Best Coffee Shops in Kansas City

Known for its rich jazz history and diverse cafe culture explained by its unique borders, Missouri’s Kansas City, or KSMO for short, offers plenty of sweet coffeehouse spots that serve seasonal specials and locally-sourced food.

Not unlike like coffee shops in Kansas City KS, KSMO covers it all, from traditional hangout spots like Quay coffee to more elaborate spaces with specific themes. So let’s take a closer look at coffee shops that serve coffee drinks made from some of the best coffee beans in Kansas City.

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The Roasterie

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With multiple locations in Kansas City proper, the Roasterie deals premium roasts, coffee beverages, and fresh pastry all over town, with the main cafe operating from the company’s factory in Westside South.

Apart from classic espresso, coffee drinks, cold brews, hot teas, and coolers, the cafe offers delicious signature drinks like Irish hot chocolate or a mix of white chocolate and macadamia nut latte.

In addition to the roastery and coffeehouse, the company also conducts classes at their coffee college where you can master pro brewing at home, learn more about the history of coffee as well as get acquainted with the current means of coffee production.

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Monarch Coffee

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Now with two locations in Kansas City, the women-led Monarch Coffee creates a true haven of modern coffeehouse experience with all beans roasted in-house and fresh baked goods sourced from local bakeries, including such sweet gems as olive oil madeleines, canelés, and mini loaves.

As a family-friendly shop, Monarch Coffee offers healthy options for kids on top of its regular menu of drip and iced coffee, espresso, Americano, Gibraltar, and plenty of unique seasonal options among which eggnog draft latte and smoked and spiced cider could give you some much needed holiday cheer.

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Second Best Coffee

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Found in the Waldo neighborhood, this rustic and low-key espresso bar is a welcoming change from overly decorated modern spaces that could feel rather impersonal.

As a cosy slow bar, Second Best Coffee serves a wide range of espresso shots as well as coffee made in clever drippers, topping it all with signature drinks, cold brews, and light breakfast foods. All in all, if you’re looking for light fare coffee shops near you, this option is a good first choice thanks to its accommodating nature.

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Café Corazón

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Café Corazón is a warm and inviting place imbued with Latinx culture and its flavors, celebrating the coffee and mate traditions in this corner of Kansas City not far from West Plaza.

In addition to serving Latin speciality espresso drinks and coffee cocktails—all made from fair-trade Latin American beans and roasted in-house—the cafe also offers an extensive Yerba Mate menu, sourcing it from Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.

The cafe is cosy and colorful, serving as a great chill-out spot or a relaxing little place for your lunch break. Your breakfast and lunch options include empanadas, alfajores, and fresh pastry from Panaderia de las Americas, Kansas City Baking Company, Pan Caliente, and Elvira’s Cakes.

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Vested Coffee

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Operating from the Garment District in the city’s downtown, Vested Coffee is a perfect lunch spot both for small groups and solo dining. The shop offers one of the best-roasted coffee in Kansas City, serving espresso, drip, pour overs, cold brew, and much more.

The food menu is also pretty generous for a lunch joint, focusing on pastry, quiche, biscuit and gravy, pop tarts, burritos, panini, and special options for people with specific diets.

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Crows Coffee

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A real throwback to the coffeehouse classics, Crows Coffee locations are notable for their warmth and simplicity, with the South Plaza shop standing out for its particular homeyness with its brick-wall and wooden country-style interior and work-friendly space.

All Crows Coffee shops specialize in traditional and coffee brews with some unique beverage mixes on the side, but they also serve beer, wine, quiche, burritos, and delicious pastry made in the Waldo kitchen. 

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The Wild Way

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As the first camper coffee bar locally, the Wild Way is almost the direct opposite to places such as Messenger coffee with its three-tiered design and in-house bakery. The Wild Way brings something truly special to the streets of Kansas City no matter the weather, with the camper serving coffee outdoors during warmer seasons and operating from a warehouse during winter.

All fresh ingredients are sourced from OP farmer’s market, while the coffee, espresso, and cold brews can be pre-ordered in half gallons or served in cups on-site with the optional home-made syrups. A kids menu is also available.

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Made in KC Cafe

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As a sister company of the Made in KC chain dealing with locally made gifts, apparel, and other goods, Made in KC Cafe delivers the same retail efficiency as its parent company but imbuing it with the relaxing warmth of a coffee shop.

The location is a relatively new coffee shop in Kansas City and serves traditional coffee drinks in a market setting. Other menu options including more intricate artisanal coffee beverages, tea, and other hot and iced coffeehouse classics.

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Spokes Cafe

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Despite its simple setting, Spokes Cafe and Cyclery does a great job at cultivating welcoming coffeeshop environment on top of being a bike store and repair shop in one, suitable for all Kansas City cycling enthusiasts.

The cafe offers hot and cold drinks, espresso, drip, and more classic coffee and tea drinks while also providing light breakfasts, lunch, nighttime snacks and an evening cocktail menu.

The bicycle shop is open for pick-ups and drop-offs during cafe’s open hours, plus the Washington location offers repair services provided by the in-house repair specialists.

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Goat Hill Coffee & Soda

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Modern yet pleasantly comforting, Goat Hill Coffee & Soda brings clean lines with a touch of boho to this corner of downtown Kansas City serving craft coffee drinks, Italian soda and ginger beer, tea, hot chocolate, and delicious baked goods with a selection of burritos perfect for a quick breakfast or lunch.

The cosy retro interior bracketed by clean modern lines gives the space more air while adding an almost homey feeling to your dine-in experience with its sculpted ceilings, delicate house plants, and vibrant wall-decor.

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City Market Coffee KC

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Located near the city’s farmer’s market, City Market Coffee is a quaint little spot serving premium espresso and coffee drinks with a selection of finger-licking good desserts and pastry. Ultimately works as a brief rest-stop for all market shoppers.