Customer service is excellent. Prices are average for product. I used to go here regularly and feel like the mocha had more of a chocolate taste back then (2019-21). Today, we decided to get an iced quad shot oatmilk mocha from here and another place nearby and compare them. I'll include information on both but will say that if you want a smoother, less bitter drink, Monarch would be the better choice. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Although we got our drink to go today, we like the ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We have had mochas all over the US (including AK & HI) and in other countries that make them (some places don't), so we (and some of our friends) consider ourselves mocha connoisseurs. Iced Quad Oatmilk Mocha Monarch J: 7/10, don't taste coffee (prefer to taste more), not bitter, could use 1 step up on chocolate, sweetness okay N: 6/10, needs more coffee flavor, needs more chocolate (taste it more than Turbo but no enough for me), still a little too sweet but not as syrupy, not bitter, don't like lid because of risk of coming loose/leaking Turbo (Competitor) J: 6/10, lots of coffee, not much chocolate (prefer more), bitter, could use more sweetness N: 6/10, Strong coffee flavor (good), very (maybe too) bitter, barely any chocolate (not enough), too (syrupy) sweet I would come back but not regularly like I used to. What would make this a better mocha? IMHO, adding more of a quality unsweetened cocoa like Guittard Rouge (not sure of chocolate used), the ability to customize sweetness, and cooling the drink first in a cold cup before pouring over a bit more ice. I'm not sure why the coffee taste was weak with a quad shot, but this did have more of a chocolate taste, although I prefer more. I also appreciated that although it was still too sweet for me, it didn't taste "syrupy." The lid is a bit of a hazard, as it kept popping off. read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Monarch on right - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

We are traveling through and dipped in from the interstate. It was easy and quick. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Monarch is in a beautiful and gorgeous area with free two hour parking.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was friendly and engaging! They were patient and helpful. Both of our coffees were well made and I liked the dark Italian style roast. The muffins were out of this world good. I had the lemon olive oil muffin. I can't recommend it enough. All their sweet breads looked delicious and homemade. Great stop on our road trip!! read more

Loved loved the muffin - tasted homemade! Quick and friendly service - a must stop in Tuscaloosa for a quick breakfast bite!!!

Monarch was delightful! We stopped in before jumping back on Hwy 20 in route to SC. Both the latte and ham & cheese scone were the ! Can't recommend it enough when you need a little pick me up. read more

Notes: 1) been here once on summer holiday 2) went on Saturday for about an hour or so Pros: 1) service is awesome and quick 2) coffee was great and the food was really good 3) the bathrooms are nice and clean Cons: 1) the ambiance is okay, not a lot of decorations but there are plenty of seating and a few working outlets Rating: 4.5/5 I really enjoy coming here to work and hangout. My friend and I were coming back from the river market and wanted to do some work real quick, and this was the perfect place for it. The servers were nice and greeted us as we came in. I ordered a chai latte and a plain jalapeño cheddar bagel. The chai latte was nice and warm. It did take a bit before it came out but it was worth the wait. The jalapeño cheddar bagel came quickly and was amazing! I really really enjoyed it. You can taste the cheddar on the bagel and the spice of the jalapeño ever so often was just awesome. The bagel was fresh and I really should have gotten cream cheese on it to really balance the flavors. It's really good! I definitely recommend it. I am definitely going to go back, if only just for a bagel. Overall, def recommend. They do close at 3 pm so be wary of that time frame. Get the bagel. Park somewhere close if possible but it is close to government plaza which might make it hard. Food rating: 1) chai latte: 5/5, warm and nice and delicious, but it was pretty standard 2) jalapeño cheddar bagel: 10/5, I want a whole crate of it. read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Jalapeño cheddar bagel, plain - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

