I’ve been doing a little tour of Macchiato makers in my little area of Kansas City. So far, in order of preference, I’ve been to:

1. Room 39
2. Cupini’s
3. Cafe &
4. Latte Land
5. Hi Hat
6. Starbucks
7. Jazzman’s Cafe
8. Roasterie Cafe

Room 39 is my favorite and is just a quick walk from work. Plus, it’s not every day that I get a Penguin Rosette. Great food, great coffee, nice people, what’s not to like?

My main criteria are that the place makes a good Macchiato and that the baristas be friendly. If you don’t have good service then I could give a damn about what you’re slinging behind the counter, which is why, surprisingly, I won’t be back to  the Roasterie Cafe any time soon. It’s too bad, I actually like the coffee, but I’ve been there a five or so time over the last couple years and have never felt welcome. I went yesterday carrying Zoey and she got nary a look or a comment. Perhaps my parental bias is kicking in here, but my daughter is FREAKING ADORABLE and you can kiss my ass if you can’t even give her a smile.

Cupini’s surprised me because I’ve lived her for a while now and just now got around to ordering a drink from them. It was surprisingly delicious and the micro foam was really well done and not too dirty. Latte Land makes a consitently good Macchiato, they are friendly, though perhaps on the low end of the scale, but I’ve found the chains to be pretty consistent as far as the quality of the corporate character.

Cafe & is great, may not make the best cup in town, but I feel more welcome here than anywhere else. I can’t wait for the new shop to open, right across the street from the old location, one block from my house. Eddie Delahunt has got to be the nicest proprieter and best host around.

I like the people at Hi Hat too, but the coffee isn’t really the style I like and always seems a little bitter. My Dad likes it though, so I guess they are doing something right. They are very nice though, and always take the time to chat a bit with every customer.

Jazzman’s makes terrible coffee, no getting around it. They’re in the hospital though so I’m captive I’m in a hurry or if the weather’s bad. They’re pretty nice to me though and they have pretty tasty food and packaged sushi, so it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s a Starbuck’s in the hospital too, but they’re already closed by the time I’m ready for my afternoon stop.

I have many more places to try out as I expand my tasting radius, feel free to offer any suggestions in the comments too.