Knoxville's Top Coffee Shops Face Off in Finals

Vote for your favorite local coffee shop to be crowned the best in the 'Knoxville Coffee Craze' bracket competition.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:05am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic coffee cup repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the energy and creativity of Knoxville's local coffee scene.The final showdown in Knoxville's 'Coffee Craze' bracket competition celebrates the city's vibrant local coffee culture.Knoxville Today

After a bracket-style voting competition featuring 32 local coffee shops, the finals have been set between Likewise Coffee and Old City Java. Knoxville residents can vote for their favorite shop, with the winner receiving a feature story in the Knox News.

Why it matters

The 'Knoxville Coffee Craze' bracket has generated excitement and friendly competition among the city's thriving coffee scene, showcasing the diversity of local shops and the passion of Knoxville residents for supporting their favorite cafes.

The details

The bracket was seeded based on the seniority of the coffee shops, with Old City Java earning the No. 1 seed and Likewise Coffee at No. 15. Voters have been considering factors like the quality of the espresso, creativity of the menu, location, and overall vibe of the shops. The grand prize for the winner is a feature story in the Knox News highlighting the business.

  • Voting for the finals will be open through 11:45 p.m. on April 5, 2026.
  • The winner will be announced on April 7, 2026.

The players

Likewise Coffee

A local coffee shop that was roughly in the middle of the pack with the No. 15 seed heading into the 'Knoxville Coffee Craze' competition.

Old City Java

A long-standing Knoxville coffee shop that earned the No. 1 seed heading into the bracket-style voting competition.

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What they’re saying

“How should you vote in the finals? Your preference of place may be based on the shop's quality of the espresso or the creativity of the menu. Maybe you're more concerned with location, shop playlists and convenient access to outlets so that you can 'work from home.' All are valid reasons worth considering.”

— Ryan Wilusz, Business growth and development editor, Knox News

What’s next

The winner of the 'Knoxville Coffee Craze' bracket will be announced on April 7, 2026 with a feature story on knoxnews.com.

The takeaway

The 'Knoxville Coffee Craze' bracket has highlighted the vibrant coffee culture in the city, with local residents passionately supporting their favorite shops and the competition generating excitement around the diverse range of cafes Knoxville has to offer.