Coral Tree Cafe

the thing about coral tree cafe is how it feels like someone's favorite secret, even though it sits right there on ventura boulevard in encino. 768 google reviews averaging 4.3 stars don't lie. this isn't the kind of place that shouts about single-origin this or hand-pulled that. instead, they just make coffee that tastes right. the baristas know what they're doing, pulling shots with the kind of attention that comes from actually caring about the drink in your hand. regulars don't come back for instagram moments. they come back because their cortado tastes the same excellent way every tuesday morning, because the coffee has body and brightness without any of that burnt chain-store bitterness. it's the kind of independent shop that makes you wonder why you'd ever settle for anything else when you're driving down ventura.