Steady Hand Pour House

Steady Hand I’ve heard has to leave soon, which I’m sure will leave some heartbroken. They were a good coffee shop. In this day and age, that is almost impossible to find. There are a ton of places that can serve you «good coffee,» but very few that feel like a «good coffee establishment,» and the distinction there is everything.
The baristas and staff were great. To know so much about coffee WITHOUT being pretentious and elitist about coffee. is truly a rare thing. Ask them «so what’s better about SH than starbucks, huh?» and you won’t get what you expect. They won’t go all defensive and give you the globalism 101 spheal or lecture you about «ethical coffee practices». They wont describe how lesser coffee shops overburn their coffee to make it seem good to you sheeple (yes, other fancy coffee shops have referred to starbucks drinkers as sheeple before…).
Steady Hand are the good guys: they will say «to each their own, if you like Starbucks that is fine, and here is why you should give us a try.» And they will tell you cool facts about their coffee and roasting process, not some mumbo jumbo that you would find on a coffee forum. They will answer your questions to your heart’s content and never make you feel like you are boring them by asking them a question they must have heard 100x.
There was only one time I didn’t like a drink from here. I got a machiatto which I felt they over «marked», making it difficult for me to analyze the beans I was paying extra for. They happily brewed me another and when I liked it, they made me feel like my opinion mattered. I’m no expert, but the barista’s are more than happy to let you «be the expert,» even though they likely are far more knowledgeable about the coffee.
The downside is price, but their pricing is consistent with the quality being offered. Sip them slow, try it black… you will find a lot more in your 2.50 cup of morningstar than a 1.70 $ 12oz cup at… other establishments.
Goodbye, Steady Hand. You will be missed. If the owner opens up somewhere else, I have no doubt in my mind that it will be a success. I will come. Brew this quality of coffee with such a stellar attitude and we will all come.

I just discovered Steady Hand. I was taking the time to get online for a bit before my lunch-​thing started next door, at the soon-​to-​close Everybody’s Pizza. Turns out that the transition away from Everybody’s has cost Steady Hand their lease, which is a shame, since these guys do a phenomenally good job with their business. (Better than their predecessors in this location.) By all accounts, these guys know their coffee. And this hot chocolate that I’m drinking is really good. The flavor is not overpowering, and it’s not so hot that one must wait to drink it before triggering some sort of China Syndrome effect. I look forward to finding these guys wherever they land in their new home. I hope you’ll join me there.

Great Chemex. Nice staff. Quick service (for made to order pour overs).
Will share my time between here and octane.
Atmosphere is the only reason I didn’t give 5 stars. The place is small. Not good for conversation over coffee. Good for working.

These people know their coffee. On my first visit here, I was given a long schpeeeeel about their coffee-​making process. I then asked if I could video-​record them doing it (because I had friends back home who love and live for coffee and would be interested in seeing methods of making good coffee), and they happily consented. The video is over 5 minutes long… when it takes that long to make a coffee, you should suspect that it is good quality coffee.
Besides the fact that it takes long to make it, the coffee really is delicious, but it is very rich. If you normally drink Folgers or Starbucks, your tastebuds may be coffee-​shocked, and you may have to train them to understand that this is good coffee-​shocked, not bad coffee-​shocked. For me, it’s still a bit bold and I have to tone it down with quite a bit of cream.
While there are plenty of outlets and free wi-​fi, a) there is limited seating b) it gets very crowded very fast because of the ebb and flow of Emory students c) wi-​fi can be spotty d) it’s loud. Really loud.

I am still giggling over the reviewer who complains because he has to add his own cream and sugar here, whereas at McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, they add it for you. I am so hoping that you will stick with those places so I can have my favorite corner table all to myself.
The coffee here is the best I have ever had in my life, on par with the good stuff in France. The baristas are super-​nice, even to middle-​aged ladies like me who are occasionally grumpy and don’t like the mason jars. I come here two to three times a week and sometimes stay most of the day working, or pretending to. It feels like home, it tastes better than home, and I am so glad it exists.

