By Jennifer R. Statham for AL.com
Many depend on a jolt of caffeine each morning to get up and going. However, the cup of coffee has evolved over the past few decades in the United States, becoming an all-day treat that social lives are geared around.
Though the coffee shop is a place to relax, the coffee market is booming. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in a biannual report in June, that world coffee production for the year is forecasted at about 159 million bags (60 kilograms) worldwide. The U.S. imports the second-largest amount of coffee beans, predicted to be about 26 million bags for the 2017-2018 year, second only to the European Union's estimated 46.5 million bags, according to the report.
From the brand new shops to the decades-old coffee houses, the Huntsville area has a local coffee shop in just about every neighborhood. Cold brew coffees seem to be the going trend but most serve every type of coffee — frothy specialty drinks to the simple cup of black coffee — plus yummy pastries, treats and unique delicious dishes.
For those who enjoy their java, and the exclusive taste of the Rocket City, here's list of some of the top stops on the Huntsville coffee trail:
Alchemy Lounge
Location: At Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment, 2211 Seminole Drive, Studio 2073, Huntsville (plus a shop coming soon to MidCity Huntsville.)
About the shop: Alchemy is not fast food, but a lounge. Owners John and Candace Stough say their place is "not just about the chemistry of the coffee, it is about the chemistry of the people," with a vibe "intended to be warm, inviting, even dreamy." Alchemy also offers a daily assortment of vegan and paleo options, as well as light meal options including avocado toast, smoothie bowl, and other freshly prepared selections.
Angel's Island
Location: 7538 Memorial Parkway South, Huntsville
About the Shop: Angel's Island Coffee, owned by Angel Hussain, was established in January of 2007. The coffee shop's vibe is casual, relaxed and kid-friendly with bright colors and a tropical feel. There are lots of tables for eating and conversation, as well as couches for lounging. The shop serves a variety of dark and medium roast coffees as well as many unique flavored coffees, including a customer favorite called Zombie Cure.
Beans and Bytes
Location: 445 Jan Davis Drive, Huntsville (in the lobby of Digium Inc.)
About the Shop: Shannon King is the owner of Clover Coffee LLC and the creator of Highbrow Cold Brew, and Jubilee Cold Brew. King also manages Huntsville's Beans and Bytes, owned by Digium Inc. King's roasted coffee brands are served at Beans and Bytes, including Jubilee Cold Brew and Clover Coffee. King said the shop is not a high-volume store, nor is it fast-paced, but she's been told Beans and Bytes is a "best-kept secret." The shop offers local baked goods from Honeypie Bakery and Edgars, and also features light lunches and specials everyday.
Beignet Cafe
Location: 2246 Winchester Road, Suite 312, Huntsville
About the Shop: Owners Drew and Denise Tyriver describe their coffee shop as quaint and comfortable. Established in October of 2015, the cafe is styled after those found in New Orleans, with brick and stainless steel, and wrought-iron decor. The Beignet Cafe offers a full breakfast and lunch/dinner menu, including New Orleans style favorites such as gumbo, jambalaya, po-boys, shrimp and grits and the cafe's signature dish, Dirty Grits. The shop uses a master blend from a local home roaster, and features cafe au lait using a coffee and chicory blend from Cafe Du Monde.
Cyn Shea's Cafe & Catering
Location: 415 Church Street, Suite E5, Huntsville
About the Shop: The cafe has a "cozy, yet upscale atmosphere" with a lounge area featuring double fireplaces and plush leather sofas, and an outdoor garden patio. The cafe offers two of the "Top 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die," blueberry corncakes and the apple turkey sandwich. The cafe also offers regular events such as a Live Jazz Brunch each Saturday, and a monthly "Dinner & A Movie" event. Cyn Shea's Cafe offers a gourmet espresso bar, boutique wines, and craft beers, as well as a popular mint julep tea. The cafe partners with The Kaffeeklatsch Inc. to provide a signature blend of coffee and espresso beans.
