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Best Coffee Shops In Birmingham
A guide to the 10 best coffee shops in Birmingham, UK
Published February 8, 2022
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Chandra Melo
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Britain is a nation of coffee-lovers that over time, has graduated from its strong love of tea to a love for the coffee bean too. From artisan roasters to old-school cafes, Birmingham has pretty much everything that you could want when it comes to getting your caffeine fix. Even the pubs, restaurants, and bars in Birmingham are serving coffee and tea that’s just as good as the food and alcoholic beverages on the menu.
In recent years, Birmingham has seen a cultural renaissance and there’s nothing better than the current coffee scene in the city to define this. Everywhere you look, people are meeting up with friends over coffee, going on first dates to a local coffee shop, or just holding their favorite cold brew. If you’re visiting Birmingham, we’ve got a list of the best places that serve great coffee.
1. Yorks
If you think that New Street Station is the busiest part of Birmingham, then you might change your mind if you visit one of the two Yorks cafes on the weekend. The first Yorks café can be found on Stephenson Street and the other is at the Ikon Gallery. The Stephenson Street branch is where new dishes are created. This café has outdoor seating and a food menu. The Ikon Gallery Yorks café is well known for it’s alfresco dining events, which makes it a great location for a brunch in the summer. Because these are two of the best coffee shops in Birmingham, you’ll find hungry locals and visitors here tucking into tasty brunch surrounded by the industrial, stripped-back décor well into the afternoon. Along with the great coffee on offer, you’ll find a wide selection of tasty options on the menu too including bagels, granola, freshly-baked bread, and a choice of egg-based breakfasts including the popular shakshuka – eggs baked in sweet harissa peppers with coriander, tomatoes, and lime yogurt.
2. Damascena
Damascena has several branches in Birmingah, including one in the city centre, another in Harborne, one in the jewellery quarter, and the last one is located in the boho suburb of Moseley. All Damascena coffee shops and cafes are a welcoming oasis of Middle Eastern hospitality that is a top spot for locals and visitors to the city alike. In 2016, they announced that they would be opening a new branch in the city center, and this central coffee shop is now so successful that they have won a range of different awards. Since coffee first came to Britain from the Middle East, this is one of the best places to go if you want to discover the roots of the popular beverage. Along with some of the best coffee in Birmingham, you can also find a great-tasting menu with classic shawarmas to enjoy. Vegans and anyone looking for gluten-free menu options won’t be disappointed, as many dishes can be served GF or vegan. For coffee, make sure you try the super strong Arabian coffee or the rich Turkish brew. We also recommend the Affogato on a hot summer’s day. Finally, the Arabian spied coffee dallah is truly delicious!
3. Cherry Reds
Born and bred in Birmingham, this local, independent coffee shop started out in Kings Heath before a sister venue opened in the city center. With a welcoming, warm atmosphere featuring comfy couches and eclectic, industrial décor, you’ll find a range of great coffees to enjoy along with plenty of appetizing comfort food whether you want to try the delicious American-style pancakes with syrup or the gorgeous falafel burger that has even won over plenty of meat-lovers. As well as freshly ground coffee, Cherry Reds serves a great selection of craft beers and other drinks.
4. Medicine Bakery
The Medicine Bakery can be found at two locations in Birmingham: one on New Street and the other at the Mailbox. This is one of the favorite spots in Birmingham for brunch, and the ample selection of baked goods, buddha bowls, and sourdough sandwiches has gained Medicine Bakery somewhat of a cult following in Birmingham. One of the best independent coffee shops Birmingham, it might be best-known for the delicious food, you can also find some of the best coffee in Birmingham served here. Choose from all the usual classics along with matcha and turmeric lattes or the amazing affogato, a classic Italian coffee-based dessert made with vanilla ice cream topped with espresso. The Medicine Bakery is open between 8.30 AM and 5 PM Monday to Sunday, so if you are feeling hungry and would like some fresh pastries or a tasty wandwich with your coffee, pop in.
