As it'd been suggested to me, Urban Cafe on Church Street was to be my breakfast destination before I started heading back to London. It's a good location just a short walk from Colmore Row and St Philips Cathedral square (also known as Pigeon Park by the locals). The cafe itself is actually really nice. It felt lively but not busy when I walked in. I had a quick look at the menu and, as I was really rather hungry, I went full on hipster and had the Avocado Smash with bacon and poached eggs. I tell you what - this cafe is not cheap. The avocado smash and a coffee cost me more than £10. Can you believe that? In Birmingham! It did taste good but for that amount of money I would expect to have had 2 slices of toasted sour dough with avocado along with the bacon and eggs.The coffee was delicious so I would go back for that alone (and it wasn't extortionately priced). read more

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Another great venue in the Urban Coffee Companies very respected string of cafes around Birmingham. Every time I have been in here I have not only left with a great cup of coffee I have also had great service from their team of smiley friendly baristas. This branch of Urban Coffee has a small mezzanine area where they sometimes have events or private hires making it more versatile than some of the other cafes. Due to that and its location you get a real mixed crowd of people in the store all the time. Everyone from young creatives right through to suited and booted businessmen are regularly enjoying a cup of the dark stuff in the chilled out and laid back space. My personal favourite beverage from here is a skimmed hazelnut latte....if you are into hazelnut flavoured drinks they syrup they are using here is AMAZING. read more

Urban Coffee Company - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

I really can't believe I haven't already reviewed this place! Urban Coffee was the first of what has become an expanding (but still small!) chain of coffee shops in Birmingham. The brand was started by two people who had a love of coffee and couldn't understand why there wasn't an independent coffee offering in Birmingham like there is in London. They decided to open an independent coffee shop. Two more shops and a couple more in the works and now Urban Coffee has become one of the main names in independent coffee in Birmingham. This branch is probably my favourite. Downstairs feels quite busy. If you're nipping in for a coffee or meeting, or doing some work then it does the trick. Upstairs is much more relaxed. The coffee here is good. It's not my personal favourite in the city, but don't interpret that as me saying it's bad. I'm more than happy to grab a flat white here! They also have a great range of snacks and alternative drinks if you don't need that caffeine fix. They are also licensed, so if the day is really going south, craft beers and a small selection of spirits can be your friend. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the noise. For some reason I find the coffee machine in here really loud! As a result, I tend not to have business one on one meetings in here; it just gets a bit shouty. Other than that, I would recommend getting into Urban Coffee, and you could do a lot worse than starting here. read more

Urban Coffee Company - And that was breakfast :-) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Birmingham is fast becoming a hub for GREAT coffee. We now have a growing number of lovely independents, each offering something a little different to their user base. Urban is a great base to meet someone for a casual coffee a bit later in the evening or work out of home. Depending on what you're looking for, there are wooden tables/desks (with power points) or comfy armchairs and beanbags (if you are chilling out with a book or a newspaper). The staff are always friendly and welcoming with interesting chitchat and recommendations (if you're unsure of what each kind of coffee is). They also do a nice healthy lunch range, if you need to grab something on the go. It can be noisy (depending on the time of day), so maybe not a great place for conference calls - but if like me you need a level of background noise to do work; it's perfect. Urban get a 4* rather than 5* (sorry guys) due to the heat in the shop! I love the layout of the place, but it does get awfully warm upstairs. I don't think there is a lot they can do about it as it's an old building, but it can get unbearable in summer. They also do a number of events in both branches, so if you're looking for something to do - check out the website. read more

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I've walked past this place many times and never went in. Was meeting Vicky for coffee and deciding where to go. When she found out I had never been to UCC, it was the place to go. Space isn't big. It is decent enough. More room upstairs. Simple interior nothing too flashy (I like simple) I had a chai latte which has become a favourite of mine at the moment. Cup looked pleasing. Looked really good compared to other places. And the taste?.....without doubt the best chai latte I've had. Tasted amazing and now I know where to go for Chai Latte. I will ofcourse visit again and see what else they have to offer. read more

Urban Coffee Company - best chai latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

I had a coffee meeting here at Urban Coffee today. I knew that I would need to beat the 1pm rush to get a table so I arrived at 12.30 and parked myself upstairs. I was straight on to the WIFI.. I don't drink Coffee but I like the space upstairs for working/meeting. It makes me want to sit and do work for a few hours. oh and I've a tip! the chairs upstairs all seem to have pull out stools built into them. I mean this probably isn't a tip but if you've not noticed that be fore that means it's a tip yea? read more

