Skip to main content
Who Makes The
BEST COFFEE
US Brand Directory
Birmingham, Alabama · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Santos Coffee

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for Santos Coffee; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Farm level
TagsSantos CoffeeAlabama coffee roastersGuatemalaIndependentFarm levelRoasts in-house
Visit Santos Coffee's site

Santos Coffee is a Birmingham-based specialty coffee company that bridges the gap between Guatemalan coffee farming and Alabama retail culture. Founded by sisters with deep roots in Guatemalan agriculture, the company maintains full control over its supply chain from the initial planting of seeds to the final roast. They operate multiple cafes across the Birmingham metro area, emphasizing a direct, family-led approach to the coffee experience.

Ownership
Santos Coffee is an independent, family-owned business founded by sisters Wendy Padilla-Madden and Katie Ellis. The company manages its own coffee farms in Guatemala and oversees the entire supply chain through to its retail locations in Alabama.
Founded
2019
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
The brand is known for its "crop-to-cup" business model, where the owners grow coffee on their multi-generational family farms in Guatemala and import it to Alabama for in-house roasting and service.
Sourcing countries
Guatemala
Farm-level sourcing
The brand sources coffee exclusively from its own family-owned farms in Guatemala, specifically naming San Antonio, Santa Margarita, and Saint Nicholas farms. They maintain a direct supply chain, importing beans directly from these specific estates to their roasting facility in Birmingham.
Notable coffees
  • — San Antonio
  • — Santa Margarita
  • — Saint Nicholas
In the news

Recent news and media coverage about Santos Coffee, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

2026-09-22 · Bham Now
Santos Coffee reopens in Gardendale with revamped lobby

The Gardendale location of Santos Coffee has reopened with a refreshed lobby area. Owned by sisters Wendy Padilla-Madden and Katie Ellis, the shop serves as the seventh location for the Birmingham-area brand.

2026-09-17 · Homely Birmingham
Santos Coffee reopens in Gardendale

Santos Coffee officially reopened its Gardendale location on September 16, 2026, following a full renovation of the space. The cafe, which features a custom mural celebrating Guatemalan coffee culture, continues the brand's farm-to-cup model of roasting beans from its own family-owned farms in Guatemala.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-11-06. 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 consistently cites a 1895 founding date for its family farms, the commercial coffee company Santos Coffee was established in 2019.

Your coffee interests. Every section.

Learn something new, follow the people behind your cup, or explore by flavor and tags.