See all

Updated Review for Monarch Espresso - since my original review I have frequented Monarch many times. The worst part about this coffee shop is their consistency - HOWEVER I have had some really great lattes from this place. I feel like safe orders are oat milk cappuccino, caramel latte, and a pour over. If you are feeling risky or like the flavor combination of whatever seasonal drink they have when you visit, it might be worth a try. Monarch has a special place in my heart though because they serve Onyx coffee, which is the supreme coffee bean imo. And they are the only coffee shop in the western side of Alabama/ eastern Mississippi with any standards. I think if you are in Tuscaloosa or traveling through it, Monarch is worth the stop. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great ambience, great seating options, great menu and food options, and great service![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is really nice. It would be a great place to work/study.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I got a plain iced latte and it was really really good. Will totally be coming back to try some seasonal specials! read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Iced latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

This is one of my favorite coffee places! Coffee is amazing and fresh along with their in house baked goods. Their paleo bars are to die for and could eat every day. Wish I could get the recipe haha. Very friendly staff and always a happening place. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great service and good environment.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Meeting a new hire for discussion on a job opening. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was a little loud for the discussion at 9 am which I take was a busy time for them.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]A different time would be better of you have a discussion and need a little more quite.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I tried their mocha, and it was so indulgent. The chocolate flavor was rich but not too sweet, and it paired beautifully with the espresso. It's like dessert in a cup! read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

This place has never been my favorite coffee shop in town. [[HIGHLIGHT]]While I love the atmosphere (it is great for meeting friends or for getting some work done), and the employees are always super nice, I am always disappointed in my order.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The coffee/espresso has never impressed me. I have always found their coffee drinks either burnt or too sweet. Because of this, I normally avoid this place. I came back with a friend recently and got a chai latte and a breakfast sandwich on a bagel. Between these two items, my bill was $15 dollars, which feels a little outrageous in comparison to other shops around. For $15 dollars, my chai was maybe 12 oz and the sandwich was on the smallest bagel I have ever seen. While it all did taste good (the tea was definitely better than a coffee beverage), and you could tell the bagel was homemade, I couldn't help but still leave unsatisfied. I was still hungry and felt as though I needed more caffeine, even though I paid $15 dollars for what I thought would be a full meal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Some people love this place, but it is simply not for me. Great atmosphere and great pastries, but very pricey.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

This coffee was exactly what I needed. It had the perfect strength without being too bitter, and the flavors were so well balanced. I will definitely be coming back for more. read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

I loved Monarch! Such a cute, chill coffee shop for a small college town. The wifi was fantastic and the menu was perfect for light bites while getting some work done. Great customer service and a very good chai tea latte! Lots of students frequent this shop but it was welcoming to families as well. I would certainly return when in town. read more

See all

We ordered a Cuban and a caramel latte, and both were very good. The Cuban was only lightly sweetened with condensed milk, which made it a nice balance, but being an expert in Cuban coffee, it needed to be a little more on the sweeter side. We also tried the blueberry lemon scone, but unfortunately, it was pretty dry and lacked flavor. One thing that really stood out (negatively) was their to-go cups. For an upscale coffee shop, the cups are super plain, with no branding or even a sleeve with the name on it. It felt like a missed opportunity to make the experience more memorable. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lastly, don't expect to find a seat. The shop was packed with college students, making it hard to enjoy the space.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall, the coffee was great, but the details (like the cups, seating, and food) could use some work to match the upscale vibe they're going for.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Best latte ever! So smooooth and buttery. I love the salted caramel. Great breakfast bagels, too. Love this place. read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Stopped in as we were traveling from Starkville, MS to Gadsden, AL. We needed some caffeine, so we stopped in. The adults got a latte and an americano. Both were delicious. The adults also got a ham and cheddar scones and a paleo bar. I am not the biggest fan of savory scones, but this one was delicious. The paleo bar was actually pretty good, too. The kids got a cinnamon roll, and it was also delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We got an order to go, so we didn't stay, but the space looked pretty cool.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was really great! Check this place out if you are in Tuscaloosa and need caffeine! read more

