Discovering Brown County's Best Brews: A Coffee and Tea Lover's Guide to Nashville, IN
It’s no surprise - much of the old-timey charm of Nashville, Indiana is due to the cute shops and charming restaurants you’ll find here. And, luckily for all of you coffee and tea lovers, there are several adorable coffee and tea shops that are big contributors to that charm!
So, whether you’re ready to slow down and indulge in a tea or coffee treat while on vacation in Brown County, or if you’re a local looking for a morning pick-me-up, this guide to all the best coffee and tea shops in Nashville, Indiana is the right place to start.
What Makes These Shops So Special?
If you’ve ever visited Brown County, Indiana then you know this is not a “go, go, go” kind of place. Which means you probably also know that the Town of Nashville looks like you’ve stepped at least a few decades back in time, that things here tend to move a little slower in general (my husband and I call it “Brown County time”), and many local businesses aren’t open the hours you might be used to elsewhere.
This is truly all part of the charm, and the coffee and tea shops are no exception to these observations, so here are a few quick reminders for everyone:
Make sure to check the hours and days of operation in advance. Google Maps and Facebook are your best bet for this, and I’m sharing these links below for all of the businesses I discuss in this post.
Many shops in town don’t allow food or drink inside. So if you’re planning to grab a coffee before you start exploring town, make sure you have one of these indestructible, insulated, leak-proof travel mugs to easily take your drink on the go.
I’ve used one of these every day for 10+ years, but it’s especially valuable to me while traveling (and in fact, it’s one of my “Top 10 Travel Essentials”).
All of the coffee shops I’ve included below have plenty of tasty options and different specialty drinks, but I’ve yet to find a cappuccino that rivals what I’ve had in Europe (although The Daily Grind comes close). I just want to be up front about what to expect here but also, come on, this is Nashville, Indiana….”European coffee house quality” miiiight not be the best standard to hold everything too.
**However, there’s a new coffee shop in town that’s supposed to be opening in the spring of 2024 that *fingers crossed* just might be the answer to my cappuccino dreams (we’re talking a fancy Italian espresso machine, barista training in Seattle, and more) but we’ll have to wait and see! You can trust that I’ll update this post as soon as there’s more info available.
I share lots more details about these points, along with several other things that are important to keep in mind in my post about the “5 Things You Need to Know for Your Next Trip to Brown County, IN.” But this is enough to get us started for this topic, so now let’s get to the coffee shops!
The Best Coffee & Tea Shops in Brown County, IN
If you ask me what the “best” of anything is in Brown County, my initial response is almost always some version of “it depends…” Everyone has different preferences and things they enjoy, and I always try to tailor my recommendations with that in mind.
So in this blog, you won't just find a list of coffee and tea shops. Instead, I’ve broken things up into a few different categories and included a “winner” and “runner-up” recommendation for each. That way you can make a choice based on whatever you’re most in the mood for on a given day. The categories I’ll cover in this post include:
You can click the links above to jump straight to the section you’re most interested in, or keep scrolling to check out each one below.
In addition to a “winner” and “runner-up” in each category, I’ll also share a quick description of what makes each spot special and a good fit for the specific category. I’ve included a quick-reference summary of each coffee shop and the categories they “placed in” at the bottom of this post.
So get your order ready, grab your favorite mug, and let’s get into the best coffee and tea shops in Nashville, Indiana!
Best Cozy Coffee Shop Vibes
Winner: The Daily Grind
The Daily Grind is one of my favorite coffee shops in Nashville. This is partly due to proximity (it’s a <2 minute walk from the Barn Burner, so I always grab a drink here if I’m in town working through the day). But it’s also due to the fact that the warmth and coziness of The Daily Grind space can’t be beat! They’ve got a great menu of drinks, plus some food options too.
Runner-Up: Percy’s Perk -or- Common Grounds
It’s a tie for runner-up in this category and here’s why - what comes to mind for you when you picture a “cozy coffee shop”? Is it a place covered in art, maybe tucked away in a small corner, with friendly “do-it-all” faces behind the counter? Then Percy’s Perk is where you should head.
Or instead, is a “cozy coffee shop” somewhere that looks more like a jumbled, eclectic bookshop, with plenty of nooks to tuck away in, and where you can always find a group of locals hanging out and chatting? If so, then I’d definitely recommend Common Grounds to you.
Both have their charms, along with plenty of tasty drink options, so you can’t really go wrong.
Best for Early-Risers and Anyone Looking for a Sweet Treat
Winner: Percy’s Perk
Percy’s Perk is located in the back of the Our Little World Studio shop and it’s been such a fun addition to town since it opened in 2023! They have a great menu of drinks, but they’re particularly known for their “Design A Donut” offering, where you choose the icing and toppings for your own donut and they make it to order.
The other great thing about Percy’s Perk? They open at 7:30am! As hard as it may be to believe - besides the gas stations or McDonald’s - I’m not aware of any other coffee shop or restaurant in this sleepy town that opens this early. As always, be sure to check their Google Maps listing or Facebook page for the most up-to-date hours, because many businesses adjust their hours seasonally here.
