Tuscaloosa offers many coffee shops that can cater to almost any person’s personal preferences. However, with so many options, it is easy to get overwhelmed when trying to decide where to get a beverage. Here, we will be offering a closer look at four popular coffee shops in Tuscaloosa: Turbo Coffee Roasters, Heritage House, UPerk, and Monarch Espresso Bar. All three shops have been evaluated based on drinks, food, atmosphere, and price to help you decide which shop you would like to visit.
Turbo Coffee Roasters:
Drinks: 4.5/5
Turbo has a good selection of hot and iced drinks; their menu includes classic espresso beverages, teas, and other coffees. They also offer a turmeric latte and a cold brew tonic, which is cold brew topped with tonic water
Food: 4/5
Turbo offers a variety of pastries and breakfast foods, including vegan and gluten free options! Furthermore, they have a separate menu dedicated to smoothies and smoothie bowls.
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
The atmosphere here is great for studying or a quiet meeting with friends. However, seating is a bit limited, so you might not be able to sit with your drink if it’s particularly crowded.
Pricing: 4/5
Turbo can be a bit on the expensive side; some drinks run over $6.00. However, their food options will not break the bank; a breakfast sandwich is $5.50, and their muffins are filling for $3.00.
Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 8am-5pm
Sunday: 9am-4pm
Heritage House:
Drinks: 4.5/5
Heritage House offers a very extensive drink menu that offers up everything from a simple iced coffee to a honey lavender latte; there will be something to suit every person’s taste, whether they like coffee or not.
Food: 5/5
Heritage House offers the most extensive menu with breakfast and lunch options as well as pastries every day. The baked oatmeal is a crowd favorite!
Atmosphere: 4/5
The atmosphere here is nice; the decoration is a little eclectic. They have ample space, so seating tends not to be an issue. It is a great place to meet up for breakfast!
Pricing: 5/5
You will get the most bang for your buck at Heritage House. Drinks are generally under $5.00 for a large, and meals are under $10.00.
Hours:
Riverfront:
Monday-Friday: 6:30am-5pm
Saturday: 7am-5pm
Sunday: Closed
Town Center:
Monday-Friday: 6:30am-6pm
Saturday: 8am-6pm
Sunday: Closed
UPerk:
Drinks: 4/5
Along with all the standard coffee and espresso beverages, UPerk has a selection of 12 specialty beverages. They also offer tea and tea lattes as well as kombucha and lemonades for those staying away from caffeine.
Food: 5/5
UPerk offers a fair amount of both breakfast (served all day) and lunch options. They also offer the most vegan options in their food, including a tofu scramble breakfast sandwich and a vegan burger.
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
UPerk offers a calm atmosphere with ample seating. They also have an abundance of outlets that make this shop a great place for a long-haul study session to accompany your caffeine fix.
Pricing: 4.5/5
UPerk is very reasonably priced. Coffee starts at $1.50 and breakfast at $2.50. They are also the only local coffee shop that takes Bama Cash and Dining Dollars.
Hours:
Sunday-Friday: 7am-6pm
Saturday: 8am-3pm
Monarch Espresso Bar:
Drinks: 4/5
Monarch offers classic coffee beverages as well as teas and a small selection of house specialties, including a Cuban, salted caramel latte, and dirty chai.
Food: 3.5/5
The food options at Monarch are fairly limited. They offer a small selection of toasts, bagels, granola, and pastries.
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
Monarch offers a very relaxed atmosphere. It is a great place to study or have a chat with a friend. They also offer outdoor seating in the back in the warmer months.
Pricing: 4.5/5
Monarch Espresso is not overly expensive; however, the portions tend to be smaller than some other options.
Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 7am-5:30pm
Sunday: Closed
Catie Carter
