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Birmingham, Alabama · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Santos Coffee & Bar

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for Santos Coffee & Bar; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Farm level
TagsSantos Coffee & BarAlabama coffee roastersGuatemalaIndependentFarm levelRoasts in-house
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Santos Coffee is a Birmingham-based specialty coffee brand that operates a vertical crop-to-cup model, managing the process from their family-owned farms in Guatemala to their roasting facility and cafes in Alabama. Founded by sisters Wendy Padilla-Madden and Katie Ellis, the company emphasizes a direct connection between their heritage as coffee farmers and their retail coffee bar experience. They operate multiple locations across the Birmingham metro area, offering a range of specialty coffee drinks, smoothies, and food items.

Ownership
The company is independent and family-owned by sisters Wendy Padilla-Madden and Katie Ellis, who operate the business as a crop-to-cup model.
Founded
2019
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
Santos Coffee is known for its direct crop-to-cup model, utilizing coffee beans grown on the founders' multi-generational family farms in Guatemala and roasted in-house in Birmingham, Alabama.
Sourcing countries
Guatemala
Farm-level sourcing
The brand sources exclusively from its own family-owned farms in Guatemala, which have been in the family for generations. They offer both single-origin coffees and blends, such as their 'Reserva de la Familia' which combines specific varietals like Bourbon Amarillo, Obata, and Geisha.
Notable coffees
  • — Reserva de la Familia (Blend of Bourbon Amarillo, Obata, and Geisha)
In the news

Recent news and media coverage about Santos Coffee & Bar, 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

Santos Coffee reopened its Gardendale location on September 16, 2026, following a renovation of the cafe's lobby. The shop, which is one of seven Birmingham-area locations for the family-owned, crop-to-cup brand, features a custom mural celebrating Guatemalan coffee culture.

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 identifies its farms as Saint Margaret, Saint Anthony, and Saint Nicholas, it was not possible to verify if these are the only farms currently supplying all retail locations or if they source from additional neighboring producers.

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