With Day One of the Kansas City Caffeine Crawl under our belts (and, surprisingly, a good night’s sleep tucked in there somewhere too), Amber and I set off for Day Two of our coffee adventures, this time with her husband and his friend in tow.
Another seven coffee stops? Bring it on.
Day Two started at About The Coffee, where we were shown how to roast and cool coffee beans using “standard household objects” like a popcorn popper and vacuum cleaner.
Now, look. Yes, a vacuum cleaner is pretty standard, and perhaps one day I will find myself pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen with a giftwrapped Dyson on the bench for my birthday. But a popcorn popper? I don’t know a single person in Australia who even owns a popcorn popper, let alone would call it a standard household item.
Oh, ‘muricah.
Obligatory “Hi Amber!” photo. Hi Amber!
Stop two was The Roasterie, which had recently installed an honest-to-goodness airplane above its production factory. Why? Don’t ask me. Boys and their toys and all that.
Wheeeee, lookee all the coffee! We tried three different beans (made into coffee, of course) at The Roasterie, and I became even more certain than I prefer earthy to tangy coffee. More importantly, however, I worked on perfecting my impression of how a coffee bean must feel when it realises it’s about to be roasted.
At The Filling Station, I discovered that my newfound ability to drink radioactively-pink shots doesn’t mean I can swallow coffee whiskey without wanting to gag. Lesson learned.
Coffee chocolate cupcakes were also on offer at The Filling Station, but they weren’t really my thing. I don’t love American-style frosting; it’s just too… much. Too sweet, too much.
What was not too much, but instead rather perfect, was Mud Pie Vegan Bakery and Coffeehouse. This was the greatest of all the stops oh yes indeedy yes yes. Not only did Mud Pie give us multiple lattes and chais made with soy, almond, cashew, and coconut milk…
…we were also treated to a plethora of sweet vegan deliciousness that made my heart shiver.
Ain’t no one a-gonna get between me and vegan peanut butter krispie slice, y’all!
That right there? That’s me, happy. So very, very happy (and a little crazed-lookin’).
I also tried the lemon bundt cake (not tangy enough for me, but I’ve come to expect Americans to over-sweeten everything), the vegan cheddar sausage scone, and the chocolate chip cookie. But nothing compared to the aforementioned peanut butter-y goodness.
At Quay Coffee we were taught how to make both nicely and badly brewed coffee in a Chemex, but I didn’t learn much as I was distracted by the barista who was clearly trying to flap his arms and fly away.
After this came a stop at Revocup Coffee Roasters where we tried several Ethiopian coffees. Sadly, my brain was confuzzled by this point and I didn’t take any photos. Our last cafe of the day was Lattéland Espresso & Tea, which served cups of espresso and little fig newtons. I, however, ended up wandering outside in a daze to sit in the sun like a lizard.
I only wish I’d smuggled out more Mud Pie Bakery goodies in my handbag to snack on like a lizard, too.
P.S. See Amber’s post on Day Two here.
Ummmm I hate to say it, but I am an Australian popcorn-popper owner. An ALDI popcorn-popper, at that.
I rarely eat popcorn, but I NEEDED it to ensure speedier preparation of my ridiculous caramel-nut-everything popcorn creations. Quicker it’s made, the quicker it’s in my face. NO SHAME.
FINE RUIN EVERYTHING WITH YOUR ADDICTION TO SCOURING ALDI’S SALES FLYERS AND BUYING ALL THE GADGETS.
I have THREE popcorn makers – one that is a yellow dinosaur called the “Pop-O-Saurus” and 2 other regular ones.
Also a waffle maker that looks like a penguin and makes penguin shaped waffles.
I was once seriously addicted to popcorn.
About a year before I left, I bought a bag of popcorn kernels and lots of brown paper bags with which to make popcorn in the microwave.
I gave it all to my parents when I left, untouched.
Hehe that’s so cute-you look so excited there! I wish I could drink more caffeine but I’m just above a child’s level I think
Funnily enough, I actually drank very little coffee that day. Perhaps not even the equivalent of one cup. Dessert was my focus
Actually I *do* have a friend in Adelaide who buys his coffee beans green and roasts them in a popcorn maker.
….I’ll have to tell him that he’s been ahead of his time for years!
GO HIM!! I must admit, it smelled amazing.
I am imagining your delight over the vegan peanut butter rice krispie slice, and it is making me smile
As, for that matter, does this whole post!
Part of the reason I was smiling so much is that just that morning, I’d said to Amber “the best thing in the world would be if someone made us peanut butter rice crispy treats”. I absolutely shrieked when we got to Mud Pie.
