Off the Beaten Path: Coffee Shops Around Knoxville Part 1

Welcome to our Off the Beaten Path series where we explore unique locales in the TN Valley of East Tennessee that might not be on your radar — or the most straightforward to find. For this, our inaugural series, we’ll be focusing on a few coffee shops in the Knoxville and Knox County area.

Let’s dive right in! We have some fun coffee shops, and a local European Market, to share with you.

Velocity Coffee & Roasters

First up is one of Knoxville’s newest coffee shops, Velocity Coffee & Roasters. Velocity is located at 7101 Clinton Highway in Powell. It is in a former garage, which is obvious once you see the building. They’ve kept the overall feel of the garage with the roll up doors still intact and the ‘waiting’ room as the now roasting room. But that’s where the similarities end.

The building is cute as it can be — painted white inside and out — and while it has an overall industrial feel, it’s more of a modern farmhouse meets old-school garage vibe.

They opened their doors just two months ago but you wouldn’t know it! It has an old home feel that makes you cozy immediately upon walking in. The staff is friendly and eager to answer any questions you may have. The owner roasts the coffee on site and you can purchase a bag of coffee to take home and brew up your own cup any way you like. Our personal favorite here at Destination TN Valley, is a french press. It’s such a special treat to grind your coffee beans and then let them sit in the press for 5-6 minutes and then plunge the grounds to the bottom and pour that perfectly brewed cup of coffee. All you need is the right bean and you are on your way to enjoying that cup of coffee at home.

Let us know if you visit Velocity on your next trip to Knoxville. While we were there, two couples were enjoying affogato, and from the overheard conversation, it was a treat! We sampled the Matcha Latte with oat milk, sweetened with just a splash of pure cane sugar. Also worth noting: Velocity serves bagels and cream cheese — but get there early. By the time we arrived around 2 PM, they were mostly sold out!

You can find Velocity on: Facebook and Instagram

Wrenhouse Bakery

Next up, we visited Wrenhouse Bakery. Wrenhouse has two locations — one right in the heart of Fountain City, and the one we consider off the beaten path is their Corryton location. This one is one of our personal favorites. The coffee is good, but the building and décor? Dreamy. It gives major old-school coffee shop vibes.

The Corryton location is in an old house — we know this because we grew up driving past that house, but also because you can just tell. Once you walk inside though, you forget it ever used to be a home. The entryway is charming with a brick pathway, warm lighting, and thoughtful decor. From there you enter directly onto the ordering counter, where you’ll find a rotating seasonal menu. For August, they’re offering cozy campfire selections like S’mores, French Toast Latte, and Samoa. We tried their cappuccino — it had been a while since we’d had one, and this one hit the spot. The whole atmosphere reminded us of our time spent in the Catskills of Upstate New York.

After placing your order, you have two rooms to choose from for enjoying your drink. The main room is filled with tables and has a fireplace (we don’t know if it works — it was summer when we visited, so you’ll have to let us know when you visit this winter!).

The second room — and our personal favorite — is the sitting room. We’re taking liberties with naming it, but you’ll know the one: it’s the blue room. It’s cozy and inviting with a couch, window bench seat, and a table with two chairs — the perfect setup for a relaxed conversation with your BFF. You’ll find eclectic knickknacks, books, and some magazines (would it surprise you to know that the magazines are Magnolia? Probably not after seeing the coffee shop!). The flowers throughout are real, but we didn’t find out where they’re from. We hope it’s a local grower or florist!

Wrenhouse Bakery, according to their website, was founded in 2020. All baked goods are made in-house, and just like at Velocity, you’ll want to get there early! They sell out fast and run low on popular items quickly. And just like their coffee specials, baked goods are on seasonal rotation. They are currently gearing up for their fall weather favorites, with a fan favorite-Apple Espresso Cinnamon Rolls back on the menu for August.

One other thing we love about Wrenhouse: they’re open until 6 PM during the week. That allowed us to enjoy our cappuccino at 5 PM and catch that dreamy light streaming through the windows. It was the perfect way to end the day — and the place was still bustling with activity. And we’d be remiss not to mention: you can get your coffee in a real mug. Such a treat.

