Octane Coffee Bar at Emory

This coffeeshop has closed. The folks who worked the counter here bought the place and reopened under a new name: Steady Hand Pour House.

This is my favorite coffee shop in my part of town. The only reason it’s not getting 5 stars is because there’s not a lot of seating, esp. indoors. Still, they serve the best cup of coffee on this side of town, only rivaled in the city by their larger shop in West Midtown.
Serving Counter Culture Coffee, perfectly brewed, and some of the best espresso drinks in town. The food offerings are also slim pickings here, better at the other location.
Verdict: best coffee in town, not many seats, hipster-​ville (bring your mac and your keffiyeh– actually they’re probably too hip for keffiyehs anymore)

I would totally give this place five stars if it weren’t for the cramped and tiny space.
The beverages here are delicious. Seriously, delicious. Your regular cup of drip is individually brewed via a Chemex coffee pot, and there’s a smaller «two-​buck cup» for those who don’t have that kind of patience. The espresso drinks are really quite good, as well. They’re served in glass or porcelain if you’re not having your drink to go (what the hell is up with other shops giving me Styrofoam if I’m planning on hanging around a bit?), and they’re both delicious and beautifully prepared. Not perfect — the cappuccino could’ve used some more foam, for example — but the flavor is solid. The food selection is a bit limited (you’ll have many more choices at Octane’s Westside location), but the baked goods — from H&F Bread, I believe — are decent enough.
The baristas are quite friendly, and they’re incredibly knowledgeable about they drinks they’re selling. As I sat at a bench, working away, I eavesdropped on some of the louder conversations between barista and customer (I’m kind of a creeper, and again, the space isn’t that big), and I noticed that, really, they know their stuff here.
My only complaint is that this shop isn’t an ideal place to get things done. There are two long benches on the inside, each large enough for about three people to spread out with their things. Forget about working at the small, built-​in, industrial-​looking tables; they’re just too awkwardly situated. The patio is going to be nice in the fall, but once winter hits, I imagine I’ll be forced to go to one of the Starbucks locations just down the street.
Sometimes, it takes a little finesse to get the splash screen for Internet access to appear, but after you’re in, it’s fast and free. No complaints there.

Coming most recently from Ann Arbor, Michigan where small coffee shops abound, I’ve noticed that Atlanta is lacking in legit, quality espresso bars. However, I am happy that Octane Coffee Bar has made it to the Emory area. This will be my go-​to for quality espresso. I also noticed that they sell Intelligentsia tea products from Chicago, another one of my favorites.
Small space, very friendly (and knowledgeable!) staff, quality products. I hope more places like this will open up soon, and hopefully in a larger space.
It is a little pricey, and if I had my way I would add an extra shot to my ice latte’s every time. However, with the amount I will likely be coming here, as well as being a poor grad student, I must to suck it up and deal with my tad-​too-​milky-​but-​still-​pretty-​yummy lattes. I look forward to the winter when I can order extra dry cappuccinos!

Octane probably has the best coffee in Atlanta; better than Starbucks (most coffee shops are better than Starbucks), Urban Grinds, Karvana, Caribou, Joes in East Atlanta, etc. The Chemex method that they use to make their coffee is probably what sets their coffee apart from others.
The order coffee beans from around the globe and it is roasted in the Carolinas before it is shipped to their Marietta and Emory locations in Atlanta. One cup is usually $ 3.25 (medium size) but its full of flavor. I never add a drop of sugar or cream to my coffee and pleased to find a cup of coffee that gives me full flavor.
The place is right next to Everybody’s Pizza near Emory. Its pretty small inside but they have outdoor seating with heating for the winter. The staff are well informed about coffee and they are pretty cool too; one of the baristas introduced me to a friend and El Bar near VA Highlands :)

