Chattanooga Coffee Company / Chattz

The roaster sits in the room with you at Chattz. A large machine, visible from the bar seating, with the on-site roasting happening in front of the customers who came in for a drink. Chattanooga Coffee Company is on Broad Street, one of the established small roasters in the Chattanooga area, and the layout is built so the bean program is part of the room rather than hidden behind a wall.

The space is compact. Bright windows. Bar seating facing the roaster, about four two-tops, a couple of comfortable chairs, and a small outdoor area. Regulars describe it as bright, not loud, not crowded.

The Cuban Latte is the signature pull, brown sugar and cinnamon with espresso, and the iced version is the order in the warmer months. White chocolate mocha sits next to it on the regular list, and the twisted cinnamon and toasted marshmallow lattes round out the flavored side of the menu. The American Girl Iced Shaken Espresso is an off-menu request worth knowing about. Standard caramel and vanilla lattes are reliable. Lavender scones, pumpkin muffins, and breakfast burritos with salsa handle the food side.

Pup cups come out for dogs.

The cortado is where the honest critique lands. One customer found it nothing special, and for espresso purists looking for a tighter, more classical pull, the menu leans flavored rather than restrained. Indoor seating is also limited, so this is not the cafe for a laptop work session that needs to spread out.

For customers driving through Chattanooga on the way to Lookout Mountain who want easy parking and a roaster in the room, the cafe makes sense as the morning stop. For the local who wants to try something seasonal and watch the beans get roasted while they wait, this is the shop. Order the iced Cuban Latte once. Watch the roaster work. Take a bag home if the smell convinces you.