Old City Java

109 S Central St, Knoxville, TN

★★★★★4.6(567 Google reviews)

Crema's Take

Tucked in Knoxville's vibrant Old City, this spot excels at pulling bold, unapologetic espresso that actually tastes like coffee—their pour overs and seasonal creations like the Winter Miel have earned genuine enthusiasm from visitors who've traveled far to find a cup this good. The spacious, welcoming interior paired with attentive baristas creates the kind of place where you genuinely want to linger, whether you're meeting a friend or settling in solo with a cappuccino that hits different.

What to expect

Specialty drinksMeetingsEspresso focusedSignature drinksPour overTraditional drinksSlow sit

Google Reviews

Melissa burns
★★★★★3 months ago

The inside space is very nice with lots of seating available. My friend and I both got iced vanilla lattes and agreed that something tasted off about them. There was not a lot of coffee or vanilla flavor; it just tasted like slightly sour milk. We felt nauseous after drinking the lattes and couldn’t finish them. I cannot recommend their coffee but it is a nice place to work/study.

Daniel Sean
★★★★★3 months ago

Great coffee shop located in the heart of the Old City neighborhood in Knoxville. Plenty of coffee options and definitely recommend the pour over, very bold and fresh taste. Attentive and friendly staff with plenty of seating.

Sammie Marlise
★★★★★4 months ago

We ordered a latte with caramel and one of their seasonal drinks (Winter Miel) and it was SO GOOD! 10/10. It actually tasted like coffee and not some watered down weak espresso. We also ordered a pumpkin loaf and croissant, both delicious. The coffee shop itself is super cute and I wish we could have stayed a little longer, but we were on our way back home to Texas from Gatlinburg where apparently good coffee doesn’t exist. After a week of bad coffee it was so nice finding this place! The vibe and service were excellent as well. Would definitely come back again if we could!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Amber Hobbs
★★★★★4 months ago

Stopped in here on our long road trip back from D.C. and were pleasantly impressed. Best drinks of our whole trip! We tried the Cappuccino, Americano, matcha latte and their ginger turmeric tea. Cappuccino was actually a proper cappuccino, the Americano was strong like it was supposed to be, the matcha and ginger turmeric tea was one of the best we’ve tried on our travels from coast to coast. Definitely worth the quick jaunt off of 40!

Sree Harsha
★★★★★6 months ago

I visited this place during my vacation, and it was an excellent experience. The ambiance is fantastic, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee immediately welcomed me as I stepped inside. I absolutely adore this place. The music is playing at a low volume, which is perfect for people who prefer a relaxed atmosphere.

Crema Reviews

No Crema reviews yet

Been here? Be the first to leave a review in the app.

Write a review on iOS