Your ultimate guide to Birmingham coffee shops—recs from one Bham Nower
ByCecilia Wood
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In honor of International Coffee Day (Friday, October 1), we’re sharing your ultimate guide to Birmingham coffee shops. I consider myself a (de facto) expert on our coffee scene, so I’m sharing everything you need to know. Plus, I’ve got you covered with recommendations from Bham Now’s Instagram followers. Check it out to get your caffeine fix.
1. Filter Coffee Parlor
Filter is one of my top spots to grab a flavorful latte and relax for an hour or two. Every time I grab a latte or Caffeinated Bee, I settle in for a few hours.
- My recommendation: Honey Blossom Latte
- Bham Now audience recommendations: @sammikay34 + @ebmalone recommend the Caffeinated Bee
- Location: 1927 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205
- Hours: Monday-Friday 7AM-4PM | Saturday-Sunday 8AM-3PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
2. Red Cat
Red Cat has two locations and you can find me at one of them at least once a week. I find that their flavored lattes are the perfect blend of sweet and refreshing without masking the flavor of the coffee.
- My recommendation: Iced Burmese Latte
- Bham Now audience recommendations: @bhamcraftbabe recommends the Bengal Latte & @annemaddie_adcock suggests the matcha latte with almond milk
- Location: (Pepper Place) 2901 2nd Ave S #120, Birmingham, AL 35233 | (Railroad Park) 1701 1st Ave S #101, Birmingham, AL 35233
- Hours: (Pepper Place) Monday-Saturday 7AM-6PM | (Railroad Park) Monday-Saturday 6:30AM-8PM, Sunday 6:30AM-6PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
3. Santos Coffee
I’m not a huge fan of sweet coffee, so I stay away from Santos’s iced drinks. However, they’re one of my favorite spots to grab a cup of black coffee and get to work.
- My recommendation: Black coffee… and crepes
- Location: (Hoover) 1021 Brocks Gap Pkwy Suit 101, Hoover, AL 35244 | (Uptown) 2221 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Hours: (Hoover) Monday-Sunday 6:30AM-7PM | (Uptown) Monday-Saturday 6AM-6PM, Sunday 6AM-3:30PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
4. Seeds Coffee Co.
I have to admit, I haven’t been to Seeds in a few years, but they are a local favorite. I love their shop and its low-key atmosphere. Plus, that coffee cream soda sounds amazing, right?
- My recommendation: Plain Latte
- Bham Now audience recommendations: @aubreynm suggests straight black coffee + @chels_balch recommends the coffee cream soda
- Location: 174 Oxmoor Rd, Birmingham, AL 35209
- Hours: Monday-Friday 7AM-3PM | Saturday 8AM-3PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
5. Wild Roast Café
Wild Roast Cafe’s menu has pretty much every flavor combination possible. If you’re looking for a plain coffee, their coffee is roasted by O’Henry’s.
- Bham Now audience recommendations: @brittnylyndrs recommends the iced PSL with oat milk
- Location: 585 Shades Crest Rd, Hoover, AL 35226
- Hours: Monday-Friday 7AM-5PM | Saturday 8AM-5PM | Sunday 10AM-5PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
6. Crestwood Coffee
I’ve only been to Crestwood Coffee a few times, and I have to be honest: I’ve gotten their hot chocolate each time and it has always been amazing. Plus, they’re right next to Thank You Books.
- Bham Now audience recommendations: @juliemartinart suggests a cappuccino and a “soysage” biscuit
- Location: 5512 Crestwood Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35212
- Hours: Monday-Friday 8AM-6PM | Saturday-Sunday 8AM-6PM
- Contact: Instagram | Facebook
7. Domestique Coffee
Domestique Coffee is always at the top of locals’ lists for must-try coffee shops, and I don’t blame them. Domestique’s Satellite location in Saturn has a fun atmosphere full of board games and bright colors, and of course, the coffee is amazing.
