I came in today to try an get some work done and just chill, but I ran in to a kid fest. Serious, no open tables. Only a couple of chairs. Really loud. I appreciate that they are hosting the kid. It's just too Much noise and and doesn't make for a good meeting environment. read more

Lovely, inviting atmosphere in a strip mall. A wide variety of seating. The business obviously supports community activities as some school event was occurring. I think there was even a small meeting room. Some sort of charity sale was also going on. Most importantly. The coffee was superb. Latte was delicious and hazelnut caramel truffle latte was exquisite. Owner gave us a very warm, very sincere thank you as we were leaving. We only realized afterwards that they had closed a half hour earlier. People were still slowly wandering out as we left. Great coffee. Reasonable price. read more

Wow !!! Such a hidden gem. Love this coffee shop . Has a great ambiance for writing, hanging with friends or a quiet low key date . The service is great, and the food seems to all be delicious . Highly recommend if you're looking for a new place to hangout read more

The Empty Cup - Almond milk latte with sugar free vanilla - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

This is arguably one of the worst cups of coffee I've drank. It's so bland and chocked full of lavender with absolutely no honey taste. I would compare the taste to how fabuloso smells but it's only there for .5 seconds then it's like water. As well, there is no coffee/espresso flavor...all of this for $6.50. I will say that their medium is a pretty big size though, so I will give credit there. read more

Very nice place to study! I love the service here, since they make you feel at home, and I guess that's why you can see many regulars here. The place is very chill, and has many different tables to sit in (round, square, small, big) and also different chairs (benches, couches, cushioned chairs). It's a great place to switch up your study space. I'm not a huge coffee lover so I won't comment on that, other than that I'd purchase it again, and the scones are kinda delish (coming from a person who doesn't really eat scones! I remember the server searched for the calories of everything herself and helped me out since I was in a caloric defficient diet. Once everything returns to normal, I'll be happy to be back! read more

What makes the Empty Cup unique? So many things. 1. Their aspiration: "The goal is to rethink how adoption fundraising is done. The Empty Cup will become a sustainable source for adoption fundraising. As people pour into The Empty Cup, they will pour back out to local families in the form of adoption grants," thus the "empty cup" name. You can donate small change, or toilet paper and soap to help keep operating costs low. One of their coffee suppliers, Just Love Coffee Roasters, shares a common bent- to help reduce the financial burden of families also going through the adoption process. 2. There is a dedicated children's area inside what used to be a bank vault (how cool is that?!), decorated with hand painted murals. This is so thoughtful for parents, allowing them to simply get a cup of coffee with a friend or by themselves. There are no children's areas in your local starbucks! What a thoughtful, family-inclusive gesture. There is also a changing table with ample room for setting your baby bag and supplies down in the restroom. 3. It's not cramped. The space is large, with plenty of tables for meetings or work surfaces, and a multitude of comfy chairs and sofas. A private meeting room is also available for reservation, and their website also emphasizes that the entire building space can be rented after hours (they generally close at 7pm) for group or community functions. 4. They have a cereal bar. Perfect for the child in you or your actual children! 5. The place also strikes me as wheelchair friendly. There are 2 stair steps leading up to the children's area and the entrance doesn't have a handicap button, but the rest of the location has enough room to navigate or wheel up to a table to sit, and the restroom has a ramp leading up to it. I'm no coffee conoisseur, but I really enjoy coming here for a workspace away from home and getting their specialty coffee beverages. They have coffee flights, which is pretty cool. My only recommendation would be to bring external power packs or extension cords/power strips if you need to power your devices while you're here- the space can fill up at peak times and you may not get an optimal location next to an outlet. read more

The Empty Cup - Blended mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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This is a fantastic new spot in a low traffic plaza. The coffee roasts were all well-brewed (I had the "coffee flight" which is their sampler), their mocha blended iced coffee was also very original and super tasty. The atmosphere is relaxed, the service is great, the prices are reasonable - and the profits go toward a great cause. My husband and I are forever on the hunt for truly exceptional coffee houses, and we will definitely be repeat customers here. A new gem is born in Knoxville. read more

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Great place, and I'm incredibly happy to have them in town and in the specific area they're in! I mostly get coffee (Costa Rican medium roast or one of the darks, sometimes the Bavarian Chocolate one). I've had their latte once and cappuccino once as well, both were good. On their own, the coffees maybe don't quite get 5 stars, more like 4. However, they have several other factors that make them an outstanding coffee shop: the customer service here has always been outstanding, they know their coffee, they'll let you taste before deciding, you can order an "Empty Cup" (as many refills as you want in a real mug during your day there), ($4.50 I think?), they have a variety of seating options (couches, tables), and they have a meeting room you can reserve for free for at least 1 hour (maybe 2? I forget). On top of all that, the coffee shop supports adoption, but directly through finances as well as other ways such as sharing information and publicizing information about adoption. The idea that I can go enjoy coffee and be using my spending choice to support adoption is a definite plus, especially when the coffee itself is already good enough to stand on its own. Last but DEFINITELY NOT least: they have a kids room where kids can play and parents can sit. This has been amazing when I take my son, it was such an awesome option for Saturday mornings where I could let me wife have some resting time at home and my son could play with various toys while I could enjoy a good coffee. This is also equally amazing when I'm there working and other people's' kids stay in the kids room and I'm better able to concentrate on my work. This is a brilliant idea, I'm amazed more places don't do this. I'll keep going back to Empty Cup. I hope they're around for a long time, and that they continue serving good coffee and pursuing an important mission/purpose. read more