Very interesting place, very very good coffee. However I don't think this coffee and a bagel sandwich are $15. Other than that please stop by here and try it. It's great for doing work as there are so many tables and places to study and work. The workers are super nice too. read more

See all

Best coffee shop in Tuscaloosa by far. They have different seasonal drinks and the staff do a great job

First this place has tons of seating, free parking and good wifi. So great spot for little work study sesh. Sadly the coffee wasn't great. I got one of their specials, the salted Carmel latte. It didnt taste like it had coffee in it, maybe they only use 1 shot? Their avo toast was pretty good. I would come again and order something else! read more

Stopped by here on our way out of town. It's a cute place with lots of seating for studying, working or just chatting with friends. I ordered the salted Carmel oat latter iced. Unfortunately, the coffee didn't do it for me. It had little to no caramel flavor and the coffee flavor wasn't there either. It really just tasted like a lightly sweetened oat milk. I don't like oak milk on its own so I didn't drink it. I would be willing to give them another try with a different order completely. The staff was friendly which will have me coming back when I'm in the area. read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Super cute coffee bar to study or catch up at! The interior is very modern and industrial. They have a great menu with plenty of options and homemade syrups for people to choose in their drinks. The employees are nice and helpful; the man who helped us answered all of our questions about their drinks and gave recommendations. However, I would check their hours before going; it seems like they close pretty early, and are not open on Sundays! read more

Coffee is good, but every surface in the cafe is concrete or brick pretty much so it can get pretty loud when it's busy -- there's just nothing to absorb the sound. Outlets also need replacing, they're all very loose and near unusable for charging anything with a heavier power supply. The staff is always nice and helpful with recommendations. read more

My sister started working here when it first opened years ago and this continues to be a place my family will meet up for a coffee when in town. Wonderful coffee and cozy vibes read more

Great study spot! Get the lavendar matcha. Good amount of seating for a small cafe & good pastry options.

So so. Long waits to just get a plain bagel? Also. No artificial sweeteners if any kind. Asked for stevia and they were 'out'. I asked seriously? Your are out of stevia? Response: 'people like stevia' What a shit show. read more

I love Monarch every time I go! I am a student in Tuscaloosa and spend quite a lot of free time in this coffee shop. The staff is always so friendly and super helpful. They always make the best drinks and their latte art is amazing as well! The ambiance is either loud and energetic or calm and quiet, depending on the time of day you go. I love going late afternoons if i'm trying to study in a quiet location or if i'm meeting a friend, early morning when it's lively is fun! Overall, this is my favorite coffee shop in Tuscaloosa! read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - King Cake Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

This place is overrated and overpriced. Paid almost $10 for a medium vanilla sweet cream cold brew and the smallest cinnamon roll I've ever gotten. It was hard and barely had any icing. They have such a limited menu with no options for flavor/syrup add-ins. Unless you like your coffee plain, unflavored, and not sweet, I wouldn't recommend. They do have free WiFi and tables for you to do work but it was freezing in there and I couldn't focus. read more

My family and I went twice during our visit and really enjoyed it. My daughter particularly loved the atmosphere and said she could envision coming back during future trips. My wife ordered the Cuban latte and loved it. My daughter and I ordered a made to order Honey-Lavender Iced Latte and it was delicious. I ordered an extra shot bc It wasn't dark enough at first. If you like strong coffee, I would suggest that. Overall, great coffee, ambiance, and service. read more

I visited Monarch Espresso Bar on 12/17/2020. I wanted to impress my friend, who's from Manhattan, with a great coffee shop. I ordered the White Chocolate Peppermint Iced Coffee (recommended by the barista) & my friend ordered the Tropical Blend tea (minus the honey) served hot. Both of us loved our drinks! The iced coffee had just enough peppermint added. They also let us try a sampling of a new nut butter called "Stoke". The nuts that the butters are made of vary from jar to and. I tried the Dark Chocolate Hazelnut & loved it! I highly recommend this place. I will be visiting regularly & so will my friend when he's in town. read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - White Chocolate Peppermint Iced Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Yummy fresh bagels and good coffee. When one of my drinks was not what I anticipated, they added a different flavor and adjusted it to make it more my style. Great vibe here :) read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Everything breakfast bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

