"came in to try this shop from out of town and it was an 11/10 experience. we had a bigger group and the baristas(austin and the barista making drinks but didn’t get her name!) were personable and efficient in getting drinks out quickly without giving rushed vibes. the drinks were delicious and house made syrups are always our favorite to look for when trying new shops when traveling. would highly recommend this spot!"

"My son recommended this spot to meet. There is sufficient parking on both sides of the street, in addition to the parking lot right beside the coffee shop. However, please note that this parking lot is a PAID parking lot 24/7. There are signs saying as much, but wanted to reiterate it as it could be an expensive lesson to learn. I arrived at the coffee shop about 9am when there was only one other customer there. As the morning progressed, it became quite busy, with most of the seating taken. I typically get the dark roast drip but they only had light or medium today. Their medium roast was still delicious. Lots of students and folks with their dogs stopping in. The vibe here is great. Perfect place to catch up with a friend or get some work done."

"Cala Coffee is a staple for coffee lovers. My family judges a shop by their cortados, kid steamers, pastry options, and interior design—and Cala nails all of it. Vibes are high, service is quick, and there’s plenty of seating. They’ve got great breakfast tacos and pastries, and it’s super close to the science center and other kid-friendly spots. Staff is kind, too. A must-go every time we’re in town!"

"I loved watching the renovations prior to Cala Cahaba Heights’ opening and was very excited to try it. As soon as I did, I was in love! So I was thrilled to see they opened a downtown location which is much more convenient for me. Their flavors are so different and I believe many of them are house-made. Their ham and cheese croissant with the sesame seeds on top is my favorite. I haven’t tried their breakfast tacos yet, but I’m sure I will next time I go in :) I’m unsure of her name, but the same girl has helped me every time I’ve been in and she has been super kind. Recently, I’ve tried the salted caramel cold brew, YUM! In the fall, the maple latte was delicious as well. I feel like you truly cannot go wrong! There is also a lot of seating and outlets for computers. The bathrooms are clean. They also sell wine and I noticed they have a record player out with a selection of records that you can ask the barista to play an album for you! Really such a bright and cheerful place to spend your study time or friend time."

"We arrived about 8:30 on Saturday morning to only one or two other patrons in the shop. We got cappuccinos, a couple of Ladybird chorizo & egg breakfast tacos, and a chocolate croissant. The tacos were warm, but when we got to the croissant we discovered it was a little cooler than room temp. So I went and waited behind two people to make it to the counter and asked them to warm it up. He took it and said he'd bring it out after warming it. We sipped our cappuccinos a bit while we waited but after nearly 10 minutes I went back to check. This time I didn't wait in the now pretty long line but went to the side. After a minute or two I finally caut an eye and the young lady said "I know; it'll be 2 or 3 minutes more". So I went back to our table to now cold cappuccino and waited more. Another 6 or 7 minutes, then the same person came to our table and told us they'd forgotten about it - again - and that it burned. She did apologize. But they had another warming for us, and brought it out after another few minutes. The guy who delivered it said "here you go" and left immediately without any eye contact, though he was the one who took it to warm in the first place. Who wants a room temp chocolate croissant any way? When ordering that, they should really have asked if we'd like it warmed instead of all the hassle of doing it afterwards. The food was good, as was the cappuccino. It's a cool, trendy space too, with a decent soundtrack in the background. Service was the worst part of our visit this morning. We'll try it again sometime and hope this was a fluke."