Knoxville’s Coffee Scene

Remedy Coffee

Vibe - Remedy is a third-wave coffee shop in North Knoxville, just a stone’s throw away from downtown.  If you like natural light and plant bb’s, this is the shop for you.  If you were to ask them their thoughts on themselves, they’d say their goal is to be serious about coffee, but they don’t take themselves seriously at all.  They’d love for everyone to be educated and drink great coffee, but know that you don’t have to be pretentious about it!  Their advice would be to enjoy what you like – whether a caramel latte or a naturally processed Ethiopian pour-over.  

Roast - They regularly carry Methodical Coffee out of Greenville, South Carolina. The other guest roaster rotates every three months or so; check their social to see what's brewing!  

Visitor Recommendation - “Paysan. Paysan. Paysan. Paysan is our next-door neighbor and they have a variety of baked goods, with a focus on bagels and bagel sandwiches. Everything they touch is amazing and they pump out some killer food and bread.” With coffee and bagel in hand, you can take a stroll in the adjacent Old Gray Cemetery.  Sounds weird but it’s peaceful and full of history – check it out on the Divided Loyalties Civil War Driving Tour. 

K Brew

Vibe - K Brew has been a local favorite since 2013. Originating in the Old North neighborhood, K Brew now has four locations across Knoxville: one on Broadway, one in west Knoxville near West Town Mall, one in west Knoxville on Ebenezer, and one inside the Embassy Suites Downtown. They’re known for their unique hammock seating, friendly staff, and laid-back atmosphere - perfect for hangouts with friends or meetings with colleagues.  

Roast – They offer their signature Marble City Blend, as well as several rotating single-origin coffees, expertly roasted espresso, and delicious decaf.  

Visitor Recommendation – Enjoy the nearby outdoors; Sharp’s Ridge is just up the road from the north location. Don’t forget to snap a selfie at the Greetings from Knoxville Mural on the side of the adjacent building of the north location. 

Coffee & Chocolate

Vibe – This super cozy chill spot in the heart of downtown has all one needs in life: coffee AND chocolate. They’ve been serving up the goods since 2005. You’re sure to run into locals with their regular customers that keep coming back for more. They also have a shop in Powell! Either location, you'll have to pick up some macarons or truffles - you deserve it!

Roast – They have a partnership with Golden Roast (local roaster, see their section for more) for freshly roasted coffee daily. 

Visitor Recommendations - They’ve got the foodies covered: “If I was new in town I would recommend stopping in the Visitor Center of course (we didn’t pay them to say that!) then eat at J.C. Holdway, Kaizen, and Lonesome Dove.” 

The Golden Roast

Vibe – The Golden Roast has two locations: Melrose and Marble City. Melrose is a UT campus staple having been there for over 25 years.  The vibe is moody in a good way with whimsical twinkling lights against black walls. Perfect for reading with some lo-fi in your headphones or chatting with friends. Be sure to check out the restroom walls – ok, weird rec, we know – to scope out the drawings of coffee cups submitted by people in the community. 

The Marble City location on Sutherland Avenue location is inside the Cherokee Mills Building. Keep an eye out for the sunny yellow umbrellas and you're there! You'll find lots of art and even some local Makers' products available from both locations for purchase on Venmo. 

Roast – The magic happens at their roaster in Powell (North Knox County off Emory Road next to Panther Dough Joe).  They have a whopping 25 varieties of roasts and have even started bottling so you can enjoy their cold brew too. 

Visitor Recommendations – If you’re at Melrose, you’re practically on campus! Explore UT’s beautiful architecture and surrounding neighborhood including greenways, UT Gardens, and more.  For those visiting Sutherland, explore this eclectic street with a latte in hand. 

Perk City

Vibe – You’ll know you’re somewhere unique before you walk in the door.  Their lime green and charcoal gray color scheme is funky and a welcome change of pace.  This shop in East Knoxville has a relaxed, welcoming feel.  They have made in-house baked goods and quiche – and are well known for their “incredibites” – their version of monkey bread.  If you’re in around lunchtime, they have yeast rolls with your choice of chicken/egg salad. They also care about their community with their “Pay it Forward” board, where anyone can pay for someone else’s coffee – how nice it feels to give a cup or get a cup! 

Roast – They carry a few different roasts from Vienna Coffee, a roaster south of Knoxville in Maryville.

Visitor Recommendations – There is a lot to experience and enjoy in this part of town. Check out The Muse, Chilhowee Park, Zoo Knoxville, and the Knoxville Botanical Gardens.