I’ve always considered Steady Hand a second home. However, after calculating the amount of hours I spend here, it might actually be fairer to say it’s more of a home then my own apartment.
Clearly the above makes me seem like a zealot and one might be deterred from examining my review because it seems that my biases might tailor how I look at this shop. However, a summer abroad offered me a chance to remove myself from a coffee-​schedule and onto one of tea with a myriad of biscuits. I realized that returning here would be in many ways a new beginning and perhaps I could judge things with a slightly more even handed mindset. And I did. And I still love it.
The owners are some of the nicest individuals I’ve met in this town. They offer an escape for any one seeking a hideaway from the rest of the world. The fact that they can do this while still only being two blocks from my school is a testament to how well the owners have infused this shop with their own personalities: relaxed, whimsical, cheerful, but with a real devotion to their craft which surpasses anything else I have had in Atlanta.
From the $ 2.50 basic Morningstar to their Cola-​Cocktail, the guys at Steady Hand everything under the sun. Plus, you can go off menu and get Americanos, Dirty Chais, and even a Breve Cappucino (of course they made fun of me for this because it was a heart attack in a cup but they still made it well). They’re also constantly experimenting with random stuff and are open to surprising you with a small alteration to your coffee to give you a different experience every once in a while.
Some people might complain about the lack of seating or some appeals to «comfort.» I personally have found the place to be more than comfortable for my posterior and the layout is a staggering upgrade over the previous iteration of the shop. They’ve also managed to be creative with the limited space they have — installing a putting green (now sadly defunct), a porch swing, and opening up the front fencing for a more open access to the rest of the community.
There are a host of regulars here too who, depending on one’s opinion, either add or possibly detract from the experience. From what I’ve seen, however, the regulars add a sort of Cheers like feel to the shop and they never interfere with the main business of supplying an over-​caffeinated local population with… even more caffeine.
As absurdly cheesy as this sounds, with the people who run the shop, Steady Hand really does become a place, very quickly, where everybody knows your name. I highly encourage everyone to stop by.

I decided to try this Steady Hand Pour House in Emory village today. It is in the historic Emory Village shopping complex with Everybody’s Pizza. I did not realize the menu was on the back wall; it blends in with the wall, and the angle that you enter from does not face it directly. The menu options are limited, and it appears that their entire baked goods section consists of a few muffins on the counter. Anyways… I ordered an iced coffee for $ 3.50 because that was what I was in the mood for.
While waiting I noticed that they had some ground organic coffee for sale with no prices listed, and a lot of action toy figurines on the counter. I guess you can reenact your childhood while waiting for your coffee.
The coffee shop attracts groups of students with their macbooks. Given the small size of the coffee shop and that sound carries very well inside, I would not recommend this coffee shop for studying if high noise level bothers you. However, this coffee shop is cute and would be a great place to meet up with friends, especially on the covered outdoor patio on a nice day.
So anyways the coffee is finally ready and I get the coffee to go but they don’t give me a lid, so I had to get my own. You also have to add your own cream and milk. Not the biggest deal, but Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds will add the milk/​cream and put the lid on for me.
So, overall they are a nice and cute coffee shop to visit once in a while, but not sure I would be a regular over Dunkin because they are running the 99 cent iced coffee promo right now (price) or the comforts of Starbucks/​Caribou (more snack options, comfier seating, and slightly lower prices)…

Oh god. Their hashtag of #mmmmghhmm is so appropriate. It’s so nice to have an option in the village that isn’t a giant corporation. If you’re like me and just want some normal coffee, their options are a little overwhelming but they’re always happy to explain them. It’s hipster to death but in the best possible way. The ice coffee comes in an adorable mason jar.
However, not sure how it got a one $ on Unilocal… they’re definately expensive, given how fancy all of their different brews are.
Also, they don’t believe in artificial sweetener…

We’re not from Atlanta, but every trip there, we make sure to visit Steady Hand. We stumbled upon the shop after a barista from Dancing Goat, who knows we are passionate about good coffee, told us they’d just opened up, and have been there a number of times now. The guys (and their baristas) serve up some of the best coffee, be it espresso, siphon, pour-​over or aeropress. (And there is some killer latte artists among the crew at the espresso bar.) And they serve outrageously delish sipping chocolate from Sugar Coated Radicals. Everything there is really high quality, even the impulse buy stuff at the register. And I love seeing how the little figurine collection is growing.
(Unfortunately, Steady Hand had to leave their N Decatur Rd location April 2013 because the landlord sold the building. They’ve been doing some coffee gigs around town and are looking for a new location. Keep looking for updates. They’ll turn up some place FABULOUS, no doubt.

