Flyover Flavor

                But I returned to KC recently and that scratch of pride for my childhood city started to leave a deeper mark. KC has gotten way cooler since I moved away. While the improvements to Downtown and the Crossroads Arts District were impressive and the restaurants I visited served delicious meals, what really wowed me was the coffee scene.

                I only had time to hit up a few coffee shops, so I know there is a lot I didn’t experience. But of the three shops I randomly picked, Kansas City went three for three with exceptional espresso.  I’m either very lucky or KC's coffee shops are very good. Perhaps even better than St. Louis.

                So the next time you find yourself in the City of Fountains, I highly recommend you get your caffeine fix from these shops.

               The Roasterie has been active in Kansas City since 1993 and currently has three locations. I visited the one in Brookside multiple times because I enjoyed it so much.

                I ordered my usual espresso macchiato and the Roasterie passed with high marks for tight bubbles on the foam and smooth espresso with a dark, chocolaty flavor. I also got a kick out of the clever name placement of the email address painted right on the rim. Nice way to photobomb all those millennials who must Instagram every latte they drink.

                The location itself had an industrial feel. Everything was black, white, and chrome with a cold concrete floor and simple black furniture. It worked with the space, which was an adapted auto body shop with garage doors that opened up onto a nicely landscaped lawn. The place was filled with locals chatting and reading the paper, which warmed it up a little bit.

                The service was speedy and friendly. The drinks were consistent. The location had an interesting personality. I have no complaints. St. Louis needs to get one.

                This shop is located in Kansas City’s Crossroads District – AKA the cool part of town. Here the old, faded brick buildings have been revitalized into hip boutiques, art galleries, studios and unique local shops. Thou Mayest is wedged between a building with boarded up windows that read BUY ART in mismatched letters reminiscent of a ransom note, and a pizza shop called Grinders. (I assume that’s referring to the sandwich, though given the rainbow flag hanging outside, the double entendre is probably intended.)

More Friends, More Funk

                When I stepped into the large open room, it felt like walking into a 70s basement, complete with a set of stairs along the right side of the room, as if you could walk up into some living room with shag carpet and tulip chairs. The place was decorated with old fashioned fishing poles on the walls and comfy vintage furniture in one corner.  Mostly the walls were exposed brick, which matched the aged, slightly warped wood floors. The wall behind the bar had wood paneling and a large, faded painting of a mountain landscape.

                A grouchy barista took my order and seemed irritated that I would take up his precious time by patronizing this shop. I kind of liked it. It’s one of those barista stereotypes that when I encounter it, part of me thinks, “man, this place is the real deal,” even though 90% of the baristas I’ve met provide friendly customer service. Still, his ‘tude fit the space.

                The espresso itself was pleasant, but not remarkable. It had a bright, slightly sharp flavor and a fruity finish. While this isn’t my personal preference, I still enjoyed it because it was prepared well. It’s easy for a light roast to go wrong, either becoming bitter or sour. But this went down smooth with a balanced and complex flavor.

                In a time when most coffee shops look the same, I appreciated this funky décor. It was fun and comfortable, while remaining clean and professional. I wouldn’t go there every day, but I would definitely go again.

                For my final stop on my coffee tour, I visited Coffee Girl’s Café, located in the Waldo neighborhood. It was transitioning into Crows Coffee, which is another local roastery and cafe. The friendly barista who made my espresso macchiato explained that the shop had just started serving Crows Coffee - so recently that he couldn’t remember what made up the espresso blend, unfortunately.

                Whichever beans went into that espresso, it was a damn good combination. It was clearly a medium roast – my fave! – with strong chocolate and caramel flavors. I could drink it all day it was so smooth!

                The space itself wasn’t very memorable. It had a pleasant neighborhood vibe with parents squeezing strollers around tables to find seating and middle-aged women in yoga pants sitting in twos and chatting. The trendy design included the usual concrete floors, dark wood tables, funky light fixtures and orange as the accent color. Common, but not unpleasant.

                Of course, when it officially becomes Crows Coffee, who knows what the place will look like. As long as the coffee tastes the same, I will be going back next time I’m in town.