☕ Coffeehouse Spotlight: Compassion Coffeehouse
Location: 11674 Lebanon Rd, Mt. Juliet
Price Range: $3–$13 per person
Today I had the absolute pleasure of enjoying coffee and a light lunch at Compassion Coffeehouse. I had been hearing great things about this place, so I invited a friend—who hadn’t been yet either—and we decided to check it out.
As soon as we walked in, we were greeted right away by the barista and another employee, who I later learned was Roger, the owner of Compassion Coffee House. Their friendliness stood out, though I guess in Mt. Juliet, it shouldn’t have been a surprise.
We looked over the menu and asked about sugar-free and lower-fat options. They offer a few sugar-free syrups and can substitute skim milk in their frappes. Those options are always nice option to have.
I ordered the light Sea Turtle Frappe made with skim milk, and my friend got an iced coffee. At Roger’s recommendation, we also tried the Honey Mustard Chicken Bacon Sandwich.
Let’s start with the drinks—they were both excellent. Compassion Coffeehouse roasts its own beans in-house, and you can absolutely taste the difference. They bring in bags of unroasted beans and have an industrial sized coffee roaster right on site. The coffee was smooth, rich, and full of flavor. My frappe didn’t taste “light” at all—it was creamy, chocolatey, and packed with that bold coffee taste.
Now for the sandwich. You don’t always expect a coffee shop sandwich to stand out, but this one absolutely did. It was served warm with plenty of creamy honey mustard, and the grilled chicken was tender and flavorful. The bacon was crispy and the tomato, red onion and lettuce added the perfect amount of freshness and crunch. I was honestly blown away by how good it was. In addition to all-day sandwiches, they have a nice variety of large muffins, scones, acai bowls and more.
As good as the food and drinks were, the story behind Compassion Coffeehouse is even better. Roger, took the time to share the heart behind the business. Compassion Coffee donates a percentage of all sales—not just profits—to support homeless and veteran charities, as well as to help fund meals for students who might not otherwise have access to a healthy lunch.
Compassion has an Adopt-A-Cup program—just $1, and 100% goes directly toward supporting these charities.
The mission started with his wife’s uncle, a veteran, whom Roger wanted to honor by giving back to others who have served. He was also inspired by his son’s experience during COVID, when school lunches were provided for free. His son had friends whose only reliable meal came from school, and that stuck with him. Today, Compassion Coffeehouse partners with W.A. Wright Elementary, with a portion of sales going toward helping students who can’t afford lunch.
FUN FACT: Roger wanted to preserve some of the original features from when the building was a Dairy Queen, a staple of Mt Juliet from many years ago. The chandelier hanging today is the very same one from many years ago, and the drive-through sign is being updated but still retains its original structure.
Compassion Coffee House wanted to create a space where kids could enjoy activities beyond their phones, so they set up a bookcase filled with games and puzzles for kids—and kids at heart—to enjoy. Roger truly cares about his employees. He believes, and rightly so, that a manager’s top priority should be their team, and he treats them like family.
All in all, Compassion Coffeehouse is more than just a place to grab a great cup of coffee—it’s a place with heart. Between the quality drinks, surprisingly delicious food, and a mission that truly makes a difference in the community, it’s easy to see why so many people are talking about it. If you haven’t stopped in yet, it’s definitely worth a visit.