Photo by Lindsey Griffin.
Blake Hamachek packages coffee. Higher Ground roasts only fair-trade, organic coffee beans in small batches for distribution across the Southeast.
The scent of freshly roasted coffee beans will soon fill the air at Cahaba Heights Court, as a locally owned coffee company gets up and running at its new location this month.
Higher Ground coffee, owned and operated by Emily and Blake Hamachek, made the move to Cahaba Heights from Leeds in July, and Emily said the team has been busy getting everything set up and ready to go.
The roasting company specializes in organic, shade-grown and eco-friendly coffee from sustainable farms across the globe.
“We only buy the top-rated beans, and we’re certified organic by the Georgia Crop Association,” Emily said, alluding to the company’s motto of “Better Beans by Fairer Means.”
All of the farms the company purchases from are also fair-trade for the farmers, and one, which produces Higher Ground’s Peruvian and Sumatran beans, is an all-female farming co-op.
In addition to its commitment to responsible farming, Higher Ground has also been involved with sustainability at home, including efforts to purchase wind-power through Renewable Choice Energy as well as its partnerships with nonprofits such as the Cahaba River Society and other environment-focused groups.
Higher Ground was founded 13 years ago in Leeds by Emily’s brother-in-law. While there has been a change in ownership with her and her husband taking over a few months ago, Emily said operations will be pretty much the same at the company’s new home in Cahaba Heights.
“As of right now, we’re going to do exactly what we were doing out in Leeds,” she said.
That includes everything in the coffee-making process from the time the beans arrive from all over the world, to when the bags are shipped out to grocery stores and coffee shops around the Southeast.
Emily said Higher Ground continues to use the same blends the company originated with, and that the small size of the operation allows for that unique flavor.
“It is small batch, unlike Starbucks and all that, so it never tastes burnt,” she said.
Several of the blends are named after and directly support the different nonprofit groups Higher Ground is involved with, such as AIDS Alabama, Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Greater Birmingham Humane Society, the Alabama Environmental Council and more.
Customers can already purchase Higher Ground at several local grocery stores, as well as on the company’s website. Sometime later this month, Emily said the company hopes to have the shop open where customers can simply stop by for a bag of their favorite blend.
There are no local coffee shops serving Higher Ground products at this time, but Emily said she hopes that might be in the future as well.
“It’s been a long process trying to get everything here,” she said, but added that Higher Ground is excited to start roasting in Vestavia Hills because of its proximity to many existing customers, as well as potential future customers.
The move also brings the roasting operation closer to the Hamacheks’ home, which is just around the corner from the new shop, and Emily said they are excited to be Vestavia’s first coffee roasting company and to be part of the community.
“We just wanted to bring it here to Cahaba Heights, because Cahaba Heights is such a funky, fun little community,” she said.
The new roasting facility is located at 4248 Cahaba Heights Court. For more information, visit highergroundcoffeealabama.com.
Higher Ground coffee blends are available at several area stores:
Piggly Wiggly:
- 3000 Montgomery Highway, Homewood, AL 35209
- 41 Church Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213
- 3314 Clairmont Ave, Birmingham, AL 35222
- 3800 River Run Drive, Birmingham, AL 35243
- 770 Shades Mountain Plaza, Hoover, AL 35226
The Fresh Market:
- 549 Brookwood Village, Homewood, AL 35209
- 4700 Highway 280, Birmingham, AL 35242
Organic Harvest Grocery Store and Café:
- 1580 Montgomery Highway, Hoover, AL 35216
