Cala Coffee Downtown

Cala Coffee is a staple for coffee lovers. My family judges a shop by their cortados, kid steamers, pastry options, and interior design—and Cala nails all of it. Vibes are high, service is quick, and there’s plenty of seating. They’ve got great breakfast tacos and pastries, and it’s super close to the science center and other kid-friendly spots. Staff is kind, too. A must-go every time we’re in town!

I loved watching the renovations prior to Cala Cahaba Heights’ opening and was very excited to try it. As soon as I did, I was in love! So I was thrilled to see they opened a downtown location which is much more convenient for me. Their flavors are so different and I believe many of them are house-made. Their ham and cheese croissant with the sesame seeds on top is my favorite. I haven’t tried their breakfast tacos yet, but I’m sure I will next time I go in :) I’m unsure of her name, but the same girl has helped me every time I’ve been in and she has been super kind. Recently, I’ve tried the salted caramel cold brew, YUM! In the fall, the maple latte was delicious as well. I feel like you truly cannot go wrong! There is also a lot of seating and outlets for computers. The bathrooms are clean. They also sell wine and I noticed they have a record player out with a selection of records that you can ask the barista to play an album for you! Really such a bright and cheerful place to spend your study time or friend time.

We arrived about 8:30 on Saturday morning to only one or two other patrons in the shop. We got cappuccinos, a couple of Ladybird chorizo & egg breakfast tacos, and a chocolate croissant. The tacos were warm, but when we got to the croissant we discovered it was a little cooler than room temp. So I went and waited behind two people to make it to the counter and asked them to warm it up. He took it and said he'd bring it out after warming it. We sipped our cappuccinos a bit while we waited but after nearly 10 minutes I went back to check. This time I didn't wait in the now pretty long line but went to the side. After a minute or two I finally caut an eye and the young lady said "I know; it'll be 2 or 3 minutes more". So I went back to our table to now cold cappuccino and waited more. Another 6 or 7 minutes, then the same person came to our table and told us they'd forgotten about it - again - and that it burned. She did apologize. But they had another warming for us, and brought it out after another few minutes. The guy who delivered it said "here you go" and left immediately without any eye contact, though he was the one who took it to warm in the first place. Who wants a room temp chocolate croissant any way? When ordering that, they should really have asked if we'd like it warmed instead of all the hassle of doing it afterwards. The food was good, as was the cappuccino. It's a cool, trendy space too, with a decent soundtrack in the background. Service was the worst part of our visit this morning. We'll try it again sometime and hope this was a fluke.

I love Cala!!! Perfect place to study, go on a date, hang with friends, or just grab a cup of coffee!! Every time a friend visits from out of town, this is the first place I bring them!

This is my first time visiting Cala. I don't do to many reviews. But, the Coffee is SO Good!!!! I Love the Atmosphere! VERY Peaceful. If I didn't have to go to work I would have sat down and sipped my coffee. The Customer Service is "IMPECCABLE"!!! Many Success Cala! And, THANK YOU!!!! I Will Be Back.😊

Arriving at Cala Coffee 15 mins before it closed, I accepted that I may not have the best experience. When I took my first sip of my lavender latte and it smelled like I was transported to a beautiful field filled with lavender, I was so glad I fought for parking and ran over before closing. If you work in downtown Birmingham or just pass through, make the stop. The coffee is worth it!

Cala is one of my favorite places to be in Birmingham! They have great drinks for coffee and tea people. Currently, my favorite is the autumn matcha. The street parking is free in front of the store is free and typically available. Cala also sells wine. I have a tried a few and they have all been great! Overall, Cala is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood.

tables in the entrance if you have a group with you, or both sides of a bar if you’re by yourself. The entrance is well lit and a slightly subdued lighting further inside. Not sure if it was because we dropped by an hour before closing time but the drinks (espresso, cortado, chai) come in paper cups as if it’s a high volume cafe that wants to get you in and out as quickly as possible. The espresso didn’t come with fizzy water, it tasted alright though.

My son recommended this spot to meet. There is sufficient parking on both sides of the street, in addition to the parking lot right beside the coffee shop. However, please note that this parking lot is a PAID parking lot 24/7. There are signs saying as much, but wanted to reiterate it as it could be an expensive lesson to learn. I arrived at the coffee shop about 9am when there was only one other customer there. As the morning progressed, it became quite busy, with most of the seating taken. I typically get the dark roast drip but they only had light or medium today. Their medium roast was still delicious. Lots of students and folks with their dogs stopping in. The vibe here is great. Perfect place to catch up with a friend or get some work done.

