User:Pwadams/sandbox

Monarch Espresso Bar is an American craft coffee shop housed in downtown Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Monarch was opened in 2017 by Paul and Audrey Vermilyea who met while attending the University of Alabama. The couple moved back to Tuscaloosa from Nashville after running a successful kickstarter campaign to open up the shop that raised over $50,000 in just a month. Monarch serves espresso, teas, and pour overs in addition to an array of bakery items.

Monarch serves Onyx Coffee with their espresso and pour overs. Currently they serve Columbia Miguel Loaiza, Rwanda Kanyege, and Ethiopia Guji blends, but these are changed semi frequently. The shop also sells Onyx Coffee as retail so customers can make it at home as drip coffee. Onyx makes a special Monarch blend for the shop. The coffee shop supplies multiple milk alternatives such as, almond or oat milk for customers with allergies. Monarch also offers a rentable, downtown studio for Tuscaloosa tourists to stay at while visiting the town called Monarch Bed and Breakfast. Monarch's back patio has been the host for free events organized by The University Alabama including poetry readings and other open mic events.