Kansas City Espresso recommendations?

[bobzemuda]

You have The Roasterie --which beats anything in StL-- so where are the good coffee shops making proper espresso...and proper capps with at least attempts at latte art instead of the meringue like hell?

[avidan]

reviving a dead thread here, but i highly recommend Quay and Oddly Correct. Both very recent additions to KC espresso, but amazing (I just finished a cross country road trip dedicated to food/beverage...i acted as a coffee mule for a few nano-roasters trading along the way).

[Judy Butts]

I love the Roasterie they make the best latte in town and have beautiful latte art. Their baristas are the greatest

[mpollmann]

the places that re mentioned are pretty good, but i don't think i've seen anyone mention Latte Land, of which there are 2 on the plaza, and a newer one at 79th and State Line. I've heard many say that their espressos and cappucinos are the closest to Italy as anyone else in town.

[heatherkay]

There's supposed to be one in the Power & Light district as well.

[pollymerase]

Latte Land does really good espresso, but I'm always really put off by the attitude of the baristas. I've stopped into both locations on the plaza with guests from out of town and both times had my guests comment on the unfriendly and rude attitudes. I will only stop in if I desperately need a dose of caffeine.

[zach]

I live a minute away from The Roasterie in Brookside and find their Super Tuscan Espresso the best in KC. I also tried their organic espresso and it also was very smooth, very good.

Also whenever I get an espresso based drink at The Café I get a rosetta or some sort of latte art in my drink. I am definitely confident in their baristas.

[BurtonBailey]

That Café in Brookside is great. They seem to be open late also. They make some mean Americanos.

[CulinaryCutie3]

My favorites in Kansas City proper are The Roasterie on Brookside Blvd and the Crave Cafe at 39th and Wyoming. My very favorite in the metro is PTs Coffeehouse at 127th and Quivira, just off the Edwards campus in the same building as the KU Bookstore. One of their baristas has competed in a few national barista competitions and came in highly ranked. And yes, his latte art is kickin'. PTs is a roaster based in Topeka and their beans are fresh.

[rln]

I'm so happy to find this thread! I'll be coming to Kansas City next week, and will have one morning on the way to Chillicothe for the week to get an espresso drink. I usually drink lattes or cappucinos. In San Francisco, I like Peet's coffee, Martha Brothers, Trieste, and Blue Bottle.

Between Roasterie and Broadway Cafe mentioned here, where should I go?

Thank you!!

[heatherkay]

It probably depends on your preferred scene. Broadway Cafe is gritty, Roasterie is posh.

[bobzemuda]

I'll get out briefly.

They not that far away from each other. Go to both. Go to the Broadway Cafe notn on Broadway. The one on Westport had the roaster, and it was a really nice shop. Dingy in that good way. Great baristas willing to chat it about about there wares. I got some beans roasted mere hours before.

I also went to the Roasterie because they're a big aware winning shop. It's posh sure, but because of that poshness they have a Clover. A Clover is a single serve drip coffee maker that costs a ton. They're brewing single servings of Cup of Excellence winners with it, and it was a real treat to get coffee of that quality in a shop without having to take it home and brew it myself.

Their cappuccino at the Roasterie was pretty depressing though.

[zataar]

After reading these posts I see that coffee has become like BBQ. Everyone has their favorites and can be very passionate about what is the best.

I for one do not like any of the coffee at the Roasterie. It all tastes burned to me.

[bobzemuda]

Wow I typed that last one fast...wicked bad grammar and all.

that should have read:

I'll geek it up briefly.

They're not that far away from each other. I went to both.

Go to the Broadway Cafe not on Broadway -- the one on Westport had the roaster, and it was a really nice shop. Dingy in that good way. Great baristas willing to chat it up about about their wares. I got some beans roasted mere hours before.

I also went to the Roasterie because they're a big award winning shop. It's posh sure, but because of that poshness they have a Clover. A Clover is a single serve drip coffee maker that costs a ton. They're brewing single servings of Cup of Excellence winners with it, and it was a real treat to get coffee of that quality in a shop without having to take it home and brew it myself.

