J.
Los Angeles, CA
1/28/2012
This is my favorite coffee place in West LA. I love their Mayan Mocha and just about everything else. The baristas are friendly, the atmosphere is chill, and it is not as busy as other area coffee places. It is a great place to work (except when there are annoying people having loud conversations, but that can happen anywhere), and the courtyard is beautiful.
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Review from Maricela C.
Los Angeles, CA
8/4/2011
Free wifi, quiet, not usually crowded, friendly employees, lots of seating, outside patio..
& DELICIOUS ICED COFFEE.
Only downside is that they're closed on Sunday because the building doubles as a church. -
Review from Devaye K.
San Diego, CA
8/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Free Wi-Fi (something every self respecting coffee shop should have), nice atmosphere and plenty of parking options.
My sister lives around the corner and I was visiting from Hawaii. Needed to use the internet just to download something from iTunes. This was the closet place and it's a wonderful place. -
Review from Christopher R.
Los Angeles, CA
6/10/2011
I ordered a medium Americano and he made (and charged me for) a large. Also: it wasn't very good.
I want to love this place. It looks like "Ye Olde Tavern" transplanted from an Anglican castle. But it was less than average. If you're a small coffee shop and your coffee isn't better than nationally branded coffee shops, you're doing it wrong.
Edit: I received a message from one of their staffers apologizing profusely so I'm adding a star for customer service. -
Review from Ani P.
3/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Service is stellar
Tons of tables, even a cute as heck courtyard with tables and chairs. This is an awesome place to work/study. They have tons of beverages and snacks. Wireless rocks. I have a VPN connection which is finicky on a good day, I never once lost connection.
Coffee shop done right. -
Review from Scott A.
Santa Monica, CA
5/25/2011
I actually really like this place because of the atmosphere. They're laid back and you can walk in and it's not very loud.
If it's nice outside there's a nice patio area that even has outlets for your laptop.
I'm not a coffee drinker, so the licorice peppermint tea does very nicely.
To me, this is actually a good use of church space... -
Review from Erica J.
2/16/2011
I've withheld commenting on this cafe mostly out of selfishness. But, I can't get over how homey it is. I love coming here to study. It's chill, it's quiet with a relaxing music mix, the staff is friendly but not pushy. What I really like about it is that it's clean and brightly lit, with a warm wood decor that makes it very welcoming. It's the neighborhood lounge that you can get away to. There's an outdoor patio for the daytime hours or for warmer nights. It's always strung with twinkling white Christmas lights, so it has a romantic look to it.
The cafe is attached to the Vineyard Church here, and as such there are often nights where the church congregation has events that end up spilling out into the cafe. It hasn't been too much of a problem though, and it makes for a nice feeling of community. A lot of the people who study/work at this cafe are regulars and have been pretty courteous and honest for the most part. I feel pretty comfortable setting up my stuff at one of the tables and then going to the restroom without worrying that my stuff will get stolen.
It's not a super-fancy cafe though. It's got the staples: decent coffee, good Mayan Mocha and Hot Chocolate, and cheap tea ($1.65 for a large cup); free WiFi provided by Mar Vista; and two parking lots where you can park for free! They also have a student discount (you have to make sure to ask for it, and it only applies to certain Westside schools, I believe). The pastries are all $2.00, regardless of size, and are good as fillers.
I usually walk across the street and get a bento box, rice bowl, or sushi set from Mitsuwa and then eat it as I study at the cafe. It's the best of both worlds.
If you want a place to study without getting hounded to buy something all the time or about taking up space, Coffee Connection is a warm, inviting place to set up shop. Just please remember to buy something to support the cafe and tip well, if you can, because a lot of the cafe staff are students too. -
Review from kristin k.
Los Angeles, CA
5/31/2009 1 Check-in Here
Everyone's reviews thus far of Coffee Connection are spot on: I went there a few times to work and really liked it because of the decent working environment, proximity to my house and decent (but not spectacular) coffee. I was even willing to look past it's affiliation with a church. If you didn't know any better, you wouldn't know of this affiliation.
However, I saw a pro-Prop 8 sign one day. I figured if other businesses can have anti-Prop 8 signs that it's fine as long as they don't start shoving it down your throat.
Well, they did.
One of the employees saw me staring at the sign and without a single word from me said, "if you don't like our views you can leave."
Okie Dokie. I'm outta here. -
Review from Beth B.
