Refuge Coffee — Restaurant in Fairhope

This is a great little coffee shop to visit in downtown Fairhope. I stopped into this coffee shop to do some work for about an hour while I was in Fairhope for Thanksgiving this week.

There are plenty of seating options to choose from inside ranging from couches, tables, high tops and a couple individual chairs near the windows at the front of the coffee shop. The coffee shop has a subtle hipster vibe to the overall appearance and atmosphere.

They have a very simple menu, but enough options to suit the needs of any coffee lover's taste buds! I ordered their signature latte called, the “Signature”, which has local honey and cinnamon blended into the latte. It was light in flavor with a hint of sweetness from the honey. The barista who took my order recommended this drink to me. I'm glad I ordered it, because I could drink this all the time if I lived down here! The price tag on this drink was $4.96 which included tax. Expect to pay anywhere from $3-$6 depending on what drink you order.

The baristas were very quick and professional with serving their customers. There were about 6 people in front of me and only two baristas working. I had my drink within a couple minutes after ordering which was very much appreciated. I will definitely stop into this coffee shop again when I am down in Fairhope! ALWAYS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES WHENEVER YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY! Keep up the great...

You must purchase their beans if you prepare your own espresso. It's either me or my wife who comes here for single-origin roasted beans. Before I found this store, the experience with other locals and other online stores had been lackluster. I tried their coffee first and was immediately enamored. We visit here for the bean at least once a week, and more frequently if we have a lot of visitors at our house. The store owner did provide us some discount for being a good patron, which I'm very appreciative of. My recommendation if you're making your own espresso: don't cheap out on your beans. Most beans at the local markets only tell you when it's good for, not when it was roasted. Typically, I wouldn't touch the bean that has been roasted for more than a month. Get the "Defender," and you won't be...

I asked the barista what she normally orders for herself. At this time of year she was ordering the Valencia cappuccino. I wanted an iced version so she recommended the iced shorty Valencia. Great recommendation! The citrus-floral syrup was very refreshing. The iced shorty is definitely for all those folks that like to taste the espresso in their coffee - which I love! There are higher milk content options for those who prefer a higher coffee to milk ratio. There is some interior seating, and there was hardly anyone in there when we were there in the late afternoon. Very cute, electric, industrial vibes. If I lived here, they would probably be my everyday...