There is a plethora of coffee-capsule machines out there, but few companies have worked as hard as Nestlé subsidiary Nespresso in developing cult-status style.  Their machines are sold in the choicest locations (not Bed, Bath, and Beyond), and their coffee is available only online after you join the ‘club’, or in their boutique in Bloomingdale’s.  Their only U.S. free-standing boutique is on New York’s Upper East Side… until now.  I’ve long heard rumors of a boutique opening in LA and lo and behold, as I was walking down Beverly in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, I noticed the workers applying the sign to the storefront at 320 Beverly Drive announcing the upcoming Nespresso Boutique.  Unlike the tiny space in Bloomingdale’s, if it is like the NY store (and I’m told it will be), this will be a café with a light menu of pastries, salads, and sandwiches, but the real star of the show will be a sexy showroom to highlight the snazzy machines and designed to get you hooked on their brand of über-cool “grand cru” coffee.  No word on an opening date, but I’ll keep you posted… nespresso.com

Update:  Looks like they’re projecting a September 2013 opening…