Will Octane succeed where a thousand other little coffeeshops haven’t? Seriously, there have been at least 3 other coffeeshops in this exact spot in recent memory. It is nice and convenient to Emory, but literally has a Starbuck’s a few doors down from it. Starbuck’s annoys the hell out of me, so needing a quick pre-​meeting pick-​me-​up, I stopped by Octane around 8am this morning.
Quiet as a library when I walked in. Two people on the patio, one inside on his laptop, and a nice barista. Ordered the Ethiopian Harfusa (which means absolutely nothing to me, but it has got to be something special, right?). Rings me up and there is that little blank gratuity line on the receipt which means my $ 4.05 cup of coffee is now costing over $ 5. Pours it through this neat glass coffeemaker which I find out is called a Chemex. I mix it up how I like and I am on my way in under 5 minutes.
I will say that it was a nice cup of coffee, but worth $ 5? Not so sure about that. If I needed a chill place to do homework or get wifi, I would certainly choose this place over Starbuck’s. But when I can put some Lavazza through a french press at home for about $.25, don’t think I will be making regular stops at Octane.

Really good coffee and tea. But food options are pretty limited, and overall Octane is a bit pricey. I generally go to coffee shops to study for a good while, and I like to have a few drinks and something to eat. So between lack of food choices and feeling like I’m spending too much money, Octane isn’t my favorite for studying. There is a lot of outside seating, though, free wi-​fi (and you don’t have to ask for a password or instructions), and the baristas are really nice/​friendly.

Okay, on a nice day, this place is definitely 4-​star worthy. Plenty of outlets on the patio, you can bring your pup, life is good.
I still don’t like the set-​up of the interior, but my iced chai mighty delicious and the female barista had very little ‘tude. Definitely deserving of a star upgrade.

Great shots of espresso! Best Baristas. Way over priced!!! Can’t bring myself to pay $ 16 for 12oz. of beans!

Ok. So the coffee here is, good.
#1 the pastries seriously suck. For $ 2 – 3 you get flaky, OLD, not even homemade bagels and croissants.
#2 The toaster area is always dirty.
#3 The music has been on Radiohead for like, the past month
And if I could count the number of students I see here wearing FAKE nerd classes I would kick myself.
Revision to original Post 3÷12÷2010
An employee who is NICE has returned and finally changed the music off Radiohead. I think that the employee who I don’t get along with has issues with women in general because he only acts friendly towards men.
Revision to original Post 8÷11÷2010
My judgement on employee #1 for the discrepancies in his behavior towards men vs. women were uncalled for (sorry, «Man»). Dale, Meredith, and the other guy are actually really nice. I still maintain the view that this is a mega «Cash Cow,» but that doesn’t inherently make it wrong. It just makes me feel a twinge of guilt for indulging in the costs when I know I could get my brew for $ 3 less. However, I sometimes find myself rooting for the Underdog– and now, Octane, you are the mega Underdog with 2 Starbucks on both of your sides. DEFEND YOURSELF!!! YOU SHALL OVERCOME!!! To quote TU Pac Shakur, HOLD YOUR CHIN UP, even when the road gets tough!
Meredith, by far, plays the best music of all the staff (sorry guys)

This isn’t as hip and happening a location at the westside spot. The space is small, although there is patio that will increase seating space in other seasons.
My latte was created with care (read slow) and was medium-​hot — not hot/​hot. Like other reviews, I appreciate the care and artistry — but wonder if the price was really worth it.

OK, I was a bit snippy when I went to Octane last time. I have to give a bit of love now, because the bespectacled gentlemen are truly devoted to the craft of coffee preparation.
Do I appreciate dedication and enthusiasm? Yes.
Was it the best cappuccino I’ve ever had? No.
The espresso was delicious –it had a wonderful balance of flavor notes, but the milk froth wasn’t very creamy. Although the leaf design was beautiful, I am more about mouth feel than appearance.
My gripe? It wasn’t hot. Now, I don’t want scalded milk or burnt coffee, but I would prefer hot coffee, especially on a freezing, rainy day.
Cheers~

Met a friend here on Saturday & had a great experience. The space is small, as has been mentioned, but it’s cozy. The long table booth side was particularly comfortable. If you do not like people you may want to go elsewhere, as you will be near them in here. Also, if you want beer, there are many alternatives within 5 miles of Emory.
Moving on, the coffee (Guatemalan) was great, which I expected because west Octane is as close to an Intelligentsia bar as we have in Atlanta. The barista fellow knew his stuff, and the pb & jelly yogurt parfait that he recommended was killer. I look forward to returning to try the espresso.

