Imagine if Ikea spawned a coffee house! That’s Swork! According to the website the word Swork means “The synergy of success and work”. I sort of liked it better when I thought it was a nonsense word, but that’s ok, it still has the enigmatic appeal of all those cool Swedish names that Ikea gives their furniture.
It also has something to do with their interior design, which is irresistably Ikea-color-bold and minimilistic-chic meets London coffee house chain. A place that you can see would be easy to reproduce but would still maintain that essential edge of individuality with bright, affable charm.
Housed in the bottom floor of a scuffed, clever-looking brick building, Swork appears as though a small wedge of the Castro district in San Francisco had been plopped down on an unassuming corner in Eagle Rock. As soon as I walked in, the place felt chirpy, chatty, happy and well-liked. (It certainly didn’t hurt that Sinatra was on the stereo either).
Most of the tables were packed with computer-laden student types or young professionals, while children played quietly in a back corner called “Sworkland”… ok come on, how Ikea is that!?
Damon, who made my drinks, was really genuine and gave me a sampling of the latte, the Mexican mocha, and the coffee. They have their beans roasted for them and I was really impressed with their plain ol’ drip coffee, called B Organic. It was a smooth and nutty roast with some light cherry notes and no bitterness. The latte had a sweet, interesting taste with nice foam and a subtle caramel flavor. It wasn’t too strong on the espresso but still good.
Back and forth I sipped and supped, my three big cups beckoning me into crazy coffee-sampling euphoria. The Mexican mocha was, as most places I’ve tried, sort of imperceptible on the espresso front, but that spicy chocolate makes anything drinkable. But really, the coffee beat them both as far as being something to remember. And I can’t stress enough how much I liked the atmosphere at Swork, for whatever reason it just put me in a really good mood.
If you live near Eagle Rock I can totally imagine why you’d turn quickly into a loyal customer.
To win a $30 gift certificate to this cafe leave a message saying why they deserve to win! Then go vote in our LA Coffee Competition Now!
Photos by Jamie
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(average rating: 5 out of 5)
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21 responses so far ↓
1 Coffee Competition: Quest for the Best Bean | LA.CityZine.com - Los Angeles // Jun 5, 2008 at 10:45 pm
[...] Swork, Eagle Rock [...]
2 Danny // Jun 8, 2008 at 12:01 pm
zomg! Dreamy McBarista…
3 ronne // Jun 16, 2008 at 6:55 pm
ok, any place that serves coffee AND has a corner (Sworkland?!!)especially for kids is pretty wonderful. obviously caters to the inner child.
4 kel // Jun 19, 2008 at 10:14 am
well swork has great coffee and a relaxing environment as well. the workers are all friendly!!!
5 zulma // Jun 19, 2008 at 10:14 am
What is not to like of a place that lets you stay ALL day and study or chat, has good AC (sometimes too good), wireless and is in Eagle Rock… the Ice Soy Vanilla Latte is great, also love the mexican biscotti.. ummm
6 adam // Jun 19, 2008 at 1:48 pm
this place used to have alot of cool ppl working there but for some reason they have a bunch of SLOW people working there with no personalities whatsoever. the servers now suck and i no longer frequent this place. the coffee isnt good, so why bother?
7 my first picture in the media… // Jun 19, 2008 at 4:18 pm
[...] Here I am… it was funny when I saw lady taking picture. I asked her if she was spying on me.. Turns out it was for an article on swork.. click here to see the article. [...]
8 Jamie & Julie // Jun 20, 2008 at 9:59 am
We’ve been coming here for years. We keep coming back because the people are friendly, the The service is fast and efficient and did I mention the coffee??!! OMG!! Consistently great selection of beans and always prepared to perfection.
It’s time you got Sworked!! You don’t know what you’re missing… Go ahead and release you’re inner bean!!
9 Mo // Jun 20, 2008 at 10:07 am
I believe Swork should win this competition because I have most of the other establishments on your list and although some are superb in their own right, Swork seems to have the best combination of great product, warm and knowledgeble staff, great environment which can combine the coziness of a coffeehouse and blend it into a place were parents can bring their children to play and still enjoy themselves as adults. Although I may sound like a commercial for Sork, I am just a fireman who enjoys having this little slice of heaven where I can unwind with my child and have it be enjoyable for both us. I do think you should consider the Urth Cafe in your next list as well. Good luck
10 B // Jun 20, 2008 at 10:38 am
You’re an idiot….maybe you shouldn’t be in such a “hurry” to get to your “important” day….Swork is jam packed with people, and I’ve never had a long wait….Well done boy….Find something else to complain about in your “busy” life hahahaha LOSER
11 Shaela // Jun 20, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I love my regular visits to Swork. The staff is charming, I never have a long wait and as a bonus, they have my horoscope waiting for me to read at the counter. Plus, the coffee is wonderful - and they have some of the most delicious latte concoctions my tastebuds have ever experienced.
