A personal observation of Maru, through the lens of a photographer.  

Written by Moghul Veyron.   Moghul is a film composer and photographer from London, known for his work in Hollywood films and recognized for his photographic focus on humanism, capturing the essence of fleeting moments.

My photography has always been an expression of intent, but in order for intent to manifest, you need a place to think, be comfortable and ideally caffeinated.  Maru is apace I've always frequented for over 5 years, and although I cannot conclusively describe this space, I can tell you that it effortlessly attracts a range of people from creatives to professionals to families in the neighborhood.  One word I feel emanates from this space is:  Intent. 

San Ma Ru

Intent is the beginning of every decision. If you focus on the intent you will find your actions are often aligned with your choices, which can be referred to as thoughtful intent.

San Ma Ru means Mountaintop which derives from the old Korean language. The expression of the name, in a subtle way, reveals the nature of Maru. The ascent of any mountain is in itself an expression of intent and commitment and when you enter Maru it feels in some ways like a summit, a place you’ve journeyed to before you descend to the regular flow of life.

This is an important feeling to me as all my photos are about capturing authentic expressions of life, which are fleeting but represent the human experience. For me, I interpret this space as a canvas, similar to a notebook, which presents its identity just enough to invite the author but inside it offers an intentional emptiness for you to write your own experience.

No Compromise

When I met with one of the owners of Maru our conversation was about the internal philosophy from which Maru was created. Intent was the core of the many decisions and the coffee felt like the pearl of that process. While the word ‘intent’ alone can feel ambiguous, it’s the vehicle for the choices within Maru’s ethos — the many questions asked to find the perfect why, and ultimately, the reason people return despite the plethora of coffee available in Los Angeles.

When you drive past Maru it’s not uncommon to see a queue extending outside the shop. If that line is not there, it’s safe to say they’re closed. To me, the queue represents no compromise, it’s the feeling that the wait is justified in exchange for a trusted experience.

In the recent rainfall, a more challenging weather for Los Angeles, people queued patiently under the umbrellas. Despite the conditions, I saw how the customers of Maru cannot be swayed into the convenience of brewing a coffee at home. It’s the same ‘No Compromise’ that made me queue up for my morning coffee three years ago that led to me meeting the woman I would marry, a story for another day.

As I sit, quietly in a corner, exploring my next 12 months, sitting beside me is someone enjoying a croissant with their dog sitting calmly next to them, while another group of people are catching up about the holiday season.

Some are connected to the WiFi exploring virtual realities beyond this space, while others are quietly reading a book immersed entirely in this space. Many worlds under one roof, on Hillhurst Avenue, living their journeys, as I quietly observe.

Many summarize Maru as the best coffee/matcha in L.A. While that remains true until today, I think Maru is a place which resonates with people from all walks of life. It’s more than a place for your favorite coffee, it’s a core component of the neighborhood that brings the locals into its orbit.

The design is perfectly invisible: minimal in form, yet an expression of care and curation, personal enough for people to be themselves.

I’ll leave you with this, next time you come to Maru, talk to a stranger and you will realize you’re not just visiting a coffee shop in Los Angeles, you’re within a community of people that appreciate many interests, but most importantly, value great coffee.