National Coffee Day. A full 24 hours to raise our ceramic mugs and toast to the daily ritual that many of us simply can’t live without: morning coffee. It’s amazing to think back to the days when “black” was the only way you could order coffee. Now, with all the nuances and varieties of beans, batches and roasts, options for your beloved cup of joe are literally limitless!
I surveyed our Bonfire5 staff to compile a list of creme de la creme coffee shops here in Kansas City. I was surprised to find that our list included over 15 different places, which speaks to the magnitude of amazing java our city has to offer. And let me tell you, there was some passion in these responses. My co-workers and I seem to feel as strongly about coffee as we do about branding.
So, here it goes. Our top five go-to coffee shops in KC:
1. Filling Station. Call us biased because their Mission location is just down the street from our office, but the Filling Station’s iced latte is da bomb.com. (So much so, that I actually just used “da bomb” in a sentence… and no one should use that phrase anymore.) Oh, and if iced lattes aren’t your thing, we recommend the Mocha made with Shatto chocolate milk.
2. Second Best. Only fitting that it’s No. 2 on our list. Located in the Waldo neighborhood in South Kansas City, this shop acknowledges and pledges that tomorrow’s coffee will make today’s “second best.” We believe it, because when it comes to their pour-over coffee… oh, my. The flavor. The CAFFEINE! This particular brew just seems to get more and more delicious each time.
3. Thou Mayest. A coffee shop and a full bar, together in one spot. I mean, how can you go wrong here?! Thou Mayest has become a well-known hangout in KC’s Crossroads Arts District where entrepreneurs, artists and creative folks get together and share ideas. We’re fans of their coffee, their energetic atmosphere… and their motto to “take fun seriously.”
4. Oddly Correct. If you’re looking for the proper tasting experience, Oddly Correct in the Midtown/Westport area is the perfect spot. You’ll find some of the most unique coffees in their tasting room – all served without cream or sugar – because they want you to experience what coffee has to offer on its own.
5. Twisted Sisters. We love this cozy little Mission coffee shop not only for the tasty local Roasterie coffee it serves, but also for its unique approach to community outreach. You can’t connect to WiFi here (yes, seriously!) because they believe a good cup of coffee should be shared amongst great conversation. Touché, Twisted Sisters.
Already tried all five, or looking for even more great coffee joints? Check out some of our other employee picks: Black Dog Coffee, Parisi, The Roasterie, Quay, Goat Hill, Scooters, Crow’s Coffee, Colony KC and Monarch.
Official disclaimer: The results of this survey are in no way scientific, and are based solely on the impeccable taste buds of Bonfire5 employees.
