First opened as a speakeasy, Melrose Umbrella Company was originally conceived as a place to have just a really good cocktail.

The design of the Melrose Umbrella Company’s space has the feel of something like an early 1900’s pharmacy or feed store.

The bar’s motto:

Those who weren’t hung as horse thieves, died of drink.

On a side note, I’m gonna assume the use of hung in that sentence was intentional. Very funny (words matter). Anyway, about a year ago, Melrose Umbrella Company added a coffee program to its offerings, opening during the day for people to come drink some coffee, do work and just hang out – all day long if they wanted.

The cocktail bar at Melrose Umbrella Company

Plenty of places to sit and work.

Coffee and Cocktails

I found out about the Melrose Umbrella Company coffee situation from my source of all good coffee information: Instagram. I was curious and kind of surprised I didn’t already know about it because it has been open for more than year. Honestly, I was also skeptical about how serious a swanky cocktail bar would take its specialty coffee program, but I investigated anyway.

The Melrose Umbrella Company website is pretty bare bones so you’re not going to find any real information there about the coffee bar – or the cocktail bar for that matter. But don’t worry because I’ve got the scoop for you.

Congratulations, Melrose Umbrella Co. You were mysterious enough to get me over to your shop in person without me first knowing what I was getting into.

Nicely done.

The coffee bar and drink menu.

Hours

Opens at 9 a.m., seven days a week. At 5 p.m., the place shifts into a cocktail bar. During the coffee shop hours, the space is good for working, and Melrose Umbrella Co. encourages people to hunker down. This is not a place where the staff will give you dirty looks if you settle in for the day. And, yes, they have WiFi.

Coffee Beans

Torree, lead barista, likes to use beans from a number of different roasters so people have a chance to try different things. When I was there yesterday, she was using Verve Street Level Espresso for the espresso drinks and Ritual Coffee Los Gigantes for the drip coffee. The nitro cold-brew is always Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso. They don’t sell beans to take home, but that’s likely coming soon.

Baristas Torree and Alex (yes, they are as friendly as they look).

Drinks and Food

Espresso drinks (with milk, half and half, and almond milk), nitro cold brew, drip coffee, tea (from Rishi and Kilogram), hot chocolate. Special requests welcomed and accommodated when possible. Assorted artisan pastries from France Bakery.

Melrose Umbrella Co. latte.

Bottom line

Recommended. I like the people and the space, and my iced latte was great. I would definitely come here to work when I need/want a change of scenery.

Info

Melrose Umbrella Company
Hours: 9 a.m-5 p.m., 7 days a week (at 5 p.m. switches to cocktail bar)
7465 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, California 90046
(323) 951-0709 (voicemail only)
www.melroseumbrellaco.com

My favorite thing: I’m a sucker for paper cups with something good printed on it.

Umbrella & Skull. That guy’s not having a very good day.

about the author:

My name is Anne Stericker, and I am a writer and lifestyle consultant living in Los Angeles. And while I absolutely love Los Angeles, I also love a lot of other cities I have visited and/or lived in… cities like New York, Sydney, Paris and Rome. This is because, as far back as I can remember, I have taken immense pleasuring in finding things – both tangible and experiential — that are beautiful, practical and luxurious.

I also have a philosophy that a thing or experience need not be expensive in order to be luxurious. In fact, I firmly assert that there is zero correlation between the cost of an object or experience and how much pleasure it can bring. For me, coffee is one of those things. It can be delicious, beautiful and luxurious, and you definitely don’t have to be a millionaire to afford it. Coffee represents, perfectly, my philosophy that you can have taste, quality and luxury all at once, no matter what your budget is.

visit annelovescoffeemore.com