The Story
Dayglow Coffee was founded in 2017 by Tohm Ifergan and his cousin Philippe in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles . Before coffee, Tohm had spent years touring as a professional drummer, filling the gaps between shows with barista work at cafes around the world . As his travels introduced him to more roasteries and coffee cultures, the balance gradually tipped, and he found himself spending more time behind an espresso machine than behind a drum kit.
The shop originally opened under the name Neon but rebranded to Dayglow after a legal conflict . What emerged was something the specialty coffee world had largely abandoned: a maximalist multi-roaster concept that carried coffees from ten to twenty roasters at any given time, half international and half domestic . Each location is distinguished by a signature color, from millennial pink in Silver Lake to mint green in West Hollywood, peach in Chicago, and cobalt blue in Chinatown, giving the brand a visual identity as bold as its coffee program.
Dayglow has since expanded well beyond its Silver Lake origins, with multiple locations across Los Angeles including West Hollywood, Venice, and Chinatown, plus outposts in Chicago and Brooklyn . The growth has not diluted the original vision; each location functions as a tasting room and retail space where customers are encouraged to engage with baristas, explore different roasters, and discover coffees they would not encounter anywhere else . In a landscape dominated by single-roaster cafes, Dayglow has proven that the multi-roaster model can thrive at scale.
Sourcing & Relationships
Dayglow’s sourcing operates on two levels: curating coffees from the world’s best roasters, and roasting their own coffees in-house since launching their roastery in 2022 . On the multi-roaster side, Tohm spends significant time cupping coffees from roasters spanning Rotterdam to Copenhagen, Barcelona to Melbourne, Mexico City to Boston . The selection at any given location represents a global cross-section of what specialty coffee has to offer, with an emphasis on light-roasted single origins from Scandinavian and progressive roasters.
The in-house roasting program, launched with the combined forces of Chris Gatti, Melissa Gatti, and Tohm, adds another dimension to the Dayglow offering . Having their own roastery allows the team to fill gaps in the multi-roaster lineup and ensure there is always a house option that meets their standards . The dual approach, curating the best from others while also roasting their own, gives Dayglow a flexibility that few cafes can match.
Roasting Philosophy
Dayglow’s own roasting program focuses on light-roasted single origins that emphasize clarity and origin expression . The in-house team approaches each lot with the same curatorial eye that defines the multi-roaster program, selecting greens that have something distinctive to say and then developing profiles that let those qualities come through without interference . The result is a house lineup that holds its own alongside coffees from some of the most acclaimed roasters on the planet.
The broader Dayglow philosophy is less about a single roasting style and more about presenting the full spectrum of what excellent light roast coffee can be . By carrying coffees from roasters around the world, customers can taste how different approaches to sourcing, fermentation, and roast development yield dramatically different results from the same origin . This educational dimension is intentional; Tohm designed the cafes to facilitate conversation between baristas and customers, making each visit an opportunity to learn something new about the coffees on offer.
What to Try
The cocktail-style coffee beverages are a Dayglow signature, creative drinks named after movies that use specialty coffee as a base for compositions you would not find at a typical cafe . Tohm has said that he believes the industry owes it to customers to utilize coffee’s natural characteristics in more creative ways than sweet lattes, and these drinks are where that philosophy comes to life . They draw inspiration from barista competition routines and mixology, resulting in beverages that blur the line between a cafe and a tasting bar.
For pour-over and filter drinkers, the rotating multi-roaster selection is where Dayglow truly shines . On any given visit, you might find offerings from respected names alongside emerging roasters you have never heard of, all curated to the same standard . Dayglow also sells their own roasted coffees online, providing an entry point for customers who want to experience the brand at home without the full cafe experience.
The subscription and online shop make it possible to access Dayglow’s house roasts from anywhere in the country . Whether you visit one of their Los Angeles locations, the Chicago outpost on Kimball Avenue, or the Brooklyn shop on Wilson Avenue, the experience is consistent in its commitment to discovery and quality . Dayglow is a destination for anyone who believes that the best way to understand specialty coffee is to taste as widely and as well as possible.