Urban Coffee Company - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

since moving i became a strong lover of coffee and most of last year went to Starbucks and Costa which made a manger impact to the bank balance and never tasted all that good. However since doing Coffee Birmingham a couple of weeks ago and raising awareness of indie coffee shops and to me. I can say i am now a fully pledge indie supporter. Urban coffee is one of my favourite indie coffee shops as it always buzzing and the staff are so friendly. Only yesterday i was at one event held there and even though i didn't get time to grab a coffee so many people who did were saying how lovely it was. So you get great coffee, free wifi, delicious food and top it off it doesn't cost the earth, why go mainstream indie is where its at read more

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The Church Street branch of Urban Coffee has fast become my favourite city centre meeting point. I'm so at home on it's mezzanine floor, I could sit there on my laptop all day. The coffee is delicious with lots of varieties to choose from and the cakes are on another planet - Earl Grey cupcakes?! YUM. For a light bite, I can recommend their home-made soup and chunky bread. In fact, I might have to go there for lunch tomorrow! Urban is the perfect place to meet and talk business. It somehow manages to pull off both relaxed and formal at the same time and has a kind of New York loft feel with the mezzanine floor. I love that they have a load of bean bags and a TV upstairs but also a meeting table and a 'take me' bookshelf. You really do get all types going in there and it's a great place for people-watching or just to catch up on a bit of work. Check out their beautifully designed and functional website and don't forget to add them on Twitter for updates @urbancoffeeco Finally, you'll be interested to know that you can purchase their coffee to take home and they are now catering for events too. read more

Urban Coffee Company - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Always something going on here! It's such a busy coffee shop, which reflects the quality of their products and service. They do the Star Social meet up groups here regularly, have a book club, poetry sessions and bands playing. Really great atmosphere. They also have a points card. read more

Heading into hear around lunch time, busy but fast service. Great coffee and Great food! What more could you want? read more

Urban Coffee Company - Cheeky flat white - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Urban coffee will always be seen as one of the true independent success stories in Birmingham. Starting off with just one store and moving on to having three all in great locations in Birmingham city centre. One of the things I love most about this place is how communal they feel, throw in huge bean bags and I'm totally sold. The stores all serve coffee, cakes and breakfasts. The coffee is some of the best going in Birmingham. Attention to all details including coffee art and bean supplies. The cakes are all independently sourced and always off a good and different variety. Urban coffee really defines what a good coffee store should be in my eyes with the perfect combination of coffee and its lounge type ambience. If you've not been yet and your a coffee enthusiast put it on your list! read more

Urban Coffee Company - Serious coffee machine - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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Sunday Roast Galore! Urban Coffee Company is the first place I've had the pleasure of visiting for my first Sunday Roast since I moved to Birmingham. Located in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter is a very bright and spacious cafe. I must make a mention the Lemonade I ordered here was particularly special, before I review the mains. Now onto the Sunday Roast, what can I say? It was a very generous portion, but don't let that deceive you! It is an awesome plate of food, both the beef medallions or mustard braised pork shoulder was truly delicious. Although I must say, the meat for me was a little dry, the vegetables however was very delicious. The Curly Kale had a particular buttery taste mixed in with the sweetness of the red cabbage, both which complimented the meat and yorkshire pudding really well. Now that the meal is done, I must point out the comfortness of the seating wasn't totally great. Despite the location being so well planned out, I think in the bright sun, its hard and restricted to find space in the cafe under shade. Therefore that hindered the experience a bit. Great place, would visit again. read more

Urban Coffee Company - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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This coffee shop is a real home from home complete with sandwiches, panini a variety of cakes and hot and cold beverages. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and there are plenty of seated areas although it can be busy at times (Church St branch) due to its popularity. I tend to frequent this place when they have live music Fridays once a month whereby a local talent comes and plays a musical instrument, sing or both. They have another branch in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter. This is a fantastic coffee shop that I find myself returning to time and time again and if you are a coffee drinker, I've heard the coffee is pretty good too. Check out their website which provides details on social groups that meet there, as well as upcoming events such as cinema and dinner evenings which are hosted at their Jewellery Quarter branch. read more