I love your blog! I stumbled across it yesterday and I was having so much fun reading prior posts. Thank you!
Oh Robin, thank you! You’ve made my night
Speaking of vegan treats, after reading about your Biscoff love in multiple internet places, I made sure to excitedly buy some last weekend when visiting a city large enough to stock it in the grocery store. So good!
I actually can’t stomach it anymore. After eating that second jar of the crunchy one in two nights in Austin, even the thought makes me feel nauseous. Oops.
Haha! I’ve never owned a popcorn popper if that makes you feel any better.
Though, Christopher has been talking about wanting to roast his own coffee beans and brought up the whole buying a popcorn popper thing. So who knows, I might have one around the house before you know it. 
As long as you buy it for coffee, that makes sense. Or doesn’t. I don’t know. You Americans are crazy but I love you.
This sounds awesome!! I haven’t heard of something like this…looks fun!
Oh I want to be standing there with the vegan bakery spread before me – that would have been my highlight seeing that I love plane installations and dysons far more than coffee. I would have been more impressed at the vegan cheese scones if I hadn’t made own batch this week – though I would be interested to know how the sausage was added – was it soft or crispy chunks?
Do you like chai tea? Then you would have loved the cashew milk chai, I’m sure. So rich and creamy and sweet and spicy! Hmm, my bites of the scone didn’t have crispy bits, but in truth I really just wanted the sweet things, so I passed that one along fairly quickly
And how does a coffee bean feel when it’s about to be roasted? Seriously though loved this and the write-up of Day 1. Truly fascinating and a wonderful insight into what is clearly an interesting American city, and one we haven’t yet been to.
Worried but also excited that it’s going to make someone in need of caffeine very happy, perhaps? Also crossing its fingers that it ends up in an espresso machine or a French Press, not a horrible drip coffee machine? That’s my guess, anyway.
Mmm I’ve never done a coffee trail in my life as I freak out if I drink too much coffee. But I love the Ethiopian procedure: green beans roasted over charcoal threaded with frankincense and myrrh, a lengthy aromatic hour. Then lovely tiny cups and chatter.
I was quite nervous, too, but I actually ended up drinking barely any coffee. Each stop was more about presentations and learning than actually drinking much! So it worked for me
Aaah caffeine I like it in everything except the drink
What a cool convention!
Cheers
CCU
Haha I thought that was a pic of the American equivalent of a Bunnings Warehouse and sacks of manure at first!
Dear heavens I hope not.
Ooh! Vegan cheddar cheese scone! That, and everything, looks amazing! Though all of that caffeine would absolutely kill me
It actually wouldn’t, because I ended up barely drinking much at all. Probably not even one whole cup of coffee over the whole day! It was pretty easy to take it easy on the caffeine.
Just when I thought you couldn’t get any cuter…I failed to consider how hilarious you would be on a caffeine high
*laughs and laughs*
I agree with you that Americans tend to over-sweeten everything. And those cupcakes – they look like there’s more frosting than cake. Now that’s a lot of coffees in one day – I bet you were buzzing! xx
It’s funny how everyone thinks we drank gallons of coffee at this thing…not at all!
Mud Pie was DEFINITELY the best stop. No question.
Oh my gosh, I know right? (That has to be said in a sorority-girl voice, of course.) I’ve given up on correcting people. Let’s just let ‘em think we drank our weight in caffeine
Mud Pie bakery – great name. Those coffee chocolate cupcakes do look so yum! But yes, v sweet. I think I’d just like some now, in my post-late night daze. coffee. cooofffffeeeeeeee.
Heidi xo
Coffee is magical! I’m drinking a fresh cup with almond milk right now. xo
That looks like way too much sugar and way too many faux coffee my lady
1. There is no such thing as too much sugar. (Actually, yes there is. Americans be cray-cray with their sweeteners.)
2. It’s funny how little coffee we actually drank! It made me think of your self-created coffee crawls in Melbourne, and how intense caffeinated you must be after those. Yep, I talked about you on this day! xoxo
We are clearly marching to the same drum this week – I just posted a link to Bach’s Coffee Cantata in my singing blog this morning… (catesings.org)
love
Catherine
My name is Louise, I’m an Australian, and I own a popcorn popper. I use it too! (Unlike my crepe maker) But wouldn’t be caught dead putting any coffee in it and wrecking the whole thing. It makes nice popcorn actually. I do a nice caramel corn. Maybe I’ll make some this week now I come to think of it.
Louise, one day, will you make me kettle corn? You know, just the lightly-salty-and-sweet one? Maybe with cinnamon? Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to make me popcorn with a peanut butter chocolate drizzle.
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