In the city of Los Angeles and its environs, there’s one question a traveler will find themselves asked again and again: What part of town are you staying in? Where are you located? Driving across the city can make for an all-day affair, especially if your timing doesn’t account for traffic congestion. But with some common sense planning, and something nice to listen to on the stereo, there’s no reason not to explore.
With this in mind, Pasadena beckons. The city’s food and beverage scene is booming, and there’s the almighty Rose Bowl Flea Market on the second Saturday of each month, which is worth visiting on any trip. Today we’re profiling a new cafe in Pasadena, with a unique hook and fun vibe. This is Milk Brew.
The 2026 Build-outs of Coffee is presented by DONA, Pacific Barista Series, and La Marzocco.
For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?
We specialize in “Milk Brew,” which is a drink made by steeping coffee directly in milk. We think this produces a drink similar to a latte but more balanced. Without the water in the espresso the drink ends up creamier. Meanwhile the coffee is even throughout and you cannot taste where the coffee ends and the milk begins. Because this removes some espresso duties from latte preparation, we can focus on craft espresso and pour-over beverages. We use Black & White Coffee Roasters and love making drinks out of their funkiest and fruitiest offerings as well as their clean and floral beans.
Can you tell us a bit about the new space?
We are situated in a historic building with a ton of natural lighting. Our goal when we took over the space was to make it as bright and as inviting as possible. We also wanted to highlight some of the historic features. For example we used a limewash on the walls but painted the ceilings white. We think this contrast really brings out the original molding.
What’s your approach to coffee?
What I love the most about coffee is the diversity you can find from cup to cup. The producers and roasters work so hard to bring the best product they can to our shop that we believe it is our duty to bring out the best possible expression of each unique cup. Often times this means taking a slower approach to making drinks.
Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?
We have two Weber EG-1s on bar. One with ultra burrs for pour-over and one with core burrs for espresso. Each drink we make on bar is prepared with intentionality with the most fun grinders we have ever used. Our espresso machine is the Victoria Arduino Eagle One.
What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?
We are currently in soft open but our grand opening date is August 1st!
Thank you!
The 2026 Build-outs of Coffee is presented by DONA, Pacific Barista Series, and La Marzocco.
