Written By: Chris Ladd

No one knows where or when coffee was first discovered, but for the sake of this article we are going to reference Wikipedia (sorry, professor ). Legend has it that a goat herder noticed his goats wouldn’t settle down at night after eating the red berries off a certain bush so, he decided to try them himself. To his delight, he felt quite energized. He took these berries to a local monk who was skeptical and threw the berries in a fire. The aroma from the roasted beans was so amazing they scraped them out of the fire, ground them up, and dissolved them in hot water. Shazam… Coffee!!

True story?  No one really knows, but if you can’t function without your daily cup of joe, does it really matter?

For those who drink one cup, two cups, or even six cups of coffee a day, the aroma, flavor and potency are major factors for the coffee we choose to drink. Life is too short for bad coffee, so when we discover a shop that pours that “perfect cup”, the undying loyalty then ensues. Here are some of our favorite stops for a great cup of coffee in Knoxville. Stop in, try them out, and who knows, maybe you’ll find your “perfect cup”.

K Brew

@knoxvillebrew

K Brew has three locations across Knoxville, one being in the heart of Downtown Knoxville in the beautiful lobby of the Embassy Suites hotel. K Brew offers indoor seating, free WIFI and has the comfiest areas to study, meet up with friends or just sip quietly on your coffee. Their coffee is locally roasted in house since their first location opened in 2013. They offer a variety of the most delicious bagels and a selection of six different extremely tasty cream cheeses. Whether you love lattes, iced coffee or you’re a huge Harry Potter fan they’ve got you covered (keep an eye out for their Harry Potter themed drinks). This is the coffee shop you don’t want to miss, so next time you are in the area make sure you stop by K Brew!

The Empty Cup

@emptycupknox

Not only does The Empty Cup have a great cup of coffee but this small coffeehouse has a great story behind it. When you buy coffee or food, visit their marketplace or just donate your time; the Empty Cup gives back in the form of Adoption Grants. They offer a friendly gathering space, terrific coffee, play area for children, wonderful local food, and live music. They also have over eight flavors of Blue Bell ice cream, frozen coffee and lattes. Go check out their drive-thru services or sip on some of their delicious frozen coffee while listening to live music from the patio.

Old City Java

@oldcityjava

Old city Java is located on South Central Street in the heart of the Old city and is perfectly positioned to pick up a coffee when you’re on the go downtown, or stay and enjoy the unique outdoor sitting area. This is a very relaxed coffee spot serving specialty coffee, tea and a variety of fresh baked pastries. Old City Java will leave you with a smile on your face from either the atmosphere or the coffee, pretty sure it will be from both. Check it out today and make sure you grab a fresh pastry on the way out. We recommend the berry hand pie!

Coffee and Chocolate

@coffeeandchocolateknoxville

Right on the edge of Market Square in downtown Knoxville next to Café 4 sits the coziest little coffee shop called Coffee and Chocolate. They offer a wide range of delicious chocolates, many different macaron flavors, cookies and tons of tasty drink choices. Whether you like coffee, tea or just looking for a boost of energy with their Red Eye drink; this is the place for you. Make sure you stop in for a drink and treat while you are walking around Market Square! They have really good coffee!

Remedy Coffee

@remedy_coffee

Tucked away on the corner of Tyson Street, Remedy Coffee is definitely one to beat. They offer a wide variety of drinks ranging from hot chocolate, cold brew, fresh hot coffee, and lattes. They also offer a 96 oz. coffee box to-go for the whole office to enjoy and alcoholic beverages for those after work hours. Remedy offers indoor seating with free WIFI and a quiet atmosphere.  Make sure to stop in on your next coffee run to pick up one of their delicious drinks, and on the way out, peek into Paysan’s Bagels and Bread (@paysan_bread) for a delicious bagel!

Honeybee Coffee Company

@honeybeecoffeeco

With four locations across East Tennessee, this one is definitely a fan favorite. If you are in Sevierville, West Towne Mall, Kingston Pike or Downtown Knoxville make sure you stop by and check this one out. They offer very cool and modern places to sip your coffee and snack on delicious treats like their yummy apple fritter. Need a quiet place to drink some coffee and knock out some emails? Honeybee had plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Check out their website and learn more about their monthly coffee subscription.

Likewise Coffee

@likewisecoffee_knox

Located on East Magnolia Avenue near Downtown Knoxville. Likewise coffee offers an exquisite iced chai and freshly brewed hot coffee. Whether you are a coffee drinker or not, you’ll definitely find a new favorite drink here. They offer cozy indoor and outdoor seating with a very comfortable setting. Stop by for breakfast or lunch and grab a delicious sandwich filled with fresh ingredients such as sausage or bacon. They also have your happy hour destination covered with craft beer, 16 oz. kegs and delicious zucchini bites. You definitely need to check this place out!