Runner-Up: The Chocolate Moose
The Chocolate Moose is a close runner-up behind Percy’s Perk for the early risers among us, opening at 8am. They’ve also got a full menu - including some of the best breakfast sandwiches and milkshakes in town - so you can get your day started on the right foot in every way with a visit here.
Best for Tea Lovers (and Anyone Searching for Non-Coffee Drinks)
Winner: Sweetea’s Tea Shop
As the name suggests, Sweetea’s Tea Shop should be the #1 stop on your list if you’re a tea lover! They serve so many unique custom tea blends and specialty drink flavors that you’ll never get tired of visiting here. My kids also LOVE their boba teas, flavored lemonades, and hot chocolate options. And if tea isn’t for you, they do also serve a selection of flavored coffee lattes.
Runner-Up: The Daily Grind
In addition to their tasty coffee drinks, The Daily Grind serves a selection of hot tea, tea lattes, fruit and herb-flavored refreshers, hot chocolate, and more. Their iced chai latte is definitely one of my favorites in town!
Best Work-Friendly Coffee Shop
Winner: Common Grounds
I like to say that Common Grounds has a full-on “eclectic coffee shop/book shop jumble” vibe going on, and I mean that with love. It has so many different nooks and areas to tuck away in, as well as plenty of tables and seating options to choose from. So this is the spot for you if you’re looking for a quiet coffee shop with free wifi to get some work done.
Runner-Up: Sweetea’s Tea Shop
Sweetea’s Tea Shop also has a plenty of tables, a comfortable mix of seating, and free wifi if you’re looking for an alternative space to work from in town. The only reason it’s the “runner-up” in this category, instead of the “winner,” is because it’s located in a busier section of town than Common Grounds. This means there are a lot more people coming and going at Sweetea’s, which makes it a little harder (but not impossible) to find silence and focus there, if that’s what you need for your work.
Best for Grab-and-Go Food (with Coffee Too)
Winner: The Chocolate Moose
In addition to a great selection of drinks, The Chocolate Moose knocks it out of the park with their breakfast and lunch menus, plus their phenomenal ice cream. There is truly something for every person - and every time of day - here! They’ve got plenty of seating for dine-in, or you can get your food and drinks to go and get started exploring Brown County a little more quickly.
Runner-Up: The Daily Grind
To be honest, I don’t eat at The Daily Grind that often (I just love the Chocolate Moose’s food choices that much) but I know their drinks are great and they also offer a variety of croissant sandwiches, bagels, and pastries for breakfast, as well as a few different sandwiches for lunch. I’m making myself a mental note to check them out soon for a meal.
Best Locally-Roasted Coffee to Make Your Own at Home
Winner: Brown County Coffee
As the name would suggest, Brown County Coffee is one of your best options for locally roasted coffee while you’re here! You can buy it in multiple locations throughout town, including at the IGA and the Chocolate Moose. They’re also up-and-running at their new roastery in Gnaw Bone, which I believe that will eventually be open to the public.
Runner-Up: The Daily Grind -or- Wild Spirit Coffee Co.
Brown County Coffee might be the most famous option, but there are other local roasters to check out too! The Daily Grind sells a large selection of locally-roasted, house-labeled beans, which you can either buy in-person or online.
Wild Spirit Coffee Co is technically based out of Owensburg, IN (about 1.5 hours southwest of Brown County), but they have a booth to sell their products at the Nashville Indiana Farmers Market during the market season (Sundays 11a-2p, May through October). You can also check them out online.
Which Coffee or Tea Shop are You Visiting First?
Well, there you have it! My picks for the best coffee and tea shops in Nashville and Brown County, Indiana. Do you you agree? Are there any I missed?
We’ve covered a lot already in this post, so let’s summarize which shops I chose as the winner and runner-ups for each category. I’ll also share some pictures of each, along with their location and links to their Facebook page and website. Here they are in alphabetical order:
The Chocolate Moose
Winner in the following categories:
Runner-Up in the following category:
Common Grounds
Winner in the following category:
Runner-Up in the following category:
The Daily Grind
Winner in the following category:
Runner-Up in the following categories:
Percy’s Perk
Winner in the following category:
Runner-Up in the following category:
Sweetea’s Tea Shop
Winner in the following category:
Runner-Up in the following category:
Sip, Savor, and Join Us in Brown County!
From the comforting glow of The Daily Grind’s cozy vibes, to the unique 'Design A Donut' experience at Percy’s Perk, to the delicious full menu and locally-roasted beans at the Chocolate Moose, and more - the coffee and tea shops in Nashville, IN have something to satisfy every taste and mood.
My hope is that this guide helps you narrow down the spot you want to visit next. And, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a chance to experience them all eventually!
I’ll do my best to keep this guide updated as new shops open, but I’d love to hear from you in the comments about your favorite spots, or any other hidden gems in the county!
