Photos courtesy of Monarch Cafe, the Roasterie, Martin City Coffee, Messenger Coffee, and Vested Coffee
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: seasonal coffee shop drink menus are here! To get into the spirit, I rounded up the most festive holiday drinks around Kansas City. What will it be first: a spicy gingerbread latte? A festive Candy Cane Forest Mocha? A Butterbeer latte? Better get started now—so many drinks, so little time. Happy sipping!
Messenger Coffee Co. / Black Dog Coffeehouse:
Saturnalia – A traditional latte flavored with house-made syrup made from dates, almonds, and oranges.
Pepper & Mint Mocha – A rich mocha made with Christopher Elbow dark chocolate, serrano peppers, and fresh mint.
Holiday House Soda – Italian soda made with Messenger cold brew, pomegranate, and local honey.
Charlie Brown (Messenger Grand only) – Messenger espresso with a Guinness reduction chocolate mousse and garnished with a rosemary sprig.
*Filling Station Coffee is also serving the Saturnalia and Pepper & Mint Mocha!
Candy Cane Forest Mocha – Emissary espresso with milk, white chocolate, and peppermint, served with a smoked rosemary garnish in a white chocolate– and peppermint candy–rimmed hobstar glass. Hot or iced.
The Alexandria – Emissary flash brew mixed with cranberry, star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, and aromatic bitters, served chilled in a coupe glass with a coffee-soaked cocktail cherry garnish.
Eggnog Holiday Draft Latte – Emissary flash brew and eggnog charged with nitrogen and topped with nutmeg. Served cold.
The Dude Abides – Emissary espresso with cream, toasted walnut spice syrup, and applewood smoke, served over ice in a 6 oz. rocks glass.
Queen’s Pawn – Emissary espresso with steamed Oreo milk, cheesecake syrup, and topped with Oreo crumbles, served hot in a 6 oz. cup.
Smoked & Spiced Cider – Louisburg Honeycrisp apple cider with spiced orange oleo-saccharum and applewood smoke, served hot and dusted with cinnamon.
Phoenix Down – A 10 oz. ginger shot topped with cayenne.
Raspberry Fig Nutmeg Shrub Soda – A vinegar shrub made with raspberry, fig, and nutmeg and mixed with sparkling water. Served iced.
Gingerbread Cookie Latte – A traditional latte flavored with ginger, clove, and a sweet bite of molasses.
White Peppermint Mocha – A mixture of Ghirardelli white chocolate, peppermint, and mocha topped with whipped cream.
Eggnog Latte – A traditional latte flavored with creamy eggnog and sprinkled with nutmeg.
Spiced Cranberry Cider – Louisburg Cider Mill cider combined with warm spices, cranberry sauce, and orange juice.
She Sleighs – Espresso, milk, and brown sugar poached pear with vanilla and winter spices.
Winter Fog – Peppermint tea with house-made mocha topped with steamed milk and cocoa powder.
Oh Snap! – Espresso and milk with gingersnap sauce and topped with a gluten-free gingersnap by @fooddrunk.
She’s Spicy – Espresso and milk spiced with orange zest, honey, cayenne, and ginger.
Baby It’s Chai Outside – Cranberry orange and ginger spiced chai tea latte garnished with cocoa powder and fresh orange zest.
Snowcapped Cold Brew – Spiced nitro cold brew topped with a mountain of pear poached cold foam and garnished with fresh rosemary.
Butterbeer Latte – Espresso and rich eggnog sprinkled with cinnamon. Hot or iced.
Apple Fritter Latte – Espresso and milk mixed with spiced apple syrup made in house and topped with a caramel drizzle. Hot or iced.
Eggnog Chai and Latte – Espresso or spiced chai with rich eggnog. Hot or iced.
Apple Cider – Hot or iced apple cider made in house and topped with a caramel drizzle.
Pumpkin Butternut Spice Latte – Puréed pumpkin and butternut squash with espresso and steamed milk.
Mexican Chile Mocha – Ghirardelli dark chocolate with a subtle spicy/sweet syrup, espresso, and steamed milk.
Wintermint Mocha – Dark or white Ghirardelli chocolate with subtle mint flavor, espresso, and steamed milk.
Wintermint Hot Chocolate – Dark and white Ghirardelli chocolate with subtle mint flavor and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream.
Frigid Grinch – Matcha and oat milk with subtle mint flavor, served over ice (tastes like melted mint ice cream!).
Bourbon Brown Sugar Latte – Espresso and steamed milk with house-made whiskey and vanilla syrup.
Gingerbread Latte or Chai – Espresso or spiced chai and steamed milk with house-made ginger, cinnamon, clove, and allspice syrup.
Hazelnut Latte or Chai – Espresso or spiced chai and steamed milk with house-made hazelnut and vanilla syrups.
Peppermint Mocha – Espresso and steamed milk with house-made mint and dark chocolate syrups.
If hip and sleek is your coffeeshop jam, then Messenger has you covered. Their Crossroads café is hyper-cool and modern — think clean white palette, chic minimalist furniture, soaring ceilings, and lots of light. The décor is unfailingly hip. As an added bonus, there’s an open kitchen with views into the bakery and coffee roasting areas (so you know both your croissant and your java are fresh and homemade). And unlike many coffeeshops, there’s plenty of space and seating here, in the bustling first floor area or upstairs in one of the more studious enclaves. There’s even a much-Instagrammed rooftop patio with amazing views of the downtown KC skyline. The only downside to this is that it sometimes gets a bit loud — it’s never not been busy when I’m there — though there’s enough room that you can usually find a private corner.