5. Under Pressure Espresso
Under Pressure Espresso coffee shop can be found out in the suburbs, in upmarket Sutton Colfield. One of the best coffee shops in Birmingham UK, Under Pressure Espresso serves beans from Workshop Coffee in London using a Victoria Arduino espresso machine. They offer a simple menu including espresso with or without milk and filter and brewed selections to choose from. They serve the tasty Cult of Done blend from Workshop, which creates a spicy, sweet yet clean brew. If you want something different, there are other options to choose from too – their selection of Canton Teas is excellent, and there’s an ample selection of tasty cakes, pastries, and bread available to accompany your drink supplied by Thirteen Bakers and Lil’s Parlour. Note that the Under Pressure Espresso coffee shop closes at midday on a Monday so they can roast more coffee beans for their customers. You can purchase their excellent coffee online and collect your order at the café.
6. 200 Degrees
200 Degrees is not only one of the best coffee places in Birmingham but also one of the first venues to open in the lavish The Grand, Birmingham’s latest city center complex. This coffee shop offers an artisanal coffee haven alongside some of the best sandwiches in the city. If you are a coffee geek, this one is for you. Although there are plenty of great independent coffee shops to visit in Birmingham, this one certainly stands out due to the strong emphasis on serving excellent food along with some of the best coffee. The sandwiches are available on a menu that is regularly changed and there is always something new to try. 200 Degrees roast their own house blend of coffee beans, an exotic combination of Colombian arabica and Vietnamese robusta beans.
7. Boston Tea Party
A family-run, friendly coffee shop chain in Birmingham and beyond, Boston Tea Party offers familiarity and consistency and has been growing steadily over the past few years. They arrived in Birmingham in 2013 offering somewhere to get your caffeine fix in Corporation Street. Along with the excellent coffee on offer that you can expect to taste just as good every time, you’ll also find an array of delicious home-baked cakes on offer by the entrance and a vast food menu offering everything from burgers, all-day breakfasts, and toasted sandwiches to soups and salads. Don’t forget to visit the other local branches of the Boston Tea Party in Solihull and Harborne.
8. Chance and Counters
One of the best coffee shops in Birmingham, Chance and Counters is a quirky venue located in Digbeth’s Custard Factory. If you enjoy your board games, this will definitely be a must-visit for you since they have over five hundred games to choose from alongside an extensive menu of tasty snacks, milkshakes, craft beer, and wine. The star of the show, however, is the hot drink menu. You’ll find all the usual coffee options on offer along with a generous tea selection to choose from. For something a little more unusual, go for one of their colorful lattes that include neon pink orange and beetroot, minty blue peppermint, and raspberry ripple.
9. Saint Kitchen
When you enter Saint Kitchen, the first thing you’ll notice is the overflowing front counter filled with goodies. The coffee here is among the best in the city, and you’ll definitely be able to get one of the best flat whites you’ve ever tasted. You can choose from espresso and filter coffee options, along with a wide selection of loose-leaf teas and single-origin hot chocolates. Get comfortable in the stylish seating area amid natural wood and stone fittings and enjoy food from a menu of all-day breakfast items, soups, paninis, and lots of cakes.
10. Urban
Since it was opened in 2009, Urban set the mark for the coffee culture in Birmingham. Located on Church Street, it’s one of the most popular coffee shop venues in Birmingham and opens seven days a week. It’s popular with everybody from the office workers having morning meetings to freelances quietly working away, or groups of friends meeting for a coffee and a catch-up. It has two floors that have become a thriving community hub over time, providing a perfect snapshot of the diversity and culture in Birmingham.
Which of these coffee shops in Birmingham will you visit first?
About the author
Chandra Melo
Marketing as job, barista as passion. An authentic coffee lover, looking for the next fantastic cup of coffee that I will fall in love with. Coffee, for me, is more than a beverage. It's about community and connection - how can all the world consume the same fruit? And differently? How can we have so many different tastes? I also don't know. And because of this, I feel in love each day more for this world. Happy to share and make a change in the coffee community.
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