You can find the Corryton location at 7404 Tazewell Pike in Corryton, and the Fountain City location at 3023 Tazewell Pike in Fountain City (Knoxville). Yes, they are on the same road but about 10 miles apart from each other.

You can find Wrenhouse Bakery on: Facebook and Instagram

Coffee and Chocolate: West Hills

Our final stop on this journey is Coffee & Chocolate’s newest location in the Gallery Shopping Center in West Hills. You might not know this, but Coffee & Chocolate has been a Knoxville staple for almost 20 years. They now have three locations — the OG in Market Square downtown, one in Powell, and this new spot in West Knoxville.

All three are worth visiting, but we’re partial to the West Hills location because they make their chocolates in-house, on-site. You can even watch the process — kind of like seeing fudge made in Pigeon Forge.

Not only do they make their chocolates on-site, but their baked goods — including those delightful macarons — are made in-house too (at the Powell location). The vibe here is more industrial, which we appreciate. Not every coffee shop needs to be cozy — Sometimes having a more industrial feel is just what one needs. And their branding? Quirky, colorful, and fun!

Also of note, they source their coffee from another Knoxville favorite, Mahalo, and private-label it. You can buy a bag at any Coffee & Chocolate location. Our favorite is the Sumatra — which we understand is hard to find (but you can get yours at the West Hills location where it is mostly in stock).

We enjoyed the Hot Honey Latte for our special drink of the day. It was so good. We like a little spice in our coffee (think Mexican coffee or a spicy mocha — yum!). And just like the other spots, Coffee & Chocolate rotates their seasonal offerings. We especially loved seeing a Barista’s Choice option on the menu.

No matter which location you visit (though we do recommend swinging through the Gallery Shopping Center and poking around while sipping on your favorite coffee drink from Coffee & Chocolate), we think you’ll enjoy the atmosphere — and don’t forget to grab a few chocolates while you’re there!

You can find Coffee & Chocolate on: Facebook and Instagram

Bonus: Euro Delights Market & Cafe

Just down the road from our last stop is Euro Delights Market & Cafe. We met one of the owners while on Living East Tennessee — he was there to promote his business, and we were doing the same. Having lived in the Northeast for years and being in close proximity to New York City and other major metropolitan areas, we were thrilled to hear about an international cafe right here in Knoxville.

The café and market opened earlier in 2025. One side is the market, stocked with all sorts of European delights. Having had access to shops like this in the Northeast, it was a lovely surprise to find one nestled in the heart of West Knoxville. It's located just around the corner from West Town Mall, tucked into the back corner of the parking lot at 7838 Kingston Pike.

You can browse the market (hello, brats and real smoked salmon) and then head over to the cafe. The cafe is very reminiscent of European cafes, just as we suspected it would be. It feels exactly like you’ve stepped out of Knoxville and into France or Italy. There’s a cozy seating area in the back or multiple tables near the counter. The baked goods are supplied by local bakers, and they serve Five & Hoek coffee.

We — again — had the cappuccino. Something about the one at Wrenhouse just set us on a cappuccino kick. This one was delicate and smooth, yet strong. Just the way we like it. And yes, served in a real coffee cup, this time with a saucer. So European.

Once you’ve picked your drink (and maybe a bakery treat), you can settle in at the communal window table, grab a private spot at a table, or cozy up in the back at the couch and chairs (which was in high demand when we visited). There are plenty of outlets, so it’s a great option for a quick cuppa and work session.

We visited around brunch time during the week and overheard several languages being spoken — both from staff and patrons. It was busy, with people popping in for groceries and coffee. It was such a treat to see this kind of community happening in the middle of West Knoxville.

You can find Euro Delights on: Facebook and Instagram

Have a favorite East Tennessee coffee shop or hidden local gem we should check out next? Send us a message or tag us on Instagram @destinationtnvalley! We’re always on the hunt for new places to feature in our Off the Beaten Path East Tennessee guide series.

About the Author:

Kristin is the founder of Chicken Librarian and the Host of Life on the Farmstead, where she shares real-life stories, seasonal living tips, and her love for all things local. A freelance blogger with a background in storytelling and small-town life, Kristin has been chronicling her journey online since 2017 at chickenlibrarian.com. Whether she’s spotlighting East Tennessee small businesses or sharing life from her own farmstead, Kristin writes with honesty, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for the people and places that shape her stories.