This post was updated April 13 at 7:52 p.m.

Westwood’s newest coffee pop-up shop, Boondocks Coffee Roasters, is brewing a name for itself through its specialty coffee drinks.

Formerly a coffee pop-up, this family-owned shop took residency in a Live Bash space two months ago on Broxton Avenue. Emil Banta founded Boondocks just over three years ago after getting into roasting coffee beans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Boondocks is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday and offers a study spot for UCLA students, faculty and Los Angeles locals. Located next to CAVA and across from Broxton, Boondocks is close to campus, on the same street as the weekly Westwood Village Farmers Market. Tapping into his Filipino-American roots, Banta – who said he was born in the Philippines but has lived in Los Angeles for the past 12 years – is reconnecting with his culture through coffee.

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The Boondocks shop is still developing inside and making changes to its layout. In its inaugural year, the natural-light-filled coffee stop has used the original coffee cart to take orders and house its espresso machine, while waiting a few more months for the bar to come in. Featuring four separate seating nooks with a number of couches, lounge chairs and one table, there is ample space to do work or sit and chat. Boondocks has an inviting and open layout with a minimalist touch to the industrial space, making it a good place to hunker down and work for hours. However, Boondocks is only open until 3 p.m., closing relatively early for busy college students hoping to work all day.

The accessible outlets and free WiFi make it easy for students and patrons to work and chat. Even as a newly-opened mom-and-pop shop, a somewhat regular crowd of patrons has emerged, Banta said. Located in the heart of Westwood and owned by a charismatic couple, Boondocks is bustling with foot traffic from open to close.

Regarding the menu, Boondocks uses its own unique coffee blends in its assortment of espresso drinks and matcha. With specialty lattes being Boondocks’ main focus as a coffee shop, the beans used in the beverages are sourced from underrepresented areas in the Philippines. In addition to focusing on sustainable, ethically sourced, micro lot coffee bean farmers, Boondocks imports beans from places with higher altitudes due to their immense levels of natural sweetness, Banta said. These efforts for flavorful beans result in an enhanced, rich espresso flavor. 

Knowledgeable about the curation and caliber of coffee offered at Boondocks, Banta said their most popular drink is the Salted Latik latte, with the Ubeng Ube latte close behind in popularity. Latik, or cooked-down coconut milk with brown sugar, is a caramelized version of coconut. Boondocks mixes their latik with espresso, milk and a dash of Asin Tibuok for a slightly sweet, coconutty latte. Offered both hot and iced, the latik latte can also be purchased with a sweet cream cold foam on top, adding texture. Sounding overwhelmingly sweet and niche in flavor, this latte is actually perfectly balanced and tempting to finish in a few sips.

Additionally, the shop makes all of its own syrups in-house and features other unique flavors and beverages, such as an espresso apple tonic, the rose-flavored latte Binibini, an apple-flavored matcha and a pandan-flavored matcha.

While the drink prices seem high, Boondocks is largely on par with other Westwood coffee shops – such as Ministry of Coffee – in charging $7 for matcha and $8 for the Salted Latik latte. Some non-specialty drinks are less expensive than some of Boondocks’ competitors, for example an espresso, while most other options are slightly more expensive, such as a cortado for $5 and a caffe latte for $7. As a less commercialized location, Boondocks provides a more personalized experience than some other largely established shops in Westwood.

The shop’s name, while easy to be confused with the American animated comedy “The Boondocks,” is actually derived from the Filipino word “bundók,” meaning mountain. “Bundók” was significant during the Philippine-American War in the late 19th to early 20th centuries, a further tie to the store’s Filipino heritage.

Emanating a young and lively feel, the coffee shop offers cute occasion cards and bags of their own beans for purchase, but no food. Boondocks will possibly expand to offer pastries in the future, Banta said. The lack of food is definitely a downside for students hoping to spend the day doing uninterrupted work. However, as Boondocks is located on a restaurant-filled street, students can make a slightly inconvenient stop nearby before settling in.

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Hosting a well-rounded drink menu with flavorful syrups and unique toppings – such as a rose tea garnish and a sweet cream cold foam – Boondocks has the potential to become a Westwood staple. While the music may be slightly distracting and the lack of food is disincentivizing, the drinks and personalized customer service make a trip to Boondocks Coffee Roasters worthwhile.

Boondocks Coffee Roasters grounds the perfect mix of quality beans and Filipino flavors, making it a charming place to stop by before a study day or walk around Westwood.