Honeybee Coffee

Vibe – What started as an airstream trailer in 2014 has now expanded to four physical locations. Their West Shop (Kingston Pike/Lovell) features lots of natural lighting, a modern design, and a welcoming feel. Their SoKno Shop on Sevier Avenue is quiet and laid back with lots of comfy seating. Their third shop opened down the way in Sevierville, and the fourth can be found inside West Town Mall. They encourage customers to ask questions to expand their coffee knowledge and further the specialty coffee community. Visitors to Knoxville can expect high-quality specialty coffee in East Tennessee from Honeybee and other coffeehouses. 

Roast – They roast their own at the West Shop for use at their own shops and wholesale clients. They recently launched a new Limited Release Project, releasing small batches of very special & unique coffees currently just in Knoxville, so come by and try some! 

Visitor Recommendations – If you’re visiting the SoKno shop, you’re going to want to explore the Urban Wilderness.  Also, Sevier Avenue is a hoppin' part of town. If you’re at the west location, spend some more time In the Neighborhood – Farragut. 

Capybara Coffee

Vibe – Capybara is a Specialty Coffee Shop with a laid-back environment with quality products and friendly service. They have great coffee (and craft teas from Smith Teamaker) and focus specifically on Brazilian coffee culture.  Coffee is a major part of Brazilians’ identity, and everyday life revolves around the bean.  From morning "cafe com leite" (drip coffee and milk) to afternoon "cafezinho" (strong brewed plain black coffee) and after lunch espresso, the day starts and sometimes ends in coffee.  

Roast – Their goal is to bring more of the Brazilian Specialty Coffee scene to the spotlight, partnering with two roasters who have great relationships with Brazilian farmers: Panther out of Florida and Casa Brasil out of Texas. Panther is an influential roaster in Miami and elsewhere, you’ll find this roaster used in their everyday coffee blends. Casa Brasil is a highly specialized roaster with a focus on direct fair trade with Brazilian small farmers, who’re responsible for the microlots (small farms, small batches) that Capybara serves using multiple brewing methods (V60 Pour Over, French Press, Chemex).  

Visitor Recommendations – The University of Tennessee, the UT Gardens, and so much more is nearby, read more about this area.

Awaken Coffee

Vibe - Awaken Coffee is located in downtown Knoxville's historic Old City.  The building is over 100 years old and has the most incredible morning light – perfect for creating your own little reading nook and hunkering down with a book. 

Roast – Awaken features an excellent regional roaster: Quills based out of Louisville, KY.

Visitor Recommendations – Explore the Old City itself with handcrafted coffee to help fuel your adventure.  

Mahalo Coffee Roasters

Vibe – You’ll really catch a coastal feel when you walk into Mahalo, after all, “Mahalo” means Thank You in Hawaiian.  Bright whites and crisp blues and a signature surfboard adorn the chill layout.  This spot in the Powell neighborhood is always happening and perfect for bringing the kids, putting down your phone and enjoying the community.  Tip: if it’s rainy, cold, or don’t feel like wrangling the kids out of the circus that is your vehicle – they have a drive-thru!  They also have a downtown location just off bustling Market Square on Union Avenue in the Daylight Building.  Pick up a book next door at Union Avenue Books and you’ve got yourself a delightful spot to relax. 

Roast – As implied by the name, Mahalo is a local roaster in Knoxville. This year Mahalo has put an emphasis on showcasing coffees from farmers they’ve established real,  in-person relationships with, many being bright, “fruit-forward” natural coffees from Costa Rica and Colombia. They keep things exciting with “Locals Only”, their limited release program for especially unique coffees. Their mainstay blend “Dawn Patrol” is a combination of coffees from Ethiopia and Brazil and is the go-to for their espresso-based drinks. You will usually find light-roasted single origin coffees on batch brew.  For a darker roast, they've added "Night Surf" to their lineup - which isn't a "dark roast" strictly speaking - but it is a Guatemala origin bean that is roasted darker than anything else they have. They have a wide variety of origins available for purchase at both shops, including 12 oz bags of beans available in person and online (whole bean or pre-ground per request).

Visitor Recommendations – Need an outdoor fix? The Powell location is super close to Tommy Schumpert Park in north Knox County.  A disc golf course, an excellent dog park, and a paved greenway await!  Their downtown location is close to, well everything downtown! 

South Press

Vibe - South Press is in a newer and larger community space in SoKno on Chapman Highway built on locally sourced products, eco-friendly business practices and great hospitality.  Some have described the aesthetic as “90s coffee shop meets 50s diner”.  You’ll find second-hand furnishings, board games, puzzles, LGBTQ-friendly books (that can even be checked out through the Rainbow Library), and an eclectic vinyl collection.  Expect to be “greeted with love and affirmation”!  They welcome all people and cater to an alternative crowd: “The queer, punk, goth, artist, or any misfit could easily find themselves at home in the South Press space.” 

