Now Open: Cafecito Organico in Burbank

It's not too often that a locally-owned, independent coffee roaster manages to take over a space formerly inhabited by a giant corporate franchise, but such was the case when L.A.-based Cafecito Organico opened up its sixth Southern California location Thursday in what used to be a Starbucks in Burbank.

Located on the ground level of ABC Family's emerald-colored tower on Alameda St., the new Cafecito Organico inevitably lacks the mom-and-pop charm of their more neighborhood-y locations in Silver Lake, Malibu and East Hollywood, but the brand's signature skeleton imagery and “Hecho a mano” window decals painted by artist Julio Turuno help make it feel less like a Starbucks and more like the beloved, community-drive coffee chain that it really is.

Cafecito Organico in Burbank; Credit: Photo: Cafecito Organico

The indie coffee roaster was founded by Guatemalan-born, Los Angeles-raised sustainable foods activist Angel Orozco in 2004, back when he was still serving coffee out of Mama's Hot Tamales Cafe in MacArthur Park. By 2010, Orozco and business partner Mitch Hale had opened their first shop in Silver Lake and another in East Hollywood later that same year.

Within the last six months, Cafecito Organico has rapidly expanded its “hecho a mano” organic coffee to four more locations: Malibu, Costa Mesa, Venice, and now Burbank. An Anaheim location is in the works for later this year. Pretty soon, you might be able to sip Cafecito Organico's earthy and complex coffee — voted #5 on our list of 10 Best Cups of Coffee in L.A. — at locations all over Southern California.

See also:

– Cafecito Organico: Point Dume + the World

– Cafecito Organico Now Offering Monthly Coffee Classes

– 10 Best Coffee Shops in Los Angeles

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.