Klatch Coffee — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I had been sitting on the fence about giving this review and initially opted not to because I felt my emotions were heat of the moment, but a month later and having had enough time to process what happened and how it made me feel I want to share why I will probably never come back to the Klatch located in LAX terminal 7.

It all started when my friends and I had just landed from an early morning (7:40a) flight and were on an hour layover before our connection was set to depart. We all agreed that coffee was needed and finally settled on trying Klatch since none of us had tried this particular shop before.

Ordering was pleasant and the cashier at the counter was just the right amount of morning cheery without being overly-so (the savior for the 2-stars). I decided to order two coffees, a standard cup of plain hot coffee and some kind of flavored mocha something (I don't remember) since it seemed like a specialty.

While my friends and I were waiting for our orders we could see two baristas going back and forth jamming out cups at a pretty solid pace. After a short while we started seeing the people who ordered before us get their orders. Cool, that probably meant ours were coming along soon. My friends both got their orders and took a seat at a nearby table that had opened up. I continued standing near the pickup area waiting for mine. Eventually my flavored mocha something came out so I took it to the table to set it down and went back to the pickup window to wait for my cup of plain coffee.

After a while more of waiting I still hadn't heard my name for the rest of my order so I asked one of the baristas about its status. In what I can describe as probably the most annoyed tone of voice I've ever heard from a service worker, I was told my order was sitting right there on the pick up window. The cups in the window had two different types of iced coffees, one in a large size and the other in a small. I tried to explain to the barista that those drinks were not my order and that I had ordered a plain hot coffee and a mocha something but that I already had my mocha something and was just waiting on my plain coffee.

I pulled out my receipt to show proof of purchase but this barista didn't even glance at the receipt. Instead, she decided to stare me down and launch accusations that I took a drink that wasn't mine. Eventually the other barista who was jamming and making drinks this whole time made her way to the window to drop off her current order and asked what was going on. The annoyed barista didn't let up and continued to accuse me of taking the wrong drink. The calm barista then turned her attention to me and let me explain my side. While I was explaining the annoyed barista went back to making drinks. In the end I was given my cup of regular coffee by the calm barista and joined my friends at the table.

Now, usually while traveling I take pictures of all my meals and unique drinks to reminisce about when I get home, or to hunt down the possible culprit if I get sick. However, at this point after finally getting my coffee and sitting with my friends I was so irritated at being accused of doing something I did not do that I didn't even bother to take any pictures. My mood was just as bitter as the plain coffee I had been accused of taking. If anything, the mocha something I had gotten first was the mood saver cuz of the light sweetness and that it had cooled off enough where I could down it quickly.

Thinking back in a more objective mindset I admit, perhaps this barista truly did believe I had taken something which did not belong to me. Or, perhaps this young woman was going through a tough time in her life and things just came to a head with this interaction. The truth is I don't know. What I do know is that I could've done things differently like maybe not walk away with only half my order.

But alas, in the end I was wrongly accused of doing something I did not do, and although it was only the act of a single employee, as long as this memory sparks negative emotions I will probably avoid...

TL; DR nothing of the cappuccino I had was done right: extraction not dialed in or beans are not fresh as it tasted hollow and plainly bitter; milk was frothed too hot to a point it lost sweetness, and big bubbles instead of micro-foam. can’t switch beans either.

I thought I’ve learned enough from past experience to never order coffee from an airport spot no matter how decent the roaster brand itself is.

Well, clearly not enough. I was lured by the big bean bags & especially the diversity of the beans; also by the long clean working surface and a barista constantly wiping the drip pans of those fancy espresso machines, seeming to care how their coffee is made & tastes. Heard good things of Klatch. Turns out these were all just for appearance.

I asked to switch the beans in a cappuccino to be an Ethiopian bean that they were apparently displaying right next to the cashier. Cashier didn’t seem to understand my request of switching beans - they thought I wanted to buy beans. Kinda weird experience compared to other specialty coffee roasters I’ve been to.

Coffee is not done right. Worse than Starbucks - not that Starbucks is any good. But it is fast, 2 minute wait time.

I hope I was just unlucky or maybe they were having a busy vacation season morning that they didn’t have time to dial in properly. Will give it another shot next...

My usual go to drink is the Eskimocha. After this place, I don't want to go to Starbucks anymore. You're paying for the quality and you can actually have the sweetness (if that's how you like it which is how I do) and you can actually TASTE the coffee as well, it's a beautiful thing.

All the workers here are very friendly (Chase is very friendly, along with a couple of other gals who's names I forgot) and always (from the times that I have been there) greet me when I first walk through their doors. They are very helpful as well when I have any questions about their desserts or drinks.

Can't wait to come back and try more! :) Thanks guys, you rock!!Really cool coffee spot. Kinda out of my way, went here because it was a location between my friend and I before I had out to another dinner. Found this from yelp, this coffee shop locates at a pretty cool building between a bar and a wine place.

Great service, asked for an blended coffee thats not too sweet, the drink turned out to be pretty sweet, however no problem adding more coffee to the drink to make it taste better. and the staff offered to make me a new drinks few times.

Decent amount of seatings, wish there were more seats outside, however outstanding experience overall. May not come back again because it is a bit out of my way, but a great coffee place for catch...