Coffee culture in Birmingham is positively booming. From artisan roasteries to quirky cafes, the city is full of hidden gems catering with passion and skill to the increasing demand and desire for high-quality coffee. What’s On has handpicked some of Brum’s best independent coffee shops for you to try out.
Quarter Horse Coffee
The delicious aroma of roasting coffee beans completely fills the air in this stylish and minimalistic cafe and roastery. You can listen to the gentle hum of the roaster and see the process in action while you sip on the great-tasting coffee. Recently named as one of Britain’s best coffee shops by the editor of Caffeine magazine, Chloe Callow, Quarter Horse distributes their freshly roasted coffee to a variety of venues all around Birmingham.
88-90 Bristol St, B5 7AH
200 Degrees
Located in the heart of Birmingham’s commercial district, the new coffee shop from 200 Degrees – small batch coffee roasters based in Nottingham – is already proving to be extremely popular. The coffee gurus at the cafe share their expertise at the in-store Barista School. Learn how to be a barista, how to brew the perfect coffee at home or how to create the best eye-catching latte art.
21 Colmore Row, B3 2BH
Yorks Bakery Cafe
At Yorks Cafe and Coffee Roasters, great quality Birmingham coffee is roasted on site. This beautifully decorated gem of a cafe hosts live jazz nights every Monday and serves up a variety of craft beers, wine and cocktails. Yorks also has an Espresso Bar on Colmore Row and is getting ready to open more cafes and expand its coffee-roasting business.
29/30 Stephenson St, B2 4BH & 16a Colmore Row, B2 5HU
Six Eight Kafé
Back in 2011, this cafe was opened by four passionate coffee lovers who have since set the bar high for other independent coffee shops in Birmingham. Six Eight is now a legendary cafe firmly established within the city’s coffee scene. Regular live music, art and poetry events take place at the Temple Row site, accompanied by craft beer and award-winning coffee.
6/8 Temple Row, B2 5HG & Floor 2, Millennium Point, Curzon St, B4 7XG
Madcup
This new and trendy cafe is bringing some Australian coffee culture to Birmingham. The all-white modern cafe, complete with quirky finishing touches, offers something a little different alongside its regular coffee. With rose-infused matcha lattes, golden turmeric lattes and pink velvet hot chocolates made with raw cacao, beets and maple syrup on the menu, Madcup is the place to be if you’re after a perfect health kick.
20 Alcester Rd S, Kings Heath, B14 7PU
Tilt
You can enjoy a game of pinball with your cup of great-tasting speciality coffee or glass of craft beer at this alternative and relaxed coffee bar. What could be better? Tilt choose guest roasters from all over the world to showcase the best seasonal coffees so that you’ll always get great-tasting coffee.
2 City Arcade, Union St, B2 4TX
Faculty
Nestled away in the historic Piccadilly Arcade, close to New Street Station, is a small and intimate cafe with a focus on high-quality speciality coffee and tea. As though working in a coffee laboratory, expert baristas at Faculty use a variety of methods and tools such as AeroPress, V60 pour-overs and sand timers to ensure that each cup is brewed and poured to perfection.
14 Piccadilly Arcade, B2 4HD
Urban Emporiums
Formally Urban Coffee Company, Urban is a veteran of the independent coffee scene in Birmingham. As well as serving great coffee at both Urban Emporiums, a bottomless brunch with all-you-can-drink Bucks Fizz and Bloody Marys is on offer every weekend at the Church Street coffee shop. We like the sound of that!
30 Church St, B3 2NP & The Big Peg, Warstone Ln, Jewellery Quarter, B18 6NF
Damascena Coffee House
A new branch of Moseley’s award-winning coffee house, delicatessen and bakery has recently opened in Birmingham city centre and is already proving to be a big hit.
Serving Turkish, strong Arabic and Arabian spiced coffee, the venue offers a real taste of the Middle East and North Africa. Follow the road to Damascena – meaning Damascus rose – and enjoy the stunning decor and wide range of delicious Syrian-inspired food, from meze platters with falafel and hummus to fattoush salads and freshly baked flatbreads.
5-7 Temple Row West, Birmingham, B2 5NY and 133 Alcester Road, Moseley, B13 8JP
