Thanks to having a remote job, I’ve made my rounds when it comes to coffee shops in Birmingham. This city loves its java, and it shows in the amount of quality coffee shops you’ll found around town.
So whether you’re looking for the best coffee in Birmingham, a laptop-friendly spot, or a place to hold or work meeting or friend gathering, here’s a comprehensive list of the best coffee shops in the Magic City.
HOUSE ELEVEN
HOUSE ELEVEN was opened in early 2025. It’s quickly become a spot well-known for its cozy interior and wide selection of coffee. When you walk in, it feels like you’re stepping into a beautiful home. It tops the list for most laptop-friendly cafes in Birmingham and has quickly become a go-to spot for work meetings and events.
If you’re a coffee snob, this is the place to go. You’ll not only be asked for your preference between light, medium, or dark roast, but also for your type of coffee beans, between June Coffee, Red Bike Coffee, and Domestique Coffee.
HOUSE ELEVEN is more than just a cafe. Thanks to its large outdoor space, they also host events on the weekends such as live music, DJ performances, and LGBTQ+ events.
Red Cat
Red Cat is a local favorite. They’re known for having arguably the best selection of specialty dessert latte concoctions in Birmingham, along with delicious pastries (most notably, pop-tarts).
If you’re from Birmingham, there’s a good chance you’ll see someone you know at Red Cat. The large interior makes it great for casual work meetings and its main location in Pepper Place is perfectly located.
Cala Coffee
Cala has two locations: one in Vestavia Hills (Cahaba Heights) and one in downtown Birmingham.
Both locations serve Ladybird Tacos, which is always a nice perk. The downtown spot has all the makings of your quintessential modern coffee shop, with two rows of bar seats and a handful of tables against the wall with outlets if you’re stopping by for a work or study-sesh.
O’Henry’s Coffees
Another Birmingham staple, O’Henry’s has two locations in Homewood and one in Highland Park. The Homewood locations are quite large, though the downtown Homewood location isn’t super laptop-friendly given the lack of outlets. The Highland Park location is very small, making for more of a grab-and-go spot.
O’Henry’s has a seemingly endless selection of coffee grounds and beans to choose from if you’re looking to brew it yourself. Or alternatively, their seasonal coffee blends, including a Christmas blend, make for great gifts.
Bandido Coffee
In a narrow pedestrian alleyway in Birmingham’s Five Points District, you’ll find the city’s lone Mexican coffee shop.
Bandido is ran by Oscar Alcantar, a super friendly and talented barista. There are only a few tables inside, but the small size makes it feel especially inviting.
I almost always go with the super tasty Horchata, though there are plenty of other unique drinks to choose from, mainly Mexican-themed.
Prevail Coffee
Recently, Prevail’s Montgomery location was named the 2nd-best coffee shop in the United States. That location has been so successful that a second location in downtown Birmingham launched in 2024.
While the B’ham location is more of a grab-and-go spot for businesspeople looking for their daily caffeine boost, I’ve spent a good amount of time working from here. The baristas are incredibly friendly and know how to make a perfect iced vanilla latte. Plus, they have Ladybird tacos if you missed your morning breakfast.
Caveat
Located in downtown Homewood, Caveat is a favorite for Samford students. Its vibe is that of a familiar living room. There’s always a group study sesh or two ongoing at Caveat, which also has a drive-through option and a downstairs room for those looking to grind out some focus work.
Caveat’s most well-known drink is its brown sugar rosemary latte. And I can attest to it being pretty dang good.
GENERAL
GENERAL is a much-adored cafe of Birmingham’s beautiful Forest Park neighborhood.
More than just a coffee shop, GENERAL doubles as a home goods store for cool vintage products that you can’t find anywhere else. The owner, Mark Thompson, has a fashion and design background and has made GENERAL a true one-of-a-kind spot in Birmingham.
GENERAL also serves lunch on weekdays, brunch on Saturdays, and breakfast sandwiches every morning except Sunday. Thanks to a phenomenal pastry chef, they always have some of the best pastries you’ll find in Birmingham.
Church Street Coffee and Books
Church Street in Mountain Brook’s Crestline district is a popular neighborhood gathering spot. Whether it be a one-on-one bible study or work meeting, there’s always something going on at Church Street.
Some might be unaware that there’s an upstairs area, which has become an unofficial quiet area for solo study sessions or deep focus work. This contrasts with the downstairs area where things are more conversational.
Church Street is actually most famous for its breakup cookie, which has been voted one of the best cookies in Alabama. I can vouch that this sea salt chocolate chip cookie lives up to the hype. In fact, it even has its own Instagram account!
Domestique Coffee
Domestique is known for having some of the best coffee in Birmingham, and the good news is that you can get it from multiple locations around the city.
In the Avondale neighborhood, you’ll find the Domestique branch within Saturn Bar. Saturn triples as a concert venue, arcade bar, and coffee bar, the latter of which is fittingly named Domestique “Satellite”.
You can also find Domestique Coffee in Homewood in the same building as Cahaba Cycles. This branch is coined Domestique “Dawn Patrol.”
Both branches serve the same, wonderful coffee. The Satellite location is great to visit during a weekend with some friends for board games, arcade games, and coffee.
June Coffee
Since it was founded in 2022, June has become a fan favorite amongst Birmingham locals and is often regarded as the best coffee in Birmingham.
June really has it all. You can taste the quality-roasted beans in every sip, which is why the line is almost always out the door on weekends.
June also has a fantastic pastry selection, mostly thanks to being right next door to Last Call Baking. Make sure to get there early to avoid waiting in a long line!
Punch Love Coffee
No doubt one of the friendliest coffee shops in Birmingham, Punch Love makes you feel like family when you walk in.
The owner, Tim, is very conversional and extremely knowledgeable and passionate about making good coffee, which won’t be surprising once you take your first sip. It’s my go-to spot for my iced vanilla lattes on a Sunday morning.
In-Summary: Birmingham Coffee Shops
You really have your pick of the litter with coffee shops in the Magic City. Sometimes, I even feel overwhelmed with my options when trying to decide where to spend the $7 for my daily latte.
However, this is a great problem to have. Whether you’re looking for a place to hang out on a rainy day in Birmingham, get some work done, or just sip on a drink and relax, there’s no shortage of options.
