6 of the Best Coffee Shops in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City is such a fun city! I love how walkable it is, the free Kansas City Streetcar, and how many fun and unique coffee shops there are. Midwest cities I’ve found are typically quite friendly, and the staff at these six shops definitely have welcoming and hospitable people who clearly love working there.
Messenger Coffee Co
While there are multiple Messenger Coffee Shops in Kansas, their flagship location (my favorite) opened in 2017 on 1624 Grand Boulevard. It’s a beautiful light-filled building that features both an onsite roasting facility and delicious smells from the Ibis Bakery area. You can explore all three levels:
On the first floor you can sit and watch the bakers and smell all the amazing baked goods coming out of the ovens.
The second floor has the roastery and even more space to sit. Lots of great window light and plants up there too.
The third floor has more workspaces, as well as the rooftop deck with fireplace. Although the rooftop can be a bit windy sometimes.
Messenger is a great spot to get some work done, cozy up on a couch and read a book, or meet up with a friend to enjoy a perfectly flakey pain au chocolate and one of their delicious lattes. Recently I got the spring seasonal drink “Midwest Mystic” which had single-origin Ethiopian espresso, sage-infused vanilla, and house-made pistachio milk, finished with smoked rosemary. YUM!
Blip Coffee Roasters
In all my travels I don’t think I’ve ever been to a motorcycle-themed coffee shop, and I couldn’t love it more. It is located in a large industrial space with high ceilings and multiple seating options whether you’re looking for a spot to work alone or grab a cup with friends. They don’t sell motorcycles, but they do Bitwell helmet fittings, (how cool is that wall of helmets!) and sell plenty of motorcycle accessories and apparel. Their lattes are delicious and I absolutely love that they don’t charge extra for non-dairy milk options. Their roastery is on-site, and they have a patio as well you can enjoy. Their staff is so welcoming and friendly, and they host lots of community-building events.
free cuppings on Tuesdays from 1-2 PM (like a tasting)
Bike nights on Wednesdays
other events like yoga on the patio, or open mic nights
Café Corazón - Crossroads
When you walk into Café Corazón, it immediately smells amazing. The decor is bright and colorful, with a beautiful mural, and features, warm rich wood tones, and a big row of beautiful snake plants. It’s a family-owned business that specialized in Latinx espresso, coffee, and Yerba mate (pronounced yer-ba máh-tay) which is an herbal tea that has a rich cultural South American history with the Indigenous people. The staff is so hospitable and it’s absolutely no wonder they have so many raving reviews on google - A 4.9 rating with 350+ reviews is so easy feat, but they are just that loved!
Get an empanada or a delicious sweet made from an authentic Argentinian bakery in Kansas City called Pan Caliente.
There is so much seating available, as the space wraps all the way around the counter. Everything from tables in the front to seat multiple people, to a bar-style seating area where you can work solo, and another back section with more seating and couches to work during the day.
I absolutely adore their Horchata Latte, and they make their Horchata in-house!
Made in KC
Made in KC was started in 2015, as a place for artists and creative makers to promote their work, and it’s quickly grown to multiple shop locations and more than a handful of coffee shops. My favorite two coffee locations are the Downtown Café and Bar, as well as the adorable River Market Trolley Café. Both locations feature some of their market items, especially their fun t-shirts, cards, gift items, and so much more. The staff has always been wonderful at any of their locations!
Trolley Café (top three photos): I especially love their unique trolley cafe on a nice day! I love to grab a coffee and then head over to walk around the River Market which has the largest farmers' market in the region.
Downtown Café and Bar (bottom three photos): This location also has a back section that serves beer and wine, perfect for a happy hour after a long day of working in the coffee shop. During my most recent trip to KC they had a seasonal pistachio honey latte that was incredible!
Billie’s Grocery
This spot is absolutely wonderful! They have delicious and inventive lattes (I love the iced beet latte), a plethora of bakery items (omg the pop tarts!), incredible food, and even cooking classes! It can feel overwhelming to decide between all of their treats, as they seriously look like artwork, but the staff is very friendly and helpful. This is a great spot to also grab healthy food options. The space is bright and clean, and the plants everywhere lend to such a relaxing environment.
They have great cooking classes - you can check them out here. I would love to attend their pasta or dumpling-making class!
Lots of gluten-free and vegan options, as well as vegan cooking classes
Mildred’s
There are two locations in KC, but I have mostly been to the Crossroads location. You can smell the deliciousness as you walk by, so I admit my nose brought me in there the first time :) They have some outdoor spaces perfect for a nice day, and evetryone always seems like they are in such a great mood in Mildred’s - staff and patrons!
This is a great spot to add some Irish whiskey to your coffee or follow up your latte with a Bloody Mary.
Great brunch option! Their breakfast sandwich is goooood.
Next time I visit I want to check out Thou Mayest! Have you been to Kansas City? Let me know if there is a coffee spot you love that I need to check out next time!