You’ll hear a vinyl album playing as you enter and smell the aroma of freshly ground and brewed coffee. You might smell pastries by Wild Love or soups from Savory and Sweet. Each day will feature two different soups starting with a bacon tomato and another soup which will be vegan. Owner Brad Peer is vegan and wants to always offer a vegan option.
And then there’s the taste. I got a sample of Indido natural sun-dried coffee and I must say I haven’t had a better cup in the city. I can’t remember a better cup of coffee. It had a natural sweetness and a clear taste of fruit – I distinctly tasted a hint of blueberry. From the smell, to the taste, to the after-taste, it was as smooth a cup of coffee as a person could want. That’s one of the Counter Culture Coffee varieties which you’ll have the pleasure of sampling when you visit.
The store will be open at 6:00 PM tonight as an informal meet-and-greet. Final health department approval to be completely open was delayed by a malfunction in the brand-new refrigerator. As soon as that is fixed – maybe today, maybe tomorrow – everything should be in order to start selling coffee and beer. Come out tonight, see the new place, meet Brad and enjoy Shrimp Tacos made by Dave Thomasson of Farm to Griddle Crepes. The party tonight will also feature author Danny Jewell signing his book The Jade Skull, a mystery set in Knoxville.
A lot has happened since my introductory article on Flow. As you can see in the photographs, the high-tech coffee-making equipment has arrived. The beautifully crafted counter was designed and built by Fork Design. The cube-styled tables you’ll find in the store were designed by Ben Seamons, while the larger table and the chairs are French antiques purchased at Willow Creek Antiques in the Old City.
Samuel Smith beers have been added to the mix and since the Yorkshire brewery has been around since 1758, they probably know a thing or two about beer. You’ll find gate-fold album covers on the counter with menus of the various beers (including the promised sours), coffees and soups listed on the inside. The walls were painted when I took these photographs, but they will be covered with art the next time you see them. I slipped by later in the evening as it was being added.
If you order a beer, you will be served in a glass called a “schooner.” Other glasses are on the way, but this one is particularly striking and it holds an Imperial Pint which, at 14 ounces, will be the standard pour. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a beer mug or glass with a square top.
Brad has hired three workers for the shop in addition to himself. A fourth will operate pop-up coffee events at the Bearden Beer Market on Saturdays and Sundays. The store on Main Street will be open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM and 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Sundays. Come by and enjoy the party tonight and, hopefully, you can start buying your coffee and beer by tomorrow.