- Bham Now audience recommendations: @ginnywages recommends the Dominican Republic cold brew with oat milk, @bgram19 recommends a cortado made with oat milk
- Location: (Satellite) 200 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 35222 | (Panache) 1024 20th St S, Suite 103, Birmingham, AL 35205 | (Domestique Coffee Roasters) 3017 6th Ave South. Birmingham, Al, 35233
- Hours: (Satellite) Monday 7AM-4PM, Tuesday-Saturday 7AM-6PM, Sunday 8AM-4PM | (Panache) Sunday-Thursday 7AM-4PM, Friday-Saturday 7AM-6PM | (Domestique Coffee Roasters) Monday-Friday 9AM-4PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
8. Baba Java
I haven’t had a chance to try out Baba Java for myself, but our TikTok manager, Tira Davis, gave it rave reviews. According to Tira, the Autumn Spice Latte “had a nice balance of nutmeg and cinnamon and was nice and creamy.”
- Tira’s recommendation: Autumn Spice Latte
- Bham Now audience recommendations: @hay.woods suggests the vanilla latte
- Location: 4730 Chace Cir #124, Birmingham, AL 35244
- Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30AM-6PM | Saturday 8AM-6PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
9. O’Henry’s
O’Henry’s honey cinnamon latte is amazing. Photo via Cecilia Wood for Bham Now
I live right across the street from O’Henry’s and love grabbing a hot latte while I walk around the neighborhood. If you don’t like super sweet drinks, stick with their iced coffee black… the Iced Coffee royale (with cream and sugar) is overwhelmingly sweet in my opinion.
- My recommendation: Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Location: Find the O’Henry’s near you.
- Hours: Hours vary by location.
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
10. Innova Coffee
I’ve only been to Innova Coffee once, and their setup feels like a prime spot for people-watching and sipping an iced drink. I tried their coffee soda with orange, and it was a fun flavor combination but I’d try something different next time I go.
- Bham Now audience recommendations: @mguanipa recommends Innova Coffee’s London Fog
- Location: 4700 Colonnade Pl, Birmingham, AL 35243
- Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30AM-5PM | Saturday 7AM-3PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
11. Church Street Coffee and Books
A cozy coffee shop where I can sip a latte and read a book? Sign me up. Their coffee is locally brewed and their hot lattes aren’t too sweet, but if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth, their iced lattes should hit the spot.
- My recommendation: Vanilla Latte
- Location: 81 Church St, Mountain Brook, AL 35213
- Hours: Monday-Sunday 6AM-6PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
12. Heritage Coffee
I haven’t had a chance to check out Heritage Coffee yet, but fellow Bham Nower Sharron only has good things to say about their drinks and their kind staff.
- Location: 400 19th St Ensley, Birmingham, AL 35218
- Hours: Monday-Friday 7AM-2PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
13. Caveat Coffee
Caveat Coffee is one of my favorite places to catch up with a friend, though their big open spaces are too distracting for me to focus on too much work. I think they have one of the creamiest lattes in Birmingham, and they also have La Colombe lattes on draft.
- My recommendation: Iced Vanilla Latte
- Location: 2832 Linden Ave, Homewood, AL 35209
- Hours: Tuesday-Friday 7:30AM-4PM | Saturday-Sunday 9AM-4PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
14. Revelator
Revelator is locally (and nationally) well-known for its roasts. I appreciate their minimalist environment, but their coffee isn’t sweet if that’s what you look for in a drink. The next time I go, I’m going to get the barista’s choice because they know their coffee.
- Location: 1826 3rd Ave N #101, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Hours: Monday-Saturday 7AM-6PM | Sunday 7AM-3PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
15. Bizarre: The Coffee Bar
Bizarre: The Coffee Bar has a convenient location downtown and transitions into a bar at night. Their drink menu includes unique options like pistachio, honey, guava and orange blossom.
- Location: 217 22nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Hours: Monday 8AM-11PM | Tuesday 8AM-12AM | Wednesday-Friday, Saturday 8AM-2AM | Sunday 4-11PM
- Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Try out these Birmingham coffee shops for yourself ☕
PS—looking for more coffee shops to try around the state? We’ve got you covered.
What is your favorite Birmingham coffee shop? Tag us @BhamNow and let us know.
