Snuggled in the middle of the United States in a small town called Topeka, I had my thus-far favorite cup of coffee. Continue to read if you would be interested in having an incredible cup as well. Our coffee tour continued from Los Angeles for my husband Denny’s business. Denny and I traveled half way to our desert home when Jimmy died transporting our baby, Arnold (a hundred pound German shepherd). Before our car adventures, Denny and I did a coffee pilgrimage through a few coffee shops in the Kansas City area. On our short trip we met an artistic coffee owner, an experienced coffee taster and a coffee roaster owner. There was a lot of coffee connoisseurs and lots of coffee that was had by my pallet within a few short hours.
1) Oddly Correct
Directions: 3940 Main St, KCMO
Hours: 7-3 Mon-Sat
This shop is located in downtown Kansas City. You can park your tin mobile for free in the parking lot behind it. Oddly Correct serves origin coffee, “oddly” to the typical Starbucks consumer they don’t serve sugary desserts. Don’t expect a sugar blast but a smooth light healthy roasted coffee spring. This coffee doesn’t need a coverup. The owner Geggory is not only a store owner but an artist that enhances his shop with his letter-pressing art. You can expect to enjoy a cup of mojo in this earthy urban city atmosphere.
The owner is in the background of this picture. 
This print will be proudly hung in Denny’s coffee lab. 
2) The Roasterie: Air-Roasted Coffee
Directions: 1204 W 27th Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-5pm Saturday 8:30am-1:30pm
This shop is difficult to miss with it’s massive airplane perched on it’s building. The Roasterie is decorated in a modern style. They have two glass rooms where you can observe coffee masters at work: a cupping and a large roasting room. 
While I was standing outside the cupping room I saw a man over a silver tin bucket spitting out short fountain burst of coffee. He welcomed me into the room. He turned out to be the master cupper for The Roasterie, Norman. I introduced Norman to Denny and shortly after Denny was mimicking the porpoise spitting act. Denny was in his element. Norman has 45 years of wisdom in the coffee industry. This man needs to be interviewed; we anticipate he has a wealth of knowledge. He started as a janitor and worked his way to being the expert cupper for this company. Norman gave us a mini tour in the coffee roasting room. Fresh bean aromas surrounded my senses. I recommend you take The Roasterie’s free factory tours that are offered Mon-Sat at 10am. 
3) P.T.’s Coffee
Directions: 17th & Washburn in Topeka, Kansas, next to Washburn University
Hours: M-Th: 6:30 am – 9 pm
F: 6:30 am – 10 pm
Sa: 7 am – 10 pm
Su: 7 am – 7 pm
An incredible coffee shop with fresh roasted beans nestled in a small town called Topeka. The shop, coffee and barista are amazing. Denny had a cup of coffee that tasted like strawberries dipped in chocolate coffee in your mouth. I promise, it was a really tasteful treat. I had a chef’s salad that tasted delightfully fresh. They also have a paleo bacon wrapped hard boiled egg snack for $1.50. Denny and I made perfect timing and met the owner of the shop who invited us to the roasting headquarters. Stay tune to see the behind the scenes on a future post.
10,000 Smiles
10,000 Smiles is a photography project that I am doing for the year 2013. Read more about why I am doing this project.
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