5 Coffee Shops for a Warm Welcome

Meteorologists have their work cut out for them this time of year. Georgia weather quickly bounces from hot to cold, from rainy to downright gray and dreary.

Atlantans are lucky to have a sprawling city flourishing with trees and parks, but there’s less to seek and enjoy when the temperature drops below our comfort zone. We are quick to grow bored in this season and don’t know what to do besides sleep and watch every Oscar-nominated movie.

When the climate is not ideal, here’s a suggestion for you: Visit Atlanta’s best coffee shops. Hide out in your favorite (or soon-to-be favorite) cozy spots. If you must come out from under your comforter, this list compiled by Taste of Atlanta suggests great options:

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  The baristas at East Pole Coffee are happy to make your coffee frothy and photogenic.

  East Pole Coffee, Brookwood Hills (eastpole.coffee) — Opened in September, East Pole Coffee is new to the Armour Yards area on Ottley Drive. Order coffee any way you like, and the baristas are happy to make your drink extra frothy and Instagram-able. East Pole offers seasonal specials, and the current version is one of the most creative coffee concoctions we have seen. The new latte is made with freshly squeezed orange, orange zest, honey and rosemary steeped in a simple syrup and garnished with an orange peel and cinnamon.

• Press & Grind, Virginia-Highland (www.facebook.com/pages/Press-Grind/1058045404248468) — Press & Grind is synonymous with cozy. This Virginia-Highland gem is a great space to spend downtime and is just as suitable for working and taking meetings. The charming converted house has great seating and offers a quiet space to get away. There is parking behind the house, or you can park on the street and walk over from the surrounding streets of Virginia Avenue and North Highland Avenue.
• Land of a Thousand Hills, Roswell, Atlantic Station, Midtown and Cumming (landofathousandhills.com) — If it’s your first time trying Land of a Thousand Hills, we recommend a drive to the Roswell location, which is on a hill overlooking Atlanta Street in a historic house where, once inside, you feel like you’re away from the city commotion. The indoor feel is comfy and warm, and the outdoor space is plentiful once spring turns a corner. Another perk: This shop is open late. On Fridays and Saturdays, Land of a Thousand Hills stays open until 11 p.m.
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  The view at the original Chattahoochee Coffee Co. location is good if you’re looking at your drink or at the river.

  Chattahoochee Coffee Co., Cumberland and West Midtown (www.chattahoocheecoffee.com) — This coffee shop flies under the radar, but if you try it one time, you won’t be able to stay away. Chattahoochee Coffee is at the back of the Walton River apartment community. When you pull up to the gate, use the callbox to say you’re heading to Chattahoochee Coffee Co., and the baristas will buzz you in. Drive straight to the back of the community and park in the dedicated lot on the left. As the name suggests, the shop overlooks the Chattahoochee River. During the warmer months, sit on the deck, or venture downstairs and sit right next to the river.

• Moonbird Coffee, Chamblee (www.moonbirdcoffee.com) — Moonbird Coffee is self-proclaimed as the “proud newcomer” to the Chamblee area. The shop is inside the reputable restaurant Southbound. Notable pastries on the Moonbird menu include Vegan Zucchini Bread, Hummingbird Bread and Sweet Potato Pie. Everything is locally imported: coffee from CoffeeM and Holy Kakow, pastries from Alon’s Bakery and Twisted Pastry.

Other notable shops include Dancing Goats (Midtown, Ponce and Decatur), Brash Coffee (Westside Provisions District), San Francisco Coffee Roasting Co. (Virginia-Highland) and Tea House Formosa (Buford Highway and Doraville).

Stay up to date with food and restaurants by following Taste of Atlanta on Facebook (Taste of Atlanta), Instagram (@TasteofAtlanta) and Twitter (@TasteofAtlanta), and follow Skye Estroff’s food stories on Instagram (@skyemichelle58).