Academy Coffee ATL
Academy Coffee ATL is a single-location specialty coffee shop in Atlanta's Virginia-Highland neighborhood operating a multi-roaster program with 22+ global roasters and serving mixology-inspired espresso, tea, and seasonal beverages, supplemented by branded merchandise e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Academy Coffee ATL does
Academy Coffee ATL is a single-location specialty coffee shop founded in 2018 and operated by founder Connan Moody from 1019 Virginia Avenue NE in Atlanta's Virginia-Highland neighborhood. The business is built around two reinforcing propositions: a curated multi-roaster coffee program that rotates 22+ domestic and international roasters on 4-6 month cycles (including names such as 3fe, April Coffee, Onyx, Verve, Proud Mary, and KWC), and an experimental beverage menu that applies mixology and culinary techniques to espresso, tea, matcha, and sparkling sodas. The Spring 2026 menu features drinks such as sparkling espresso soda with pineapple, yuzu, hoja santa, and star anise, evidencing the founder's competition-winning approach to flavor pairing developed in NYC specialty coffee.
The company monetizes through two streams: in-store specialty beverage sales at the Atlanta cafe, which operates 8 AM - 7 PM daily, and a small direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront selling branded merchandise (Bonehead long sleeve at $40, Bonehead short sleeve at $25, Happy Dino toddler tee at $20, and a Handy Dandy Liquid Holder 16 oz glass at $16). Pricing for beverages is not publicly disclosed, and merchandise is sold on a one-time/perpetual basis with no subscription or licensing model. The target customer is the Atlanta-area specialty coffee and tea enthusiast seeking innovative, rotating beverage experiences unavailable at standard cafes, with a secondary audience of community-focused coffee-curious consumers.
Operationally, Academy Coffee ATL is a founder-owned independent business with 1-10 employees, no external institutional investors, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds. The go-to-market motion is entirely direct-to-consumer through the physical retail location and the company's website (academycoffeeatl.com), with no wholesale, B2B, or franchise channels. Technology infrastructure is limited to standard e-commerce and website tools, with no proprietary systems, AI/ML capabilities, or third-party platform integrations identified. The business positions itself around transparency, education, and approachability in specialty coffee, with an emphasis on the founder's rare mixology-plus-barista craft as the primary differentiator.
Academy Coffee ATL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Academy Coffee ATL
- Legal name
- Academy Coffee ATL
- Website
- https://academycoffeeatl.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Academy Coffee ATL is a single-location specialty coffee shop in Atlanta's Virginia-Highland neighborhood operating a multi-roaster program with 22+ global roasters and serving mixology-inspired espresso, tea, and seasonal beverages, supplemented by branded merchandise e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Academy Coffee ATL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Shop
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Specialty Coffee Adjacent Beverage Bars (Chai, Cacao, Alternative Lattes) (THAFAKAH)
Keywords
Where Academy Coffee ATL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Academy Coffee ATL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- In-store beverage sales: Revenue from specialty espresso, teas, and innovative specialty beverages crafted using mixology and culinary techniques served at the physical retail location.
- Merchandise sales: E-commerce sales of branded apparel including t-shirts, long sleeves, and accessories such as the Handy Dandy Liquid Holder glassware product.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bonehead Longsleeve shirt |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bonehead Shortsleeve shirt |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Happy Dino Tea Shirt |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Handy Dandy Liquid Holder (can-shaped glass) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Academy Coffee ATL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Academy Coffee ATL operates a multi-roaster specialty coffee bar in Atlanta that serves craft espresso, tea, and innovative mixology-inspired beverages, alongside an e-commerce storefront selling branded apparel and glassware. The business centers on a rotating roster of domestic and international coffee roasters sourced on a 4-6 month cycle, with menus built using culinary and cocktail techniques to create unique flavor pairings.
Product overview
Academy Coffee ATL is a specialty coffee shop and retail establishment offering two core product lines: specialty beverages and merchandise. The beverage program centers on a Multi-Roaster Coffee Program that sources from over 20 domestic and international roasters, complemented by innovative specialty drinks crafted using mixology and culinary techniques. The retail arm includes branded merchandise such as t-shirts (Bonehead Longsleeve, Bonehead Shortsleeve, Happy Dino Tea Shirt) and glassware (Handy Dandy Liquid Holder). The shop operates as a multi-roaster cafe featuring rotating coffee selections alongside seasonal specialty menu items.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Specialty Beverages
Companies that use Academy Coffee ATL
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Academy Coffee ATL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Academy Coffee ATL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- 3fe - Dublin, IRLminorInternational roaster partner in the multi-roaster program, sourced during 4-6 month rotation cycles.
- April Coffee - Copenhagen, DenmarkminorInternational roaster partner in the multi-roaster program featuring Danish specialty coffee.