My sister came in from the West Coast and we decided to try this place over the Holidays! It is now my new go to! Good Job Guys! Jen read more

Truly a hidden gem. The store front is in an nondescript out-of-the-way strip mall. When you step inside you are immediately teleported to a hip west coast-ish coffee shop. Inside you'll find a diverse group of people interacting, lounging, studying... Our favorite part is a converted bank vault that serves as a dedicated childproof playroom, complete with a plethora of toys and books to keep your toddler entertained. The best part about this place is that it's a non profit that supports adoption. So while you are enjoying a deliciously bold latte, you can feel good about your money going to a great cause. read more

The Empty Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Perfect study space. The perfect chai latte (if you're into that drink) and very cozy vibes. It is pretty quiet so I donno if you can have very big study groups or soo when I walked in it felt like a library. Also a good spot to catch up have a cup of coffee with someone. read more

The Empty Cup - Cozy study space - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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I went here for a work meeting and it was the perfect spot. From other reviews it sounds like it could be hit or miss but yesterday was great. They offer a item on the menu called "the empty cup" where you get to pick a unique mug and you get unlimited drip coffee while you're there. As a coffee addict, this was perfect. They offer a range of pastries, muffins, scones, and even a cereal bar. The uniqueness of this place definitely makes it stand out! read more

The Empty Cup - My Empty Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Pretty chill coffee shop lots of comfy places to sit and work or just enjoy your coffee. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I really like that this place does flights of coffee I am always excited to see coffee shops want to get there customers to taste all the different coffees and see how different each flavor profile is. I would recommend this place. read more

The Empty Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

First time here and I really loved it! The barista was super nice and the place I think used to be a bank because it has a vault. The coffee is great and the place is so cozy once I find a couch I just wanna relax read a book and spend hours there. read more

How cute is this place?! From the love and welcoming of all the babies to the pre purchased cups of coffee for someone who needs it. The coffee is also super, and the girls behind the counter are sweet! read more

I am so sad to post this because I really really wanted to love this place. Let's talk about the good though. First and foremost the staff is super friendly. The building is really cute and cozy even though it's big it doesn't feel overwhelming. They have games and cute coffee mugs and a good atmosphere. They also support adoption with each purchase and have adoption information available. The bad: my coffee was terrible. Like really bad. I actually asked them to remake it (and offered to pay for it, not looking for something for free) and it was still awful. I'm not a coffee snob by any means and will drink pretty much anything when I'm desperate because I have a Gilmore girls level of coffee addiction. Maybe some of their other stuff is good, I can't say but this is a big no for me. read more

On our road trip & discovered The Empty Cup... in Knoxville, TN. Specialty coffees, food & live music are offered in order to serve the community and support adoption. Awesome non-profit adventure. We enjoyed our cappuccinos & berry scone! read more

The Empty Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Cozy place to study, read, relax with a cup of coffee. The coffee was okay, good desert options, and great vibes read more

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Lovely coffee shop - lots of seating, delicious options and pastries! Also supports a fantastic cause - adoption!

An amazing bohemian "sip and chill" coffee spot with tons of character. This non-profit also supports local adoption efforts. Huge selection, awesome specials, and spaces you can reserve. Everything to love. read more

The Empty Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Best coffee in town! They also give a portion of their profits back to adoption! Great place for meeting or just to hang out and grab a cup of coffee! read more

I just want to say. This is exactly the coffee shop I've been looking for. My husband and I passed through on our way to Asheville and the first words out of my mouth were "can we move here so I can come to this coffee shop more?" Seriously. The concept is great, the atmosphere is great, I enjoyed my coffee (a simple vanilla latte). This place feels like home. It is not pretentious or "trendy." It is what a coffee shop was meant to be. read more

The Empty Cup in terms of coffee, AWESOME, but even more than that, the atmosphere and comfortable seating areas. I dwell in all the coffee shops downtown knoxville but Empty Cup gives me a reason to go west. Lot's of free parking. read more

