First latte I had from Cala was here and it was amazing. Brown sugar vanilla iced. This place has…read morebeen my fav go-to coffee shop since. Nice baristas and it's always pretty packed inside. I frequent both locations and will most likely frequent the new one in mountain brook as well!

3.5 but I'll round up just cause I think I got a lil unlucky…read more Came by here for some caffeine after the event at Salud in Birmingham. I was specifically super excited to try their seasonal matcha special, which was made with horchata (also from Salud!) and strawberries, if I recall correctly. Unfortunately, we walked in only to find they were out of the supplies needed to make the drink. :( I was caught off guard and didn't know what to order, but the barista recommended a latte with maple flavor so I went with that. The interior was clean and spacious and had a relaxed and calm but energetic feeling to it. Good place to hang out or work quietly. There's a self-service area to spruce up or fix your drink or grab lids or stir sticks. Service was nice and my drink came out quickly. It was pretty good but not really the "right" drink for me. I like my stuff on the sweet side and this was much more balanced and coffee-forward. That said, it held its own against my sugar-craving taste buds and I drank most of it, which is usually the hallmark of good brew, lol. I don't really blame them because I blanked on what to order and just went with what was suggested. It's probably a great suggestion for lots of other folks! Would be happy to come back and try a different beverage. Seems like a nice place overall. :)

This hip and fun coffeehouse is located right across the street from Railroad Park, making it a…read moreperfect stop for a coffee before or after a stroll. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, so you can enjoy your coffee wherever you're most comfortable. They have some amazing signature flavors that caught my attention. Instead of going with a regular cappuccino, I decided to try the "Havana Brown," made with hazelnut and Irish cream. It was a treat to try something different, but it wasn't overly sweet, which I personally like. The staff seemed really friendly and welcoming, and they were more than happy to offer recommendations. I also loved seeing how involved they are in the local community. There's a board along the wall featuring upcoming local events, which gives the shop an even more welcoming, neighborhood feel.

If a random stranger came through the city of Birmingham, stumbled around aimlessly for a while and…read morefinally worked up the nerve to ask a local for a suggestion to grab a coffee, Red Cat would likely be at the top of that list. It's one of Birmingham's original coffee shops as coffee culture started to transition from the realms of iHop and Denny's into something that one might actually appreciate. Red Cat opened here in 2008, close to the time when Railroad Park was forming up in front of it as well. Of course, beans are roasted in house. Of course, the views are very pleasant overlooking railroad park across the street. And, what other colors could mugs be other than red? The layout inside is pleasant, although does have a bit of that "overly private" feel. The way that tables are positioned, it's not conducive to having a chat with a stranger. Depending on the vibe one is looking for, that can be a good or a bad thing. Basically, this is where you come if you don't want to be bothered. As a whole, a wonderful spot to enjoy one of their signature Espresso blends.

Maple Avenue Coffee House is a winner. The staff are some of the friendliest people you'll…read moremeet--welcoming, helpful, and genuinely kind. It's the kind of place where you walk in once and feel like a regular. The atmosphere is super cozy and well put together. Comfortable seating, and a great layout whether you're just grabbing a drink or planning to stay a while. Using it as a work spot, it's perfect--quiet enough to focus, but still has a nice energy to it. Also, the music they play is spot-on--relaxing and chill, but never distracting. It really helps set the tone for the space. Overall, Maple Avenue Coffee House is the combination of great people, great vibes, and great coffee. Highly recommend if you're looking for a relaxing place to work or unwind!

I can never get enough of this place! This is a fantastic coffee house to grab a hot or cold…read morecoffee drink, catch up with a friend , etc. The space is so cozy and welcoming! I always receive the most pleasant service each visit.

I had the chance to visit during an event, and it was a great first experience! The person taking…read moremy order was incredibly helpful and patient, offering recommendations based on what I was looking for. His suggestion--the Honey Cinnamon Latte--was absolutely spot on. This was actually my first hot latte since I usually order my coffee iced, and it completely changed my mind. It was warm, flavorful, and the perfect balance of honey and cinnamon. I'll definitely be branching out and trying more hot drinks in the future because of this experience. The shop itself was very clean and had a welcoming atmosphere. I also liked that they had games available, making it a great place to relax, meet up with friends, or even get some work done. While I can imagine this location gets pretty busy during the week, visiting on a Sunday made for a stress-free experience, and I had no trouble finding parking. Overall, I had a wonderful visit and will definitely be back to try more of the menu!

