Second Best Coffee

Incredible coffee choices that meet a variety of different peoples taste buds, delicious food options. Very well executed. Great staff. Great atmosphere. I walk here with my now 1 y/​o all the time and we love it!

Beautiful space for coffee tea and espresso how it is supposed to be! Breakfast burritos arealso!

Great place. Loved my latte and the low key atmosphere. Music stream was also excellent.

Summary: I really wanted to like this place because it’s one of the very few independent coffee houses in southern KC, but all the drinks I had just did not execute well. Weak espresso with an overcompensation of milk made everything bland.
Sample size (two visits): three espresso tasting flight, one gibralter
Pros:
1. Baristas are nice and definitely seem to care about your experience
2. Happy hour — $ 7 for a flight of three espresso drinks IN THEORY is awesome
3. Unique selection of accompaniments — if I had to do it over I would try the blackberry syrup in my drink
Cons:
1. Espresso is not over saturated but definitely has a chalky, muted taste
2. My gibralter had waaaay too much milk which completely masked the coffee

Kansas City definitely has a number of choices for good coffee, but Second Best is one of my favorite stops. They always have friendly, helpful baristas working. The coffee that I’ve tried is always right on point. They do some of their own roasting and bring in other roaster’s coffees, which I think is an awesome concept! With that being said, they always have a great selection of drip and espresso to choose from.

Such a great coffee spot! These guys are the real deal. It feels so good to go into a coffee shop and enjoy the passion that the baristas have for their coffee. And the homemade almond milk? Pure genius! I mentioned that I had seen them do these coffee nitro shots, they let me try them for free. I can’t wait to go home so I can go back to this place.

The vibe in this place is so nice — from the natural wood to the minimalist décor, you’ll feel like a cool kid walking in. But unlike the places where you’re not cool enough to sip their coffee, Second Best will make you feel right at home with every interaction. I’ve been in many times and it’s refreshing to have a place that takes as much pride in their service and caring attitude as their coffee and food.
I love their specialty drinks, house made almond milk and lavender honey syrup.

Wish I was in town longer so I could try all the summer drink specials.. I did have the dreamsicle which is an iced latte with an orange, lime, and ginger simple syrup and it was delicious! I also had their nitro coffee. I was super excited to see they had coffee on tap!!! So good!

I went there today to get my favorite «high caffeine» drink, Nitro. The kegorator was being serviced. One of the owner’s, I assumed ask me what I wanted in lieu of nitro, and size… they gave it to me complimentary. She said we didn’t have what you came for, but want you to come back… I love that place it’s on my bike trail and between my office and home only by minutes. They’ll have my coffee business.
I took a friend who works at Cerner, now she has her co-​workers going.
Mark Irvin–

I know they call themselves second best, but they might be the best for me in KC ;) I just moved to the area a month ago and have been exploring the coffee scene, and I keep going back here because of their amazing coffee, knowledgable and super friendly staff, and comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. They also have amazing homemade syrups if that’s your thing, like my favorite lavender & honey. They are always trying new offerings, like their new summer menu that has affogato with house made ice cream, Mexican spiced Kyoto, and summer Kyoto with lemon/​mint syrup… Mmm.
It’s also reasonably priced for being of such high quality. They also have free public cuppings on Wednesdays… which I totally plan on going to soon! Glad I found such an awesome place close to my new home.

I came in here on a Wednesday afternoon to edit some wedding photos and there was a legit coffee cupping (a tasting) going on behind me. Okay, instant street cred in my book. This coffee place is located in a kinda dingy strip mall but upon entering the door, you immediately get what Second Best is all about. You come here for the coffee. The ambiance is cool too, don’t get me wrong. All dark wood and rustic with a biking motif (there’s even an actual bike on the wall). But they try to be authentic and they pull it off. In an industry that is full of pretension, this place has heart. And good coffee. I really liked their coffee.
They don’t have a bar station with half and half and sugar and Splenda. If you ask, the barista will put honey or milk in your coffee. Or they have house made syrups. What? Oh yeah. When the barista brought me over my beverage, I asked about these and their specialty drinks (none of which are on the menu board) and she mentioned their house-​made orange syrup (for the «dreamcicle) and their «avocado» drink which was espresso poured over pistachio ice cream. These crazy and delightful concoctions will have me coming back here for sure. And I do have to mention that the barista was NICE. As the coffee industry grows in KC, I’m noticing more and more of the uppity, hipster, handlebar mustache, look-​at-​me-​I-​work-​in-​a-​swanky-​coffee-​shop, I-can’t-believe-you-just-asked-for-a-mocha attitude. Not here. At least not my barista. Two thumbs up.
On a purely practical note, I’ll add that there is decent seating and every spot has access to an outlet. Belle touché!

I think this is the best coffee establishment that I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience. Their baristas are trained with superior knowledge of all the brewing methods and are quite friendly. Shout out to Cohen specifically – he was very friendly and hospitable.
Best cold brew I’ve ever had.

The introduction to their new nitro cold brew sent me over the top during the recent Caffeine Crawl.
I have been by here a couple of times before and enjoyed each pour over. I can only speak from the Ethiopian experience but it is damn fine. It is definitely well worth the wait for a perfect pour over.
If you like stout beer; you’re going to like the nitro cold brew. It has plenty of flavor without tasting watered down. I love cold brews, which there are a plenty around town to choose from, but adding the nitro to it just kicks it up.
All the guys who have helped me have been friendly and want to talk about their product. There isn’t any attitude at this shop. Oh yeah, there is outdoor signage. Now, stop by and give Second Best a try.

The barista was awesome!
Second best coffee is for people who take their coffee very seriously. Each cup is prepared individually and they have several different roasts for you to choose from.
I sampled the Ethiopian coffee while visiting. It was fantastic! Rarely have I had a better-​prepared cup of coffee in Kansas City.
The cup was very well balanced and presented the bean very well. I also discovered a unique brewing device called the «Cleaver.» I’ll be purchasing one of these down the road for at home brewing.
I’m can’t recommend this place enough!

No stars for the review just yet. I gave it two because I have to give it something. It will move up or down. I have been here twice but yet to try the coffee. It seems to be a fantastic place. Two things it absolutely needs are more baristas and better signage.
Do not expect to walk in, grab a cup of coffee and go to work. This place makes coffee one cup at a time by hand. Both times I went in and there were multiple people in line and the person ordering coffee was ordering multiple drinks. That is fantastic for the quality of coffee but not fantastic for being able to scale to meet the demand of good coffee.
Hopefully the next time I go I will have enough time to both wait in line and enjoy the coffee.

Second Best Coffee — from the moment we found out you existed, we loved your name. But coming from a household with one hard core coffee drinker + a former coffee drinker (who refrains due to an intolerance ;NOT by choice), we LOVE this place for way more than the name.
This place is tucked away in the corner of a strip mall in south Waldo. Neighbors include a liquor store, tavern, Mexican restaurant, and Vet Clinic. It is unassuming as ever. But once you enter, and have the experience, IMO it can transport you to another location (not just one that doesn’t exist in a strip mall — but a place that to me resembles places I have sipped caffeine in Portland, Chicago, and Minneapolis). It has it’s own feel and character, and a lot of pride.
These folks are there to serve you THE best beans they can get their hands on. They do cuppings every week to help share the love of their findings in the coffee world, too.
For those who may not be huge into coffee, they do offer Hugo Tea, MO made chocolates, and a small menu of food items (always check on social media first & know that it is a «while supplies last» type of thing).
The space is cozy, with natural light coming in. The service is excellent. As someone who can no longer drink my beloved coffee, I have been perfectly happy with my tea and almond milk varieties. They make a few house made syrups. I have enjoyed some steamers made with their almond milk (also made in house). Perfect to satisfy my need for a hot beverage. If I’m needing a kick, I can just incorporate some local Hugo Tea.
I am so thrilled to have a place like this in Kansas City. I highly recommend following them on Instagram to stay abreast of what they have to offer on any given day. I drink the coffee vicariously through my significant other. And he assures me that Second Best would meet my own very high expectations for coffee.

Coffee brewed like it should be, If you have the time which most of us don’t. This is not the normal in & out coffee shop. Each cup of coffee is brewed to order and takes about 5 minutes for a 12 oz. cup. They grind and brew it right in front of you so you get to experience the whole process. Perfect if you are very particular about your coffee. They offer different coffee beans from around the world that you choose from the bar when you order. Don’t be intimidated and ask about each one and tell them your preference so they can get the right one for you.
Don’t worry they offer a full range of the fun espresso drinks with house made syrups and flavors.
Food– burritos, muffins and scones. Had a blueberry muffin which was good. Burritos look good too.
Try Second Best when you have a extra second and want to really enjoy your cup of coffee instead of guzzling it down in the car. You won’t regret it and it might make your day even better.

