The donation-based Upside Down LA coffee shop allows customers to decide how much they would like to pay for their coffee. Just bordering campus, this exploratory coffee shop is many things; it doubles as an art gallery, has live music nights and offers events specifically directed to students.
I had just placed my latte order at the cash register with my credit card in hand and prepped to “tap.” When the barista asked, “How much would you like to pay for your drink?” he was met by my blank stare. This must have been a common reaction because he quickly asked if this was my first time at Upside Down, and proceeded to deliver a well-rehearsed and inviting spiel. The first drink you order you are not allowed to pay for, but on later visits you may decide how much to pay with a $1 minimum. The coffee shop is funded by donations and run by the nonprofit Jews for Jesus.
Upside Down's volunteer run cafe provides sweets and coffee in a cozy study space. Photographed by Sapna Drew/BruinLife.
Pleasantly surprised, I took a seat next to a half-completed puzzle, with an accompanying sign describing the table as a community space. This isn’t the only way that Upside Down ventures outside of the confines of the conventional coffee shop. The website describes the majority of its staff to believe in “Jesus as the Jewish Messiah,” under the notion that Judaism and Christianity “are not mutually exclusive.” While Upside Down does host religious events, it clarifies that the intended reach of Upside Down goes far beyond religious customers. The foundational nature of Upside Down and its employees show that it offers an inviting space with fluid ideas, offering UCLA students a variety of ways to interact with it.
On their website, it’s easy to view events such as study nights, live music (I noticed a grand piano I theorize is there for this purpose) and themed art galleries. A downside, making it less accessible, is its hours. It’s normally only open until 3 p.m. on weekdays, aside from the events that are specified to occur at other times. However, it’s a 15-minute walk from Powell Library, making it a feasible stop between classes.
When I took a sip of my coffee, I was impressed, given its low (or no) cost. I believe that being raised in a family of coffee addicts gives me at least some degree of informal authority. Surrounded by Los Angeles’s notoriously expensive lattes and the $17 Bella Hadid Erewhon smoothie, Upside Down sets itself apart from the rest of the local coffee shops with its inviting atmosphere and affordable, quality coffee.
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Featured Image: Upside Down’s volunteer run cafe provides sweets and coffee in a cozy study space. Photographed by Sapna Drew/BruinLife.