Roast - Their coffee is sourced from Knoxville Coffee Company, a local roaster. It’s a family business headed up by a father and son duo that is soon to relocate to Sutherland Avenue. 

Visitor Recommendations  - “SoKno is the best!  We live here and love it.”  Be sure to visit Ijams Nature Center, Suttree Landing Park, or Fort Dickerson which is just up the street.  “There’s so much to see and do in South Knox – you’ll want to visit as often as you can!” 

Old City Java + Wild Love Bakehouse 

Vibe – Established in 1991 - that’s over 30 years y’all!) - Old City Java has a cozy old-world feel to it.  With warm wood tones and old brick, this local favorite really captures the historic feel of one of Knoxville’s oldest neighborhoods. Their sister coffee shop and bakery Wild Love Bakehouse is in Happy Holler and is almost the opposite. It’s open and airy with lots of natural light, modern without feeling cold. There’s a big glass wall that gives guests a peek into the kitchen to watch the pastry team hard at work. Pastries from Wild Love are served at both locations – and this would be a good time to mention that WLB was dubbed “Best Bakehouse in America” by AFAR Magazine. 

Roast – Both cafes offer a full espresso menu in addition to rotating single-origin coffees from Counter Culture Coffee out of Durham, North Carolina.

Visitor Recommendations – Old City Java is as described, in the heart of the Old City, so you’ll find plenty to do within walking distance.  Wild Love is in Happy Holler on Central, get to know that neighborhood.

Treetop Coffee Shop 

Vibe – Modern, warm, and colorful with retro touches. They’ve got a clean and simple look with pops of color and comfy furniture.  

Roast – Follow their social to see their guest roasters they showcase!

Visitor Recommendations – Cherokee Boulevard is steps away – enjoy the Sequoyah Hills Greenway through this incredible neighborhood as it runs along the Tennessee River. HIGHLY recommend walking this greenway in autumn as the leaves are falling or following the Dogwood Trail in the spring.  

Likewise Coffee 

Vibe – Likewise is set in a spacious, cozy 100+-year-old house in East Knoxville, just east of Downtown and the Old City off Magnolia. Each room is filled with different types of seating ranging from couches to velvet chairs to normal tables. The shop displays art from local artists and includes a beautiful interior mural. If the inside isn't enough, Likewise also features a peaceful, shaded outdoor seating area that has an Instagrammable fence showing love to their East Knoxville community. They’re owned by a local nonprofit called Raising a Voice, with 100% of proceeds going to support their local work with vulnerable women. 

Roast – Likewise carries ethically sourced coffee from multiple origins. It’s all roasted in-house to make sure each cup is flavorful. 

Visitor Recommendations – Likewise is near several East Knoxville staples such as Zoo Knoxville, The Muse, and Caswell Park.  Read more about this part of town: In the Neighborhood – East Knoxville. 

CommonPlace Coffee 

Vibe – This new shop in SoKno feels like you’re walking into a warm and welcoming living room.  For an extra bit of cozy, enjoy your bevvie in the vault room (the building was once a bank).   

Roast – You’ll find ShareWell Coffee Co. out of Hendersonville, North Carolina.  The owners have loved their coffee for years and they’re excited to bring their beans to Knoxville. Oh, and they make all their syrups in-house so they’re always tweaking recipes and experimenting to get those flavors just right. They generally introduce a new drink every Wednesday, so you’ll have to keep coming back for more. 

Visitor Recommendations – You’ll notice a giant SoKno mural map done by local illustrator Paris Woodhull, take a look and enjoy all the outdoor options this part of town has to offer! 

Intrepid Nitro Coffee

Vibe – Airy yet cozy, how do they do it?

Roast – Familiar with nitro beer? Nitro coffee is kinda similar. Nitro is cold brew infused with nitrogen and either served from a keg or canned. The tiny nitrogen bubbles give the drink its famous creamy texture. This shop is super friendly and allows customers a sample - perfect if you've never tried it before.

Visitor Recommendations – Lots of adventures to be had in the surrounding Bearden neighborhood!

Seed Coffee Co.

Vibe – One of the coziest on this list, this spot on Sutherland Avenue is in a former church. Subdued and serene inside, with a cute patio outside!

Roast – They partner with Café Kreyol on their beans. Be sure to try their seasonal drink menu!

Visitor Recommendations – Sutherland has it all, a simple drive down the street will provide you with plenty to see and do!