The Concierge Espresso location within the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District. All photographs courtesy of Concierge Espresso.

A neighborhood espresso store and roasting enterprise in Berlin, Germany, known as Concierge Espresso has taken an enormous step throughout the pond with its third retail cafe, now open in Los Angeles.

The primary United States location of the small enterprise displays a ardour for unadulterated, high-quality espresso by way of an embrace of straightforward, pure supplies and robust shapes by way of the house.

The excessive ceiling is stripped again to reveal picket rafters connecting sand-colored partitions, whereas a central desk fabricated from stone cubes is topped with clear glass. Stump-like cylindrical pure wooden stools are scattered across the house like bushes in a forest.

Concierge Espresso Co-Founder and Head Roaster Benjamin Pates informed Each day Espresso Information that he and Co-Founder/Inventive Director Namdar Nosratifard took inspiration from supplies of timeless integrity.

“A number of the inspiration is solely outdoor landscapes, whether or not it’s desert or forest or something,” Pates informed DCN. “Supplies that age nicely.”

Inside this setting, the baristas are tasked with making a heat and welcoming setting.

“We’re very robust by way of opinion about espresso tools and easy methods to serve espresso and aesthetics and all of this, however on the finish of the day, we actually care about service and pleasing folks,” Pates mentioned. “It’s not for us to have a pleasant journal showroom store. It’s a spot the place folks come and purchase good espresso.”

The roughly 900-square-foot downtown Arts District cafe is Concierge’s largest thus far. Whereas reflecting a spirit of service and lodging, the identify of the enterprise additionally has literal associations.

In Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighborhood, the unique Concierge espresso store sits inside a 150-square-foot former concierge foyer of an condo constructing alongside the Landwehr Canal. Concierge Espresso’s second store occupies about 750 sq. ft within the Schöneberg neighborhood.

In Germany, Pates helmed a restored classic Probat L12. Within the U.S., Pates roasts on the Probat UG22 on the Los Angeles location of co-roasting supplier Pulley Collective.

The transition has been made simpler since Pates can supply inexperienced coffees by way of among the firms he leaned on in Berlin, together with Minneapolis-based Cafe Imports, which has warehousing in Hamburg, and German importer Record + Beisler, which has warehousing in California. 

“I roast all the things myself, and lots of the importers I’m working with are the identical importers as in Berlin, which is handy as a result of I’m not completely ranging from scratch,” mentioned Pates. “It’s simply sort of a small world whenever you’re delivery globally, in that sense.”

The Concierge Espresso roastery in Berlin.

The choice to maneuver abroad was made for “private and cultural” causes, Pates mentioned, together with Nosratifard’s need to satisfy a a longtime dream of residing in LA. 

Whereas the Concierge Espresso workers retains operations afloat in Germany, Pates is presently exploring increasing stateside, with extra potential retailers in Los Angeles and a rising roasting operation. 

“Berlin is a extremely enjoyable and thrilling place to be whenever you’re younger, however we grew up. Town has modified so much,” mentioned Pates. “It has a extremely thriving espresso scene, but it surely simply lacks a sure pleasure for us that I feel the U.S. holds. It’s ironic, as a result of I feel having spent lots of time in Europe, we respect the chance out there right here. As aggressive as it’s, it simply feels much more vibrant someway.”

Concierge Espresso is positioned at 821 Traction Ave. in Los Angeles. Inform DCN’s editors about your new espresso store or roastery right here. 

Associated Posts