The best iced latte in America. Many claim to have had it, yet few coffee shops have been bold enough to claim it as their own. Iced coffee has gained popularity in recent years, which has made it difficult to find a unique, reasonably-priced latte. When New York Times author Oliver Strand was convinced he had struck gold in Los Angeles, I had to go investigate.
G&B Coffee
The coffee shop in question is G&B Coffee in Los Angeles, a downtown coffee bar in Grand Central Market. The owners wanted to create an honest coffee company with menu items that they would actually drink, and thus G&B was born. G&B began as a tiny Silver Lake pop-up shop in 2012, and they were able to move into Grand Central Market after an abundantly successful seven months. They also own a second coffee shop, Go Get Em Tiger, which has the same menu in Los Feliz and Larchmont Village. G&B's most notable feature is its 360-degree coffee bar, which allows customers to order from any barista at any time, eliminating the need for queues.
The Menu
G&B has a pretty standard menu for a coffee shop, but at a much higher price. An espresso shot, which will cost you $1.50 at Starbucks, is nearly three times more expensive at G&B. The G&B Shake ($9.75) is essentially a glorified frappuccino, as it is simply a blend of ice cream and espresso.
However, G&B does offer a variety of unique beverages. They definitely know their market in downtown LA, and their beverages seem to be based on current trends. A seasonal favorite is the Turmeric/Ginger Almond Macadamia Latte, which they boast as "warming and restorative" during the winter months. If you plan on going to G&B, make sure to get one of their speciality items rather than one of your usual orders.
If coffee isn't your thing, G&B does have a selection of teas, food, and dessert.
The Iced Almond-Macadamia Milk Latte
G&B is arguably most famous for its Iced Almond Macadamia Nut Latte, the alleged "Best Iced Latte in America." In a city notorious for its unusually large vegan population, G&B certainly delivered in the non-dairy milk department. Their almond-macadamia nut milk is made daily in-house and it's only ingredients are almonds, macadamias, and dates for sweetness. It's fresh, it's creamy, and it's different. But that doesn't make it the best iced latte in America.
The Verdict
Honestly, G&B doesn't have the best iced latte in America, or even Los Angeles. The Iced Almond Macadamia Nut Latte was surprisingly ordinary, and it certainly was not worth the $6.25 price tag for 16 ounces. The almond milk was the dominating flavor, which made it difficult to appreciate the fresh-ground espresso and caused the macadamia nuttiness to disappear. It tasted like any other iced almond milk latte.
Don't trek to downtown Los Angeles to try this drink. If you really want to try the best latte in America, make it your mission to try the best coffee shop in every state. Better yet, just make your own for free.