Top Local Coffee Shops

Calling all coffee lovers in Middle Tennessee! If you’re new in town, here for a visit, or are a long-time resident searching for an independent coffee shop to prepare your next perfect cup of joe, today’s article is for you. Our picks for Best Coffee Shops in Middle Tennessee are true local gems brewing up more than just coffee; they are creating a space where we can all experience the warmth of our communities together as we inhale the sweet aroma of freshly ground espresso beans.

Our picks range from bright, open spaces peppered with verdant plants to snug, cozy, quiet oases perfect for studying, working, or diving into your beckoning book. Each shop is unique, but they all share a passion for coffee that can’t usually be found at national chains—and we’re not just talking about the beautiful latte art with which they’ll top your chosen brew.

When you support these independent shops, your purchases will do more than secure a delectable latte, cold brew, or sweet and spicy chai; they will invest in spaces that are the heartbeat of each neighborhood’s community. We hope you enjoy your visits as you sip, savor, and recharge.

Americano Lounge
434 Houston St Suite 120 | Nashville

Americano Lounge transports patrons back to the era in which a barista served both top-tier coffee and cocktails. Rather than offering a conventional coffee shop vibe, this luxe lounge serves up classic coffee and coffee drinks (including the elusive and delectable affogato,) house-made sodas, floats, and craft cocktails.

Feeling peckish? The lounge serves up oatmeal, croissant sandwiches, paninis, and a selection of decadent desserts.

During the day, Americano Lounge is a quiet spot where you can work, study, or read by the fireplace. By night, however, the lounge is a livelier destination, and on Friday and Saturday evenings, you can enjoy live jazz! That’s right, the grand piano and brass instruments are more than just chic decor.

Check in with the lounge’s social media presence frequently to get the scoop on other after-hour events as they are scheduled.

Crema Coffee Roasters
15 Hermitage Ave | Nashville

Crema Coffee Roasters is a zero-waste cafe and coffee roaster dedicated to ethical sourcing, sustainable practices, and outstanding coffee. In fact, every coffee is handcrafted from beans roasted on-site just a few days prior! Crema goes a step further, though, by creating their syrups in-house and serving their drinks in ceramic to on-site customers.

Thanks to their spacious parking lot, beautiful interior, and chill, inviting, down-to-earth atmosphere, Crema is a favorite for earnest students and those who prefer a mobile office setup. This cafe is busy, bustling, and often full of pleasant chatter, so bring your earbuds if you are a student or mobile worker who is sensitive to background noise. 

In addition to their coffee and tea offerings, Crema creates unexpected and creative seasonal drinks, coffee soda, baked goods and pastries, and a limited (albeit delicious) small bites menu.

Café Intermezzo
205 Demonbreun Street, 2nd Ave S | Nashville

Café Intermezzo is a European-style downtown destination to savor Batdorf & Bronson coffee, coffee drinks, and hard coffee concoctions alongside brunch, lunch, dinner, desserts, and cocktails. The cozy, nostalgic interior will encourage you to relax from your busy day and focus on the moment.

Ugly Mugs Coffee & Tea
1886 Eastland Ave | Nashville

Ugly Mugs Coffee & Tea is a minimalist, industrial-chic shop serving up delicious coffee and coffee drinks, an extensive tea menu, and an extensive selection of breakfast items (breakfast burritos, anyone?) and pastries that will keep you energized as you go about your day.

Ugly Mugs is a truly relaxed shop served by a staff who have been consistently praised for their friendly demeanor and willingness to customize each patron’s experience. If you are looking for alternative milks, Ugly Mugs has you covered. Gluten-free bread is also offered on all sandwiches!

If the weather beckons, you’ll be tempted to kick back in the outdoor seating—and you should. Whether you’re looking for a place to work, study, socialize, or just relax, you can’t go wrong at Ugly Mugs.

