Octane Coffee Bar & Lounge

04/28/2008 Posted by rochellebc

I always love going to Octane - It's the best coffee in town (by far). I love the feel, style and very friendly employees (who are always up for a chat!). Its fab coffee during the day and great wine at night. I never have a problem with parking, I just wish this city had more places like this.

Pros: Fab Coffee

Cons: Wish there was more places like this

01/29/2008 Posted by doctorparetta

The music they play in there is very good, but VERY loud. The coffee is delicious as is the orange dulce tea. The kitchen closes at 10PM, but the place stays open 'til midnight, and I went up to the register at not even 10:03 and they said that they couldn't make me a salad. Way to lose revenue. I worked at an Italian restaurant and we would serve them at least fifteen minutes after closing time. The people who frequent it seem pretty snooty.

Pros: Free wifi, good coffee, good tea

Cons: Snooty atmosphere, LOUD music

07/31/2007 Posted by anti_roadshower

Not only does the coffee please, but the beer selection entices, and the food is above par for a coffee house. The service is very NYC in its curt manner and efficiency. It is impatient only to those 'southern shoppers' (Defined as: Wal-Mart Shoppers who lean on their carts and stroollll in the middle of the aisle.) who rightly deserved to be hurried with 5 people in line after them. The only complaints I can muster are: 1) the space isn't larger, and 2) the parking is far from perfect. The 'hipster' feel I find quite entertaining, you can eavesdrop on conversations/debates with topics from Israeli politics to Rocket Science (literally, curse those over-achieving Techies...) to the latest in Atlanta's self-declared 'underground' music scene. Hipsters can't claim a monopoly over this jewel, the coffeehouse is becoming very popular with the nearby interior designer/art business world, with client-designer meetings over a belgian ale common about 2:30PM. Overall, Excellent... Warning to potential patrons/Octane's management: The space is already filled with a student crowd, and GT/SCAD/GSU have yet to come back in session for Fall Semester. Tables and parking are going to become non-existant after Labor Day. 'So it Goes.' Vonnegut would say. Another coffeehouse becomes too popular for its own good.

Pros: Coffee, Coffee Drinks, Microbrew selection, Live Music, Free WiFi

Cons: Crowded, Parking

03/16/2007 Posted by beveragebetty

When Octane made the change from drip coffee to French press, I was ecstatic. They already "had me at hello," with their great beverages, delicious sandwiches and friendly service, now I simply cannot go anywhere else for my caffeine fix. No other place in town offers coffee this delicious, and French-pressed at that! Parking might get tricky during busier times, but I somehow always manage to find a place on the street. People also tend to flock here for their lunch fare, so plan ahead. But let me tell you, their food is worth the wait, and their sandwich and soup specials are very reasonable. Did I mention the free wifi? Yes, that is the metaphorical cherry on top.

Pros: coffee, espresso, atmosphere, seating, service

Cons: parking

12/15/2006 Posted by teacozy

Though I don't drink coffee, I try to frequent Octane since I work nearby and usually have a short time for lunch. So today I gave Octane a third and final chance to improve their speed on food service. There was none to be had. Even my coworkers warned me beforehand, but I really want to love this place. Basically, I ordered two sandwiches and a soup. It took nearly half an hour! Is it that hard to throw some fixin's on some bread? Honestly. Not only that, but the portions are tiny for the prices they charge, and the sandwiches come with some pretty poor excuses for chips and a pickle. Not to mention the soup, I guess the special was Tomato Basil, but it's been that for over a month. Nothing special at all. Seemed like it came straight out of a can and salty to boot. I know that "food" isn't their main offering, but geez, it wouldn't hurt to have some stellar sandwiches. I think I'll be going to Toscano and Sons where the paninis are almost two dollars less and larger than the portions at Octane, and I could do without the requisite hipster scowl that seems to pervade this place. I've been there, done that. I guess I'll just settle for my usual, the Mighty Leaf green tea until i give the food another go some other time when I have an hour or more for lunch.

