Back in August, I introduced my first contribution to the new series Urban Outposts, spotlighting three of West Knoxville’s newest coffee destinations: Camp Honey Coffee and Provisions, U Brew Coffee Lounge, and Petty Coffee. Each brought its own story and personality—whether it was Camp Honey’s neighborhood focus, U Brew’s craft-driven approach, or Petty’s playful swagger—and together they signaled the start of something bigger. After years of chains dominating the suburban landscape, independent cafés were suddenly finding their footing west of downtown.
This second installment brings us to the final three (with an additional shoutout!): The Capricorn Coffee House, Primo Passo Coffee Co., and Coffee & Chocolate’s West Hills expansion. Each one has its own flavor, its own following, and its own way of answering the same question: what does West Knoxville need from its coffee shops right now?
Capricorn Coffee House: Safe Space Meets Serious Coffee
Sometimes the best businesses don’t begin with a business plan; they begin with a question: What could this space become? For Salon Aquarius on Kingston Pike, the answer was a coffeehouse. What had once been unused square footage is now The Capricorn Coffee House, a warm and moody spot where students, stylists, and neighbors come together over carefully made drinks and can book a stylist in the same building.
Co-owners/partners Audrey Fleeman and Erica Fae Culver admit it started with a practical idea. “We wanted the extra square footage to work harder for us,” Culver explained. But it quickly became more than that. “People come together over coffee all the time. First dates, best friends catching up, quick work chats. It gives us a way to bridge the gap between the salon and the neighborhood.”
From the beginning, inclusivity was front and center. “We were telling people this is a safe space, especially for queer people,” Culver said. “People need each other. I hope we are that place for folks, where you can be yourself and feel seen.”
Inside, the café feels like a little retreat. Wood tones and deep greens create a cozy, slightly mysterious atmosphere. The name itself reflects Culver’s background in astrology. “Capricorn builds things that stand the test of time. There is ambition and steadiness,” she explained. “Aquarius is about community. Together, it matches our vision.”
Local creatives helped shape the space. Designer Haley Howard developed the Capricorn logo, and Rashni Designs carved a linoleum stamp version that now decorates cups and merchandise. Even the barista team adds their own touches—Bear, one of the baristas, sells felted “Cup of Joe” keychains that often catch customers’ eyes at the counter.
What makes the drinks stand out is the intentionality behind them. The bar runs on a remineralizing reverse osmosis system, which means even the water is carefully balanced for taste. Beans are sourced from Five & Hoek downtown, chosen for their quality and ethical sourcing. “If there is so much care going into the syrups and preparation and water, why would I not make sure the bean is cared for from start to finish?” Fleeman said.
Head barista Michaela oversees technique and consistency, while her partner, Danny, handles in-house syrups and bakes biscuits and scones (other pastries are on the way!). The menu is traditional by design, paced for quality rather than speed. Standouts include the brown sugar “Capricorn Cappuccino,” the bourbon vanilla latte, and a chai that regulars say is one of the best in town. For salon clients, drip coffee is complimentary.
Community connection extends beyond drinks. Once a month, the shop and salon host the Full Moon Market, a lively maker fair with 30 or more local vendors. “We’re hoping for even more this fall, with touches like pumpkin painting,” Culver said. “It lets us highlight local artists and bring people together.” The next one is on Oct 12.
The Capricorn Coffee House may be tucked into a salon, but it’s already carved out its own identity. It’s intentional, and welcoming—a place where people come for caffeine and leave with a little more connection.
My order: Bourbon Vanilla Latte
Primo Passo Coffee Co.: A Downtown Feel in the Suburbs
Drive just a few miles west and you’ll find a very different kind of café. Primo Passo Coffee Co. feels bright, minimal, and designed, with a touch of West Coast energy in the middle of suburban Knoxville. Owners Laura Casner and Drew Aicklen have lived in New York, Los Angeles, and Lake Tahoe, and their coffee shop carries all those influences, translated for the neighborhood they now call home.
The story of Primo Passo begins in California. Drew’s family purchased a small café in Los Angeles years ago and kept the name: Primo Passo, Italian for “first step.” Laura loved the meaning. “For us, it’s the idea of going to sleep and being excited to wake up to good coffee the next morning,” she said.
Life eventually led them east. A photography opportunity brought Laura to Lake Tahoe in 2019, where she and Drew rode out the pandemic and welcomed twins in 2021. By 2023, Knoxville called for a new chapter. Laura’s corporate photography job ended, and they noticed something missing in their part of town: independent cafés. “There are pockets of West Knoxville with no small, independent coffee shops,” Laura said. “We wanted something that felt like downtown but in the suburbs.”
When a strip center near their home had a vacancy, they knew it was the one. “We literally circled it and said, ‘If it ever opens up, that’s the one,’” Laura laughed. Six months of construction later, Primo Passo opened on July 4.
Laura handled design herself, leaning on warm woods, neutral tones, and thoughtful pops of color. Even the bathrooms became a design statement with bold wallpaper. Drew, on the other hand, focused on the science. Every bit of water used for espresso, pour-overs, or drip is filtered, put through reverse osmosis, and then remineralized. “That balance dictates the flavor,” Laura explained. “We spent months taste testing until we found the profile we wanted.”
