Right on the outskirts of downtown Decatur is Dancing Goats Coffee Bar. On any given day that you show up, this coffee shop is bound to be bustling with coffee laymen and enthusiast alike. Sleek and clean, this is an ideal place to come and get some work done, enjoy a fantastic cup of coffee, or just hang out with friends.
Equipment – A+
Espresso Machine – La Marzocco GB/5
Grinders – Mazzer Super Jolly and Mazzer Major
Top of the line equipment here. The Espresso machine is quite a beauty. It pulls fantastic shots, and steams milk perfectly. Of course, you can’t go wrong with Mazzer grinders either. Both are stepless to allow for fine tuning of the grind. When you take a look behind bar, you not only see fantastic state of the art equipment, but you also find it to be clean and well maintained. You know that the equipment is not going to waste here.
Coffee – A
Dancing Goats uses Batdorf and Bronson Coffee which is based out of Olympia Washington. Batdorf and Bronson have been in business since 1986 and have quickly made a name for themselves in the coffee world. They use certified fair trade, shade grown coffee and with one taste you will be hooked. They are also environmentally friendly and continuously try to lower their environmental footprint by using renewable sources of energy.
Baristas – A+
The baristas here definitely know what they are doing. All of the baristas working bar are able to pour fantastic latte art (even in macchiatos) and have tremendous coffee knowledge. The drinks I ordered were smooth and excellent and quite tasty. Not only that, the baristas are very friendly and they will even take the time to learn your name if you are a regular.
Location/Feel – A
Downtown Decatur is one of the hippest places of Atlanta, and Dancing Goats is right there in the thick of it all. They have ample parking around the shop and a small outdoor sitting area in front on the street side of the shop. Inside the shop is very modern, sleek, and clean. They have lots of places to sit with comfortable couches and chairs. I am usually more of a fan of cozy shops, but this place really pulls off the sleek and clean vibe. They have local artwork hanging on the walls, and they have a lot of merchandise that you can purchase from mugs and tumblers, to coffee brewing equipment.
Mon – Fri 6:30am – 7pm
Sat – Sun 7am – 7pm
On Fridays at 1pm they also have a free cupping which is a great experience if you have never been to a cupping before.
Bar – N/A
Food/Other – B+
They get their pastries from third party sources. They have a wide selection of Mighty Leaf Teas and use Sattwa chai which is quite tasty. Try the locally made donuts!
Overall – A to A+
No surprise here, but this shop is one of the best in Atlanta! With experienced friendly baristas, a great location and vibe, and quality coffee, you can’t go wrong here. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite coffee shops in the city, and if you are to visit I have no doubt you will fall in love with this place as well. I highly recommend Dancing Goats Coffee Bar!
2 responses to “Dancing Goats Coffee Bar, Decatur”
girlinquestion
March 7th, 2012 at 03:54
So excited to see this blog! I’ve often thought about doing something similar, but have never gotten around to it. And this is so much better than anything I could have done! Can’t wait to see more coffee shops! I’m always looking for new places to try. Dancing Goats is one of my favorite places to go. Like you said, their lattes are so smooth and delicious!
coffeesnobatl
March 7th, 2012 at 23:58
Great! I’m glad you like the blog…more coffeeshop reviews to come soon!