WHY Authentic Cuban café con leche, heavenly mochas, lattes infused with horchata and all-around superb coffee.

WHAT This suave and handsome spot, with comfy leather chairs and intoxicating aromas, takes its coffee—and its beans—very seriously, buying them from organic, artisanal roasters and handling them with care. But there’s a sense of whimsy that cancels out any pretension, as witnessed by the Rice and Beans, an horchata-flavored blended espresso drink sprinkled with crushed coffee beans.

WHO The coolest people in South Gate by a long shot.