The Essential ★ 4.4
The Essential on Morris Avenue downtown Birmingham serves coffee, cocktails and a daytime cafe menu out of the Mercantile on Morris, near Founders Station.
Signature drink: Drip coffee
Coffee shops, bakeries with seats and the places Birmingham lingers in over a cortado.
Where to sit and slow down
Continental Bakery ★ 4.6
Continental Bakery in English Village Mountain Brook is Carole Griffin's 1984 European bakery with pastries, sandwiches and Chez Lulu next door.
Signature drink: Drip coffee
Bandit Patisserie ★ 4.6
Bandit Patisserie on 1st Avenue North downtown Birmingham is the 2013 pastry counter in the Wooster Lofts, with laminated viennoiserie and a coffee bar.
Signature drink: Espresso
Big Bad Breakfast ★ 4.4
Big Bad Breakfast on Highway 280 Birmingham is John Currence's Oxford-Mississippi branch, with Conecuh sausage gravy and a weekend brunch line.
Signature drink: Drip coffee
Filter Coffee Parlor ★ 4.4
Filter Coffee Parlor on 11th Avenue South in Birmingham serves pour-over coffee and pastries out of the 1927 Munger Building in Five Points South.
Signature drink: Pour over
Hero Doughnuts and Buns ★ 4.5
Hero Doughnuts on Central Avenue Homewood Birmingham runs a brioche doughnut counter with cheeseburgers and the canonical Birmingham doughnut sandwich.
Signature drink: Drip coffee
The Red Cat Coffee House ★ 4.4
The Red Cat Coffee House at Pepper Place Birmingham is the flagship roastery and cafe on the Saturday market grounds, with a second Railroad Park branch.
Signature drink: Espresso
Seeds Coffee Co. ★ 4.3
Seeds Coffee Co. on Oxmoor Road Homewood Birmingham is the 2013 cafe and roastery, with pour-over service and a packed neighborhood morning crowd.
Signature drink: Espresso