16 Artisan Coffee Spots That Straight-Up Rule

If you spend any amount of time on Pinterest, you've probably seen a slew of clichéd coffee-related slogans. One of our favorites: "You can't buy happiness, but you can buy a coffee, and that's pretty close." Perhaps you've seen T. S. Eliot's oft-quoted verse — "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons" — rendered in a cute, pin-able graphic. Or, you might have come across a spin on a (dreadfully overused) WWII poster urging you to "Keep calm and drink coffee." However cheesy these sayings might be, there's an underlying theme here: Coffee is essential to our lives as functioning adults. That's something we can all agree on.

But, this doesn't mean we should settle for just any old cup of joe — when it comes to getting your daily fix, we recommend going local. When you put a pause on your Starbucks addiction, you'll realize that L.A. boasts a ton of independent shops churning out top-of-the-line, artisan coffee. These so-called "third-wave" caffeine havens are dedicated to using high-quality, often organic ingredients, employing small growers, utilizing sustainable techniques, and brewing made-just-for-you batches. Click through for 16 standout spots you gotta try now.