Urban Coffee Company - Live music by the fantastic Pistol Pete Wearn - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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Variety is the spice of life. It is the spice of my life, anyway. And so, my quest for alternative coffee houses has led me here, to Birmingham's Urban Coffee Company. True, it IS still part of a chain, but a relatively small chain, that has far more individuality and quirk than the likes of its commonplace rivals. I try to avoid the word 'cool'. That 90s adjective can be rather vague and ambiguous. However, as I think of how I can describe this place, 'cool' just seems to be so apt. Like Fun Lovin' Criminals say in the song Scooby Snacks - everything's cool and everything's smooth... ...including the coffee itself. I like my coffee to be smooth, and so the Brazilian Sweet Yellow blend was just wonderful. However fear not if you don't share my palate, for there are many different blends on offer. They have a little menu that describes the flavour of all the different beans, and I'll be baffled if your tastebuds aren't tingled by at least one of them. What I liked the most about Urban Coffee Company was the layout. It comprises two floors, and the first floor overlooks the ground floor below, there are some photos on the website if you fancy a gander. I think it creates a lovely fresh atmosphere. Other perks include: Free wi-fi Waiter service Delicious cake selection Bean bags This is definitely my coffee place of choice in the Midlands' capital! read more

What's not to love about Urban Coffee Company! I visit the granddaddy of Brum indie coffee shops on a regular basis and to be honest it just gets better with time. I visited yesterday in need of a much needed break from the heat and craziness of the city centre. As always I was greeted with a warm welcome and an almost psychic ability to read what kind of coffee based drink I needed. The merits of an iced coffee were discussed and decided upon. They don't rush the making of your drinks here as they understand the need for quality over speed. My iced coffee was amazing and I'll be finding an excuse for another one within the next few days. I relaxed in one of their comfy chairs, logged into their wifi with zero faffing about (take note other establishments) and got some much needed work done. Excellent as always. If there was a 5 stars plus button I'd select it! read more

Best coffee I've had anywhere in Birmingham! It's a great coffee shop too, with a large communal table downstairs, and a few smaller tables for two, plus big comfy chairs and tables upstairs. They serve a selection of freshly made cakes, and some chilled bottled drinks and beers. Nice and relaxed, and just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, it's the place to go to unwind, or get some work done on their free wifi away from the office! The staff are all incredibly friendly and helpful too, and this has always seemed more about being a place for people who love coffee, as opposed for people who need a caffeine fix. read more

The original indie coffee house in Birmingham. Well no, not the first, that honour and credit goes to Saints Caffe (that I know off, I'm sure you'll let me know otherwise) which opened the year before in 2008 in St Paul's Square. So Urban were the first coffee shop to open bang in the middle of corporate heaven/hell and take a risk to see how the 'suits' take to it. My connection with Urban CS (Church St) goes back before it opened as I knew the owner via Birmingham Entrepreneurs so I went to the pre-opening opening. Having been based in New York and writing in a regular coffee shop daily before coming to Birmingham, I dearly needed a decent coffee shop and was delighted on this warm evening in August that Urban indeed fulfilled my want. Anyway, enough of the gushing; Urban may be in the heart of the business quarter but it is frequently full of freelancers and work at homers and in 3 years, it has been rare for me to go in and not know someone. There is a lot more seating in there now & although the brown leather tub chairs (obligatory for coffee shops in recent years it seems) are so huge there is barely enough room to manoeuvre around them. I tend to time my writing time in here away from the busy periods (12-2) and arrive 15 minutes before the hour as I find people having meetings in there (often, lots) tend to fill up the seats at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm in particular. As time has gone by, staff have come and gone and the part timers number so large now I barely know all their names but most importantly, they all quickly know my drink and how I like it. It really is the place 'where everybody knows your name.' And drink. The coffee? Excellent. read more

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Conveniently located next to Home Cafe Deli (seriously, it's next door) and fairly easy to find if you're walking from the Art Gallery as I did. Had a mocha and cappuccino slice (there weren't any cupcakes today). Not sure if the baked goods menu changes daily, which isn't necessarily bad, but overall good coffee. And I like that it's a small company in contrast to Starbucks/Costa, and the other biggies. Free wi-fi too! read more

Urban Coffee Company - Mocha and cappuccino slice. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