The Empty Cup - Spacious, sofas, chairs, communal tables, live it! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Really good coffee selection whether you want a simple drip coffee or are a little more particular about how your coffee is made. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Great mission statement. Plenty of great seating space with outlets abounding. Also has a kids playroom (with story time happening when I was there) and a small private meeting room available. Only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because there did not appear to be a food menu, even though website mentions local food. So if you're going to park out for a while, bring your own eats. read more

Great local coffee place! Skip --arbuck-and come here instead, all profits go towards adoption grants instead left wing political contributions! Locally roasted beans. Well worth the visit! read more

Great atmosphere and wonderful coffee shop. Love the empty cup coffee. Great place for studying or hanging out with friends or family. read more

The Empty Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

In my pursuit to find the best coffee shop in Knoxville - we traveled to The Empty Cup today. I liked it. It's easy to find... great/easy parking.... When you walk inside - it is much larger than most coffee shops. A lot of room to sit and relax. Great atmosphere... the barista's were really nice and welcoming! Today, I got the White Chocolate Mocha and my daughter got a Vanilla Latte. My WCM was AMAZING!!! Perfectly blended and not too sweet! Honestly, I could have drank about 5 or 6 of them! My daughter's VL wasn't as amazing as my drink... It was a bit under-flavored, but better than one we tried the other day at a location that I won't name here (NOT The Empty Cup, FYI). The Empty Cup is a bit out of the way for me - but if I'm in the area again, I will for sure visit for another WCM! If you live in the area, you should be visiting OFTEN! I would! read more

I love this place. Great coffee for a good cause . They also rotate special lattes that are amazing too. The food I have tried has been amazing as well. They recently added a cereal bar which is a nice added touch. They also do have tea selections for the non coffee drinkers. The environment is great too with lots of comfortable seating options. A large amount of the money goes to adoption services, so another good reason to spend your money here. I highly recommend this place! read more

The Empty Cup - My drink today! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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The Empty Cup was already one of my favorite coffee shops in Knoxville and the addition to Hot Buns inside was a perfect combination. This coffee shop is roomy, lots of seating, great music and their staff is wonderful! I've never had a bad experience and look forward to Saturday mornings when I can go, have a great cup of java and do some work! It's also wonderful that it's right around the corner from my house so I don't have to travel downtown to go to a coffee house! read more

The Empty Cup - Sugar Free Vanilla Latte and Maple Bacon Hot Bun - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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100% love coming here! It's so nice to have a coffee shop with a relaxed atmosphere. Plus to have a place where kids can play + parents can drink coffee at the same time is great. read more

What an amazing meeting space and fun place to hang out! Feels like home & some of the nicest people I know serve amazingly crafted coffee concoctions. A non profit supporting adoptions! read more

This is a great local coffee shop with a beautiful purpose. There is a large selection to satisfy the purist to the coffee loving pretender. It gets crowded, but they have lots of room. Children can play in a designated playroom and they provide reserved meeting rooms as well. read more

Charming little place. Only concern is that as a newby, I sort of didn't know what to do. Rack of ceramic mugs which I wasn't sure about using. No info offered. Cozy setting with young families, students and singles. read more

Walked in to meet a friend, love the coffee and the atmosphere. Plus they have game nights. read more

The Empty Cup - Great atmosphere, and yummy coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

I was looking for a place to grab an espresso drink for after lunch and came across The Empty Cup. It was really close to all the restaurants we tend to eat at for lunch. The cortado I ordered was delicious! I can't believe they are non-profit, too. The service was so friendly and prompt. Definitely the best cup of coffee in the area. I'm also glad my money will be used to fund Adoption Grants for children instead of stock portfolios. Perfect. read more

Love this place! Love the cause! Love the interiors and ambiance. Concept is also pretty cool and I like the idea of picking my own mug for the bottomless coffee. Conference rooms can be reserved as well for meetings. read more

Went here for the first time a couple weeks ago. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I ordered a chai with milk alternative and they let me know beforehand that the chai mix had dairy products in it. I never would've guessed that because it doesn't any other place I go. I had to go with a different option. Thankful the barista told me ahead of time. The drinks there are amazing! Definitely not like the big chain coffee shops! read more

I have always enjoyed my experience here. It is quiet and spacious. There is free WiFi, but you get the password when you purchase something. I wasn't sure how it worked when I first went there, but the WiFi password is on your receipt. It is definitely a good place to check out if you need a good place to get some work done or catch up with a friend. read more

In town for the weekend only and were looking for a great cup of coffee. This place hit the mark, had great service and supports adoptions. What more could you want? We tried the Pumpkin Latte and a Vanilla Lavender Latte (it had a special name, maybe a Honeybee Latte) and both were delicious. We would have easily returned the next day for another round but they are closed on Sunday. Don't let the strip mall atmosphere scare you away, the coffee is excellent. read more

My wife and I tried the local coffee place called the Empty Cup this morning. Everything bagel was ok and the coffee was so good! The inside had love seats, couches, and a kids corner. Overall a pretty good experience. read more