Add Second Best Coffee to the list of exciting small batch coffee operations gaining a foothold around the Metro. This über-​hip (ster) coffee joint serves up some wicked good joe and eats (meats provided by Local Pig).
You really can’t go wrong with your choice of six or seven pour over options which is complimented by a full espresso bar with really tasty options. Like other similar coffee shops, expect to pay a little more and wait a little longer than you would at a «push you through the line in a hurry» shop. It’s worth the extra time and dime to enjoy a freshly poured cup of joe or expertly prepared latte or cappuccino.
Seating is at a premium here — some big tables for six and a couple smaller tables for singles or duos, but they fill up quickly. There’s also some bar seating and window spots.
85^th and Wornall doesn’t easily lend itself to this kind of coffee shop. A liquor store to the west and a Chinese foot massage place to the east flank this SOKC gem. Don’t be scared away by the location. Second Best is second to none.

I like the name Second Best Coffee. To me, it’s paying homage to the good coffee scene that has lit up Kansas City and a self-​admittance of being the new kid on the block.
So this place is really cool despite being nearly impossible to find. They have a cool orange logo on their window, but in this specific strip mall (northeast corner of 85^th and Wornall) all the businesses have awning signs except for Second Best.
Once you get in, the place holds a relaxing atmosphere and is surrounded by wood paneled walls and bike-​centric everything. There are bike racks, murals and even a frame or two mounted throughout.
The pour over coffee is really delicious and there are also Local Pig breakfast burritos, which (obviously) are really good.
If this spot were a bit closer to home or near more activity I would see going to it often, but now it’s a fun place to branch out to with delicious coffee.

To be honest, I hesitate as I write this review, just because I don’t want people to find out about this place. The true coffee snob comes out.
Although I had trouble finding the place at first (no huge sign to be seen from the road), I overheard that they were soon going to get one. In the meantime, just look for the foot spa/​massage sign, which is right next door.
I decided to spend the whole day at the shop to get the full experience of the place.
I definitely dug the simplicity of the décor and the general ambience – dark reclaimed wood, with the chic modern furniture, and the white tiles behind the counter. The menu and tiled wall reminded me somewhat of a diner. With the shop’s logo (Native American-​like eagle) and the succulent plants scattered throughout the shop, I felt like I’d been transported out Westward to Arizona. But just when I thought I was stuck in the desert, some underground and old school hip-​hop filled the room, and suddenly, I’m back in So. Cal. I have yet to hear this kind of music outside the comfort of my own home. So hearing some Warren G., Pharcyde, and Fugees gave me a great amount of nostalgia, which I whole-​heartedly enjoyed. The owner, Nathan, seems to be a fan of this music. So if you get there early enough when Nathan is still there, you will get a good dose of old school and underground hip-​hop.
The barista, Phil, helped me choose a blend – their Ruby’s Brazilian roast, which was one of the best Brazilian blends I’ve ever had! All smooth, and not too acidic and bitter. The maple-​kissed almond scone was decent. I tried a Jiffy blueberry muffin as well, in which the blueberries literally made up 75% of the muffin. And I LOVE blueberries, definitely my favorite fruit, so that was a treat, though the muffin could be a little more sweeter. This is perhaps the only coffee shop I’ve seen in KC that sells the Asian snack, Pocky. I was truly taken aback. However, not too sure why they charge $ 3 for something you can easily find at an Oriental supermarket for about $ 1. Quite the margin there.
Phil then brought me my drink on a cute aluminum tray – A for presentation. The 8-​ounce mason jars they had for water were also super cute.
My one tiny bone to pick was their bathroom toilet, which could use some cleaning. I do value clean bathrooms, guys.
The entire time I was there, Nathan and Phil were all work and business, with little to no downtime. If they’re not making drinks, they’re prepping food, chopping veggies, or baking pastries. I love seeing good work ethic.
Overall, my experience was awesome – from the coffee to the customer service to even the music. If ever I need to get my underground and old school hip-​hop fill and indulge in some delicious coffee, this place is it!