Don’t Go Out of Your Way. Learn From My Mistake.
That being said, if you happen to be near Emory and need a break from Starbucks and Panera Bread, then this will serve its purpose.
Don’t look to post up here all day, as the seating is only matched in uncomfortability with a NYC Transit System Subway car… including the funky smells.
Ahhh the funky smells. Maybe it was a bad day, maybe the bathroom fan was broke, maybe the smell was coming from next door, either way dirty baby’s diapers is not the best bouquet to begin each caffeinated sip with.
If you like cool, funky, retro, hipster hangouts then at last you have found your oasis. If you like menu variety, comfy seating, and a place to call home away from home, then go somewhere else.
I will add that the baristas know their stuff like a high end sommelier.

As expected — Octane delivers on their promise for good coffees and knowledgeable bar tenders. Good to see them in Emory Village. If anyone is going to turn this spot into a sustainable local coffee shop it’s the Octane Brand.
Good stuff. Go here. Not ‘there’.

This is the reincarnation of the former Method Coffee, and other than the signage not much really appear to have changed, not even the staff. As such, it’s not quite like the Westside Octane location. It doesn’t have wines and beers, and doesn’t stay open until midnight (closes pretty early actually). The guys here are really, really serious about their coffee though, and the regular coffee here, instead of the French press at Westside location (which is damn good), is called Chemex where the barista brews each cup manually. Some really good, rare beans are offered too. I’m sure all this is extremely attractive to coffee geeks. I’ve also enjoyed the espresso beverages very much, and I often see people get the quality loose leaf teas.
Patio is large (looks like it can accommodate 15+ people) and situated in a nice area, right across from Emory. The atmosphere is quite unlike the urban feel of the original location. Interior on the other hand doesn’t work too well. It’s very small and seating seems to me somewhat awkwardly arranged. Overall, I’d love to sit on the patio on a good day in the afternoon.

It’s good to see the Method folks back in their element and serving great coffee. They’re still evolving and it’s nice to see that with their redesign there’s a little more space inside the shop for seating. It’s much more Method 2.0 than an Octane replicated on the Eastside and the chemex is still on tap, although I will admit that I miss having an option for a good shop that serves Intelligentsia beans.

Sitting under the covered outdoor patio at Octane on a warm day, you begin to think this place is the perfect spot for people watching, computer tapping, and maybe even reading a book (for the old fashioned among us) in Atlanta. Now that Octane is serving the brew, I don’t see much that is noticeably different from the previous owner. Nice service, good coffee, a few pastries.
I am not wild about the really tiny tables they’ve constructed along the wall on the inside, but I’m sure it was done to discourage computer users from staking claim for long periods. On the other hand, across the room is a large shared table that begs for a person to sit down and get comfortable. Then you go outside to the patio and the tables are big and the seating is comfortable.
Best of all in terms of upgrades, they’ve added lots more electrical outlets including outside, making this a great place for laptop users. The inside is less dark which is also nice. By reducing the space behind the counter, they’ve added much needed space for customers, also great.
Overall, I love it and I’ll keep coming whenever I can. The message I’d take away: on a warm day this is a great place, but on cold days it will get crowded very fast.

I’m pretty stoked about the new Octane location, as it is closer to my abode AND right beside Everybody’s Pizza in the Emory Village. I was a little dismayed to discover that this Octane only stays open until 8 p.m., unlike the night owl Marietta Street locale.
But still: my hot mint tea was delicious, and the comfortable outdoor patio induced mellow conversation with a good friend. I’m talking a wicker bench with a padded cushion.
I also enjoyed flipping through the informational coffee book on sale at the front counter: God in a Cup.

Octane Coffee’s second location is finally open, in the spot in Emory Village where Method Coffee Bar and Tea Lounge and other ill-​fated coffee shops have been previously. This store retains some of the flavor (i.e. Chemex vs. french press for brewed coffees) and staff of Method and brings the aesthetic and Counter Culture beans of the original westside Octane location. Both places pour (ed) excellent espresso drinks and, as expected, Octane Emory is no different. The cappuccino I had here was perfectly balanced and delicious.
This spot cements Octane’s reputation as the finest coffee purveyor in the city. Here’s to hoping Octane Emory has a longer shelf life than its predecessors in Emory Village.