6223 Brookside Blvd., Kansas City
816/333-9700
www.theroasterie.com

HOURS: Mon.–Thurs. 6 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri. 6 a.m.–11 p.m.,
Sat. 7 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m.–10 p.m.

COST: Most entrées less than $10

You won’t find much in the way of substantial fare at The Roasterie Cafe, unless your idea of the perfect meal is a freshly brewed espresso drink served alongside a chewy, icing-filled macaroon. Kansas City’s hometown coffee company specializes in fresh, flavorful coffees culled from around the world.

The Roasterie founder Danny O’Neill picked his first coffee bean while studying in Costa Rica. Since then he has channeled his passion for the fragrant brew into a coffee business born in his basement.

O’Neill emphasizes quality, freshness, and education, focusing on small specialty farmers and their global communities. And he has perfected a signature air-roasting process that preserves the bean’s original flavor while bringing out previously undetected nuances that add depth and life to each cup of coffee.

Espresso concoctions change seasonally and include sumptuous ingredients like chocolate, marshmallow, and peppermint to create richly distinctive drinks. The Roasterie Cafe also offers boxes from local chocolatier Christopher Elbow.

Students from the nearby University of Missouri–Kansas City and young professionals stake out tables on which to perch their drinks, snacks, laptops, and reading material.

Bring your computer if you’re in need of Wi-Fi, or grab one of several local publications scattered throughout the café and enjoy a true taste of the city.

Head to The Roasterie (coffee plant, 1204 W. 27th St., 816/931-4000) at 9 a.m. Saturdays for a free tour of the coffee-making process, as well as other behind-the-scenes glimpses of O’Neill’s addictive enterprise.