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Welcome to Second Best Coffee

At Second Best Coffee, we believe in crafting an inclusive coffee experience that celebrates community and quality. Nestled in the heart of Kansas City, our café thrives on providing exceptional beverages, from seasonal delights like the Key Lime Pie Espresso to classic favorites like the iced latte. Our homemade syrups and delicious pastries, including renowned scones, capture the essence of comfort and flavor. Customers rave about our warm, welcoming atmosphere and ample seating, making it the perfect spot to unwind or work. Join us at 328 W 85th St, where we delight in serving the best coffee with a smile—always.

LOCATIONS

Welcome to the vibrant world of Second Best Coffee, a gem nestled at 328 W 85th St, Kansas City, MO. While the name may suggest a playful modesty, the offerings within this cozy café tell a different story. With a thriving atmosphere that encourages community and creativity, Second Best Coffee is anything but second-rate.

This beloved coffee shop proudly bridges the gap between quality and ambiance. From the moment you step inside, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee welcomes you, hinting at the exceptional menu that awaits. Your taste buds will be treated to a variety of seasonal specials—crafted with care and innovative flair, they connect richly with the essence of summer and spring.

  • Spring Specials: Highlights include the refreshing Swim up Bar, a delightful mix of coconut milk, water, and Ethiopian natural espresso, rimmed with dehydrated strawberries for a tantalizing touch. At just $6.50, you also shouldn't miss the Key Lime Pie for a zesty twist at $5.50.
  • Summer Specials: Indulge in the Taco Tuesday drink featuring jalapeno, cilantro, and lime, harmoniously blended with prototype espresso and ginger beer, a perfect summer sip at only $5.50.

What really sets Second Best Coffee apart, however, are the stories woven by its patrons. Customers rave about the warm, inviting atmosphere—a haven for both remote work and casual meet-ups. One visitor, Toni G., remarked, "Great place to work and make new friends. All are welcome here," capturing the true essence of community that permeates every corner of the café. Another customer, Sarah G., noted that it has carved out a special niche among Kansas City’s coffee elites, appreciating its blend of charm and reliability.

The food here is equally commendable. From scrumptious gluten-free options to satisfy your cravings to their homemade scones—warm and inviting, just like the staff's warm smiles—the menu is crafted with inclusivity and love. Customer reviews often highlight the breakfast burritos as a must-try, further solidifying Second Best’s commitment to quality.

While you indulge in expertly blended espressos and locally-sourced pastries, you can also immerse yourself in a vibrant, artsy environment. Plenty of seating means that whether you're there to unwind with a book or catch up on work, there’s a corner just for you. Those seeking a quick bite will find that the balance of flavor and quality in every dish holds up the café's reputation as one of the best in Kansas City.

In a world where coffee shops can often feel overly pretentious, Second Best Coffee stands out with its welcoming vibe, fun decor, and unwavering commitment to quality. It’s a space that not only serves delightful beverages and satisfying food but also fosters community connections, making it a top contender worthy of your next coffee adventure!

So come 'brew' some memories at Second Best Coffee: where every sip feels like first place.

START YOUR REVIEW OF Second Best Coffee
Toni G.
Toni G.

I don't care what the name says, the coffee and treats (so many yummy GF options too), sweetheart staff, and overall vibe is THE BEST. Great place to work and make new friends. All are welcome here.

Carson B.
Carson B.

New to the Waldo area so tried this spot out as my first new coffee spot in the neighborhood. The service is kind and prompt, the decoration and the overall space is really nice with lots of seating options as well for if you want to lounge with a book or change up your work set up for a couple of hours. The coffee itself was excellent. Both times I got an iced latte and it had the perfect balance of espresso to the flavors of the milk/ syrup that I wanted. I did one time get the honey badger and it was something I fell in love with. Was an awesome latte and one I hope to get again soon.

David L.
David L.

I stopped in here between clients to do some work and grabbed a hot chia. Since I was staying there it came in a huge cup. Flavors were good and temp was hot but not where I had to wait for hours to cool down. The coffee shop had a steady flow of people but there were plenty of places to sit and work. I ordered a burrito which was a good size and flavor.