Flint River Coffee Company
Location: 1443 Winchester Road NE, Huntsville
About the shop: The shop is located in a former farmhouse converted to a cozy, "mountain lodge feel." The shop has dine-in or drive thru options as well as outdoor seating, and offers fresh baked goods and breakfast all day, and also features a deli style sandwich menu from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. daily. It offers a variety of Fair Trade blends from around the world as well as seasonal flavored coffees. The cafe has a top-secret roaster who supplies the daily blends served in house. A favorite is the Star-Buck Mocha, in honor of nearby Buckhorn High School.
The Kaffeeklatsch
Location: 103 Jefferson St. N., Huntsville
About the shop: Owned by Grant and Kathy Heath "The Klatsch" has been in the same location on Jefferson Street in Downtown Huntsville since opening in 1976. The family-owned coffee shop installed a 1929 Jabez-Burns coffee roaster in 1977, making it one of the first specialty coffee roasters in the state. It offers more than 50 types of coffee including Single Origin, Fair Trade and Certified Organic coffees, rare coffees such as Hawaiian Kona and Yemen Mocha, and exclusive special blends such as Costa Rica La Minita. The shop also stocks more than 30 types of tea, including black, oolong and green loose-leaf teas, as well as rare finds such as Golden Buds, Milk Oolong, and Organic Himalayan Honey Green.
Olde Towne Coffee
Location: 511 Pratt Avenue, Huntsville
About the shop: Olde Town Coffee, a staple in the Five-Points community since 1998, is a gathering spot where people talk, play chess, write novels, listen to music or just hang out in one of the two gazebos out in front. It offers sandwiches, breakfast foods, and desserts such as cookies, brownies, and affogatos, which is ice cream covered in espresso. Chai Tea, lattes, smoothies and loose leaf teas are also available.
Pizzelle's Confections
Location: Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment, at 2211 Seminole Drive, Railroad Room No. 4, Huntsville
About the Shop: Described as "eclectic, a little edgy and a lot of fun," the shop is best known for its chocolate truffles or, as the owners call them, edible art. The cafe expanded this year and now offers an entire range of desserts, from mini cakes and tortes to house-made s'mores, pizzelle cookies, ice creams and cannoli. Pizzelle's uses beans roasted by the Kaffeeklatsch Inc., in downtown Huntsville, for brewed coffees and espresso, but make their own coffee syrups.
Rooster's Crow Coffee Roastery
Location: 8402 Whitesburg Drive, building H, SE, Huntsville, AL, 35802
About the shop: The Rooster's Crow is a custom roaster, offering all roast profiles, from the lightest of lights to the darkest of darks flavors. The shop offers baked goods including cinnamon rolls, cheese rolls, and scones and creates seven in-house flavors of cream cheese. Hand-crafted coffee brews including ice coffees made with a signature cold brew concentrate, lattes, and cappuccinos.
Southbrew Coffee
Location: 3324 Wall Triana Hwy SW, Huntsville
About the Shop: Southbrew Coffee roasts its coffee in-house and its espresso is described as distinct with fruity flavor notes and is used in all of the shop's specialty lattes. The shop also offers homemade muffins, natural gluten-free oatmeal, pastries from local bakeries and specialty flavored coffees and cold brew coffees. The shop also has unique beer flavored coffees.
Sugar Belle
Location: 515 Jordan Lane, Huntsville
About the Shop: Sugar Belle, which originated as a food truck, is known for cupcakes and pastry items. Described as "a dive coffee shop," Sugar Belle has recently added donuts on Saturdays fried up next door at Toybox Bistro. The coffee shop offers roasts from local and southern coffee roasters and features specialty drinks including the Patriot Fizz, a twist on an iced-Americano, blending espresso, tonic water, and orange bitters.
Theo's Cafe
Location: 317 Old Hwy 431, Suite B, Owens Crossroads
About the Shop: Theo's Cafe offers specialty chicken salads, the Carol Sue BLT with spicy bacon mayo, and pastries baked in-house. The business also offers Beto's Coffee Company products to support an American missionary-owned business in Nicaragua. It uses coffee from Toomer's Coffee Roasters in Auburn.
Other notable coffee shops include:
Cafe 153, Bridgestreet Town Center, Huntsville
The Cozy Cow, 100 Church Street, SW, Suite 150, Huntsville
Grounded Coffee, 12120 County Line Road, Madison
Honest Coffee Roasters, 114 Clinton Avenue, E., Huntsville