The Red Cat Coffeehouse

The Red Cat opened in Birmingham in 2008 around a simple idea: a coffeehouse that strikes a balance between the owners' own tastes in coffee and ambiance, what customers actually want, and what makes practical sense. The shop chose not to follow the third wave of coffee culture blindly, questioning every part of it to see whether it was right for them, on the view that coffee is not always a science experiment but should be a positive experience for the customer. Mike and Aileen McElwain have run The Red Cat since 2019 and the motto has stayed the same: coffee for everyone. Specialty-grade coffees are treated with care and kept accessible across a range of coffee experiences, and the three cafes give Birmingham a gathering place for connecting over great coffee and wholesome food.