Sari C.
Sari C.

Visited this local spot for the first time in a long time! It was packed when we went on a Saturday morning. I ordered a nonfat latte and my husband ordered cold brew and a breakfast burrito. The burrito was delicious! We both enjoyed our coffee and the overall vibe of the place. I love how inclusive they are. We've definitely gone back a couple of times since to grab coffee or a burrito on the go.

Mercy W.
Mercy W.

OK absolutely five stars best coffee I've had in Kansas City. I love the homemade syrups. I'm a scone fanatic and this place actually knows how to make scones. They have the right crumble on the edge even though the frosting is a little over sweep I'm sure most people prefer it like that, but the texture of the scone itself is fantastic and it was warm out of the oven when I got here.. staff was not overly welcoming when I walked in. No one looked up and smiled, and the energy felt a bit heavy but once I got in and started talking to the girl at the counter, she warmed right up and I'm guessing the guy who is the manager also came out and started talking so reasonable customer customer service super awesome coffee and reasonably good scones definitely worth a check out if you're really into high-quality ingredients

Natalie G.
Natalie G.

This is a lovely coffee spot in Waldo! There's plenty of seating inside to enjoy your drink and food. They offer a wide range of coffee drinks and breakfast items. The service is always incredibly friendly. I would definitely recommend Second Best Coffee as a great coffee spot in KC!

Howard K.
Howard K.

It's 7 am and hot Blueberry Lemon Scone with a glaze just came out of the oven and is resting on the counter next to the register. You pretty much have to try one. The scone is delicious. I tend to ignore scones because I feel like they are a bit dry. This was still warm so it was moist in the center with a nice crunch on the edges. The blueberry and lemon flavors are equal and compliment each other perfect! Pour over Mexico Cerro Azul. This one was recommended as being a bit funky. It's awesome. I feel like there is flavors of cherry and bourbon. It is smooth and lightly roasted. I highly recommend! Decaf- this is what I drink daily and it was only available as an Americano. This is a light roast coffee with smooth flavor and great taste. The staff is friendly and spent time talking with a local person who seemed to be down on their luck. Also plenty of room for working or gathering with friends. Overall great experience.

Cheri M.
Cheri M.

I'm always on the lookout for a good coffee shop. Stopped in with a friend after lunch. Cute place. Fast service. I ordered a decaf iced vanilla latte with oat milk. She ordered a caramel macchiato. My coffee was very good. I prefer rich, medium to dark roast, which it was. This is the second coffee place I've been to that does not have any sugar-free syrups. I'm diabetic so I prefer to not have full sugar so I just had half the syrup. That was fine. It was excellent coffee. They also have pastries and quite a few flavors of chocolate bars. I will definitely be back if I'm in the area.

Sarah G.
Sarah G.

I'm a fan of Second Best Coffee. No longer a newbie, Second Best has really carved out a space for itself amongst the creme de la creme of cafes in KC. What do I like about this spot? I love that it's not in an overly pretentious area, that it has ample seating, and that the drinks are reliably good. If anything it can be a bit hipster inside, but you know, it IS a coffee shop so that is somewhat to be expected. Overall I love this place for working and grabbing a really delicious craft coffee beverage.

Adam S.
Adam S.

I've always enjoyed this coffee shop, from their bike theme to their tasty pour-overs, and often friendly vibes in the shop. The past few times, it hasn't been quite what I remembered where the vibes are a bit more.. serious? But it's still a good place for getting work done and meetings, and I enjoy the natural light that pours in from the windows. The coffee can really hit and be incredible, or it can wobble down to being average. My latest pour-over didn't have a lot of taste and was just OK, as was a nitro cold brew that was flat. It's still a fun local coffee shop, and one to seek out even if it's tucked away a bit. In fact, that's maybe part of the charm of it -- so many coffee shops have a primo or super convenient location and this one earns it's large following based on the experience and coffee itself. In addition to black coffee, I've had some wonderful iced lattes that were seasonal specialties here. I hope to catch some energizing and fun vibes on my next trip in like I used to here, and overall would recommend it as a spot to check out if you're in Waldo.