It was fine. As with most coffee shops no unsweet nondairy creamer. People were nice. Very…read morecomfortable shop.

Why do most coffee shops in Alabama have to face a parking lot? Why the heck is everything another…read moreugly strip mall? What makes it even sadder in the case of Santos, is they tried to make the exterior a little more enjoyable by putting some nice tables and even a swing outside. Sadly, without any plants separating the area from the parking lot, the entire vibe of this coffee shop, both looking out from inside and sitting outside is not that great. But, vibe aside, let's talk about how it got here. Santos is a family owned small chain. The main owner, Wendy Madden, opened the first coffee shop in 1993 in Tuscaloosa and since expanded into Santos Coffee we know today. The establishment pays homage to Guatemalan saints and ancestral lands where coffee is sourced from, from family's original plantations. The beans are roasted in Birmingham after being imported from Guatemala. The coffee is absolutely excellent here. Seriously, a very tasty latte. Oddly, they do not have an option to get it in a mug, so there is no way to avoid the plastic coating and the flimsy paper cups. Also there wasn't even a design on top of the latte...but ok, maybe that's slightly picky to highlight. Thus, Santos as a whole is a good coffee shop for to go orders. With excellent coffee quality, this is where they really shine. With that said, the vibe and serving methods need work.

Finally made it to Baba Java Coffee, and I wish I hadn't waited so long! I had the cappuccino and…read moremy friend got the latte, both delicious. The cappuccino was stronger than what I usually go for, but smooth, not bitter at all. The ambiance is really nice, mostly tables and chairs with one cozy area that has softer seating. A few people were working on laptops, so it seems like a good spot to post up for a bit. Parking was easy too. Will definitely be back!

Having opened in 2019, Baba Java entered the area's coffee shop scene at a time when coffee for…read moremost local residents was still associated with one single chain. This was the first location of Baba Java and has since expanded through the city. Ran my Omani entrepreneurs, this little coffee shop became quite popular over the years. The staff working here are mostly teenagers or college students, who are very attentive and professional despite their young age. The owner clearly picked out incredible folks to be here who make Baba Java feel both welcoming and well kept. The interior of the space is fairly basic coffee shop design, but admittedly, a little bit dated in 2026 and lacks the unique vibe of some other independent coffee shops. Window views facing the strip mall parking lot don't create much of an ambiance either. With that said, design is not the main thing to come here for. The coffee is excellent and priced very reasonably, offering a great value for an establishment of this sort. There is easy to access WiFi and an overall feeling of being welcomed. A solid little coffee shop that allows customers to support some local business owners instead of a big chain.

Been passing this place for almost a year and finally decided to stop and try. I picked the best…read moretime to do it! Bullet Coffee is hard to miss if you're driving south on 31 in Pelham. When you get to the light at the corner of 31 and Pelham Park Blvd, just look to the right and you'll see a quaint little white building. Behind it is the Pelham Public Library which looms over Bullet and to the other side of Bullet is Edgars Bakery. As mentioned BC has been there about a year now. The other BC is on 280 and there's one more in Fairhope. All are owned by the same individual who also owns their sister store the Red Mountain Expresso. BC is not technically another "pop up" coffee place because this is actually a brick and concrete building albeit it's just big enough to be a full service drive thru, but it doesn't have any seating inside or out. Just a drive thru. The drive-thru is planned nicely so it's easy to get to the order window then around to the pickup/pay window. Their menu options long and diverse but also typical of any coffee place. They also serve fresh daily sausage biscuits and pimento cheese biscuits. They have specialties like the Turtle latte, Classics like cold brew, blended drinks like frappes and non coffee drinks like iced teas and chai. I was lucky today because they are in middle of running a special called Frappy Hour good for another week. From 3-6pm all medium frappes are $2! I tried the Java Chip and Cookie & Cream. She asked me if I wanted the "coffee" or "milk" based. The coffee is the traditional way but the milk would be more like a milkshake. I chose coffee. I didn't get whipped cream which was offered. I only had to wait a couple minutes after paying. She even gave me a frequent visitor card. Get 10 drinks, get the 11th free! The cookies and cream was good, but the java chip was even better. Nicely blended, cool and refreshing on this warm afternoon. Yom Yom Yom Yom. It hit the spot! Welcome to Pelham BC!

It was a Thursday morning and I decided to stop for coffee on my way to work. This was my first…read moretime ever having bullet coffee. When I arrived, there was at least seven cars in front of me, which was a good sign. The drive-through is a little narrow. You order through one window and then you pick up on the other side of the window. I ordered an iced rush-hour coffee and after lighthouse which I got. The consistency was creamier than I would've liked other iced coffees. I've had are more liquidy. It was good. It wasn't the best. I probably will be back to try the other different flavors. The staff couldn't have been friendlier. Besides the drive-through you can also walk up and get coffee. This is right in front of the Pelham library which is nice because before or after you go the library can get you a little treat.

