Birmingham, Alabama · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Red Cat Coffeehouse

IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Limited public info

TagsRed Cat Coffeehouse Alabama coffee roasters Independent Roasts in-house

Red Cat Coffeehouse is a long-standing Birmingham institution that serves as a community gathering space while operating its own roasting program. The brand focuses on making specialty coffee approachable for all customers, pairing their house-roasted beans with a menu of wholesome food and baked goods. They maintain multiple locations across the city, including spots at Pepper Place and Railroad Park.

Ownership

The brand is independent and family-owned, currently operated by Mike and Aileen McElwain, who took the helm in 2019.

Founded

2008

Roasting

Reported to roast in-house.

What it's known for

The Red Cat is known for being a cornerstone of the Birmingham specialty coffee scene, offering a welcoming community atmosphere and a commitment to roasting coffee in-house that balances specialty-grade quality with accessibility.

Farm-level sourcing

The brand emphasizes sourcing specialty-grade coffee beans but does not publicly disclose specific farm, farmer, or washing station names on their website. They focus on providing a consistent, high-quality product for their community rather than highlighting individual origins or single-farm lots.

Notable coffees

— Ironworks Blend

Sources used in this deep dive

Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-28. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the brand mentions sourcing specialty-grade beans, they do not provide a list of specific countries of origin or farm-level details on their public-facing website.

Red Cat Coffeehouse

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