See all

Such a quaint little coffee shop. Love this place and their scones are fire!! Definitely give this place a try if you are in the neighborhood read more

Great example of what a good coffee shop should be. Open, minimalist space, lots of seating, quaint vibe. Good selection of drinks which seem to be well executed, and prices that aren't too bad at all. The scones seem fresh and are delicious, and the cortado that I had hit the spot exactly as it should. Friendly staff, super clean interior, and the smell of coffee in the air. Love it. read more

See all

Okay, I can not say enough good thing about this place! When it came to Tuscaloosa it was like a breath of fresh air. Of course there are several other good coffee shops in Tuscaloosa, but this place is special. The coffee is quality and so are the people who make it. They are always exceptionally friendly and helpful. I personally really enjoy the atmosphere in this place. It is often crowded, but there is food reason for that. I also love that they host so many community events. This is just one other thing that adds to their charm. From the special Christmas shops to their barista throwdowns, they provide a fun place to gather and meet new people. I really love this place. Even after moving away from Tuscaloosa, I find my way back any time I am in town for a visit. Definitely try the Cuban latte or one of the seasonal specials for a real treat. Also, the baked good are all delicious. read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - The Mounty - a maple and brown sugar latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Absolutely DELICIOUS! My girlfriend and I had breakfast there and the food and coffee was superb! I could eat there all the time. Very clean and unique. read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

This is my favorite coffee shop in town. The coffee is incredible. They always have non dairy milks which I love and the avocado toast is to die for. The atmosphere is super cozy and I love the community tables as well as sitting at the bar. The staff are amazing, genuine, and fun! read more

This coffee place has a really nice setup. You walk in and see this vast amount of space and plenty of seats and couches. This makes for a perfect studying spot ! I ordered a Cuban and the drink was okay. There was too much of a milk aftertaste most likely because the espresso shots to milk ratio was off. I would have preferred a bit more of the lovely aromatic espresso coming through in the latte. I would ask for less milk next time. The latte art was on point though. It was pretty skilled art ! Bravo to that barista ! The WiFi was definitely the worst. I sat in the back of the cafe and the internet won't even load gmail. I don't know if it's just the location of the table or that the WiFi is just really really slow. There were 2 ppl at the cafe when I was using the WiFi so I'm afraid it's unusable when there are more ppl there .. read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

I have been going to Monarch ever since my sophomore year of college. I am now graduating this month and I wanted to say how amazing Monarch is. Monarch has always been more than a coffee house to me. Seeing friendly faces that always welcome me in, hearing relaxing music playing, hanging out with friends either studying or just catching up on life makes this place unlike any other coffee shop I have been to. It would be worth it just for the atmosphere, but the coffee is also the best in Tuscaloosa (my favorites are their cold brew, pour overs, a Cuban with honey, and the Cortado). So thank you Monarch for your amazing service to me and so many other college students, you were one of the places that made Tuscaloosa feel like home. read more

Great find! Kind of off the main street but worth the look. Great coffee and service. Well done!

I cannot explain how thankful I am for this Tuscaloosa watering hole! I come to Tuscaloosa often for business and I haven't been able to find a quite spot where I could work and meet clients - until now. Monarch Espresso Bare is a welcome find with plenty of seating and several tasty options for both food and drink. I had a calming hot green tea with a blueberry scone. It was a welcome treat that helped me knock out a fair amount of work and prepare for my upcoming meetings. Amazing service, a great selection of coffee, food, and tea as well as the perfect atmosphere for work, school and meetups make this my favorite Tuscaloosa business. read more

It's my first time here, love the atmosphere, the staff were nice. I ordered the latte as I decided to try somethibg I am famiiar with. I'll try a specialty beverage and snack next time. read more

Monarch Espresso Bar - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama