Friday, March 29, 2013

A Coffee Break in Maryville Tennessee


We were out cruising around and exploring Maryville Tennessee, stopping at Tractor Supply, a home decorator’s shop and an antique ‘mall’, with plans to catch a mid-afternoon matinee at the movie theatre.  We didn’t want to spoil our dinner after the movie but we had time to spare and we needed a little snack before the show…

I remembered a coffee house in Maryville that we’d passed on numerous occasions…but we’d never stopped by for a coffee break.
 
This is the Vienna Coffee House on High Street in Maryville.  This former residence has been repurposed and it is very popular with the locals and especially with the students from nearby Maryville College.

But…don’t let this cozy looking coffee house fool you…it’s much more than meets the eye!
 
Laurie took this photo from the front door looking back at the bakery counter and ‘home’ of Vienna Coffee’s barista’s.

Vienna Coffee Company not only operates this coffee house, but the company is a Craft Roaster…a member of the Roaster’s Guild of the Specialty Coffee Association of America.  The company roasts coffee daily using gourmet coffee beans imported from the tropics around the world. 
 
In addition to coffee, the Coffee House itself offers fresh baked goods, a couple of sandwich options, retail coffee sales, gifts, coffee equipment and free internet.  Dawn is on the left waiting for her large no foam skim milk latte.

Vienna Coffee’s commercial roasting operation offers Espresso, single-origin and estate coffees, rich flavored gourmet coffees, Organic, Fair Trade, Shade Grown, Bird Friendly, Rainforest Alliance Certified and Swiss Water Decaffeinated coffees as well as their own private blends.  The company has many outlets throughout eastern Tennessee…selling their coffee by the cup and/or by the bag.  Kroger is a major area retailer for the brand.
 
This is the little coffee bar near the service counter.  I ordered a cup of black coffee, ($1.49), and filled up here.  I was told that it was a bottomless cup…I could just refill as many times as I wanted.  That is a great deal!

On the other hand, Dawn felt that her large no foam skim milk latte was the same size as Starbuck’s grande version, but it was more expensive.  Also, the barista failed to deliver a ‘no-foam’ latte.
 
The Coffee Shop has several nooks and crannies for coffee lovers to hang out, work on their laptops, or just converse… The place has a nice comfortable ‘homey’ feeling to it.  The atmosphere makes you want to just sit back and relax! 

 
Here’s another view of the lounging areas at the Vienna Coffee House.  In warm and sunny weather, there is a large patio area outside for customers to enjoy the outdoors. 

The Coffee House also regularly schedules open microphone and live music events.  It’s located at 312 High Street in Maryville and it’s open from 7 am to 7 pm Monday thru Wednesday; 7 am to 10 pm Thursday thru Saturday, and; from 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday.  
 
This is Laurie’s Latte with her sugar cookie. (Note the design topping her Latte) Laurie and I really enjoyed the coffee…and we bought a bag of fresh ground coffee to bring home with us!  Dawn had a peanut butter cookie with her Latte and I had a blueberry muffin with mine.  The baked goods did not measure up to the quality of the coffee…

In June of this year, the Vienna Coffee Company will be moving, consolidating their roasting operations and the Coffee Shop in one building.  It will be at 212 College Street in Maryville.  The new expanded 6,000 sq. foot cafĂ© will offer a conference room and an acoustic music venue, along with similar nooks and crannies that are so popular with the Coffee Shop’s patrons.  Roasting operations will be in the same building…one floor down.  The food menu will be slightly expanded and the facility will have a drive-thru window.  
The new location will only be a couple of blocks away from the current Coffee House in the former Maryville Furniture Company building.  For more information re: the Vienna Coffee Company, just go to www.viennacoffeecompany.com.
Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…
Thanks for stopping by to explore this growing business and to share a cup of coffee with us!
Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

9 comments:

  1. The last time I was in that building was many, many years ago when it was a hair saloon

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  2. What a gorgeous place! I saw the Irish creme coffee on their website...I had that in Ireland, it's out of this world. Happy Easter David!

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  3. I read your last several posts. I am also looking for a good thin crisp pizza around our area – so far, nothing. We had one in Monte-Carlo, Monaco last October, and it was the best I have had so far … but it’s a long way from home! I also enjoyed looking at your ship postcards – you have a nice collection. I enjoy reading your restaurant reviews but they are also located a bit too far for us. I have only been to that part of Tennessee years ago for one of my husband’s family reunion – his uncle was a scientist and lived in a town called Oak Ridge, TN. I don’t remember much about the town, just that his uncle had a nice swimming pool in his house. The Maryville coffee shop sounds like a winner. And as usual I loved looking at your photos of New Zealand.

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  4. I just saw your comment on my blog, thanks. You said that you may visit Bulloch Hall some day. There are two other historical houses in Roswell and the city of Roswell will sell a “trilogy” ticket for $18 to see all three - Bulloch Hall (1839) Barrington Hall (1842) and The Smith Plantation (1845.) I have not visited the other two because they won’t let you take pictures inside, but when all the flowers are out we may go anyway to take pictures of the gardens and the outside of the houses. Here is their site: http://www.visitroswellga.com/trilogy.html .

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  5. What a lovely place, Dave! Happy Easter to you.

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  6. I love visiting new coffee shops. My best friend owns a great one in Austin, so I'm also looking out for a new one to try. Thank you for sharing your experience, Dave!

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  7. It sounds like a great spot to sit a spell.It is so hard to find places where all menu items are on a par with each other. It's too bad the pastry was a letdown. I hope you and Laurie have a wonderful holiday, Dave. Blessings...Mary

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  8. It sounds like a great little coffee shop. Here's wishing you and your family a wonderful Easter!

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  9. Looks like a great place for a cup of coffee and a to relax. thanks for sharing! Happy Easter
    http://restlesshandswithmanyplans.blogspot.com/

    Trying to figure out how to link my name to my blog when I post? New and loving it but still have a lot to learn.

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