US Brand Directory
Knoxville, TN, Tennessee · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive
The Golden Roast Coffee Roasters
Ownership unverifiedRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Limited public info
TagsThe Golden Roast Coffee RoastersTennessee coffee roastersCosta RicaHondurasIndependentLimited public infoRoasts in-house
Visit The Golden Roast Coffee Roasters's site The Golden Roast Coffee Roasters was a historic Knoxville coffee institution that operated for three decades before closing in 2025. The company focused on small-batch roasting and served as a popular gathering space for the local community and university students.
Ownership
The Golden Roast was an independent, family-owned business operated by Don Payne. The company permanently ceased all operations in April 2025.
Founded
1994
Roasting
Roasts its own coffee.
What it's known for
Serving as a long-standing Knoxville staple and community hub for over 30 years, known for its small-batch, in-house roasted coffee and popular campus-adjacent cafe locations.
Sourcing countries
Costa Rica · Honduras
Farm-level sourcing
The brand marketed its coffee as 'farm to cup' and offered a variety of single-origin roasts and signature blends. However, it did not consistently publish specific farm or producer names for its offerings.
Sources used in this deep dive
- https://thegoldenroast.com
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Knoxville/comments/1k4fsxt/rip_golden_roast
- https://new2knox.com/golden-roast-coffee-roasters-a-look-inside
- https://www.mapquest.com/us/tennessee/the-golden-roast-425663404
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g55138-d4711230-Reviews-Golden_Roast_Coffee_Roasters-Knoxville_Tennessee.html
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-01. It is not a review: we have not tasted this brand's coffee. Ownership, roasting and sourcing claims belong to the brand and its published materials. While the brand's website and historical profiles mention sourcing from specific countries like Costa Rica and Honduras, it did not maintain a public database of specific farm or producer names for its coffee lineup.