The first time I walked up to Espresso Profeta, a dog was sprawled out in a spot of sunshine on the brick sidewalk, the baristas were singing music from the ’80s, and I didn’t have to battle anyone for a table.
It is this laid-back atmosphere that keeps customers coming back to Profeta, which caters to Westwood’s college students, business people and coffee connoisseurs alike.
The coffee shop opened in September of last year and replaced West Burton Coffee & Tea, but it has remained relatively hidden next to a small jewelry store on Glendon Avenue.
Once discovered, the shop’s interior is welcoming and homey, without the pretentiousness of many privately owned coffee shops.
There are big glass cabinets full of old china and racks of vintage greeting cards, all available for purchase, and a small chandelier hangs above mismatched furniture.
Profeta is the collaborative result of Samantha Langford, the previous owner of West Burton, and Mitch Hale, a former employee of Seattle’s Espresso Vivace cafe.
When you visit, you will often see Hale, a tattooed, spectacled, black-T-shirt-wearing type, or Langford’s artist and musician husband, Chouncey, making your drink behind the counter.
It offers plenty of seating inside and out, a welcome change from other crowded coffee houses. A stack of newspapers and magazines sits near the counter for customers to browse through while they’re waiting for their drink, and plenty of regulars stream in and out, usually greeted by name and a memorized drink order.
Newcomers are treated with just as much friendliness ““ my first visit they referred to me as “this lady over here” and started belting ’80s songs with the word “lady” in it as they steamed the milk for my latte. It was quite charming, really.
The espresso is made from a fancy Synesso machine with coffee imported from Espresso Vivace in Seattle. But be forewarned: If you are looking for Venti-sized drinks or the assembly-line consistency of coffee chains, this is not the cafe for you.
On my first visit, the temperature of my nonfat latte ($3.75) was too low to keep my drink hot very long.
The next time, I tried the cappuccino ($3.50), which was as wonderful as the barista claimed but just not enough beverage to justify emptying my starving-college-student wallet.
However, Profeta’s real strength is its specialty drinks such as the Caffe Nico, a 4-ounce espresso dream infused with the perfect amounts of candied orange, orange zest, half and half, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
The barista swore the combination tastes like chocolate, and though I couldn’t taste that, it was exceptionally smooth, and the hint of citrus was a wonderful complement to the bitterness of the rich espresso.
If you like quality and quantity, the White Velvet ““ a fancy nickname for a white mocha ““ is worth adding to your list of favorite drinks. It is smooth rather than ultra-sugary, with the perfect amount of light sweetness and rich foam, and completely worth the $4 asking price.
Profeta’s coffee also earns extra points for its fantastic presentation, as their free-poured milk and elegant signature rosette design swirled into the foam complete its commitment to “the most beautiful coffee experience available.”
For the non-coffee drinkers, the cafe also boasts an impressive selection of about 20 kinds of tea for $2.50, as well as other favorites like hot chocolate ($3) and chai tea lattes ($3.50).
A small pastry case on the counter is filled with delicious treats to satisfy a hunger pang or sweet tooth that accompanies coffee drinking. The selection includes tasty cupcakes, light croissants and crusty bread rolls from Breadbar and Buttercake Bakery.
The apple turnover is a pyramid of flaky goodness, beautifully scored and glazed on top, and with the right amount of tart cinnamony apples inside. And don’t miss the brioche, a rich, pastry-like French bread spread generously with Nutella and freshly sliced strawberries.
The free wireless internet is a luxurious convenience not offered at most other Westwood coffee shops, but make sure your laptop is charged before you come because outlets are sparsely located.
If you drink coffee for its quality over its quantity, Espresso Profeta is humbly original ““ the perfect close-to-home escape from your same-old-coffee-chain routine.
““ Kelsey Ramos
E-mail Ramos at kramos@media.ucla.edu.