Coffee Fix at Harun Coffee

Although I’m an ice cream girl, between the hours of 7am and 11am, coffee reigns first in my life. I typically tolerate the Keurig options at work and treat myself on weekends. With that being said, my usual go-to is Philz Coffee but recently, I’ve been branching out to smaller local shops and I’ll be sharing my experiences so my fellow Angelenos can try them out also.

A few weeks ago, I came across Harun Coffee (@haruncoffee) on my Instagram feed. After visiting their instagram, I found out the coffee shop does so much more than sell delicious java to Leimert Park locals who are mainly confined to Starbucks.

This hip shop, located in the heart of Leimert, right off Crenshaw offers this lively neighborhood a space to create, contemplate and/or chill. Upon entering, we were greeted by the super sweet barista who didn’t rush us to into ordering (major points here.) I went with a classic iced latte because that’s the easiest way for me to gauge the overall taste of the roast. My fiancé also ordered their peanut butter and banana toast.

While we waited, we ventured to the other side of the shop that features curated art and Afro-centric products ranging from clothing to an Air-force 1 shaped candle that’s also available online at https://harunintl.com/. In the middle of the room is a cozy couch and in the corner, a group of men discussing Dreamville’s marketing tactics. The inner Dreamvillian in me 100% wanted to pull up a chair and join, but the common sense in me objected.

Once our coffee was ready I was not disappointed. Although the latte wasn’t as smooth as one at a shop like Alfred Coffee, it was bold and strong; meeting my coffee needs. The peanut butter and banana toast was a 10 out of 10 with extra points going to the generous slices of perfectly ripe banana and the delicious multigrain toast.

My absolute favorite part of this shop was the aesthetic. It was clear the the owners put plenty of thought into the design and wanted to create an open space that encourages creativity. Just walking into the shop made me feel peaceful and inspired to write a new blog post. Therefore, this place is an essential for anyone with writers block or in need of an oasis.

In addition to the visuals, I love that Harun is more than a coffee shop. It’s a gathering place in a community full of art and stories that simply need the right space to be created.