I’m taking off two stars. They keep changing their damn hours!
I walked across Emory campus about six weeks ago in upper 80s heat, arrived at 6:10p to discover a chain across the entryway. Their hours went from 7p close to 6p close. I walked 30 more feet and ordered from the Starbucks next door which never changes their hours.
About four weeks ago, again, I walked all the way across campus in the brutal heat to Steady Hand arriving at 5:35p. Guess what? The bastards changed their hours to a fucking 5:30p close and again had their lame little chain across the entrance! Like before, I walked 30 more feet to Starbucks, which gladly accepted my money.
Apparently the Steady Hand owners think the customers are there to serve them and accommodate their schedules. What’s it going to be next time, 5p close, 4:30? So lame…

I can’t say enough positive things about Steady Hand! As an Emory student, I am always pleased to find great local places in Emory Village. (It’s a shame that the Starbucks has so much business when Steady Hand is just down the same block.)
I came here for the first time a month ago for a coffee and had the incredibly dapper man behind the counter explain their blends. After my friend and I had ordered, the barista said he could bring it out to the patio for us. I don’t know if it was the Chemex or the blend, but it was a damn fine cup of coffee. It was a pleasant spring afternoon; we sat on the patio chatting and working away on our laptops. The wifi here actually works, which is fantastic.
I’ve been back several times since my first time here. Great place to work.

One of my favorite coffee shops. They serve Intelligentsia coffee, using the Chemex pour-​over method. Great cup of coffee. Nice latte art as well. Hot Chocolate is awesome. Lots of Emory students here. Parking is pretty easy during the day. If you have time, get a Siphon coffee for two. Its awesome. Its a vacuum brew method, which produces a brilliant coffee. Plus the visual experience is just amazing.
Remember with the pour over method, your coffee is made expressly for you. So, it takes time. Don’t rush it. Trust me.

A couple of years ago, I was forced by my boss and a series of unfortunate events to take a long-​term consulting gig for a bank in Chicago.
Now, I like Chicago and enjoyed the time I spent there on vacation but I had done a number of overseas assignments for the company and was really looking forward to staying home with my fiancée and planting a herb garden.
Anyway, since a herb garden is not much use if you’re homeless, I packed some uncomfortable business clothes and moved into the corporate apartment near the loop. One morning after a run, I happened to pass a smallish coffee shop a couple of blocks from the apartment where a line of eclectic customers wound out of the entrance and spilled into the sidewalk. I made a note.
Later in the day, I ended up in that line, ordered a latte, took one sip and this transformed my exile in the windy city. Intelligentsia coffee gave me something to wake up to in the morning outside of my undercover war against the assholes I had to work with on that project.
So, what the hell does this have to do with Steady Hand? Nothing and everything.
The next time you are in there, take a look at the bags of coffee beans for sale on the little shelf to the right of the cashier. Better yet, take a look at the cappucino cup in your hands. See that logo of the espresso cup with the falcon wings? See how it says «Intelligentsia» above the pic? Yep, it’s the same coffee. Forget Batdorf, ignore the shade-​grown, organic from darkest Peru picked by vestal virgins flown on private jets from Athens, the guys at Intelligentsia get this stuff.
Formerly known as Octane, the space was bought out by 3 of the baristas who are there pretty much all the time willing and able to dispense advice and wisdom on all things coffee and sometime more. Also, they are as good at the actual coffee making as the maestros at Intelligentsia.
The space itself is small and cramped inside but there is a nice shaded patio with plenty of seating.
If coffee isn’t your thing, they also provide a nice selection of regular and herbal teas.
If it’s 80+ outside (this being Atlanta, there’s a 60% that is is when you read this) I highly recommend the Iced Chai. Not too sweet, not too bland with some real cinnamon sprinkled on top.
Give these guys a try. You will not be disappointed.

I walk in with a group of recruits for my program.
First thought: I hope the baristas don’t hate me for bringing in a bunch of suits unannounced.
Second thought: urg. Chemex, intelligentsia and $ 4 chais. What snobby pricks.
And so after I apologized for my large party size (trust me, I’ve done this at other indie coffee shops and the baristas have stared at me with hatred through their ironic black rimmed prescription-​less glasses), the two dudes at the counter said they were happy to have us, more business was always a good thing (gasp! Capitalism in a coffee shop!). Seriously now, the two dudes behind the counter were pretty awesome.
And then I tasted the Chai. Holy mother of god. This was the best chai I have ever tasted. Throw chemex at my face, tout your elitist brews, charge me $ 30 for small, I don’t care. I’m hooked.
Also, their patio is baller and def dog friendly. Win.

Really great coffee with Hipster style.
These folks work to create the best coffee, ever. Each cup, even drip brew, is made when you order it. The espresso shots are creamy little pops of deliciousness. They finish every latte with a beautiful leafy design and they’ve pulled my espresso shot a second time when they’re not pleased with the first one. Their coffee is a little more expensive but, if you’re a coffee snob, well worth it.
Whenever I’ve asked them about a coffee, these bookish baristas ramble on about everything from the politics of coffee farming to nuances created in how it is brewed. They are friendly but have an edge of righteousness when it comes to coffee, and they’ve earned it honestly.
The inside is always crowded with Emory students and the patio is pretty large for such a small place. They thrive here with two Starbucks in the same block which says a lot about their quality and how much those Hipsters hate the evil corporate coffee machine.

