Smart people know better than to order their coffee from a counter worked by baristas in green aprons. Locals and travelers alike, most people prefer the local asthetic of a good ol’ fashion coffeehouse.

For the last five years of my life, I’ve frequented Kansas City coffee shops in hopes of finding the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a latte. Whether you’re a student in need of a second library or simply looking for a public landmark for a Craigslist deal, I’ve arranged mildly-comprehensive listing of the best hometown coffeeshops in the heart of Kansas City. With no further explanation, let’s get started.

Honorable mention: One More Cup. Waldo.

A humble little space, unknown to most. Small earthy vibe.

Honorable mention: Broadway Cafe. Westport.

The big windows running alongside Broadway Street serve to remind anyone seated inside just exactly where they are. Any sort of forced interior design plans wouldn’t exactly fly with the locals of Westport. That in-mind, this shop gets the award for offering a generous amount of space while not trying to over-think their atmosphere.

#5: The Coffee Girls. Waldo.

Probably my favorite coffeeshop right now. Two walls of windows bring just enough sunrise into the interior on a winter or summer morning. This place doesn’t have any of the foot traffic that some of the top shops on my list have. For that reason, it’s probably one of the best environments for relaxation. Their trendy seating resembles the latest from the IKEA catalog (website).

Smoothies: 2nd Overall

#4: Latteland. Country Club Plaza (west).

There are lots of friendly baristas at this particular location. And with those personalities, come an eclectic taste for music. If you’re into Andrew Bird or Depeche Mode, you will probably hear it on any given evening. And perhaps at a decibel level that’s a bit too loud for your own liking.

Regardless, this is no library. This remains to be a great place for students trying to hammer out that final page in their paper for summer class, as their summer hours keep them open until 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Since most local shops are open no later than 10 p.m., I’ve decided that this is most convenient coffeeshop to get office work done when I must take it home.

Big bonus to this local chain for an extra dose of outdoor seating at this location. It makes for great summer conversation. The shop’s door usually stands open and a summer breeze unifies the outdoor seating along the sidewalk with the customers inside.

Espresso: 2nd Overall
Smoothies: Best Overall

#3: Hi Hat Coffee. Mission Woods.

This charming little cottage offers outdoor patio seating and the occasional evening summer concert. Tucked away in the quiet neighborhood of Mission Woods, you’ll have to be careful not to drive right by their little brick building. This cozy little nook is located right along the Kansas state border to Missouri. It’s even rumored that Kansas City Royals’ hall of famer George Brett prefers himself some Hi Hat (map).

PS: Hi Hat is closed on Sundays.

HiHat Coffee. Photo by Amy Guerreri.

#2: The Roasterie. Brookside.

If you’ve ever been to this location on a Saturday morning in the summer, you’ve probably waited in line behind a few baby strollers and a coed team of cycling junkies, outfitted in their Boulevard biking gear. Yet no matter the time of day or year, The Roasterie has quickly become Brookside’s daytime hangout.

My most recent beverage choice at the Roasterie: an iced Vanilla Thrilla. Success!

The fresh redesign of this shop’s interior lands them at number two on my list. The interior – which saw to an appropriate branding update and much-needed expansion – brought the unique air-roasted branding you may have only once seen on grocery store shelves to indoor murals of their Brookside location. This shop has the best variety of morning beverages available to Kansas Citians and all of it is roasted in their Kansas City facilities. Namely, I enjoy the Ethiopian blend from their Clover machine and their dark Voodoo roast. All sorts of froofy drinks as well.

Espresso: Best Overall (website)

#1: The Filling Station. Downtown outskirts / Hallmark HQ.

The name defines the atmosphere for this location. Don’t choose this shop if you’re looking to read a book – the seating is conducive to moving a lunch rush in-and-out and the noise level mirrors more that of the NY Stock Exchange. However, this is a great morning stop for anyone commuting from midtown to downtown. The lunch menu is by far the tastiest and most complete of any shops Kansas City will offer. For morning goers, try their orange muffins or a fresh-fruit smoothie.

Smoothies: 3rd Overall

The people who run the Internet recently identified two differences* between texting and Tweeting.

Reason #1: Tweetin’ & drivin’ is legit. Yo.

It will soon be illegal to text while driving in Kansas. It won’t be – as my friend Noah points out – illegal to take a shot of the sunset and share it over TwitPic with yo’ Tweeps. While driving.

No matter how much more involved Tweetin’ and drivin’ might be, apparently Kansas lawmakers think it’s important to ban only one medium from drivers, in lieu of imposing a greater law against distracted driving. Kansas will become the 28th state to carry a ban on texting for drivers. Since I live in Kansas City, it’s only fair to mention that within the last year Missouri instituted a law to illegalize texting for drivers 21-and-under.

Reason #2: Twitter isn’t the new e-mail thread.

If you’re Tweeting back-and-forth between a friend or perhaps a dorm-room-full of your old college buddies, please start an email thread, a Google Wave or (really) anything less public. It’s safe to assume that your followers don’t carry that same unfiltered love for the North Dakota women’s lacrosse team** that you and your college buds apparently do.

Twitter may seem appropriate for all sorts of conversations to those who’ve signed up for an account in looking for the new Facebook, but it shouldn’t replace some of the more functional qualities of a good text message. Or – dare I say – phone call.

Twitter is what you make it.

I’ve found it hard to write this post, actually. Twitter is an open medium. Each update, for the user, is really what she makes of its 140 characters. I suppose an unfollow – be it potentially offensive – is an option for someone like myself who prefers not to filter through back-and-forth banter. I’d be interested to hear what readers have think about these sorts of Twitter threads.

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* Not for real. J/k. J/k.
** It is always appropriate to carry on long Twitter conversations about Taylor Swift.

I know much of this has been said, but I want to follow up my last post with some specific thanks.

To Anthony, Arlo, TB, Riebs, Bobby, Adam, Grady, Shawn, Derek, JT, Drace, Krista, Ogggggggg, Swood, Sarah, Weidner, Brent, Jordan, Angela, Corley, Hattery and Paul’yee Prato I specifically say thank you for teaching me to be a better creative. I’m grateful for everything that was afforded to me in my time at BR. You guys took a chance on me. And I think it worked out for all involved.

And thanks to Steve Bernstein for running a great ad agency. You, Bob and family are top notch.

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This is the second post in a three part series: Read Part I | Read Part III