Drift is about coffee, the people who drink it, and the cities they inhabit. Our collection of writers and photographers, alongside coffee shop owners, baristas, streetcart vendors, and patrons, capture a glimpse of what it’s like to drink coffee in a city at the time the magazine is printed. Each issue highlights a different city.
It’s about wandering the streets aimlessly, cup of coffee in hand, and learning more about what a place has to offer, whether you’ve been there for 25 minutes or 25 years. Coffee helps us chart the geography of our cities. It’s about seeing those cities with fresh eyes, as visitors or long-time residents, and trying to understand what makes them tick.
Volume 11 - Los Angeles
From sunny beaches and high mountainscapes to boulevards lined with palm trees and a dense urban core, we criss-cross this sprawling cradle of pop culture to bring you stories of a rapidly diversifying coffee scene. From the history and lore of Hollywood, to a growing awareness of social justice issues—and, of course, a prolonged pandemic—we take a look at how coffee and Los Angeles have grown together over decades.