Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is coming to Knoxville. What to know about the brand

Daniel Dassow, Knoxville News Sentinel
Updated ·3 min read

Knoxville's bustling coffee scene will say "Aloha!" to a new member as early as this fall.

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii will bring its Hawaiian coffee and vibes with three new locations in the Knoxville area.

The company signed an agreement for three stores with first-time franchisees Jason and Karen Greene. The couple is still looking for sites, but expects to open in downtown and West Knoxville to target University of Tennessee at Knoxville students and busy residential traffic.

After the couple's daughter introduced them to the brand in 2019, they fell in love. Karen Greene said she has been a "walking Bad Ass Coffee billboard" ever since. She wanted someone to bring the friendly and beachy atmosphere to Knoxville, but never dreamed she'd be the one to do it.

"Every single time that I've visited one of the stores, I felt like I left with an amazing product, amazing customer service, and I felt happier," Greene told Knox News. "I want to give that to the community. I want there to be this positive, go-fuel-your-inner-badass, make-it-an-awesome-day mentality."

The first location could open this fall in West Knoxville. The agreement gives the couple four years to open three Knoxville locations, though they have the option to move faster, Greene said.

Tennessee already has two Bad Ass Coffee locations in Nashville and White House with a third coming soon to Spring Hill.

Here's what makes the brand unique and what you can expect when you visit.

Where does the name come from?

Bad Ass Coffee was founded on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1989 to share the unique honey and fruit flavors of Kona coffee. Often called the "King of Hawaiian Coffee," Kona coffee is grown in mineral-rich volcanic soil.

The company rebranded in 2020 and quickly expanded its U.S. locations. It now has 29 locations in the U.S., with more than 100 new locations in some phase of development, according to a press release.

If you've seen the Bad Ass Coffee logo, you already have a clue about its name. The donkey represents the animals that still help transport coffee in Hawaii today.

"For generations, the donkeys of Kona, Hawaii could be heard bellowing as they carried precious loads of coffee beans down the steep mountains of the Big Island," the company's website says in a story it calls the "Bad Ass Legend."

According to the legend, the native people of Kona called the donkeys the "Bad Ass Ones" because they worked hard to bring their "precious cargo" down the mountains. The company's philanthropic arm has donated funds to support donkeys in Hawaii.

What's on the menu at Bad Ass Coffee?

The Bad Ass Coffee menu has options for those seeking island flavors and those seeking classics. One thing that makes its iced coffee drinks unique are its coffee ice cubes. The more the ice melts, the more flavorful and bold the coffee becomes.

In addition to a classic vanilla or caramel latte, you can try these lattes with a Hawaiian twist:

  • Beach Bliss: white chocolate and macadamia nut

  • Monkey Mocha: dark chocolate and banana

  • Hazelnut Hula: caramel, dark chocolate and hazelnut

  • Three Waves: coconut, caramel and macadamia nut

A line of whipped or iced energy drinks called Mana Energy contain natural caffeine from green coffee beans and botanicals. There are also blended Koffee Koolers, a line of lemonades and smoothies, and a "Little 'Ohana" kids menu.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can order Hawaiian blend cold brew with lemonade topped with coconut cold foam.

And if you're feeling hungry, you could get the typical coffee shop foods, like an egg and cheese sandwich, bagel, or muffin.

You could also try the "Bad Ass One," with spam, egg, swiss cheese, pineapple, and BBQ sauce served on King's Hawaiian sweet roll. What's more Hawaii than that?

Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focused on technology and energy. Phone 423-637-0878. Email daniel.dassow@knoxnews.com.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii expanding with three Knoxville locations