Drinking coffee in LA
Drift is a magazine that examines the coffee culture in different cities around the world. In this issue, the team travel to LA, beginning with a surprising opening letter by executive editor Bonjwing Lee, all about how much he hated living in the city: “For the two years I lived there, and for many years thereafter, I made sure to tell every sunny face I met just how much I hated it. When I was finally able to leave, I fled to the opposite coast, eager to let Los Angeles fade away in my rearview mirror.”
Lee has subsequently softened his view of the city a little, and there are straightforwardly celebratory pieces in here, like a roundup of L.A’s best ‘canine-friendly’ coffee shops. The most interesting contributions, however, capture an ambivalent view of city-life. One feature I particularly like is about classic LA ‘greasy spoon’ diners, and the struggle to try and keep the businesses alive during the pandemic.
Drift, above all things, offers coffee-perves the chance to ogle extremely attractive brews. Below are some of the most photogenic cups.
![](https://stack-magazines.imgix.net/uploads/Drift_11_4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ixlib=php-3.3.1&s=54d0990ad3182e690530d0959b757281)
![](https://stack-magazines.imgix.net/uploads/Drift_11_5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ixlib=php-3.3.1&s=172f71b88190f4d0bfca9ee80617d829)
![](https://stack-magazines.imgix.net/uploads/Drift_11_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ixlib=php-3.3.1&s=d2fe02d52698346a325e6360e8f37d76)