Thanksgiving Hours

Octane Westside will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving.

Octane Grant Park will be closed Thanksgiving Day and will open at 5pm on the day after Thanksgiving for all of your “I need to get out of the house and away from my family” imbibing needs. We’ll celebrate the holiday weekend by tapping our first cask ale in the new space.

The Coolest Coffeehouses

Travel and Leisure recently posted its list of America’s Coolest Coffee Houses and Octane is proud to be on the list!

Octane at The Jane

You’ve asked for it, you’ve waited for it, and finally, we’re here to deliver!

The Eastside of Atlanta will finally get their very own Octane Coffee, when we open shop in Grant Park within a few weeks.  We are sharing the space with The Little Tart Bakeshop. You probably know them from the many farmers markets that they participate in.  If you don’t know them, you should and we’re excited to collaborate with them on this new space.

This spot at the historic Jane will be a brand new concept featuring many exciting things such as:

-Manually brewed single-origin coffee featuring our classic french press style, as well as a slick new pourover rail for custom filter brews

-Cutting edge espresso technology, for more tastier espresso shots

-beautiful inside and outside café seating space

Last but not least, we will be launching full table service after 5PM.  This will be combined with not just our coffee offerings, but craft and local beers, wine,  a new and improved cocktail menu, and an open kitchen which will be pumping out a seasonal small plate menu for those who need great munchies to go along with great beverages.  Oh, did we mention the return of Wiener Wednesdays?

This is something not done in your typical coffeeshop, but we’ve never strived for being typical.  We’re here for you Atlanta, and we want to be your morning and night hangout spot, no matter what you imbibe!

Wanna stay updated?  You can follow us on Twitter @octaneatthejane for updates, news, plans for opening.  It’s coming fast!

Octane in Imbibe

“Liquid Culture” magazine, Imbibe recently named Octane one of the “100 best places to drink in the South” in its current special Southern themed issue! Below you’ll find the excerpt about us, but please pick up the issue for the comprehensive rundown of all things liquid, great, and Southern!

Issue No. 30: March/April 2011

“If you’re looking for a stellar cup of coffee in Atlanta, you can’t miss Octane, which has been raising the bar for coffee in the Southeast since 2003. Award-winning baristas brew Counter Culture beans via Chemex and French press, expertly pull espresso shots and make their own syrups.”

Neat stuff! Thanks Imbibe!

Sir, did you realize you were drinking decaffeinated coffee??

At this year’s South East Barista Competition, Octane Coffee’s Josh Flail competed using a DECAFFEINATED Jagong espresso from Sumatra by Counter Culture Coffee. While we’re not sure if this hadn’t ever been done before, using decaf espresso in a competition setting is definitely not considered normal, nor is it usually thought of as a way to a coffee lovers heart, OR a professional coffee judges, for that matter.

Photo credit: Jason Dominy

However, Josh realized the full potential and beauty of this roast and pursued the unique opportunity to prove that decaf doesn’t have to suck. He wound up placing in the finals group for the Southeast region, and will compete in the United States Barista Competition in Houston, TX April 27th – May 1st 2011.

Josh describes this espresso as an experience with three layers. “The first being a thick, velvety crema with notes of caramel and graham cracker. The bottom-most layer has a cherry tartness with hints of baker’s chocolate and a reduced red wine. At the middle of the cup is a beautiful meld of the top and bottom layers, creating that smoothness, and roundness we look for in espresso.”

Josh also became fascinated by the decaffeination process which is often a secondary concern for importers, roasters, and baristas. A common attitude: coffee is to caffeinate, right?? So what’s the point? However, more and more people- baristas, casual coffee drinkers and connoisseurs alike- are searching for a quality decaf that produces just as enjoyable experience as any top notch regular espresso.

Funky video from DESCAMEX.

