Crows Coffee

UMKC-​adjacent. They seem to do it all correctly. Good hipster/​college hang-​out atmosphere.

The heater went out in my house and I needed to get some office work done so off I went, in search of a new hangout where I could get a snack, wifi, and some heat.
I arrived about 15 after 11 and this place was packed. Luckily I managed to snag a stool in the far corner facing the window. I ordered a strawberry pop tart (which changed my life) and a warm cup for tea. As I started working on my laptop, the sun came through the window and I A) wished I had brought sunglasses B) was happy the foundation I wore today contained sunscreen and C) giggled at the irony of sweating in a coffee shop where I came to avoid freezing in my home.
All in all I had a great experience and I definitely can’t blame the place for being popular enough that I ended up on the stepchild bench.

As a student, I go to many coffee shops to study and I spend long hours there. Crows by far has the friendliest workers! It is my favorite coffee shop and I would spend more hours there if it stayed open later. (Even if they stayed open later during finals week, that would be amazing). Their coffee is phenomenal – their mocha has ruined mochas for me because everywhere else that I go is not up to par. I love the atmosphere and easy going attitude

Got a Xtra dry cappuccino in here and they nailed it. Nice foam and plenty of kick! Place has a nice vibe to it with friendly staff. Reminds me of college days.
The interior décor is quite nicely appointed and I wish I could have spent more time here. Adieu – l be back.

It’s probably about time I review Crows, seeing as it’s far and away my most visited spot in KC, and I’ll probably be the Duke for the foreseeable future. Crows does everything right for a coffee shop. Let me count the ways:
1. Location — Being on 51^st and Brookside, next to the UMKC campus and a hop away from the Plaza, makes Crows a prime location for students and people like me (aka those who work around the Plaza). Even if the shop wasn’t on my way to work, I’d probably still swing by for the reasons below. Plus, they’re open until 9 pm, so I can get my late-​evening coffee drank on if necessary.
2. Ambiance — With all of the students in the area, Crows makes for a fairly zen place to study, write, or read by yourself while still being conducive to hanging out and having a conversation with friends. There’s great natural light with a spiffy long countertop next to the windows. The space is always bright, energetic, and full of people engaged in academic or business conversations/​endeavors.
3. Staff — The owner, Zach, is frequently in the shop slinging beverages or getting stuff done, and he always seems sincerely grateful toward every customer I’ve seen him interact with. The rest of the staff is unpretentious, friendly, fun to have a conversation with, knowledgeable, and always efficiently makes some kick ass beverages. Also, whoever is running the tunes has great taste.
4. Speaking of said beverages — Crows consistently has the best version of whatever latte du jour happens to be going on for the season. Both their pumpkin spice and eggnog lattes (syrups made from organic ingredients in house!) were superior to other versions throughout town. Their chai, both of the chocolate and regular varieties, hot or iced, is bomb. There are probably better cups of black coffee in town, but Messenger is pretty legit, and I’ve never had a bad batch pour. The cortado/​gibraltar (my go-​to classic espresso beverage) is fantastic, as well.
5. The Food — Crows knows that nothing goes better with coffee than a fresh pastry, and they’ve partnered with a bunch of local favorites to put their carb-​game on lock. Scratch, Baked in KC, and McClain’s are always represented (do your taste buds a favor and have them warm up a Scratch cinnamon roll). And if you don’t mind being a day late, you won’t be a dollar short… because anything that doesn’t get purchased for the day gets put on half-​price the next morning.
It may not be the most technically serious coffee shop in town, but Crows knows what it’s trying to be and executes flawlessly. What makes it 5 stars for me, though? From the time I leave for work in the morning until the time I get home, Crows is the best part of my day, and I couldn’t ask for anything more out my go-​to coffee shop than that.

Great coffee, and a nice atmosphere to sit and do hours of work. Ordered the cappuccino with almond milk and stevia (brought my own, and they were happy to make it with).
Just ordered the chocolate chai… F*CK it’s good. Great job, guys!

Crows provided a good place for a small group meeting; they had a square table that was the perfect size and allowed everybody to sit close enough to hear everything. There was cool music in the background, but not so loud as to be distracting, and the wifi works great.
I’ve never been in at a time when I wanted coffee, but their plain iced tea is dynamite-​strong but not bitter. I bought a homemade pop tart to go one time, tossed it on the passenger seat and forgot about it til the next day. It was still fresh, flaky, and fantastic! A great addition to the UMKC neighborhood.

