Coffee & Treats in Westminster

The Village Grind planted its roots in the East Village Arts District in 2002 as a place for locals to meet, surf free WiFi, kick back with a book, or kick the back of one another’s chairs and laugh. For the past decade, aromas of hand-brewed coffee, such as the Latin Spice mocha, have mingled with those of sizzling bacon and fresh bagels inside the cozy café. Aspiring and established artists alike showcase their work on the shop’s walls, and on the fourth Sunday of each month, groups gather for a free movie night. Open-mic events liven up Thursday evenings, and every weekday, the shop opens at 6 a.m.:m]]

Faced with an array of plump armchairs, antique tables and couches, and shelves lined with old books under glowing chandeliers, visitors may think they’ve mistakenly wandered into a 19th-century study. That’s when the open laptops, rotating gallery of local artwork, and smell of rich, foamy lattes bring them into the present.

Such is the scene at The Library A Coffee House, one of ABC7’s Top 7 Coffee Houses of 2011 in LA. Here, baristas prepare a menu of drip coffee and espresso drinks. Though americanas and cappuccinos keep eyes wide open to peruse the used books on sale, the Vanilla Goddess is by far the local favorite, featuring a swirl of white chocolate, vanilla, and espresso diluted with steamed milk and served on ice, hot, or in the acoustic guitar of the local bands that play each Friday night. Open from 6 a.m. to midnight regularly, the café's food menus fit the bill at any hour of the day, whole bean coffees leave the store by the half or full pound.

The giggles of pintsize cupcake chefs emanate from Bubba Sweets, where groups of children frost and sprinkle freshly baked cupcakes during parties. When not hosting these sessions, the chefs fill the glass display cases each day with a rotating selection of 13 flavors. A calendar keeps patrons appraised of the arrival of cakelets named for celebrities including Johnny Depp and Willy Wonka and topped with inventive ingredients including strawberry purée, caramelized bacon, and thin-mint cookies. Bold pink walls and pendant lights dripping with sparkling crystals add additional hints of sweetness to the sugar-dusted displays.