I really should come here more often, as I always thoroughly enjoy my experience when I do attend. It's not very far from where I live either so no excuses really! The Latte's here are consistently the best I've had and my total favourite. There's a good choice of less conventional coffees too, along with an ever-changing selection of cakes. You can grab a beer here if that's what you feel like- a trendy 'must' for most independent coffeehouses- along with water and sugar on every table. The place is well laid out and lit, with big wooden tables and an abundance of sockets to make the most of the free wifi- which in turn attracts professionals in this financial district of Birmingham all day long. Word of warning- it's probably not the best place to work if you have conference calls to make, as the open plan mezzanine level means that noise carries throughout the place quite prominently. Other than that, it's good for a social catch up too, with comfy sofas and giant bean bags as well as normal chairs. It would be a five star review but sometimes it's a little too packed (yes it's popular because it's good) and although the place is well laid out, they do have room for a couple of extra tables that certainly wouldn't go amiss- especially upstairs. read more

I used to love Urban Coffee Co, but in recent years its quality has slipped and the competition is providing better coffee and customer service. I also love the idea that you can pre-order by using their app, however since iOS 8 launched the app no longer works and they haven't updated it. Pay by droplet is accepted here. Their coffee and tea are very generic, and so is their food. The experience is quite poor; very noisy, hot and humid. Staff are not as approachable and friendly as some of the other coffee houses in the city. Their wifi hasn't worked on the last two occasions when I visited, but they do provide plenty of power sockets. Toilet facilities are poor if you are disabled as you have to go down a staircase. A shame, a once brilliant coffee house has lost its edge and shine. I have to give it three stars, Urban is not bad but not memorable. read more

Went to the opening and keep going back cos the staff are lovely, the big table holds ll the stuff i carry in my bag and there's a choice of food and drink. Newspapers and mags to look at and lots of lovely books. Met the owner at Birmingham Entrepreneurs the week b4 he opened this shop. read more

Urban Coffee Company - Yelp freebies taken to kerryman in Digbeth - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

I was walking down Church Street in the morning and I needed to satiate my hunger and caffiene fix, so I popped into Urban Coffee Co without haste! Whilst it was quiet when I entered, I came at the right time because after I ordered the place begun to fill up quite quickly. I ordered their avocado smash and a regular latte. Nowadays, you can't walk down the street without tripping over someone smashing an avocado, but this brunch dish was one of the better ones I've had! It came on sourdough toast with lemon juice, cracked black pepper and chilli flakes. It was very satisfying. The latte wasn't extraordinary but it was fine. The service was friendly, if a little slow perhaps. I lazily finished my coffee as I sat and read and left happy and ready to face the day. I would visit again if I happened to be close by but I wouldn't make a journey. read more

I visited this branch on the merit of the one in the jewellery quarter. Not as wide a range of food, due to a lack of kitchen facilities. But the general atmosphere made up for it - we totally lost track of time. This building is across three floors, which works well. The only drawback to our visit were the other customers! I was on crutches, and had to deal with attempted que jumpers but to be fair that customer didn't realise my order was already placed. And a lack of consideration from those people sat at tables on the ground floor, forcing me to navigate stairs on crutches - this quite frankly vexed us both, the fact that not one person batted an eyelid to the struggle or offered a more accessible table! With my companion resorting to leading me back down stairs as they walked backwards, to prevent me falling!! read more

I finally got around to going to Urban Coffee today and I have to say I throughly enjoyed it. I went out of my comfort zone and ordered a cappuccino and it was fantastic. As a true coffee lover, the time and patience the barista put into making the drink was well worth the wait (which was not that long actually!). What i particularly liked about the place is the decor and the atmosphere. I liked the way the milk was kept in what I believe some people would now call "vintage" bottles. It's little touches like this that I think make Urban Coffee so unique. I didn't have the chance to sample the cakes on offer but they did look incredibly good, especially the muffins. I'll be back to check them out very soon! read more

I have used Urban Coffee as a business meeting place, because of its excellent Wi-fi and seating it means you can have a great conversation and use the iPad too. The service is great, people are attentive and service is fast. Its handy in the city centre and as its located directly opposite Hotel Du Vin, it means most people can find it. I highly recommend it! read more

The original of Birmingham's new batch of coffee houses. I've gone off Urban Coffee Company recently. They make probably the best Chai Latte in the city centre. However, I had the misfortune of having a soggy sandwich off them recently :P A regular for workers from around Colmore Business District, it can feel a bit more corporate in there these days. The atmosphere isn't what it used to be. read more

