When thinking of coffee shops in Los Angeles, Intelligentsia likely comes to mind. While they have the corners of creativity covered on opposite sides of town (Venice and Silverlake), Coffee Commissary, in the new 801 North complex on Fairfax Ave., fills the specialty coffee craving for those in the center.

Top-trained baristas pour rotating roasts from Sightglass, Coava and Victrola to ensure that every glass is packed with premium quality. Their iced and vanilla lattes are competing to be the best in town and word on the street is to ask for their Cubano for a cinnamon-y twist. They leave the stirring up to you so your pour feels pure and your cup becomes an abstract piece of art as the dark espresso drips through the milk and ice.

Their soundtracking skills are superb; playing Band of Horses "Everything All The Time" in full is an A+ in my book. The chalkboard-painted wall is a playful touch to their more modern industrial design and white Ikea-like shelves frame the wall with a purposefully placed display of random antiques. The atmosphere is clean, minimal and fresh with patio and inside seating that encourages you to stick around and work or socialize while sipping on some of LA's best.

Tip: Get there early during the week to pair your coffee with delicious breakfast from the EggSlut LA food truck.