There's a palpable sense of warmth when you walk into Cala Coffee in Cahaba Heights. A welcoming, upbeat spirit fills the former warehouse space that is almost always filled to the brim with patrons.
Josh and Mel Cosio, the dynamic couple behind Cala, have intentionally crafted everything, from the brand identity to the customer experience to the ingredients in every specialty latte.
The Cosio’s journey to owning a coffee business started during the pandemic. An avid coffee drinker, Josh began roasting at home as a creative outlet. Sharing his small-batch roasts with friends in a Cahaba Heights Facebook group sparked demand, and that’s when Josh had an idea: What if I turned this passion into a coffee cart?
The cart wasn’t just about selling coffee but about creating an experience. As weeks passed, the dream of a brick-and-mortar shop became undeniable. “I knew it was time to go all in,” Josh says. “We wanted to create something lasting — a place where people could connect, laugh, and share a cup of coffee.”
“We get to impact people in a really small way, but in a way that adds up and can dictate the course of their day,” Mel says.
Cala’s sense of community goes beyond its customers. Josh and Mel have worked hard to build relationships with local businesses, including collaborations with Ladybird Taco and Bandit Pâtisserie. Josh, a California native, always planned to have breakfast tacos on the menu as an homage to his West Coast and Mexican roots.
California also makes an appearance in the shop’s name. California + Alabama = Cala. The sunny disposition of Speedy, Cala’s mascot created by local brand strategist and designer Andrew Thompson of A Studio That Works, was intentionally made to feel “California retro.” Thompson continues to ensure the brand is cohesive and reflects Cala’s mission: to make people feel good.
Likewise, the Cosios sought out Amanda Loper of David Baker Architects as their architect partly because of her time in California and partly because of her local work, namely Golden Age and the Bandsaw Building.
Other collaborations include Madison Murphy, owner of the curated gifting company, Byndel, Grant Gannon of Heights Handmade (who made all the hightop tables), and Grace Champion of Place of Grace Pottery.
Jessica Leitch was “just a customer,” now her creative endeavor, The Little Red Print Shop, is popping up at Cala. You’ll want to bring quarters to purchase one of her linocut prints.
Local businesses Eastaboga Bee Company and Sachai Tea Co. are staple ingredients in Cala’s latte offerings. Locally grown mint leaves are used to create a seasonal mint cold brew.
The Cosios are also quick to note the supporters crucial to their success: CO.STARTERS, the Alabama Small Business Development Center, The Fig, Seeds Coffee Co., and their most loyal customers, Brigham Cowgill and Kate Headley.
Beyond business, Cala has become a place where personal connections happen. Mel recounts the story of their first “Cala couple,” who had their first date at Cala and are now married. For another local couple, Cala was so instrumental in their relationship that it was chosen as the location for their engagement party, rehearsal dinner, and wedding reception.
Relationships blossom on the other side of the counter, too. Mel and Josh get the most fulfillment from seeing their baristas grow professionally and become friends. “When a team loves each other, they pour into our customers the way we want them to pour into our customers. I know our customers feel that,” Mel says.
By fostering relationships, championing collaboration, and creating a space where people feel seen and valued, Josh and Mel have made more than a coffee shop; they’ve created a place where local love brews.
This February, Cala will feature the Local Love Latte as it joins Birmingham Lifestyle in celebrating the sweetness of our community.