- Black & White Coffee - Raleigh, NC, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- Blanchard's Coffee - Richmond, VA, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- Brandywine Coffee - Wilmington, DE, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- Dark Arts Coffee - London, ENGminorInternational roaster partner from London in the multi-roaster program.
- Friedhats Coffee Roasters - Amsterdam, NEDminorInternational roaster partner from Amsterdam in the multi-roaster program.
- Firelight Coffee - Atlanta, GA, USAminorLocal Atlanta roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- Flow Coffee - Atlanta, GA, USAcoreCurrent featured roaster at the time of source publication. Local Atlanta partner in the multi-roaster program.
- George Howell Coffee - Boston, MA, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- ILSE - North Canaan, CT, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- JBC Coffee Roasters - Madison, WI, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- KWC Coffee - Medellin, ColombiaminorInternational roaster partner from Colombia in the multi-roaster program.
- Little Waves Coffee - Durham, NC, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- Metric - Chicago, IL, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- Onyx Coffee - Rogers, AR, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- Parlor Coffee - Brooklyn, NY, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- Prodigal Coffee Roasters - Boulder, CO, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
- Proud Mary Coffee - Melbourne, AUSminorInternational roaster partner from Australia in the multi-roaster program.
- September Coffee - Ottowa, CANminorInternational roaster partner from Canada in the multi-roaster program.
- Sorellina Coffee - Edmonton, AB, CANminorInternational roaster partner from Canada in the multi-roaster program.
- Verve Coffee - Santa Cruz, CA, USAminorDomestic roaster partner in the multi-roaster program.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Academy Coffee ATL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty roaster with cafés and a training center model. Comparable in third-wave specialty positioning, direct-trade sourcing, and education-forward consumer engagement.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Established specialty roaster with multiple cafés and the operator of the Strange Brews competition in which Academy's founder won. Comparable in third-wave positioning and direct-trade sourcing model.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: Specialty coffee operator with a large café footprint and e-commerce merchandise program. Comparable on premium café experience plus branded merchandise, though at much larger scale.
- Intelligentsia Coffee: Pioneering third-wave specialty roaster operating multiple cafés. Comparable on specialty coffee retail format, single-origin focus, and direct-trade relationships.
Direct peers
- Black & White Coffee Roasters: Specialty roaster with retail café in Raleigh, NC, focused on competition-driven barista culture. Comparable as a specialty roaster-cafe with a strong barista-competition reputation.
- Verve Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with retail cafés featuring seasonal single-origin programs. Comparable as a roaster-cafe that blends retail coffee experience with branded merchandise and origin storytelling.
- George Howell Coffee: Specialty roaster with café locations focused on single-origin transparency and producer relationships. Comparable as a curator-led specialty operator with strong origin storytelling.
- Onyx Coffee Lab: Specialty roaster operating café locations with competition-winning baristas and curated single-origin menus. Highly comparable on curation, founder-driven identity, and competition pedigree.
- Parlor Coffee: Brooklyn-based specialty roaster with a small retail café footprint emphasizing single-origin and curated coffee programs. Comparable on neighborhood-scale specialty café model with strong roaster identity.
Regional players
- Proud Mary Coffee: Melbourne-based specialty roaster and café operator featured in Academy's multi-roaster program. Comparable as a multi-roaster/specialty café concept serving an international coffee-curious audience.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Academy Coffee ATL social profiles
Digital presenceAcademy Coffee ATL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Academy Coffee ATL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Academy Coffee ATL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Academy Coffee ATL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Academy Coffee ATL
What does Academy Coffee ATL do?
Academy Coffee ATL operates a multi-roaster specialty coffee bar in Atlanta that serves craft espresso, tea, and innovative mixology-inspired beverages, alongside an e-commerce storefront selling branded apparel and glassware. The business centers on a rotating roster of domestic and international coffee roasters sourced on a 4-6 month cycle, with menus built using culinary and cocktail techniques to create unique flavor pairings.
Is Academy Coffee ATL a public or private company?
Academy Coffee ATL is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Academy Coffee ATL founded?
Academy Coffee ATL was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Academy Coffee ATL based?
Academy Coffee ATL is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Academy Coffee ATL make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. In-store beverage sales are the primary driver. The others are merchandise sales.
Who are Academy Coffee ATL's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Counter Culture Coffee, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Blue Bottle Coffee and Intelligentsia Coffee. Direct peers are Black & White Coffee Roasters, Verve Coffee Roasters, George Howell Coffee, Onyx Coffee Lab and Parlor Coffee. Proud Mary Coffee is listed as a regional player.
Does Academy Coffee ATL have an API?
No public API is recorded for Academy Coffee ATL.
What industry is Academy Coffee ATL in?
Academy Coffee ATL's product category is Specialty Coffee Shop. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFADAA, Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave), with a secondary code of THAFAKAH, Specialty Coffee Adjacent Beverage Bars (Chai, Cacao, Alternative Lattes). Its SIC code is 5810.