"Equator Coffees is a Bay Area coffee roaster that opened its first SoCal branch in Culver City's Ivy Station, a sleek, primary-colored coffee shop complete with glossy, light wood tables and plenty of sunshine streaming through its large windows. And apart from its great lighting and premium coffee options like the sweet lavender vanilla latte, Equator has teamed up with the chefs behind Border Grill and Socalo to offer specialty items like guava and cheese empanadas." - nikko duren, brant cox, sylvio martins