Always love going to Cala. There's more than enough seating. I especially love the bar seating. The natural sunlight and funky lighting is perfect for a chill afternoon drink. I usually go for coffee but I got a matcha this time and it was great. The staff is superb and always amazing at this location. Downtown also has more coffee options plus wine if you're into that!

Had great experiences every time. The cold brew is fantastic, it's very hard to find a good roaster, and sometimes even more difficult to find a good roaster that makes a good cold brew. These guys have it covered. Plus , one afternoon I ran a little short on time for my walk over from the hotel arriving about 3 minutes after closing time. Hesitantly, I tapped on the glass (I really needed a coffee). The barista came over and let me in for a cold brew! Made my day.

Super friendly, great coffee & great pastries. Would I be back? Heck yeah! I set here for 5 hours working and the time flew by. They remained busy and steady throughout the day. I can't wait to try another pastry.

Beautiful coffee location in downtown Birmingham! Friendly barista, and our coffees were perfectly balanced. We enjoyed the last almond croissant while enjoying the art deco building through the window. They were pretty busy inside with people working on laptops and meetings.

New coffee spot occupying the space formerly held by Revelator. Happy to report that they are maintaining the vibe and the quality of the previous tenant, (which I loved). Come here for top notch caffienated beverages, delightful baked goods, and an easygoing, calm vibe that's perfect for those just waking up as well as for those who are wide awake and looking to get some work done.

Such a lovely coffee shop in downtown!! Caught up with one of my best friends here and couldn't believe how late to the game I've been for Cala. I'm not a big matcha girl but this latte with the added strawberry was super good. I'm also not the biggest pastry fan but the croissant was perfectly buttery and flakey, and not at all too sweet! The baristas were just as lovely as the food and had a smile on their faces the entire time we were in the cafe. It was very clean and mainly occupied by people studying/working...will definitely be coming back to do the same once the upcoming semester starts!

Atmosphere: Cala Coffee's Downtown location is surprisingly spacious and has a beautiful interior. We went on a cloudy day, and the soft, dim light made the entire cafe feel nice and cozy. Service: Our barista was friendly and happily provided us with recommendations. Our drinks also came out quickly! Food: We ordered a Grinchy Matcha Latte, a Chai Latte, and a Cappuccino. The Grinchy Matcha, which is a matcha latte with cinnamon and peppermint syrups, was a pleasant surprise! It tasted mainly like peppermint with hints of matcha. It was very sweet but satisfying. The Chai Latte wasn't too sweet and had a warm hint of spice to it. Lastly, the Cappuccino was fresh, frothy, and the espresso tasted nice. Overall: We've previously checked out Cala Coffee's Cahaba Heights location and were instant fans. The Downtown location, though not as convenient in terms of parking, was just as lovely and had great quality drinks. We'd love to come back in the future and try their other seasonal drinks!

A lot of coffee shops can kind of blend together and all taste the same. Not the case for Cala. It stands out! Whenever we are in town, it's a given that I will want to go by Cala for a pick-me-up. My go-to is their iced maple brown sugar latte. It is perfect. The right proportion of espresso to milk to sweetness. So well balanced. We typically order online, and the pick-up is seamless. The baristas are always friendly. There are plenty of tables inside to relax or complete some work. Definitely recommend!

Located downtown with street parking. My family and I decided to go here for chocolate chai tea lattes, iced of course lol. Staff was friendly, not too busy on a Saturday morning I believe they had just opened. Inside was decorated nicely and very clean. We decided to take our drinks to go but I would definitely visit this location again.

Love the atmosphere, felt very welcoming and cozy. Barista recommended the maple sea salt latte, I was not sure what to expect but it was perfect, not too sweet. The area is very spacious and there are plenty of outlets for work. A variety of sizes in workspace. Many other beverage options for those who don't want to go for coffee. I look forward to returning for their ladybird tacos and a pastry.

This appears new. Nice environment. They have pastries. We went to try the chai tee and we tried the chocolate chai latte tea and it was great. the waitresses there greet you coming in and tell you they appreciated your visit on the way out. I recommend this business. Drop by and make a purchase.

Nicest barista. Absolutely fantastic Americano. Super caring and considerate people. Helped us with everything we needed! Great coffee.