Excellent coffee. Best one I had in Birmingham actually. Very simple food offering which is quite bread focused but they seem to use good relishes. Lots of vegetarian options. They have sit food things like smashed av, salmon and scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon sandwiches, aubergine and brie linseed bun etc. They have a granola pot too. All of the sandwiches are available to take away (fresh or toasted). Very nice place to sit if you arrive at Snow Hill train station too early as the building is on the corner and has lovely light coming in. Nice staff. read more

Not long after this place opened, I had a considerable cross-section of friends, acquaintences and workmates recommending it to me in the strongest possible terms. Billing itself as the ethical, independent, fairtrade answer to big coffee franchises, the place has a certain fun-loving, cheeky sense of humour about it. The decoration inside is reasonably subdued, with little in the way of ornamentation. The tables and chairs are organised in such a way that you might well find yourself sharing a table with complete strangers, which, if you don't mind having to do so, is an excellent way to break down social barriers and get to meet fellow drinkers. The menu is not as varied as some of the more established coffee sellers, but there is enough choice to keep most drinkers satisfied. All hot drinks are served with the option of regular, low fat or soya milk, and there is a selection of fresh baked cakes which, in my experience, are absolutely delicious. Prices are very reasonable. As a place to go and escape the modern grind, this is perfect. There are stacks of books left out for people to help themselves while they enjoy their drink, and the whole experience is one of relaxation. Definitely give this place a try. read more

I've always had really friendly service whenever I've come to this particular Urban Coffee and they make a mean chai latte so what's not to like. It's a convenient city centre location with friendly folk behind the till, and I've never not been able to get a seat. Good place for a meeting during the day as well- as it's not too noisy. read more

I really like the Americano here,it's strong and tastes good.I also recommend the home made Granola,it's really good.Prices are more than reasonable and the service is pretty good,no real hanging about waiting.The shop also has a nice atmosphere and it's good to sit in here.Free wifi as well. read more

Visiting on the 7th anniversary of the opening. Great place to bring a laptop and be productive, plenty of plug sockets etc. Upstairs space can be hired for events. Good coffee, cakes, breakfasts and lunches. Licensed so a small selection of alcoholic drinks. In the heart of the Colmore Business District. read more

Lovely coffees and they do a good all day brunch menu on the weekends. Can be difficult to get a seat sometimes as the venue is often booked up for events. The Chai Lattes are well worth a try, probably the nicest I've had in Birmingham read more

Def. coolest coffee shop in Brum. Starbucks/etc. eat your heart out. I felt I was in NYC or SF! Xx

When I left Birmingham as a callow youth I dreamed of coffee houses serving excellent coffee in trendy surroundings (blame Friends) but had to run away to London to find it. Returning to the city of my birth older and more worldly wise I'm gratified to find Urban Coffee Company providing such things outside of the London bubble. Excellent coffee served by young hipsters too cool for school in a building that nods to the urban hipness of its name without being overdone. On the weekend enjoy the comfortable couches in comfort. During the week get out your laptop/iDevice and plan your next startup or just chat to your fellow middle managers outside of the grey confines of your office. Short version. It rules - go there. Just leave space for me. read more

Visited here with a friend a while back ago, it's a nice setting, welcoming staff, and really good coffee. Its a nice place to whittle away half an hour people watching whilst enjoying a drink and catching up with friends. read more

Great coffee, great atmosphere, great staff. Often travel to Brum just to go to Urban and Relax.

Yep - some of t he best coffee in town.... but the staff are a bit snobby! Grrr. Nice cakes too

Urban Coffee Café is a superb niche café situated on the outskirts of busy central Birmingham away from the hustle and bustle or crowds and filled agendas. You can come here for a relaxing cup of coffee or any other hot beverage to take your mind away from the stress of every day life, or even if it's just for a short lunch break. This café is great to relax and chill out in whatever the reason, be it for a casual meeting with clients and peers, or a lunch date with friends. You can also bring along your laptop and tap out any work need doing. This café is so cute and well laid out giving you the option to sit on luxury sofas and chairs with huge porcelain mugs with a coffee personalised for you. The way you like it. read more

Endorse fully previous reviewers - excellent, offbeat place to enjoy specialist, really enthusiastically prepared and presented quality coffee. An upper floor accommodates an almost secret hidey hole, warm, woody, minimalistically trendy and comfy place to disappear for a while or meet up out of the city centre hurly burly. This lot are serious about their coffee, but in a playful way - definitely worth a visit. read more

Great Wi-if, great people, great coffee and a surprising diverse customer base.