Oakland, CA
1/15/2007
(Since it's non-obvious from the outside: this is a coffeeshop that's part of a chain Charismatic Christian church.)
Pros: Free wireless, beautiful courtyard, very nice workers
Cons: Perhaps in an attempt at Christian charity, a few very obnoxious guys hang out there all day and harrass both the customers and workers. Also, their food and drinks are not great, and praise music is played ad nauseum. They also keep really short hours (close at 7?). -
Review from David M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/29/2008
I echo the initial review by Oliver W. This is a sleepier alternative to the Venice Grind with great parking, good WiFi, some outdoor seating, and a generally-conducive-to-work environment. The food offerings are prettier scant and unappetizing and the tea/coffee is nothing to write home about, but if you're looking for a quiet place to plow through your day's freelancing, this is it.
Also, although this place is associated with a church, there is no upsell to Jesus with your Java at the Coffee Connection... Thank goodness. -
Review from Sam K.
Los Angeles, CA
9/22/2009
I'm not a supporter of Prop 8, I voted against it. That said, I am not about to let my political views stand in in the way of this awesome, unpretentious, affordable coffee spot. The outdoor patio (complete with a babbling fountain) is second to none, one of the most idyllic settings to have a cup of joe in Los Angeles. The staff is friendly, the coffee is delicious (I RARELY go for a refill, but just did - only $.50), the parking is free and ample, and the WiFi kicks butt without any login info necessary.
If all the Westside flaming liberals want to boycott this spot, fine by me. I enjoy the solitude, product quality, and general vibe here more than any Coffee Bean or Starbuck's I've ever been in.
One caveat - the place is located right next to a Christian Church. While they are open on Sunday mornings, it gets a little hectic at that time what with all the churchgoers filing in for services. You (especially you leftist hippies) may want to avoid Coffee Connection until, say, 3pm. -
Review from tom c.
Arcadia, CA
5/16/2009 3 photos
Nirvana in the coffee shop universe.
Missing nothing, plenty of everything.
Kudos to the owner. -
Review from Christina L.
Pasadena, CA
2/18/2010
Pretty good place to get studying done. A good amount of tables and it doesn't get too crowded. I wish the menu online was more updated... it said that there were sandwiches but I ended up eating instant ramen for dinner. -_- The prices aren't that bad ... I got the (sigh) ramen, small hot chocolate, and large tea for my bf all for about $5. There are also outlets for computers (by the large tables). I also felt okay to just leave my stuff on the tables while I ordered my food... I usually am paranoid about leaving my computer around.
The hot chocolate was pretty good. I didn't know what to expect with soy milk and hot chocolate, but I finished it pretty quickly. My bf liked his green tea with peach flavor and he also ordered a blueberry scone later on that was pretty big.
The parking is very nice, since you can park in the church lot that's on the same block or across the street (but still off of centinela). The place tho closes at 9 on the weekdays... wish it could stay open longer.
I think my friends and I will be coming back weekly to catch up on work. OH! they also have free wifi. overall pretty nice place, but be sure to get real food from somewhere else since the food is very limited here. -
Review from Harrison G.
Los Angeles, CA
12/28/2009
I used to come to this place all the time since it was a good midpoint on my way home from work. If I had had a particularly stressful day, or traffic was frustrating me, I would stop here to relax.
The coffee is pretty good and I liked the atmosphere. If I recall, the price was a good deal too, and the staff was always friendly to me.
After reading some other reviews, however, I'm disappointed by their pro Prop 8 stance. I agree with Kristin B. that they are definitely allowed to voice their opinion, but should in no way try to force their views upon their customers. I know this place is attached to a church, so it made me feel good to support the community, but I cannot fully support an establishment if it cannot remain neutral. It should be a place for discussion rather than discrimination.
That being said, I do actually like this place (and have had no bad personal experiences) but I no longer go often since I have moved.Listed in: West Side - South of the 10
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Review from Dj S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Chill place with a nice courtyard but the lattes are not that good.
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Review from Oliver W.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 10/14/2008
This is a sleeper free wi-fi cafe that's underutilized despite having a great location (including parking!) and a quiet space to work in. It's located at Centinela and Venice, around the corner from Venice Grind but in contrast to the busier and hipper VG, Coffee Connection is a lot more laid back and most of all: quiet. It's almost like working in a library that serves coffee and that's a marked improvement over other cafes where it can be too noisy to focus in.
