When the economy sank, architect Yeekai Lim used his fascination and love for coffee to start his own coffee business, Cognoscenti Coffee in Atwater. The cafe, inside Proof Bakery, has a devoted following of customers, some traveling miles just for a cup. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
A line of customers waits for pastries and coffee inside Proof Bakery in Atwater. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Yeekai Lim, owner of Cognoscenti Coffee, adds some flare to a cappuccino. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Matteo Mazzie, 3, watches intently as a hand-dripped coffee is prepared at Cognoscenti Coffee on Glendale Boulevard. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
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Outside Proof Bakery and Cognoscenti Coffee, the Atwater Village street bustles. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
CoffeeBar Los Angeles employees Jenna Johnson, right, and Kat Lohr, and manager Matt Moreno take care of customers. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Inside CoffeeBar, at 6th and Spring streets in downtown L.A. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Anna Pruefer and her son Silas have coffee and milk at CoffeeBar. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
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A CoffeeBar customer is reflected in the espresso machine as employee Jenna Johnson prepares a drink. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Customers take advantage of the patio at CoffeeBar for prime people-watching in downtown Los Angeles. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
LAMill employee Jona Thanyang showcases the workings of siphoned coffee at the Silver Lake cafe. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
The making of an espresso at LAMill. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
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LAMill, on Silver Lake Boulevard. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
A customer watches siphoned coffee being brewed inside LAMill. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
An Affogato prepared by Jamie Kale, longtime employee and manager of the Gelato Bar in Los Feliz. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Writer Jed Kim, a regular at Gelato Bar in Los Feliz. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
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An array of spices and teas at Gelato Bar. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Coffee beans displayed on the counter of Gelato Bar. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Gelato Bar manager Jamie Kale says owners Gail Silverton and Joel Gutman are “like a family.” (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
A pour at the Gelato Bar. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
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Since discovering the Gelato Bar in Los Feliz three weeks ago, Christopher Lopez has been in every day to order the Nicaragua pour over. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
The Gelato Bar in Los Feliz. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Shandi Jones at Spring for Coffee’s newest location, on Los Angeles Street in downtown L.A. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Artist Nick Knudson works on the Spring for Coffee sign outside the Los Angeles Street location. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
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Shandi Jones measures coffee beans at Spring for Coffee. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
LOS ANGELES, CA-June 30, 2011: Shandi Jones works her magic at Spring for Coffee’s newest location on Los Angeles street on June 30, 2011. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Linda Rosenblatt, left, and Sara Leiv joke around with one of the baristas at the newly opened Paper or Plastik Cafe in Pico Village. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Paper or Plastik Cafe not only provides customers with coffee and pastries but also an upstairs shop for jewelry, clothing and treasures from around the world. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
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An old TV left as trash now acts as the cream-and-sugar station at Paper or Plastik. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Paper or Plastik. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Paper or Plastik employee Teaght Yalon, left, and coffee artist Tony Konecny. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Mitch Hale prepares fine drip coffee at Cafecito Organico on Heliotrope Drive. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
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Carolina Vaidez drinks her coffee at an outside table at Cafecito Organico on Heliotrope Drive. Behind her is Victor Rosas’ “Dia de Los Muertos” artwork. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Open since summer 2007, the coffee bar Intelligentsia is the focal point of Sunset Junction, near the intersection of Sanborn Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Intelligentsia in Sunset Junction is part of a Chicago-based company. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Creativity is part of presentation of a latte at the coffee bar Intelligentsia. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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An array of coffee beans inside Coffee Commissary in Hollywood. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Coffee Commissary on Fairfax Avenue in Hollywood. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Josh Henderson, a regular at Coffee Commissary, waits to order his usual soy latte with an extra shot. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Coffee Commissary owner Tyler King. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
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Customers wait to order inside Coffee Commissary. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Peter Solari, left, and Jay Mendes set up a laptop on their visit to Coffee Commissary. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Gelato Bar in Los Feliz. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)