THIS IS HOW WE BREW IT! For all the coffee lovers out there, Cala Coffee has just opened their newest location in the former Relevator site, across from the McWane Science Center. I know a lot of us were nearly heart broken when Relevator closed down, but fear not a new coffee shop has taken over and is creating waves. I have been a big fan of Cala for a while now. They started as a small cart at the Pepper Place farmers market, then had a pop-up right behind Fig Tree in Cahaba Heights. Moving forward opening their brick and mortar in Cahaba to now opening the newest location right in the heart of Downtown Birmingham. The inside is spacious and the perfect setting for anyone who is able to do remote work. Lots of seating, and space to relax. The environment is layed back and chill, with homey vibes. I came in mid morning on a Monday. Now if you know anything about Birmingham, Mondays are especially difficult when looking for something to do. The city definitely suffers hard from the Monday blues, but not at Cala. I'm very happy, and I am sure the business folks who work in the area that there is at least one coffee shop down town that is opened on Mondays. Since the Autumn season is here, Cala is featuring their fall drink menu. They have a wide selection of all fall themed drinks, with the addition of their everyday menu there is defiantly something for everyone. I ordered the maple brown sugar latte and it was like a hug in a cup. Not super sweet either which was extra special. They even offer different variations of milks for those who have trouble with whole. An unexpected surprise was that they offer Ladybird Tacos alongside their coffees. If you are looking to have a breakfast taco with your coffee, you definitely need to get their early to get the pick of the litter. These tacos are very good, but they will run out fast, we love to see small businesses supporting other small businesses and Birmingham/Alabama does very well with this. Overall, I highly suggest checking out Cala Coffee downtown. Spacious, homey, delicious. Whose to complain? Service was also impeccable.

Cute coffee shop with friendly staff and tasty coffee. A friend and I found this place on yelp and tried it while in Birmingham recently. Cute vibe. Worth a visit!

Nice small coffee shop. The coffee is amazing but what really makes them good is the TACOS.

Nice, clean establishment...servers are friendly and the latte was perfect but while the taco was tasty it is way undersized for the price.

What an amazing coffee place right downtown! Love their freshly roasted coffee and the baristas were great, too! :)

I just want to start by saying this was one of the best croissants I have ever had. From the freshness of the croissant to the texture and the overflow of almond flavor. Having the strawberry latte paired with this was just the cherry on top. I will definitely be back and I hope you check them out as well

Coffee is mediocre and if u walk in anywhere close to closing they act like they can't make your coffee. I'll stick to santos and Saturn.

Cala Coffee Downtown has super cool decor - the original brick walls and clever signage make it a fun place to hang out. I didn't love my coffee drink but that's on me for trying something new that I wasn't sure about. They had a pretty good selection and the service was very efficient. Will definitely return.

Cala offers a really great coffee collection and ambiance. Whenever I'm in Birmingham, I always drop by.

Such a great vibe. Service was very friendly. Would recommend sitting at the bar. Lots of people studying or meeting up.

Great ambience and conveniently located downtown. Cute and unique coffee shop with a great variety of flavor offerings. Tried the honey latte with oatmilk! Awesome! They do offer natural wine also. I will try during my next visit.

Cute coffee shop with tables for studying. Coffee is great, staff is nice! They host cool events too like improve nights and serve alcohol.

Excellent service and a culinary experience. Great breakfast tocos, never had a breakfast toco until today. Best chia tea ever. My hubby enjoyed the latte.

Cala is my absolute favorite coffee shop in Birmingham! Not only are their drinks and food options incredible, but the staff is kind and the location provides the perfect place to study, meet friends, or pick up a coffee for a walk outside.

I came in on Nov 18. I hate leaving bad reviews, especially when it comes to local businesses, but this shop did not impress me. The coffee was too acidic for my taste, and the service was not friendly or welcoming. I came in before 3:30 with my husband's family. They are not from the US, but we were all very excited to try a local coffee shop. His uncle requested a single espresso shot served in an espresso cup instead of the cheap paper cup. At first they told us no, that they were getting ready to close, but then agreed to let us have it if we drank it really quickly so they could wash everything. I can't remember exactly what was said, but it was very rude and even more awkward to translate to him. Of course it's not going to take him forever to drink a tiny espresso, and why is it that big of an ordeal to wash his cup? It was a little embarrassing for the service to not only be rude, but for the local product to be mediocre as well.