Kaldi's Coffee — KC Power & Light District

If you find yourself kicking around downtown Kansas City, Mo, specifically in the Power & Light District, head over to 12th and Main for a well-located, comfortable place to meet with friends for a cup of joe. This Kaldi’s Coffee is one of about a dozen locations throughout the area. 

On my first visit to KC, I found myself with a few hours free to explore the area around the hotel until my next meeting and discovered this centrally located coffee-house right along KC’s free streetcar line. Upon walking into the store, I was greeted by the smell of roasted coffee beans and the background music of coffeehouse acoustic, occasionally drowned out by the sound of a coffee grinder and a milk steamer from behind the bar.

There are lots of seating options throughout the store with numerous plugs for those who plan on camping out a while with their computers. The free wifi in the store is nice, as is the free public wifi you can find all around the downtown area. On my visit, the Kaldi’s wifi was somewhat slow, so I connected to the KC free public wifi, which seemed much faster.

The store has high ceilings and lots of tables in front of sprawling windows, which make for good people-watching. I sat by the window with my dirty chocolate chai and a ham and cheese croissant, which were both excellent. The staff is warm and friendly, and the place has a nice feel. It feels somewhat between what you might get from a Starbucks and that of a local, solo, independent coffeehouse.

If you’re nearby and looking for a nice third place, it’s definitely worth a visit to have a drink, chat with a friend, or read a book. Read more about Kaldi’s company, their products, and their history here.

Have you been to Kaldi’s? Tell us about your visit in the comments below.