Jagong goes through a natural mountain water decaffeination process which keeps the essence of the bean intact by soaking the beans in glacier water to remove their caffeine, all while preserving and reusing the water containing the bean’s flavor. It’s then up to Counter Culture’s head roaster Tim to determine the best way to bring out these unique characteristics during the artful roasting process. After that, it’s up to the barista (us!) to craft you the most excellent decaffeinated drink you deserve to enjoy.

Starting now, Octane Coffee will feature the Jagong Decaf Espresso in all of our decaffeinated coffee drinks for the next few months, and we encourage you to stop in and try a decaf espresso at its best!

And if you’re still not sure about decaf, you can take some cues from this guy:

…Just don’t throw any pies at us. We promise not to smash any plates on your head.

For more things DECAF check out:

“In Defense of Decaf,” by Jerry Baldwin.

“In Defense of Decaf,” by Erin Meister.

Descamex, the company that defcaffeinates for Counter Culture Coffee.

SERBC…it’s that time again!

We’ve got a big weekend coming up with TWO awesome competitors returning to the South East Regional Barista Competition stage to represent Octane this weekend. Dustin Mattson and Josh Flail have been working harder than ever and bet your bottom, their performances are not to be missed!

2010 SERBC Champion, Counter Culture Coffee's Lem Butler

In addition to the Barista Competition that will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center (285 International Boulevard Northwest – Rooms A404 & A405), the shop will be buzzing with baristas and visitors from all over the county, and we’ve got plenty to keep you entertained. So please stop by, toss back a ‘spro, and hang with us all weekend!

THURSDAY

@ Octane Coffee / 8pm: A special SERBC Thursday Night Throwdown, registration starts @ 7pm

FRIDAY

@ the Georgia World Congress Center / 11:19am: DUSTIN MATTSON

@ the Counter Culture Training Center /6:30pm-??: SERBC Party

SATURDAY

@ the Georgia World Congress Center / 3:07pm: JOSH FLAIL

@ Octane Coffee / 8-11pm: SERBC BGA Members Only Party
(Barista Guild of America members and a guest are invited to this exclusive event)

SUNDAY

@ the Georgia World Congress Center / 10:30am-1pm: SERBC USBC Brewers Cup South East Regional Final

@ the Georgia World Congress Center / 1:30-2pm: Awards Ceremony

Coming Soon…Octane Pocket Bar

This Spring, Octane will open a new ‘Pocket Bar’ location in the Bank of America Plaza located at 600 Peachtree Street NE., in downtown Atlanta.

Situated on the ground floor of the tallest building in the city, this walk up location will feature our hand crafted espresso based classics, with the addition of a pour over coffee bar. Additionally we will offer tasty pastries, select house made sandwiches and snacks + premium sodas and juices.

Patrons will be able to conveniently access this location by foot or by taking MARTA to the North Avenue station, which is located across the street from the BoA Plaza. By car, customers may utilize the building parking deck with entrances located off North Avenue & Peachtree Street.

We are very excited about this new, unique location, and look forward to serving you here very soon!

Here to serve you more…

Starting…NOW! Octane Westside is now open until 11pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet…

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet….

..shall keep Ben Helfin from the Nuova Simonelli.

Today, January 11th, 2011, despite all the crazy ice and snow we here in Atlanta are frozen under, Octane will be open (Thanks Ben!), starting around now (10 am) until TBD. So please walk up and allow Ben to craft you an exceptional coffee based beverage, a cocktail, or a beer. No driving!

Be safe everyone!

Featured Artist, January 2011 – The Possible

For the month of January, Octane Westside will be physically and aesthetically transformed by The Southern Design Concern during their group show titled, The Possible.

The show features furniture, lighting, and various hand made goods, produced and designed by talent based in the Southern United States.

This exhibit is presented by The Southern Design Concern with support from Modern Atlanta, Octane Coffee Bar + Lounge, Object Trust, SMFD, State Design Co., and Vaguely Scandinavian.

Please visit the shop to absorb this beautiful show, or visit http://thepossible.tumblr.com/ for artist info and photos.