I loooove walking over here after a day of classes and work.
Even though it’s not that far, it feels as if I’m away from Emory’s campus to enjoy a cup of their hand-​crafted cappuccinos. Among their espresso coffee drinks, Steady Hand also has a very wide selection of loose teas that hint a pot of boiling water quite perfectly.
Their bakery treats are well-​known. I believe I even read an article about the pastry chef there, how specially unique and delicious they are.
The staff is always friendly, but the inside seating is a little cramped. Still, it’s worth it, and gives the vibe of «we’re all family» when you’re sitting in the hipster-​ambience café.

A very steady hand prepared my soy chai latte Thursday night. A multi-​humped heart decorated the foam, providing textural contrast to the smooth flavors beneath.
Per my teensy blatter, I made a trip to the restroom, endeared by the cardboard monsters who watched me urinate.
Cardboard monsters, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves: I like this place.

I used to hate change. If I so much as got a new mailman I would start contemplating hibernation. But Steady Hand has led me to try all sorts of new things, all of them mind-​blowingly awesome:
–Curry-​flavored rice krispy treats via the Good Food Truck
–Caramels made with pancetta fat from Sugar Coated Radical that are pull-​out-​your-​dental-​work-​sticky
–Coffee brewed via Chemex or Syphon. It’s smoother than Kenny G.
–Paying for my coffee from the relative safety of my chair using the Mogley phone app
–Listening to Nate Dogg and chatting up a man in a banana suit while enjoying my Sunday morning coffee
–Redirecting the majority of my grocery money to my Steady Hand fund
–Updating a 5-​star review with another 5-​star review
In sum, Steady Hand bumps up my quality of life index a full notch. I have yet to taste something here that isn’t perfect. Bravo.

Skillfully crafted, perfectly balanced coffee brewed-​to-​order. Fresh atmosphere with friendly, knowledgeable baristas.
I had a cup of the «morning star,» and it was strong and flavorful without being bitter or burnt-​tasting. Their coffee was so delicious and smooth I didn’t want to add milk or sugar. I usually go to the Starbucks a few doors down for my coffee, but the coffee at Steady Hand Pour House simply blows a cup of Starbucks Pike’s out of the water.
The atmosphere is really hip and lively. There are tables inside as well as a nicely-​sized area outside with tables and some benches. The baristas are super friendly and obviously know a lot about brewing a great cup of coffee.
Go to Steady Hand Pour House if you want a delicious cup of coffee!

Is it just me, or does the name «Steady Hand Pour House» sound like a place that serves alcohol? Upon hearing that such a venue was opening in Emory Village today, I became very excited, thinking that this was a new pub opening where the florist used to be (in between what is now the boutique clothing store and Starbucks) and planning to stop by for a burger and alc beverage for lunch. Alas, this is just a new coffee shop opening in the location next to Everybody’s Pizza that used to be Octane (2009 – 2010). I mean, used to be Method (2008 – 2009). And that used to be Inman Perk (2007 – 2008).
Will this new instantiation fare any better than its predecessors? It has a few features going for it that might challenge my Starbucks and Panera loyalties. Today they have a $ 1 8 oz coffee special, which one of the owners told me they plan to keep beyond today between the hours of 6 and 8 am. Although they’ve kept the big green couchy bench on the eastern wall, they’ve added more tables to the other side, which should prevent folks who’ve come in with the intention of camping out and working from being turned away because of lack of space. I sat in a table by the windows looking out onto the patio and the five-​way intersection, enjoying the sunny view and not being cramped. The atmosphere is pleasantly scenestery and I appreciate the owners’ taste in music, especially when compared to Starbucks’ decent but monotonous selections and the god-​awful faux-​jazz at Panera.
It’s their first day, so I know I shouldn’t hate, but the setup of the bathroom was unaesthetic and so cramped (due to the presence of a large, unnecessary, and very ugly bookshelf across from the commode containing a can of air freshener and two bottles of hand lotion) that it is most likely not wheelchair accessible. Hopefully they’ll do a creative paint job and open up the space. Also, they only are accepting cash at the moment, which I know is standard for just-​opened businesses, but annoying to those who don’t carry cash nonetheless.
I’m not sure what their baked goods selection will be: currently they are selling bagels with cream cheese for $ 3 and croissants for $ 2.50. If they could get the cakes from Southern Sweets that are sold at Java Monkey… now that would attract my business. I wish this place all the best but am highly skeptical that it will be around next year.