The air is cooler. An orange-ochre leaf falls gently in the mid-autumn breeze. Sunset comes a little earlier each evening. And we here at the Build-Outs of Coffee are rounding the bend on our final clutch of features from this year’s excellent feature series.
But before we go, here’s a thrilling new build from Atlanta, home to Bellwood Coffee in the Grant park neighborhood. Let’s take a closer look.
The 2026 Build-outs of Coffee is presented by DONA, Pacific Barista Series, and La Marzocco.
As told to Sprudge by Joel Norman.
For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?
We started Bellwood Coffee eight years ago to create belonging for our community and staff. Two brothers and two friends teamed up to build a coffee company that positively impacts those around us through personal connection, thoughtful products, and uncompromising craft. We want everyone who experiences Bellwood to have a sense of belonging, whether they visit us in their neighborhood or are drinking our coffee in their home.
Can you tell us a bit about the new space?
When we decided to open in Grant Park, we wanted to create a shop that felt like it’s always been there. This meant a good deal of thrifting for old pieces, which, thankfully, we’ve been doing for years, some without knowing their purpose. A few of the staple pieces include a late-1800s apothecary-retail shelf, a ~200-year-old university bench, two brass chandeliers from the early 1900s, and an old Slovenian brass and wood pendant that welcomes you at the door. The few pieces that are new had to feel old, so we chose muted paint colors and wood with deep stains to complement the sand-colored tile and countertop. We uncovered some of the original red brick in the back-bar area, retaining some of the character that the building had when it was first built. The shop has no parking lot (a rarity for Atlanta), which allows it to truly feel like it belongs to the neighborhood, something we’re passionate about.
What’s your approach to coffee?
The coffee beverage scene has changed drastically since we joined the journey. Since our inception, we’ve always had a knack for signature beverages, and that’s still the case today. These days there is a real pull to be trendy, and we try to stick to our philosophy that it’s more important that a drink tastes incredible than that it gets shared on the internet. You can’t taste something through your phone, and we want our guests that show up to our shop to be blown away by what’s in their cup.
Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?
Not fully pictured here because the photos happened before the grinder arrived, but we’re using a La Marzocco Linea PB and Swan combo for espresso, and let me tell you, the coffee has never tasted better. The LM tandem pulls sweet, sweet shots with luscious body. Shoutout to La Marzocco for making great machinery, and they’re not paying me to say that (although I wish they would, *hint hint LM*)!
How is your project considering sustainability?
As often as possible, we are reusing materials and furnishings in the buildout. 21 of the 38 seats in our cafe are recycled, as well as eight light fixtures, both of our retail displays, our cream and sugar bar, and just about every other piece of decor. There are so many beautiful things out there that are waiting for a second life!
What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?
We opened this summer! It’s been an incredible ride so far, and we feel lucky to be loved by such a great neighborhood.
Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?
Our architect Neil of Terminus Design Group does a killer job listening to our vision and making it work on paper, and our builder Bob (shoutout to kids everywhere) makes sure everything that needs to be constructed fits that same vision. We couldn’t make it happen without them!
Thank you!
Y’all rock!
The 2026 Build-outs of Coffee is presented by DONA, Pacific Barista Series, and La Marzocco.
