Barista and owner Melissa Smith prepares a latte. Photo by Kate Stow
Make yourself at home by the cozy fire. Feel free to bring your homework or laptop. Photo by Kate Stow
Fresh homemade pastries will be added to the food case daily. Photo by Kate Stow
New coffeeshop ready for cooler temps
Just in time for the cool Fall temperatures, Atlanta’s new downtown coffee bar is open at 113 Hiram Street. Atlanta Barista Coffee Bar and Bakery, owned by Melissa and Ken Smith, is open Monday through Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Smith’s also own the antique store at that address, as well as the antique mall on East Street by Luigi’s Restaurant. But, they said, this is their first experience with a food business.
“I’ve been practicing, and making up the menu as we go,” said Melissa.
In addition to all varieties of hot and cold coffee, they serve a variety of homemade pastries. They have also partnered with Nine Flag Coffee Roasters of Nacogdoches and will be selling the beans in the shop, as well as brewing them.
The shop, located in the back of the Hiram Street antique store, is reminiscent of the fictional coffee bar on the show “Friends.” A comfortable couch and mismatched furniture are gathered around a fireplace. The porch out front is decorated with a collection of patio furniture if you wish to watch the traffc go by.
“Once we get the vent hood installed, we’ll be offering a full sit-down breakfast,” said Melissa. “For now, we’ll be adding more muffns and pastries, and expanding the coffee flavors.”
The shop is already seeing a lot of customers daily in the first opening week, and they anticipate a lot of hot chocolate sales during the Hometown Christmas celebration in December.