At our La Costa café, some of our regulars come straight from a workout at Equinox and they tend to order a few core items from our menu. If you're wondering whether coffee is good after a workout, or what's actually worth eating post-sweat, here's what they most regularly order at Lofty.
The Post-Workout Breakfast Menu at Lofty La Costa
Whether they come from an intense strength training workout or a high-energy spin class, Equinox regulars usually order one of these things:
- Organic Acai Bowl: Peanut butter, gluten-free granola, seasonal fruit, cacao nibs, toasted coconut, chia and hemp seeds. Our most-ordered post-workout item.
- Organic Straus Yogurt, Fruit & Granola: Straus yogurt, house-made granola, fresh fruit. Light, but enough protein to hold you over.
- Sausage, Egg & Cheddar Croissant: Organic eggs, chicken sausage, aged cheddar, arugula, tomato jam. The most protein-forward option on the menu.
- Kyoto-Style Cold Brew: Cold, strong, made from whatever single-origin we're currently roasting.
- Morning Dove House Coffee: Bottomless until noon.
Why is Lofty such great workout food? Remember, everything is made from scratch with organic, locally sourced ingredients.
Is Coffee Good After a Workout?
What about drinking coffee itself after a workout? The short answer is yes!
Research from the National Institutes of Health has found that coffee can help your muscles restock energy after exercise, rather than work against it. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends eating within 30 to 60 minutes after a workout, pairing carbohydrates and protein at roughly a 3-to-1 ratio, to get the most out of that recovery window. (Remember that while coffee doesn't cancel that out, it shouldn't be the only thing you have to refuel!)
A Two-Minute Walk from Equinox La Costa
Lofty La Costa sits inside The Beacon La Costa, the retail and dining stretch on El Camino Real anchored by Equinox. Most of our regulars from the gym follow the same pattern: finish a class, walk over, and order the same thing they always do.
It's close enough that showing up in gym clothes is the norm rather than the exception, and baristas here know that routine well, usually remembering orders by the second or third visit. There's also outdoor patio seating if you want to sit and cool down before heading back to the car.
Good to Know about La Costa Lofty
- Lofty Coffee La Costa is at 7740 El Camino Real, Unit A, inside The Beacon La Costa
- Equinox La Costa shares the same lot, about a two-minute walk from our door
- Parking: free lot parking throughout The Beacon La Costa
- Best time to catch the post-workout crowd: weekday mornings, right after early classes let out
Visit Lofty Coffee La Costa, check out the full menu, and order ahead!