12 Chris // Jun 20, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Swork should win! It is the quintessential local coffee shop that keeps its heart in the right place at all times. (How dare Starbucks move in down the street?)
But seriously, Last time I came by in the morning when they were filming (on the inside), they were giving out free pastries and such to their regular customers, together with drip coffee because that’s the only thing they were able to serve on the street. How great is that?
Swork: Feel-good coffee shop. It’s just one of those places that fits LA well, but it’s not too hip& LA that it makes you sick. Yeh! =)
13 melissa // Jun 20, 2008 at 9:13 pm
SWORK is the best coffee place ever!!! the works are incredibly nice! i went there so often, they remembered what i ordered everyday. theres no place like swork! i moved back to the bay area, so now im left with homemade coffee because i can’t get myself to go to starbucks or peets or any other coffee place. i tried and it just does not compare.
i love swork! i have my sweatshirt and glass to prove it. haha.
14 angela // Jun 21, 2008 at 10:55 am
Swork is great! They are so friendly and remember my drink all the time. The coffee is yummy–as are the oat bran bagels =) And I love the motto: coffee.people.love!
15 grsshppr // Jun 21, 2008 at 1:50 pm
i owe swork my life
you see, if it wasnt for swork i would never have passed the GREs, and id still be working at my crappy job! everyones nice and the soy vanilla late cant be beat. now i just have to figure out where to get my fix when i go away to school…
16 Doug Locke // Jun 22, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I love Swork! It is my favorite place to chill out, meet up with friends, or buckle down and get my work done. The environment is very warm and friendly. The staff is awesome. Easily the best in LA.
17 Doug Locke // Jun 22, 2008 at 3:04 pm
P.S. Try their Chai Lattes with soy milk! AMAZING!
18 Jack Fleming // Jun 22, 2008 at 7:09 pm
After living in Venice Beach for 8 1/2 years (and enjoying Abbotts Habit and Novel Cafe) and moving to find my own studio space in Eagle Rock, I needed a “hang out;” A place to get my morning “wake up juice” and a place to find a sense of “community. ”
Now, after almost 5 years in Eagle Rock, I have probably visited Swork almost every day I’ve been in town and if I missed a day or two, I certainly haven’t missed a week!
When in the mood for coffee or community, I know Swork won’t fail me. Whether it’s joking with EVERY ONE of the friendly staff, the owner, or my friends who also frequent Swork, I know it’s going to be an enjoyable 5 minutes or couple of hours!
Their coffee is my almost regular morning ritual on a 17 mile (60 minute LA Traffic) commute to my day job, a moment to wind down after work, a place to relax before bed, or a way to treat potential and current clients during or after a photoshoot.
I know I can always enjoy visiting whether for the coffee, the company, or even their genuine willingness to exhibiting past photographic work of mine. I also enjoy the fact that even after 4 years, they still display my product shots on their menus and website.
Without Swork, Eagle Rock would lack a central place to hang out and network with all types (ambitious students, young professionals, successful entrepreneurs, successful creative types, people of various opinions backgrounds and political views, and retired people).
Swork, without question deserves to WIN!
Good Luck Tricia!
-Jack
jack fleming photography and studio
LOS ANGELES
http://www.jackfleming.com
19 Jack Fleming // Jun 22, 2008 at 7:16 pm
P.S. - AND….almost ALL Swork employees that I have gotten to know, have remembered my favorite drink - Large Non Fat Latte with one Splenda. All I have to indicate is whether I want it cold or hot. I’ve even had my drink served to me before I got to the cash register to order/pay.
NO OTHER (green) coffee shop has ever done that for me!
20 Suzanne // Jun 22, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I like Swork because it revitalized an aging neighborhood corner and did so without the name and backing of a major chain. The coffee is fine, the atmosphere hip (an out of town friend was totally surprised to find it wasn’t a chain because of the design-conscious interior), and the owner is very supportive of the community. Woo hoo for drinking local!
21 TrixieLarue // Jun 23, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I have known the owner since she was a kid… well it seems like she was a kid, but it was about 20 years ago. She had an idea, and went for it.
Her place and coffee ROCK!!
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