Eat Out

Java The Hut

May 12, 2008
Ara Shanlian Jr.

Downtown’s Den of Exotic Caffeine

When it comes to coffee, you leave room for cream, but did you ever think to leave room for underdogs?

Far away from the extravagant polish of LAMILL Coffee Boutique and the hordes of hipsters overpopulating Intelligentsia, you’ll find a new place to root for at Lot 44 Coffee.

The place isn’t much to look at from the outside, but that’s not really what matters when you’re in the neighborhood, you’re crashing and you just want a strong cup of Joe. In addition to Lot’s version of black coffee (what they’re calling Fair Trade Organic Sumatra Mandaling) they’ve got other hand-brewed (and elaborately named) specialty blends, like Ethiopian Latte and Organic Mayan Mocha (because, trust us, the Mayans knew mocha).

Step through the back door and you’ll find a tree filled courtyard atrium where you can open your laptop and start your work in peace.

Not that you’ll need help staying awake for that.

Lot 44 Coffee, 257 S. Spring St (between 2nd and 3rd), Downtown, 213-626-4646