Whether you’re a local making your daily commute, visiting for a conference, or there to see Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, downtown Birmingham, Alabama has some top class specialty coffee shops to fuel your day.
Birmingham, Alabama
The second largest city in Alabama and founded at the intersection of two major train lines, Birmingham is nicknamed “Magic City” because it seemed to grow over night, like magic. Birmingham was home to heroes of the American Civil Rights Movement and celebrates this heritage. Contemporary Birmingham envisions itself as creating a “new South”, celebrating Birmingham’s diversity and impact on the culinary scene and the arts.
JUNE
213 25th St N Suite C, Birmingham, AL 35203 (Google Maps)
One of Birmingham’s best specialty coffee shops, JUNE began as a whole sale roaster in 2018, selling coffee beans to local businesses founded by Jimmy Truong. JUNE has since expanded to their own coffee shop. Their menu features single origin drip and espresso, along with their signature mixed drinks. JUNE takes great pride in their carefully sourced and roasted coffee beans, I highly recommend trying a single origin latte when they’re available.
JUNE also also serve breakfast tacos from Ladybird Taco and select pastries from their neighbor and sister shop, Last Call Baking Company.
Last Call Baking Company was founded by James Beard Award Emerging Chef 2024 finalist, Channah Willis. In 2025 Willis sold Last Call Baking Company to JUNE founder Jimmy Truong who carries on the company’s mission. Last Call Baking Company continues to make top class pastries with a mix of classics and innovative flavors, their menu including goods like kouign amann, berry cream cheese danish, chili oil danish, and gochujang twists.
Overall, JUNE is a great spot to enjoy an excellent cup of coffee and pastry while catching up with friends, reading, or getting some work done.
Cala Coffee Downtown
1826 3rd Ave N #101, Birmingham, AL 35203 (Google Maps)
Cala Coffee Downtown began as a specialty coffee cart and has expanded into two brick and mortar store fronts. Their downtown location is an excellent place to enjoy their house roaster beans, offering single origin drip and espresso based drinks, as well as their seasonal and staple mixed drink items. Cala Coffee also has a selection of pastries and breakfast tacos to help fuel your mornings.
Bandit Pâtisserie
2323 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203 (Google Maps)
Founded by James Beard Award 2026 semifinalist for Best Chef in the South, Bandit Pâtisserie serves unique pastries alongside Birmingham roasted coffee from Domestique Coffee. Bandit Pâtisserie strongest point is their unique pastries like their pastrami croissant, seasonal king cake pop-tarts, and cherry baskets. While their pastry menu changes with the seasons, their croissant dough quality remains unwavering. I highly recommend stopping into Bandit Pâtisserie.
Grounds
2214 2nd Ave N Ste 100, Birmingham, AL 35203 (Google Maps)
Serving coffee with beans from Cala Coffee, Grounds combines specialty coffee, craft chocolate, and hand crafted goods from all over America. With their mission to create a space for everyone, they encourage using Grounds as a ‘third place’, to spend time with friends or hangout on your laptop. We highly recommend stopping in for a curated coffee experience.
When visiting Birmingham, Alabama be sure to check out their specialty coffee shops!
