The kids are back in school.  The days are getting shorter.  Each day seems to feel like you wake up a little earlier and your eyes feel a little grittier.  Nothing can make it easier, but waking up to amazing coffee can make it a little better...  We used to have to ship in our ultra-gourmet beans (anyone else have San Francisco's Blue Bottle or Portland's Stumptown programmed in their phone?), but that's no longer necessary.  Here are 7 amazing places where you can buy fantastic gourmet beans roasted right here in town:

1. LA Mill - LA Mill, how do we love thee?  Let me count the ways:  Love the atmosphere.  Love the food.  Love the futuristic ways of brewing the perfect cup when you order in the shop.  Love the super cute, reusable and airtight coffee storage containers the coffee comes in.  Most of all, love, love, love the beans.  Most exclusive bean: Panema Esmerelda Baru Geisha Auction Lot, $93 per pound.  >> 1636 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles (Silverlake)

2. Intelligentsia - These people take coffee seriously.  The first LA outpost of the Chicago coffee roasting and brewing company opened in Silverlake in 2007.  Their baristas routinely win national & international competitions.  Their commitment to sustainability is laudable.  And most importantly, their coffee is outstanding.  They currently have coffeebars in Silverlake and Venice and just this summer opened a cafe in Pasadena.  Most famous bean:  the Black Cat Espresso. (Balanced and sweet.) >>  3922 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (Silverlake)

3. groundwork - To many, groundwork coffee is LA coffee.  Here since 1990, before the very first Starbucks was built in Los Angeles, groundwork is one of the pioneers of sustainable, relationship based, organic coffee sourcing and local roasting.  They currently have cafes in Venice, Santa Monica, Hollywood and Downtown LA.  They also roast a lovely variety of beans.  Most famous bean: Black Gold. (Super sweet, medium body.)  >>  671 Rose Ave., Venice

4. Cafecito Organico - Cafecito Organico is a newcomer to having a cafe - until this year their coffee was only available at the Hollywood or Silverlake Farmers' Markets.  No frills, just seriously good (really, really good) coffee.  The beans are roasted on Tuesdays and Thursdays and sold in 12 oz bags, since the average coffee drinker goes through 12 oz. a week.  Best starter bean: The Ethopia Harrar (Medium acidity and full, rich flavor.) >> 534 N. Hoover Street, Los Angeles (Silverlake) 

5. Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa - This is the homiest of the places on our list.  Both the decor and attitude immediately make you feel like you've stepped into a friend's house to share a great cup of coffee.  They even describe their roasting process as trying to create comforting and custom blends.  Here since 1995, it's a local institution, with a devoted and fierce (and deserved) following.  Most popular bean: The Organic Peruvian (Medium roast, smooth chocolaty flavor.)  >>  10117 Washington Blvd., Culver City

6. Graffeo Beverly Hills - Graffeo Beverly Hills is the Southern branch of the company that began in San Francisco in 1935 - making it one of the oldest artisan coffee roasters in North America.  It's not trendy, and there aren't a million offerings.  They do a light roast, a dark roast and a decaf roast.  There's no cafe.  But you can buy the same beans that supply some of the world's best restaurants right in the heart of Beverly Hills, roasted daily.  Best blend: The half light, half dark roast blend.  (Just like it sounds, a blend of the rich & strong dark, tempered with the slight acidity of the light...)  >> 315 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills

7. Urth Caffe - Earlier than groundwork by one year, Urth Caffe bills itself as the first exclusively organic coffee company in America (est. 1989).  Their first cafe was opened on Melrose Ave. in 1984.  Don't let the beautiful people vibe fool you, these guys are serious about coffee.  All 4 locations across the city serve tasty light meals and baked goods, but again, don't let it distract you from the quality of the roasting.  Most popular bean: Manhattan Mudd (Dark roasted and highly aromatic.) >>  8565 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood

Though all of these coffees are locally roasted and sold, sometimes it's hard to find time to pick up even one more thing.  Luckily, every single one of these places sells their coffee online as well, and you can order it and have it sent straight to your door.  (Or order some to send up north to coffee snobs who swear their coffee beats ours.  I would put any of these coffees up against the best in the Northwest!)

Are we missing a great local roast?  Let us know!