Birmingham guide
The best coffee shops in Birmingham
Birmingham has 8 standout coffee shops worth your time — these are the ones locals actually send people to, ranked by how well-loved each spot is and checked by hand. Cala Coffee (downtown), Church Street Coffee & Books and Red Cat Coffee House lead the list. No chains, nobody pays to rank.
Cala Coffee (downtown)
Seasonal drinks. Downtown shop of the local roaster, with a menu that changes with the season. There's another in Mountain Brook Village.
Church Street Coffee & Books
Lattes between the bookshelves. Coffee shop and bookstore in one, in the middle of Crestline Village.
Red Cat Coffee House
Saturday-market lattes. Coffee shop at Pepper Place with brick walls and big windows. Busy on market Saturdays.
Seeds Coffee
Homewood-roasted espresso. Roaster in downtown Homewood. Lots of plants, comfortable chairs.
Cala Coffee
House-roasted lattes. A Birmingham roaster that started with a cart. This is their newest cafe, in Mountain Brook Village.
The Daily Edition
Coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Neighborhood coffee shop in West Homewood. Good for an early meeting.
Caveat Coffee
Pour-overs off the main drag. Small coffee shop a block off 18th Street, with a drive-through window if you're in a hurry.
The Well & Co.
Coffee bar inside a home shop. Coffee and home goods, started by three friends who met at church. Opened summer 2026.
Good to know
What is the best coffee shops in Birmingham?
Cala Coffee (downtown) — seasonal drinks. Church Street Coffee & Books and Red Cat Coffee House round out the top of the list. Every place is locally owned and checked by hand.
How many coffee shops are on this list?
8, all locally owned and ranked by how well-loved they are. None of them paid to be included.