I've been obsessed with coffee shops lately, searching out ones in Atlanta with right combination of location, atmosphere and good coffee. Some of the best, so far:
Inman Perk Coffee: Peace and quiet amidst the bustle of the city. Sitting outside in an oversized wooden chair, sipping good coffee, and listening to pins drop. :) Seriously, it says a lot about location to be in the Highland Ave. area relatively close to the city and for the environment to be this peaceful. Parking is great, there is free wireless, and the inside is clean yet unique in its spatial arrangement.
Differentiators: Homemade ice cream, and a blog as their website!
Barrazu: A very cool place over on the corner of Ponce and Penn. Spent an afternoon there almost by myself (I guess they get most of their traffic at night, which is a shame - people are missing out on a cool afternoon hang out spot). Had GREAT coffee, a slice of Italian rum cake, and looked out at the Bank of America building as an occasional respite from my reading. Even invited a couple of good friends who lived nearby to stop on over! :)
Differentiators: Varied selection of cakes, and they bring your coffee to you.
Joe's Coffee: I am rarely in East Atlanta, but that may change as I possibly look for some alternative hang out spots (instead of always going to the Virginia Highlands or Little Five Points). Joe's Coffee is the best in terms of atmosphere. Sitting out in the back patio strangely feels like the back patios of some Savannah coffee shops. However, when a thunderstorm drove me inside, I sat in a comfy chair reminiscent of a college buddy's apartment and felt like I should be whipping out some philosophy to read. Coffee is good, but the inside atmosphere and staring out onto the intersection of Flat Shoals and Glenwood is what did it for me.
Differentiators: Free wireless, atmosphere, location.
Share your favorite Atlanta coffee shops with me.
Hell, share your favorite coffee shops, period. What are your favorites in other cities?? And why?