Retrograde Coffee
1305 Dickerson Pike | Nashville

Retrograde Coffee is a calming, inviting shop that serves both house-roasted and regionally roasted coffee, coffee drinks, and tea. If you’re hungry, browse an array of sweet treats, bagels, and breakfast sandwiches, then linger over your delicious drink and eats—we think the gleaming hardwood floors, fingers of natural light, and quiet vibes will draw you right in.

The Well Coffeehouse
690 East Old Hickory Blvd | Brentwood

In 2012, The Well was opened as a non-profit shop dedicated to turning proceeds from the shop into clean water supplied to impoverished peoples around the globe—20,000 to date! In addition to this altruistic mission, you will feel great about choosing The Well because their ethically-sourced, single-origin coffee is downright delicious.

The Well’s airy, inviting, and down-to-earth space features beautiful natural light, salvaged-wood walls, and a helpful staff who will work quickly to keep your day moving along.

Hungry? Grab a pastry, even if you are vegan or require gluten-free options—they have your back at The Well! Oat and almond milk are available for anyone who prefers these options over dairy milk.

Honest Coffee Roasters
230 Franklin Rd #11ab | Franklin

Since 2014, Honest Coffee Roasters has remained committed to its goal of sourcing outstanding coffee directly from its farmer partners from all over the world. Once imported, the beans are roasted on-site right here in Middle Tennessee, which guarantees that your purchase will be brewed with perfectly roasted beans that are at peak freshness.

This warm, brick-lined cafe invokes the old world (which isn’t difficult when you’re housed in a 90-year-old stove factory) while also utilizing the most modern coffee accouterments to carefully craft each coffee (homemade syrup is optional, but we suggest cinnamon.) If you’re on the lookout for a pastry, Triple Crown Bakery also has a spot in The Factory, and they’re a must-have when you’re nearby.

The Factory features plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating, so feel free to stay a while!

Brass Horn Coffee Roasters
410 W Lytle St | Murfeesboro

Brass Horn Coffee is a community-oriented coffee shop founded by Jeremy, whose passion for great coffee and music inspired the name. The shop sources green coffee responsibly and roasts it in-house meticulously, aiming to bring world-class coffee to our community. House-made syrups are available if a touch of infused sweetness strikes your fancy.

In addition to their coffee, coffee drinks, and tea, Brass Horn is beloved for their breakfast burritos and avocado toast, which are just two of many delicious meals prepared here. Arrive hungry, under-caffeinated, and in need of community, and you’ll find all three of these needs will be swiftly met at Brass Horn.

If you’re hosting a meeting, or wish to relax with your friends and family, the Brass Horn’s ample seating makes this spot a great choice. Anytime you’re in Murfreesboro, join the hundreds of loyal customers who agree with us that this is the best coffee shop in town.

Black Press Coffee Shop and Roaster #001
251 W Main St #100 | Hendersonville

Black Press Coffee partners with coffee farmers in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia, importing single-origin beans, roasting them in-house, and transforming them into the best Cuban in the region (among virtually any coffee drink you desire!)

Black Press’s vibe is impeccable, so it’s little wonder that locals and visitors alike flock here every day of the week. The bagel sandwiches, pastries, and nitro cold brew are almost as famous as the Cuban latte, making this shop one of Hendersonville’s true gems.

Legacy Coffee Co.
2549 Nashville Hwy B | Columbia

Legacy Coffee Co is a slice of authentic Americana, an artisan coffee roastery, and famous cafe—you simply must stop by. The genuinely friendly staff will happily help you inside or at the drive-through window, so don’t hesitate to ask questions about the beans, brew, or eats!

Relax on one of the sofas or oversized armchairs, browse locally made goods and merch, and chat with the staff or the patrons. This is, without a doubt, a community-centered establishment.

The Takeaway

Throughout Middle Tennessee, we are fortunate to have a myriad of outstanding coffee shops to choose from. This year, we hope you’ll consider visiting those located near you, investing your coffee budget right back into the community to which you belong.