Nashville. The city of honky-tonks, cowboy boots... and coffee? The realization is slowly setting in that the country chic of this town is a misleading stereotype, at least for its majority (Broadway strip excluded). The new social activity of our age seems to be coffee: the roasting, the brewing, the sipping and the “tasting notes.” Yet in Nashville, where boots are being substituted for Birkenstocks and bars for coffee shops, there seem to be too many cafes to choose from. The options are endless and overwhelming. That’s where we come in. Meet your team:
From left to right we have Kayla, a freshmen, who only started liking coffee this year thanks to the persistent efforts of yours truly. She has a certain way of inspiring you to dress up your leggings and sweater as she walks out of her room clothed to the nines. Every. Morning.
Then we have Diana and Amber (or Pearl, she'll respond to either). They are both sophomores with a bit of coffee-snob running in their blood.
Ashley, aka me, (hello!) is a freshmen with big dreams of escaping working for commercialized coffeeshops. When it comes to coffee (and a few other important life lessons), my sister taught me everything I know.
Finally, we have Elizabeth, a freshmen who will satisfy any hipster needs with a (Nike clad) kick of spunk.
The five of us took it upon ourselves to try out six different coffee shops and rate their location, ambiance, service, regular drip coffee, and specialty drink from between one and ten. I call it the ultimate Coffee Shop Hop. In a very scientific way of analyzing these ratings, we have compiled a list from least to greatest of our findings.
1. Dose: 3431 Murphy Rd, Nashville, TN 37203
Overall Average: 4.98
Locale: 7.2
Ambiance: 7.4
Service: 8
Constant Drink: 3.2
Specialty Drink (Shakerato): 3
While the location was great — there was plenty of parking, a bright, clean feel to the shop and a variety of tables to sit at — the drinks underwhelmed the group of us. Their Medium Roast was compared to dirty water. Amber even commented that it was "the same as Folger's coffee... maybe."
While the drip coffee was less than impressive, their Shakerato was disappointing and confusing. I'll agree that the idea of the drink is unique (shaken like a martini) but it was basically a bitter, cold shot of espresso. As Elizabeth said, "the water (that came with the drink) was the best part." We did order it black so that might account for something. If you get the Shakerato, which I don't suggest you do, you might want to add a flavor to sweeten it up.
All in all, the shop was a disappointment, which saddened many of us. If you do go, enjoy the plants, the bright atmosphere and the barista with an inspiring mustache. But don't expect grade A drinks.
2. Eighth & Roast: 2108 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
Overall Average: 6.84
Locale: 7.2
Ambiance: 7.4
Service: 9
Constant Drink: 4.2
Specialty Drink (Vanilla Latte): 9.2
With an urban and rustic feel, Eighth & Roast had a great industrial ambiance. The brick walls, Edison lighting and big windows all contributed to the character. The location, while slightly abandoned and run down, was still fun. There was a comedy club right across the street as well as a gas station (in case you need an emergency refill on your tank... like some Odyssey writer you may know).
The store was filled with community tables, which can be fun unless you're not into that scene and was crowded so it was hard to find a place to sit. However, there were plenty of outlets all around making it a great place to do homework. That is, unless you're not a fan of sitting elbow to elbow with strangers.
Eighth & Roast roasts their own coffee beans which is cool, and although the drip coffee was decent, it was not our favorite. It tasted like a regular Pike place from Starbucks and left a funny aftertaste in the back of our throats. Their specialty coffee, the Vanilla Latte, was great. The drink was speckled with vanilla powder and tasted of real vanilla, not the cheap syrups. It was sweet and milky and, to quote Kayla, was "the best vanilla latte I've ever had! Whoo!" Overall, it was a great place to sit and do work and have a decent cup of coffee.
3. Three Brothers Coffee: 2813 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203
Overall Average: 7.56
Location: 9.2
Ambiance: 9.5
Service: 7.8
Constant Drink: 5.6
Specialty Drink (single espresso shot): 3.3
This is such a unique store, being connected to a Cumberland Transit. It just leaks a vibe of adventure with refurbished wood tables and bold, unique paintings that hung on the wall. The area is fantastic and had plenty of parking, although since it was close to Vanderbilt, it can get pretty busy during the week. The ambiance was bright with big windows and there was plenty of seating. The tables were spaced well, making each seat feel private but still cozy.
Their Medium Roast, which was their own blend, was nothing special and tasted almost burnt, but the potential was there. Their specialty drink, a single shot of espresso, was actually quite terrible. Perhaps this was due to the fact that the shot was already dead (sitting for too long) by the time we got to drink it, but the taste was intense, sour and bitter. Some comments that were flung around were "No, never." and "Nastyyy." However, the drink was interesting with an almost citrusy aftertaste.
