Addicted to java
Curious about the new Octane inside Buckhead’s Atlanta Tech Village? Step inside!
By Kelly Skinner | Photos by Sara Hanna
Atlanta Tech Village’s new Octane looks right at home inside the sleek Buckhead incubator. Legions of young khaki-clad tech-heads sip their slow-drip coffees while hunched over laptops in a space peppered with modern orange accent walls. The company’s characteristically stylish staff stands at the ready behind a counter stocked with top-caliber equipment and just-roasted beans (the company roasts its own at its Birmingham, Alabama, facility), surrounded by rows of baked goods from Sublime, H&F and Little Tart Bakeshop. Despite the corporate edge and the overarching sleekness, this Octane still exudes the cool charm synonymous with the brand (the shop has two other Atlanta locations in Grant Park and the Westside and one in Birmingham)—and offers all your favorite craft coffee drinks. The best part? You don’t have to work at Atlanta Tech Village in order to imbibe.
Here, longtime coffee aficionado, latte artist and Octane barista Andrew Meincke gives us the lowdown on slinging like a pro.
V60 vs. Chemex *
*The V60 is a type of pour-over coffee brewing device. The barista places a paper filter containing ground coffee inside a ceramic or glass V60 cone, then places the cone on top of a mug or other container, and pours hot water over the grounds; the brewed coffee drips into the mug. A Chemex, another type of pour-over coffee brewing device, is an hourglass-shaped glass vessel. The barista places a thick paper filter containing ground coffee in the top chamber and pours hot water over the ground coffee; the brewed coffee drips into the lower chamber. Chemex coffeemakers are available in 3-cup to 10-cup sizes.
The Verdict
SB: Andrew, give us the verdict on the V60 vs. the Chemex.
V60: “It’s quicker and you can create several coffees at once, plus it’s portable, so you can tote it around. It’s my favorite.”
Chemex: “It’s a little bit bulkier, tougher to transport and takes longer to brew than the V60, but the Chemex’s filter is a little bit thicker and tends to make a cleaner cup.”
Tip: How to make Octane’s V60 pour-over coffee
Water is heated to about 200 degrees, then poured over the grounds until just covered—approximately 400 ml to 23 grams of ground coffee. The end result is a smooth, rich cup of joe.
Tip: Coffee prep and storage
“If you brew at home, the most important thing is to buy a good grinder.” Meincke recommends one of Baratza’s models.
“There are definitely ones on the more expensive end, but experiencing the freshness of the coffee definitely makes it worth it.”
Grind the coffee right before you brew it, use all of the beans within 14 days and check the roast date on the package for ultimate freshness. Store your coffee in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Barista Secret: Latte Art
Octane Owner Diane Riffel’s steps for creating a “tulip” latte, as demonstrated by Andrew Meincke
1. While pulling a double shot of espresso into a mug, start texturizing the milk in a pitcher, using the steam wand.
2. Free-pour the milk into the mug by slowly pouring it toward the center of the espresso.
3. When the shape of a heart begins to form, pull the milk through by lifting up your pitcher slightly.
4. Repeat the process a few times to fill the cup and form a tulip design with the steamed milk.
5. Enjoy!