The Place are nice & clean . Stuff friendly Drink also so…read morerefreshing Would recommend!!!!

Inconsistent unfortunately. Also very pricey…read more First time I got a PSL and it was good. Second time I got a strawberry mojito and I was blown away even though I paid $7 for it. Next time I got the same thing and the mint was old and they made it in the same mixer as make the coffee in so I kept getting a coffee after taste. When I ordered the large they just put more ice in it and it costs close to $9. I started coming here after I got food poisoning from Charley's strawberry lemonade because the strawberries in it had gone bad and bacteria grew from them not washing their dispenser. Now it seems like this place may be taking the same short cuts with cleanliness and quality. But I'm paying double here. Not cool. Please ask employees to rinse mixers and not put in old limes and mint.

I guess you could call this hidden gem. Aden Cafe is nestled among the wildwood shopping center off…read moreof lakeshore parkway. Known for its middle eastern style offerings including Yemeni coffee and other kinds of coffee (hot or iced), pastries, crepes, and ice cream you will find it hard to find something you won't like. The place itself is a relaxed environment where you could study or catch up with friends. I tried the iced Aden latte (espresso, milk, pistachio and lavender) and it's the best coffee off of lakeshore. None of the flavors were overpowering the others. I also ordered a biscoff crepe and a sabaya. The sabaya was flaky and crispy, smothered in delicious honey. It wasn't the thickest sabaya but I enjoyed it! The biscoff crepe was so decadent. The crepe itself was soft and chewy, the perfect texture for such a delicious crepe. The fruit given with it also paired well with the drizzled sauce. I am looking forward to supporting this locally owned spot more often!

The pastry quality was below average. The girl was not…read morewelcoming at all and apparently she couldn't explain their menu! We ordered one piece of each type of baklava that was already prepared and displayed in the shop, but they charged us for two of each. When we asked about it, they refused to correct the order and claimed they had already prepared and warmed them for us. That was not true,the baklava was not even warm. The customer service was awful, and the taste was honestly worse than boxed baklava you can buy from a grocery store. Very disappointing experience.

Bluff park collective is a gem. The shop is Full of coffee and coffee related items for sale and…read morepastries (plus pre packaged seasonal items such as valentines treats). The space is a homey albeit a little small. It feels like a community space where you can catch up with old friends who just happen to be there at the same time. The coffee menu isn't the biggest or the most creative, but the focus is on quality old time classics here. I grabbed a drink and espresso to go. The espresso is thin bodied, sweet, and has a touch of a pleasant acidity. Perfect for a morning or late afternoon pick me up. I haven't made my way through the menu (yet) but I will be back to try more!

I've been here twice now and disappointed both times.. the drinks just taste watery and I can't…read moreeven taste the syrup flavoring at all. I had a dirty chai and caramel latte. Both were decent at best.

Cala Coffee was such a great first visit! I stopped by to try their matcha and wasn't sure what to…read moreorder, but the barista recommended her personal favorite: an iced half strawberry/half vanilla matcha with oat milk (my usual substitute) and extra sweet. It ended up being perfect--sweet but not overly sweet, and really flavorful. I also signed up for their rewards program and got $5 off my first order, which was a nice bonus. I originally wanted to sit outside since the weather was so nice, but ended up sitting inside. Next time I'll try to get there earlier to grab an outdoor spot. Parking is pretty tight--the front lot is small--but I was lucky to find a spot, and I noticed some people parked on the surrounding streets. Overall, it was a really good experience and I'm excited to go back!

unpopular opinion alert…read more People rave about this place so my expectations were set pretty high I won't lie. Unfortunately my go to order is an iced latte with skim milk and they don't have skim. I was hoping to get a little treat to go with my coffee but they were all piled on top of each other in the display case which made them look really unappealing. I am not talking croissants on croissants or muffins on muffins, I mean everything on top of each other which also makes me feel like options for people with allergies may be limited. The staff were really kind and the barista suggested 2% or almond milk as alternative options for me which was very kind but just not my favorite. The interior and outdoor seating are very cute. They have mini prints and larger prints for sale. I really think the larger prints would make a great locally made present! Ultimately, I don't think this is my spot due to dietary restrictions but it might be good spot for you.

Great food and drinks, great service. Sandwiches are AMAZIIIINNNGGG!! The owners and so kind and…read morefriendly!

The coffee tasted plain, with little bitterness or sweetness to stand out. The aroma was faint,…read morebarely noticeable. Service was quick but impersonal. Overall, fine but not exciting.