A Review of Aurora Coffee And Criminal Records in Atlanta, Georgia

In Little Five Points, Atlanta, there are coffee shops on almost every block. Each of them, however, has something to offer, whether that be coffee, tea, company, great music, or just a place to chill. When cruising along Euclid Avenue, heading towards Midtown, one of the first you'll come across is Aurora Coffee, next door to Junkman's Daughter (trust me, it's hard to miss the latter.) Though small, it's laidback, inviting, and offers a number of delicious coffee beverages and baked goods.

The most popular drinks, according to barista Tommy Chong, are their espressos. "Our training for espresso is hardcore," explains Chong. "You can tell the quality [of espresso] by its color and speckling...look for a deep brown, reddish color." One drink that I sampled, the Chocolate Au Lait, was very appetizing, having a delicate combination of bitterness and sweetness. I confess to adding some sugar, but that's not to say that the drink was lacking in taste.

Aurora's coffee is roasted at Batdorf and Bronson, based out of Washington state; there is, however, a local branch as well. The beans are grown in regions of the world as diverse as Latin America, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Indonesia (see DancingGoats.com for details.)

The shop has a relaxing, easygoing atmosphere as well; many young folks come here to read, study, click away at their laptops, or simply to chat. One of the customers, Jeremy, says, "The coffee is a lot better than any other coffee in Atlanta...I feel like part of the Aurora family. It's a lot better than sitting inside a noisy Starbucks. I also like the fact that when people walk in, there's a welcoming energy." It may be an inevitable fact that any independent coffee shop, once it reaches corporate proportions, loses much of the friendly, neighborhood atmosphere that cafes like Aurora have. There are numerous Starbucks and Caribou Coffee locations in Atlanta, but you're unlikely to feel as much at home in any of those.

Also setting it apart from most of the chains is the fact that Aurora (at least in the Little Five Points shop) often provides its soundtrack via vinyl records. At the time of my visit, they happened to be playing The Slits, a London punk/reggae band famous for such songs as "Shoplifting" and "Typical Girls." The indie music is definitely appropriate to the atmosphere of Aurora.

All of their music, currently, comes from Criminal Records, which is physically attached to the building. Like the coffee shop, it is independently owned and operated, and those who work there are very much music and comic enthusiasts. Unlike major chain stores Best Buy, Target, and even F.Y.E., Criminal Records has music you're likely to find only in indie record stores (or possibly online.) A few examples? Diplo/Dark Meat, who just recently released their album Chunklet Whirlyball 7; Gentleman Jesse And His Men, who have just released a self-titled album; and Buff Monster, who have created an album entitled Buff Monster Ice Cream Flavorways.

Returning to Aurora, however...they carry a number of delicious blends which you can take home with you, including House Blend (Costa Rican, Sumatran, and French Roast); Bohemian Blend (Sumatra, French Roast, and Tanzania Peaberry); and Cascade Blend (Kenya, Sumatra, and Guatemala). Each boasts a variety of delectable flavors, which are somewhat difficult to describe. For more information, see Aurora Coffee: Blends.

Their current "Coffee of the Month," according to AuroraCoffee.com, is Yemen, which they say is "processed similarly to the Ethiopia Harrars." What does it taste like? Having been deprived of the opportunity to try this particular coffee, you'll have to see for yourself.

In addition to their Little Five Points location, there is a second in the Virginia Highlands, located on North Highland Ave. This particular location features a listening station right in the center of the shop, with several albums courtesy of Criminal Records. The servers, in both locations, are friendly, funny, and more than gracious. Several customers raved about the Sugar Mama's cupcakes, which some said were even preferable to the coffee itself.

The Highlands location, unfortunately, is lacking in parking space. In most cases, you'll have to park behind the shop, because there is very little room facing the street. If you are willing to overlook this detail, then it's still worth stopping by. One customer, a Chicago native, on Yelp.com had less-than-positive comments about the service, but she was in the minority; in fact, several others rebutted her complaints.

All in all, Aurora Coffee is a fun hangout, a cool coffee stop, and a place to meet other hip folks. If you have the time, stop into Criminal Records as well, and you just might find some of those obscure vinyl records and graphic novels you've been trying to hunt down.

Or you could always go to Starbucks, and pay a few dollars more.