Their cappuccino at the Roasterie was pretty depressing though.

edit the edit:
the espresso at the Roasterie was a bit dark as zataar stated.

Also, that coffee I got at Broadway is some of the best I've ever had at home. It's Columbian and is a beautiful medium roast with an incredibly smooth mouthfeel. If you're there on the weekend, you can walk up the street for a slice of pie at the kitchen store (I forget the name).

[Aaron Deacon]

Pryde's is the name of the kitchen store, and the Upper Crust is the name of the operation selling pies out of the back.

[rln]

Thanks for all these details! I am going to try to hit all of these. Will report back!

[rln]

Well, all - I am extra sad I didn't get to try either because of rain/ travel plans this trip. I will be returning so I have another chance!

This was in the NYT today re: Broadway.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/bus...

[bobzemuda]

If you do go to Broadway, don't go to the one they pictured in the NYT. The baristas weren't as good as the ones just around the corner at the roasting facility. It's literally within two blocks, and the roaster is just sitting out in the shop so it's got a nice ambiance if you're a coffeegeek. Considering your looking for shops in cities you travel to as I was, I'll gather that you are.

[rln]

Finally got out to Broadway cafe. Really good! The one on Broadway was a little hard to find even though it's 2 blocks up. We walked around asking people, and many didn't know there was another one!

Brought home 3 roasts of their beans, so will try more. I had a latte. Smooth, and a little sweetness coming out from the roast.

Thanks for the tips.

[FergMePleez]

There is another PT's at College Blvd./ Quivira. In the Hen House shopping center. It's located on the east side of the lot behind McDonalds. Take note, the little coffee shop located within JCCC isn't half bad.

[ms8zz]

Hi. I need (yes, need) a shot of espresso every day. Like others said, Broadway is very good. I have to quibble with the poster who says all their baristas are trained to pull perfect shots and one never gets an "off" shot at Broadway. One of the charms of espresso is its capriciousness, and good baristas can be vexed often.
Room 39 is one of my favorite restaurants in town, but I usually don't get coffee, because often there is not a dedicated barista available,and some of the staff who pull shots are not as experienced as others.
At good coffee shops, a barista will often reject several shots before offering one to the espresso customer. Shops that invariably pull one shot and serve it get a pass from me.
I like Danesi, I mean, come on, it is great. The only problem is the 6 weeks it takes to get here from Italy. So unless the barista says, "Hey, this bag of Danesi is really good, " I pass on it, too, and opt for Broadway beans (which the Filling Station uses). The Filling Station easily has the best ambience, IMO.
In Brookside, Bella Napoli ( Broadway beans and Danesi) has a super barista, Nate, who works weekdays from open until about 2 pm.
Mmm, I need to go for a shot now.

[amyzan]

Every time I've been to Room 39, which is mostly on Fridays and Saturdays before noon, the same barista is working. He's a short dark haired guy, and I want to say his name is David, but I could have that all wrong. He's very good at what he does.

[dmd_kc]

Broadway Cafe and Roastery, at either location (they're about two blocks apart in Westport) is the only place where every single barista is trained to pull shots perfectly every time, and their beans are the most freshly roasted in the city - no contest. I've never had a bad espresso there.

And yes, Room 39 does good espresso, too, but I'm not as big a fan of their beans (I believe they use Danesi). Also check out the Filling Station at Gillham and 30th St. (about).

[heatherkay]

You should probably try the Broadway Cafe at Westport Road and Broadway. Generally recognized as one of the best in town.

[zataar]

The Broadway Roaster at Westport Road and Central is where Broadway Cafe roasts their beans. It's our favorite place to get coffee drinks and beans. It's never as crowded at the Cafe.
We also had exceptional latte and espresso at Room 39, Westport and Bell. We didn't expect the drinks to be so wonderful, but they were!

[amyzan]

Yeah, Room 39 has a good barista who takes pride in his work. I've never had a bad coffee there, no matter what I order. Their dessert affogato is good, too.

[FergMePleez]

Indeed, Broadway cafe serves up a frothy cup, and excellend pastries. Excellent way to deviate away from that Starbucks around the corner.