Coffee comes from Counter Culture and Stumptown, with house-made syrups that keep things simple. “We husk and scrape our own vanilla beans,” Laura said. “It’s just vanilla, organic sugar, and water. We want the coffee to shine.” The results speak for themselves. Laura recounted one customer who ran back inside after a sip of her vanilla latte, happily exclaiming, “What is this?”
Primo Passo is built for convenience without sacrificing quality. Parents can order from the school drop-off line using a QR code or through the website, swing into the empty back lot, and grab their drinks in seconds. The couple is experimenting with loyalty programs, cuppings, and education nights for coffee enthusiasts. “We’re nerdy about coffee,” Laura said. “And we know there are others who want to learn more, too.”
But at its core, Primo Passo Coffee Co. is about building neighborhood culture. “There’s this idea that West Knoxville only gets chain stores,” Laura said. “We wanted to prove there are people like us who want a little downtown quality in the suburbs. We live here. We’re invested in this community for the long term.”
My order: Vanilla Latte
Coffee & Chocolate: A Sweet Expansion with Serious Craft
If The Capricorn Coffee House and Primo Passo are new names, Coffee & Chocolate is a Knoxville classic. Owner Sharif Harb has been serving espresso and sweets since 2006, starting in a small location off Broadway before settling downtown on Gay Street. That original shop became a staple for lattes, macarons, and glossy chocolate bonbons. Over time, he added Powell in 2022, and this year, West Hills joined the family.
The new West Hills location in the Gallery Shopping Center is more than another café. First off, it stays open until 9pm, something that sets up apart from many other coffee shops. It also includes a full chocolate kitchen, where customers can peek behind the curtain at the delicate process of tempering, airbrushing, and filling confections. “I like to listen to people,” Harb said. “A lot of customers asked us, why don’t you open here? Downtown can be crowded, and West Hills made sense. Next to the mall, the holiday season just goes crazy.”
The space itself is a full buildout from what used to be a wig shop. A wall was added to create the commercial kitchen, and plumbing upgrades were installed. Fortunately, chocolate doesn’t require a hood system, which Sharif told me helped keep costs manageable.
Today, West Hills is where the chocolate magic happens. Head chocolatier Alexandra Waters runs production with a background in materials science and engineering that surprisingly fits the work. “All of this is crystallography,” she explained. “You’re basically choosing which crystal structure you want the chocolate to take by controlling temperature.”
Her attention to detail shows in the finished product— beautiful airbrushed bonbons with jewel-like shells and silky fillings that balance sweetness with flavor. She trained at “Eat the Art” in Nashville, learned tempering and airbrushing techniques, and now develops flavors from coffee caramel to chai (a personal fave). The tempering machine she oversees holds ten kilograms at a time, each batch requiring meticulous control.
Meanwhile, the baking side of the business is led by Jessica, who runs macaron and cookie production out of Powell. Together, the team has grown from just a couple of baristas to more than 20 employees. Harb credits them for the ability to scale while keeping standards high.
The new West Hills shop also highlights Knoxville’s creativity. Artist Paris Woodhull designed a mural that nods to nearby neighborhoods, and designer Matt Brass refreshed the logo and packaging. The result is clean and modern while staying approachable.
Coffee & Chocolate is proud to stand out. “We’re not just a coffee shop,” Harb said. “We make the best macarons in Knoxville. We make the best chocolates in Knoxville. There’s no other place where you can find airbrushed chocolates like ours, custom made by our chocolatier.” Future plans include roasting their own beans, possibly in a new facility as Sharif continues to dream big.
A quick note for readers: macarons are the delicate almond meringue sandwich cookies made here, while macaroons are the coconut treats. Very different, both delicious.
For now, customers can enjoy a pistachio macaron with their cappuccino or Jack-o-Lantern Latte, pick up a gift box of bonbons almost too pretty to eat, or just watch chocolate being made through the glass. Downtown remains the classic shop, Powell powers the macaron machine, and West Hills has become the chocolate heart. Together, they form a sweet triangle in Knoxville.
My order: Jack-o-Lantern Latte
A New Chapter for West Knoxville
Look at these three shops together, and you see more than just places to grab coffee. You see what West Knoxville has been missing and what it’s becoming.
Capricorn Coffee House invites people to slow down, feel safe, and be part of something. Primo Passo blends science and design to create a neighborhood café with downtown quality. Coffee & Chocolate, a longtime downtown star, expands west without losing the craft and artistry that made it beloved.
When You Go:
- Capricorn Coffee House
Inside Salon Aquarius, 5508 Kingston Pike, Suite 140
Coffee Bar Hours: Monday–Saturday, 8am – 4pm - Primo Passo Coffee Co.
2099 Thunderhead Rd, Suite 103, off S. Northshore Dr.
Monday–Saturday, 7am – 4pm; Sunday, 8am – 3pm - Coffee & Chocolate West Hills
7240 Kingston Pike, Suite 124, Gallery Shopping Center
Daily 7am-9pm
Shout out to Intrepid Nitro Coffee and Tea Bar who has been open for a couple of years in Bearden leading the way for the others!
Live the INTREPID Life Power – Love – Self Discipline
Mon- Fri 7:30am – 5pm; Sat-Sun 8am – 3pm
5201 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919
www.intrepidnitro.com