We're so excited to kick off our Mod Circus Guest Blogger series with Andie Davidson, the coffee expert behind Beanopia blog. Today, she's giving us the low-down on the best places for a cup of joe in Kansas City. Be sure to follow her on Instagram and Twitter as well!
Somewhat
surprisingly, Kansas City is starting to emerge as a bit of a javaholic hub. There
seem to be hipster coffee shops popping up every week, spearheaded by a series
of java-obsessed (and/or highly caffeinated), young yet experienced roasters
and baristas. Gone are the days when your only caffeination choices were
Starbucks and Starbucks. Whether you’re on a caffeine quest or simply looking
for a spot off the beaten path to hang out, these java gems are the best of the
best in KC’s burgeoning coffee scene. Without further ado, let the caffeination
begin.
Quay
Coffee
412
Delaware St. (River Market)
Kansas
City may not have a beach (if only), but with the River Market area, we’re
rediscovering a vibrant riverfront port. The eclectic district has a long
history and is now experiencing a burst of hipster revival, and Quay Coffee
fits into the scene perfectly. Drawing its name from the previous moniker of
River Market, River Quay (a waterfront landing spot), Quay is a small, bustling
coffee shop with a hip yet homey, serene vibe. It also boasts carefully
selected direct-trade coffee, house-made syrups, and locally made pastries, and
some of the most talented baristas in town. In other words, expect a pretty
latte on top of a delicious taste.
Try:
Old Overholt Caramel latte
Filling
Station Coffee Garage
2980
McGee Tfkwy, KCMO
If
you think you know gas station coffee, think again. Granted, the Filling
Station isn’t technically a gas station anymore, but the old station building
is definitely part of its charm. With a bright, refreshing interior and chill
outdoor patio, it’s equally suited for studying or a casual coffee date. A tin ceiling and garage doors add a funky
urban touch. As an added bonus, Filling Station offers the rare combo of a
coffeeshop with both top-notch coffee — from local roasters Messenger Coffee —
and delicious (real) food. After getting your order number (via a recycled
license plate), you’ll be treated to homemade pastries, sandwiches and wraps,
salads, quiche, and fresh juices, and of course delicious caffeination. It’s a
filling station in more than one sense of the term.
Try:
Macchiato + daily quiche
Mud
Pie Bakery & Coffee
1615
W. 39th St, KCMO
Stepping
into Mud Pie is a bit like visiting your lovably kooky aunt (the one who always
has fresh cookies in the oven). A sunny yellow cottage nestled on funky 39th
Street, it’s two floors of mismatched furniture, vibrant colors, and lively
characters. While admittedly not the most polished café on this list, I
challenge anyone not to immediately fall in love with its shambling quirky
charm. There are even two upstairs nooks perfect for quiet time or a private
tête-à-tête. In addition, come with your sweet tooth prepared. Don’t let the
“vegan” label scare you off — the homemade pastries are incredible. If you
don’t believe me, stop by and try a s’mores bundt cake or Peary Ginger muffin.
Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Try:
Housemade almond milk latte + Peary Ginger muffin
Goat
Hill Coffee & Soda
811
W. 17th St., KCMO
They
had me at seafoam. Décor, that is. The previous home of Little Freshie snow
cones, Goat Hill is a quaint café located in the hilltop Westside neighborhood
(a few blocks’ exploration yields a plethora of kooky old houses and stunning
views of downtown KC). The place is tiny, with barely enough room to squeeze in
the espresso bar and window counter seating, but somehow that only adds to its
vintage-y charm. It will immediately capture your heart with its pressed tin
ceiling, seafoam green accents, and bright greenery touches. It’s impossible to
be agitated or grumpy in this soothing spot. On top of that, they make a killer
caffeinated beverage, as well as homemade Little Freshie snow cones in a
variety of outside-the-box flavors.
Try:
Lavender honey latte,
blackberry sage snow cone
Monarch
Coffee
3550
Broadway Blvd, KCMO
If
you fancy imagining yourself transported to Paris for a few hours, Monarch has
you covered. The chic black and white color scheme, molded ceiling, and
sidewalk café-style tables are straight out of a classic Parisian bistro (and
yes, that is a mint green espresso machine). As are, for that matter, the
hand-roasted coffee and scrumptious pastry offerings. To extend the experience
even further, there’s also an event space, the Drawing Room, hosting various
crafty and intimate events and available to rent for private occasions. The
owners, an artist and an award-winning veteran barista, dub the space “a
marriage of coffee and art” — and well, the shoe fits. Let’s just say the
Monarch IG feed is worth following even if you’re not a javaholic.
Try:
Lavender white mocha + blueberry almond frangipane danish
Messenger
Café
1624
Grand Blvd, KCMO
Messenger
has been around for a while as a local roaster supplying several area coffee
shops, but they recently opened a flagship café in downtown KC, and let’s just
say they pulled put all the stops. The three-level headquarters includes a
bright café, an in-house bakery, a view into the roasting area, and a rooftop
patio with stunning views of downtown. In short, it’s basically a Messenger
palace. From décor to pastries to latte art, there’s just no other way to
describe it: the place is beautiful. And with almost obsessively sourced and
hand-roasted beans and direct collaboration with farmers, Messenger clearly
knows its java. Word of warning: the café hours are somewhat limited, but the
delicious coffee, handcrafted Ibis bakery goods, and breathtaking setting are
well worth a little extra effort.
Try:
Honey Bear Latte (brown sugar, honey, spices) + Bananas Foster Croissant
Honorable
mentions: Kaldi’s Coffee, City Market Coffee House, Broadway Café, PT’s Coffee
