West Hollywood: Alfred Coffee + Kitchen

On Friday mornings, I like to treat myself to my favorite coffee shop coffee. Monday through Thursday, I try my best to make my own coffee. Two to 4 dollars a day quickly adds up, and I just can't be about that life.

So as a reward for making it through another work week, I head to Alfred {Coffee + Kitchen} on Melrose Place at 8:10 a.m. on Fridays. As I stride in to the two-floored coffee shop, I reflect on the week I've had, dream about the weekend ahead of me and prepare myself for something much better than what I've drunk all week.

Alfred has two floors. You walk in from elegant Melrose Place into a cozy, quaint room of writers tucked over their laptops and couples sharing croissants at tables on the patio. The music is always on point, too, so instantly your day is better.

From there, you bravely take to the small flight of stairs, hoping every time not to wipe out in front of the impossibly cool baristas at the bar below. Then you stand in line from anywhere from one minute to 10 at this time in the morning. You have to go in with a leisurely mindset; this is not Starbucks.

As you wait in line, a refrigeration case of Pressed Juicery juices, aloe water and Beaming to-go foods stare right back at you. When you move up the line a bit, there's a display case of locally made pastries and breads. Then it's time to order.

Alfred brews Stumptown coffee and is also known for its $10 iced latte made with Pressed Juicery vanilla almond milk. What I'm saying is that this isn't cheap-- it's not going to be and it doesn't hide from that fact. My go-to order is a medium Americano with a splash of cold almond milk.

When it arrives, it's divine. It's also served in an adorable, Instagram-worthy cup hugged by a coffee sleeve that features different artists throughout the year.

For some people, Alfred is a daily ritual that's as routine as their commute to work. But for me, I love it as a weekly treat. It still feels special every time I step foot inside. It's something to look forward to over and over again.