It's become my new favorite cafe to work at on the Westside, especially given its proximity to Mitsuwa and a host of Mexican restaurants.
Did I mention free wi-fi? And the parking?
They have a nice outdoor courtyard if you'd rather be outside. Full, standard cafe drink menu including a decent Mayan mocha. Prices are also standard for the neighborhood (which is to say, a small coffee is $1.60; not cheap but about the same as VG).
The only drawback is that, for whatever reason, there's sometimes people who insist on having full volume cell phone conversations in the space and don't have the basic courtesy to take their chatter outside. I feel like they should put a sign asking people to keep cell phone convos to a minimum.
The Cafe is owned by the Vineyard Christian Fellowship and as someone who's agnostic, I was initially concerned but as it turns out, there's a minimum of anything resembling evangelical lit anywhere to be found and some of the staff who work here aren't even affiliated with the Fellowship.
I've been here at least twice a week for the last month or so and have not had the experience Beth B. wrote about. Could be those folks she was addressing have been shooed off but I've yet to meet any direct, harassing types outside of the obnoxious cell phone chatters.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/14/2008
UPDATE: A bummer but we just learned that the Vineyard Christian Fellowship that owns the cafe was… Read more »
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Review from Jon F.
Los Angeles, CA
7/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
this place is very unassuming, but there is a lot of seating compared to Starbucks, and so that's an automatic winner for me.
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Review from Nathan B.
Venice, CA
3/8/2010
I used to come here now and then to get some writing done before work. It's MUCH less crowded than any other coffee shops I've checked out and also very quiet. There are large tables too which are great for studying or laying out a laptop, a book, and some papers. For the most part the coffee shop and church, though affiliated, are kept pretty separate, but I stopped though after the whole prop-8 thing. On the plus side I did get a few drafts of my gay themed drama written out while sitting in there, including the sex scene.
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Review from Clifford L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/7/2010
If you're lookin for a quiet and chill place to study, with free wifi, this is the place. Damn, just read they supported prop 8. That's disappointing, but I shoulda figured cause they are connected to a church. No wonder they are so quiet. I guess they've since taken off their prop 8 sign.
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Review from Lisa M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/16/2009
I'm a big fan of the Venice Grind, right around the corner, but as mentioned by Oliver W., it can get busy and as I mentioned in my VG review, people can get chatty. I love the Grind for these reasons, but sometimes you just need a more peaceful environment where you can savor a few hours of solitude. This is the place. The staff is friendly but not chatty, the patrons are usually at work more-or-less keeping to themselves and typing away on their computers. I've been here about ten times and experienced only two noisy encounters, both of which were put to a stop by other customers. There is an outside patio area that is cute, shady and underutilized. And there's a large parking lot on Centinela that always has space.
So far this place seems like a quiet oasis amid the chaos and in a way that's true. So why the three stars? I do like this place - the atmosphere on a mellow day when you need to focus is perfect and almost deserving of 4 stars alone ... but the little food available is no good, which I can overlook. I don't generally come to a coffee shop for the food. The major problem is that their coffee is no good either, and I believe that the mark of a good coffee shop is good coffee. -
Review from Jared N.
Venice, CA
Updated - 7/29/2010
I guess they're not really talking about the prop 8 thing anymore. Not down with the forced political views but I appreciate the $1.80 medium coffee and hours upon hours of free WiFi where no one bothers you.
One thing that is annoying: They play the same music, day after day. Regulars might go insane. Not all baristas are music snobs, i guess.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/7/2009
This place looks intimidating from the outside, but once you cross the doorway it is chilled out.… Read more »
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Review from Paul L.
Glendale, CA
2/15/2011
Good place to study
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Review from Bud C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/5/2010
I came here without reading reviews and my first thought was that it smells like a church. And then I saw the stained glass and asked -- and sure enough, it is a church. The coffee tasted very good. There was no music. But the free wi-fi wasn't working for me (maybe there is a limited number of connections or something). I used the Mar Vista wifi which was slow but working. I could see it getting uncomfortable here if you have to sit on one of the wooden ice cream parlor-type chairs. Also, if you have a problem with "church smell" you might not dig it here since that woody, old-timey church smell is pretty powerful. Parked on the street -- plenty of spaces (watch out for Thursday street cleaning rules). Nothing about the atmosphere is really a selling point but it's not unpleasant. The outside area looks very nice but it was drizzling the day I went. I probably would seek out a place with more charm instead of returning.
