In an effort to stay out of the basement of Leavey Library during finals, my friends and I had the goal of exploring different coffee shops around Los Angeles. But we had two requirements: amazing coffee and free wifi. I visited about seven coffee shops during this two week span. My favorite? Bia Coffee in Koreatown. What makes Bia different from the rest is that their coffee is infused with flowers. As someone who only drinks black coffee, I was hesitant to try the sweet, floral drink. Ignoring my doubts, I was pleasantly surprised by the coffee at Bia, and I went back two days in a row for flower-coffee-fueled study sessions.
Bia uses homemade lavender and rose syrups to infuse their coffees and even garnishes their drinks with rose petals and pieces of lavender. The cashier told me that their most popular menu item is the lavender latte, and I understand why. It was my favorite drink that I tried on their menu. Lavender has the reputation of tasting like soap if used incorrectly, but Bia does a great job of balancing the delicate taste of the coffee among the strong floral notes of the lavender.
Not a coffee drinker? Bia also has other options such as a wide selection of teas and Italian sodas that are also flavored with rose or lavender. They even sell baked goods infused with their two signature flowers. Try the lavender cake topped with cream for the perfect study treat that's not too sweet with highlights of lavender.
Bia coffee shop is a great place to get work done as the wifi is quick and reliable and the storefront is bright and welcoming. I cannot wait to go back to Bia in the fall to get more of their flower coffee when I'm looking for a change of pace from my usual iced coffee order.