I stopped in on a Friday morning due to seeing a post on IG the night before for a BOGO coffee. It…read moresaid to mention the post and you'd get a BOGO. I did notice the post was from March however it just freshly popped up on my timeline. When I mentioned it, they unfortunately weren't honoring it. But no big deal! I noticed when I walked in that there was plenty of seating which I love for a coffee shop. The menu is very small. But the place is pretty new. They have only a few basic flavors but I would assume they will get more as time passes. I love the uniqueness of a coffee shops menu so it was a little disappointing. Nonetheless, I was still excited to try. The barista recommended the Manu, the vanilla & cinnamon latte. It's actually pretty good! Nothing I would run back to. But the location is very convenient for me. The baristas, Kerrick and Lex, were very helpful in choosing my order.

What a wonderful coffee shop! Excellent coffee, a welcoming atmosphere, and a place where you can…read moretruly feel the passion for quality. A special thank you to Lee Wideman, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at an event in Birmingham. He didn't recommend Baba Java because he works there--he recommended it because he genuinely believes in it. After visiting the very next day, I completely understood why. Great coffee is always worth it, and this place is absolutely worth a visit. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Birmingham. Thank you, Lee, for the recommendation!

Disappointed in the discontinued entry of the fruit oriented popsicles. That was my main reason for…read morestopping at this shop. Didn't order any thing. Place is still well organized. Best wishes. They now have donuts.

A much needed coffee shop in this part of downtown! Their lattes are decent but their drip is…read moreexceptional. Servers are warm, friendly and accommodating. A+ for having plenty of seating.

The menu isn't extensive at Whammy, but I do think they try to have options for everyone. The staff…read morewere very nice. The inside was pretty packed when I came but the outside area was shaded and empty. The outside seating was probably the highlight of my visit. I didn't necessarily find anything that really stood out to me about Whammy, but I do recommend you come try it for yourself. The latte wasn't my favorite but I didn't get one of their featured drinks, I kinda made my own so I don't like to make that my whole basis of my coffee review.

Solid coffee offerings & friendly staff. The space is awesome, and there was plenty of seating…read moreoptions. It's located in a nearby part of downtown Ensley area. They have a couple of neat creative drinks on the menu, and it looks like they're planning on building out more of the building to be more full-service in the near future. This is a great addition to the area. I'm hoping they stick around! Parking is easy on the street or in the nearby lot.

This was a hidden gem in the Ensley area! I was surprised once I walked into the spacious and…read morequaint environment. As a coffee lover I will say they did a great job winning me over with the sweet dream drink. It was great with the perfect amount of coffee and sweetness. Service was great and I'll glad to know that it's here!

Very pleasant little location! I was craving the Dragon Fruit drink "Dragon Drink" and was very…read morepleased at how friendly and kind the staff were. It was late in the evening and they were happy to serve me regardless of the time. There was no line at this time and they had my drink out to me in less than 2 minutes. I also genuinely like this area-- the drive through is a tad bit awkward, but the area makes up for it. I look forward to going back for my Dragon Drink, and look forward to the same service I received.

So I have been here like 3 times because if you have one bad experience, it can't all be bad,…read moreright? Wrong. The worst of it all is that drive through smells so bad that I almost puked. There must be a sewer right there. I had to constantly spray perfume for the 10 minutes that I sat in my car, otherwise I would have puked all over the drive through, and there was no way to exit once you enter. How can you have a food establishment, especially a drive through next to something so putrid? That has to be a violation of some sort. During that experience, my coffee was also incorrect. I had ordered a VBF with 2 shots, because I'm pretty sure you can't order the cafe VBF in the app anymore. There was no coffee in it. I went back (in store), my very simple drink with extra caramel was wrong somehow. Every other location can do it but this one can't? They also didn't have utensils or straws out for customers. And when I tried to say thank you, nobody acknowledged me.