All in all, the venue was great and one-of-a-kind with chill music and really unique places surrounding it. (Check out the alleyway next door decorated with modern day hieroglyphics!) It is an ideal spot for everything; homework, casual dates, hanging with friends and alone time, so definitely check it out! But we would suggest ordering a latte instead of an espresso shot.
4. Headquarters: 4902 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209
Overall Average: 7.62
Location: 8.3
Ambiance: 9.2
Service: 9
Constant Drink: 5.6
Specialty Drink (Lavender Latte): 6.8
If anything, go to Headquarters for the experience. It is a fantastic Nashville excursion with great shops surrounding it. Especially the thrift shop called "Cool Stuff, Weird Things." What you will find there is exactly what they advertise. Headquarters feels almost like a garage or living room. It is like a narrow hallway, with very limited seating (maybe about 13 seats altogether), so if you are not comfortable with sitting at a table with someone you don't know, this cafe might not be for you. There is a fun backyard patio place, almost like a hidden easter egg, that you can only get to if you exit out the very back of the shop.
Their Medium Roast was from Eighth & Roast and was no better the second time. Their specialty drink was a Lavender Latte, and the syrup they use is made by a "friend of theirs," to quote the barista. We all agreed that the lavender was overwhelming and tasted very similar to essential oils. While that may be a testament to the legitimacy of the syrup, none of us were huge fans.
If anything, go for the cool atmosphere and the fun hidden treasures. Such as the actual hole in the wall with plastic animal figurines. If you look close enough you can see a clue to a scavenger hunt!)
5. Barista Parlor (Germantown): 1230 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
Overall Average: 8.84
Location: 8.4
Ambiance: 8.9
Service: 9
Constant Drink: 8.6
Specialty Drink (Whiskey Caramel Latte): 9.6
Barista Parlor in Germantown was spectacular! One of the newer locations to this chain, the cafe was clean, bright, with lots of available seating of various kinds, such as community counters, high tops and regular tables. The store has a central bar in the shape of a square so you can see the baristas working their magic, which they do with flair. And unlike the pretentious atmosphere that seems to be in other Barista Parlors, these workers were genuine, helpful, kind and unintimidating.
Unfortunately, Barista Parlor did not offer a drip coffee, which was only a temporary problem. Instead, we ordered a pour over coffee that was the closest we could get to a Medium Roast. It was called El Eden. Being a pour over, the coffee was smooth, flavorful and absolutely delicious. However, be prepared to turn out your pockets, for this coffee does not come cheap. Their speciality coffee, a Whiskey Caramel Latte, was more than incredible. It had great flavor with a velvety, creamy feel that gets better with each sip. And the presentation, of course, was impressive.
Overall, don't go to Barista Parlor if you don't care about the quality of your coffee, and any run-of-the-mill blend will do. If you are a coffee aficionado, however, go with the expectations to pay quite a bit of money. But it will be worth it!
6) Steadfast: 603 Taylor St. Nashville, TN 37208
Overall Average: 8.84
Location: 9
Ambiance: 9.8
Service: 10
Constant Drink: 9.2
Specialty Drink (Coffee Soda): 4.8
Steadfast was our favorite shop we visited. It has a great patio, outdoor area with string lights and plants and is wonderful to sit out in if the weather is nice. Fellas, a tip from Ashley, take your girl out on a date here. It has a great, romantic mood at night.
The shop itself was a bit more crowded, making it harder to find a seat, but if you know the opportune time to visit, it's perfect. Something unique about Steadfast is that it has booths to sit in (and, lets be honest, everyone prefers a booth). As Diana said, "This brings together my favorite things, it is clean, cozy and sophisticated with great coffee!" The workers were great, and all seemed genuinely happy, as if they loved their job.
Their drip coffee was by far the best of them all. It tasted like a pour over with the same smooth, velvety feel and clear tones. It was refreshing and even Kayla, our tea and latte drinker and shunner of black coffee, said she could drink the entire cup. The specialty drink we ordered, their coffee soda, was definitely unique. However, the citrusy flavor overpowered the coffee, making it a no-go for me. Kayla called it a "coffee burp." The effort was there, and it was definitely an experience. If you choose to order this, ask for a sample. They will give you a small glass for free!
This shop is perfect for everything on your agenda: homework, dates, friend time, alone time, etc. Definitely go. You will get the quality of Barista Parlor coffee for much cheaper.
I hope you find this article somewhat helpful as you are debating where to hunker down and study for upcoming finals or where to take your new significant other. Wherever you decide to go, may your coffee be strong and your gas tanks stay full.
(Bonus: For all you non coffee drinkers, here we can observe Kayla's reaction to each sip of black coffee, in the same order of this article. As you can see, Steadfast was the winner.)
