Java Lords

 

0

5

Marchel P.

Atlanta, GA

There's a lot to be said for a cozy, bohemian coffee shop two feet from Atlanta's best music venue. And no, not all of it was said in that last sentence. In truth, I'd be hard pressed to find anything about Java Lords that I don't like. The coffee is Batdorf & Bronson which means it's always fresh--definitely nothing to complain about.

In a town where the word "barista" is often synonymous with "trendy, overpaid, aloof prick," this place is a refreshing change. Java Lords defies the 'holier-than-thou' stereotype by employing a friendly, open group of twenty-somethings who really know their shit. I've never had a bad drink from here, and I've never had a good drink made by a barista who made me want to throw down my bags and fight.

The location is perfect too. As I mentioned before, it's literally seconds from the Variety Playhouse, and right in the heart of it all. The caf itself is pretty sweet too. Cozy and dark, it's an ideal place to write the next Great American Novel (or study-if you must). The music is usually pretty great, and the place is a ghost town unless there's some event going down, so the lack of seating is not much of a problem.

All pros, no cons, but they'll earn their fifth star when I get an endorsement deal.

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5

19

Dave P.

Atlanta, GA

Next on my list of great (free) Wi-Fi spaces in Atlanta is Java Lords in Little 5.  Not wanting to work from home today and worried about getting a seat at some other coffeeshops mid-day, I stopped into Java Lords for some laptop time.

What originally caught my eye was their website.  I can't say it was on purpose, but the simplicity of their site is fantastic (www.javalordscoffeehou...).  If you are the owner of Java Lords, don't change the site! (update: the site changed...why...WHY!?!?!)

Sitting in Java Lords reminds me of the coffeehouses near my apartment in the East Village in Manhattan after college.  Tom Waits playing at a mellow volume.  Lots of rolled cigarettes being smoked on the patio.  And 20-somethings figuring themselves out while drinking Miller High Life.  I also hear they have Turkish Coffee.

If you are in the mood for reflection, free Wi-Fi & turkish coffee, head to the heart of Little 5.

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Elite '08

431

65

Mark T.

Decatur, GA

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BARREN SIGHT when I've walked into Java Lords on Euclid. With the narrow corridor of a coffee shop stretching further back than I've ever stepped, I've never made it past a few feet inside, only going as far as the condiment station to throw in my 17 fake sugars and a lid on my coffee cup. I've been here four times and each time the only other person was the sole barista, a guy that I never caught the name of and will probably never see again.

The first visit was on the last rainy day here in town and as he crafted my drink, the conversation drifted from how Phoenix has never forced water rations but they receive no where near the rain that falls in Atlanta, to how life sucker punches you and sometimes even kicks you while you're gasping for breath, and then one day you look around and discover that you're absolutely lost even though you have a road map with a sticker screaming at you, 'YOU ARE HERE!', but you're stuck where that sticker says you are because it seems like everyone's left you behind, and you don't have anywhere else to go.

On that rainy day morning just off Little Five Points, I received an exceptionally made latte and my commute to Alpharetta still took forever, but it didn't matter.

The next few visits were on drier mornings but surprisingly, it was always just me and him and no other customers during the few minutes I'd spend between ordering my drink, waiting, and then adding slight adjustments towards preferences discovered during my years spent as a barista at StarSux.

Serving the B&B coffee brand so popular and familiar around these parts, the coffee was always great and we rarely ever mentioned the topic. The small talk would start as just that, but an odd question would work it's way into the conversation and he'd let go a tangent flow of half memories about family and vague allusions to loves long gone and always having to push through the weeds with no end in sight because the only other choice is no choice at all - and without even a tinge of self-pity.

With less pretense and none of those faux-philosophical-reality-show-confessional epiphanies, it was always a surprisingly different experience of a morning coffee stop. With no line, no constant rush of the espresso machine, and absolutely none of that artificial-corporate-ordained-happiness pumped into apron wearing baristas, I barely noticed the rest of the space.

Rather than an all out coffee-house-guitar/band/music/songwriter scene there is a slant towards theater, and improv splatter fliers line the bulletin board.

My fourth visit was his last day working there, having moved onto a new job someplace in Buckhead. And although I've been back, and the coffee is just as awesome and the space just as empty on nearly every morning, it's different. I suppose that's why some of us keep trying new places and meeting new people at random, for those chance meetings that glimmer and fade but connect strangers before we disappear forever.

***2/33

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Elite '08

52

136

Jennifer M.

Atlanta, GA

I might change it to five stars later, but so far I haven't been there often enough to know if it quite merits the extra star.

First time I saw Java Lords was when one of my friends literally came bounding out of there because, apparently, they have a guitar in there that's just for anyone to come in and play.  He was ridiculously excited.

Fast forward a couple of months:  I'm waiting for a different friend to show up so I can go into the Variety Playhouse and see a show and decide to kill time by caffeinating.  I had just recently been disappointed by a shop that gave me a latte when I asked for a macchiato, so when I asked for it and the barista knew what it was I was thrilled (easily excited, I know).  We had a little conversation over how Starbucks has ruined coffee by calling drinks something that they're not and I went to sit down with my demitasse full of heaven and decided that I would definitely continue to support them.

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1

3

Derek S.

East Point, GA

This place changed my life. Until they came along my whole life was bullshit... Now, I never break anything until 2pm, my skin has cleared up and my family is making an effort to bring me back into their lives.

Try the apple muffins...

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Elite '08

139

608

Drew W.

Atlanta, GA

Java Lords is a new coffee shop in Little Five Points located a few feet away from Variety Playhouse. It's just what I like: small, independent, quality coffee, and lots of local art and information to be had. There's not a ton of seating inside, but they have some tables outdoors with umbrellas.

Java Lords serves Batdorf and Bronson coffee, which is great since it's roasted locally and ultra fresh. The drip coffee tasted great, it hadn't been sitting for hours. The espresso I tried was nicely done. Good baristas, who have more talent than the push-button coffee jockeys you'll find at most Starbucks locations. One more thing: they offer Turkish coffee, which is a real rarity, but not if you're getting it to go. Which means you'd be taking their cool copper kettles with you.

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