Pros: Selection of tea

Cons: Food

12/13/2006 Posted by sglasky1

Absolutely THE best place to hang out, grab a cup of your favorite blend, and surf the net. If you are in need of a late night study session in a place with free wifi, let Octane be your choice. With their doors open until 12 and their impeccable coffee selections, Octane is by far one of the most enjoyable coffee shops in town. Tucked away off Howell Mill and Marietta Street, this place is a little hidden slice of heaven. The baristas and accompanying staff are all very friendly, always offering you suggestions if you're stumped as to what to get during your visit. The vibe is trendy an highly enjoyable for anyone looking to get away from the distractions of a dorm, apartment, or just looking to spend the night in a different atmosphere. Slight downside: limited seating! If you're planning a late-night cram sesh with a study group, get there early! This place tends to get packed from the 7-10pm hours with Georgia Tech and Georgia State students. I only have to look down on the reviewer below's insecurity and blaming Octane for it!!! Octane, thank you for the late nights and strong coffee we've shared together. There are many more to come!

Pros: Fabulous baristas, Great music, Comfortable seating.

Cons: LIMITED comfortable seating, limited parking.

11/11/2006 Posted by shal077

I have been to Octane several times and I am always glad that I chose to go there instead another cafe/coffee bar such as Starbucks. There are big comfy couches, bar seats, or tables available for seating and the coffee lounge itself is very spacious. I love to study there because the lighting is not so insanely bright, the music is good, the coffee is strong, and hey... they have free wifi - can't beat that!

Pros: free wifi

Cons: parking

09/26/2006 Posted by pinkyd40

I love visiting new coffee shops and this was a little hidden gem on Howell. The staff was very friendly and helpful. It was a very cool and young atmosphere filled with the wonderful coffee aroma. Great place to hang out and talk or just come on your own with your computer because they have wifi.

Pros: ambience

08/09/2006 Posted by ristretanista

I saw a post on here disparaging my 2nd home! I felt I must write :) Octane is hip, no doubt. But never smug. The staff there are about the nicest people you'll ever meet. Truly. But here are a few other things that keep me going back. The place. It's warm, it's cool, and it is very social. For some reason people there just get to talking. And it's a crazy mix from artists and hipsters to business folks. Talking and hanging out. With people unlike themselves. Imagine that... The coffee. Well, this is where I learned to be a coffee snob. I used to think Starbucks was just fine - good in fact. Now I'm spoiled. There are a lot of reasons that it's better, but here is one few know about: They pull thier espresso in a technique called "Ristretto" (yeah, that's where I stole my screen name...). In short that means that the espresso is naturally sweeter and richer. The concentration of beans to water is double what it would be at a chain and it's just a hard expensive thing to do. But once you have had it? There is no going back. The beer. Huh? The BEER?!? Yeah, it's another little secret. Octane has the most desirable selection of hand-crafted high gravity beers in Atlanta. This is also where I became a beer snob (boy, I have really turned into a snob!). But once you have had the glorious monk brewed beers of Belgium, it's hard to go back. Octane is one of those places that makes your day just a little bit better. And what could be better than that?

Pros: coffee, ambience, service

Cons: parking

07/31/2006 Posted by nateschulman

Smug hipsterism at its worst. I've never been so insulted by an employee, and for what? Simply wanting to support independent coffeehouses, driving a long distance to the middle of nowhere in some supposedly chic but really just baren area of the city? No, of course not. I was insulted for nought. A completely laughable lack of customer service gives one pause to ask - what would hipsters do without their elitism? Get off your highhorses and provide for the customer. You should be ashamed of yourself, oh you, Octane, you chic and sleek and sick coffee bar. Avoid like the plague unless you want your cred checked out as you walk through the door. Go to Dr. Bombay's or somewhere more likable instead.