I adore crows.
Lately, I have been addicted to their cappuccinos. When I drink one, it feels like a nice hug from an old friend. Very healing, AND good mouth-​feel, which is so much of a plus, I can’t even stand it.
In addition to their wonderful cappuccinos, the staff is incredibly nice, they have GREAT baked goods, and the vibe is spectacular. It is well worth navigating the wacky construction right now to go in and chill out with a cuppa jo.
It is a great thing to find a great coffeeshop, so if you are looking, look no further! Crows it is!

There’s more to a killer coffee shop (or any business, for that matter) than just the coffee. The folks behind it have to be attentive — they have to listen — and they have to care about what folks want and don’t want.
These guys get it. By a mile and a half.
The shop is off the UMKC campus, in a strip mall about to face a ginormous Whole Foods store. The coffee selection is enough — not too much and certainly not too exotic — but still diverse enough to offer a good pumpkin spice latte if you want one. Wifi is free, outlets are plentiful, music is good, the chairs are comfy, and the staff is quite pleasant.
But, there’s that listening thing. Last visit, in the middle of the fall sports season, I noticed Royals and Chiefs banners hanging on the wall, and jokingly mentioned on Twitter that the wall looked bare without a Sporting KC banner of some sort. Two weeks later, I pop in, and there’s one on the wall. Did they have to do that? Heck no. Did it get noticed? Absolutely. And that’s why these folks get a 5-​star rating.

Honestly, there’s nothing better than a delicious cup of coffee in a cozy little atmosphere! Crows is obviously where all the college kids (like myself) hang out. And why wouldn’t we? It’s right on my way to my 8am class!
The coffee is delicious; way better than Starbucks, the staff is very pleasant, and the place is cleaner than I’ve seen other coffee houses! The bathroom, which this is weird to say, is so cool too! I’m just going to say-​check it out before you leave!
I love crows, this will always be my go to coffee spot!

Among the plethora of coffee shops in the South Plaza neighborhood is Crow’s Coffee. This café opened in July 2014 and is approaching its one year anniversary!
The owner Zach is very friendly and customer-​oriented. He remembers people and will go out of his way to remedy any «issues» (such as, long wait times for drinks because I decided to wait for Sulawesi to brew). The baristas are friendly, too. Overall, a very positive staff!
The espresso is good… but I condo r the black coffee! If I’m in a rush, whatever is already brewed is good for me. Today, the Ecuador was spot on! But if I’m able to wait and am feeling fancy, a v60 pour-​over is well worth the wait. Anywhere you go with a brew bar, I suggest you get a pour-​over; it’s the most delicious, hand-​crafted cup of black coffee you’ll get. And you’ll feel really cool, because only people who love coffee and understand the brewing process tend to get brew bar :)
I haven’t personally tried it, but my friends are OBSESSED with the Chocolate Chai. The pastries are good, from Le Monde (I think) and those addictive granola bars from Chelsea’s Bakehaus. They also sell Kind Bars and fresh fruit. Lots of good options!
The trick is to get here at the right time. It varies with the time of day and time of year, but this place can get jam-​packed with students, occupying tables for hours to study for exams. But if you go in the morning, it’s usually okay! Good coffee in a very convenient place.

A quick update: This place is awesome. The staff is always nice, the music is good as background music but is not overwhelming, and I love the feel inside with all the natural light pouring in.
Also, the pastries and muffins are top-​notch. They have an almond poppyseed muffin that and blueberry muffin that are near perfection.
I think I’m going to be spending a lot of time here!

Delicious coffee, jasmine tea and good prices! They have plenty of tables, a bar stool area, and also a couch. A lot of crow props around the joint and nicely decorated, very cute. I also enjoy some of the cushioned seats they have at the table, makes it easier to study longer lol. You have to be a paying customer to use their wifi which is a great idea!
Only complaint I have is the one customer who takes up a table of four when there are single table tops available, pretty sure your backpack and books don’t need all that table space but that’s not Crow’s fault! Be more mindful folks sheesh.