By Shelby Faulkner
Photos by Whitney Young and Travis Young

When you’re LGBTQ+ or part of another marginalized community in the Midwest, it can be hard to feel truly safe in public spaces—especially now. After coming out as a trans woman, one of the first places I began to feel safe was my local coffee shop. Soon, I became a regular, and grabbing my daily caffeine fix was my sacred ritual. What’s gayer than iced coffee after all?

As the self-proclaimed coffee queen of Catcall (re: I tried every Chappell Roan-themed drink when she played KC in October), I’m rounding up some of my favorite inclusive coffee shops in the hopes it’ll help folks feel a little safer choosing their next spot. Whether you’re looking for great coffee, a sense of community, or just want somewhere new to chill, one of these places is sure to be your vibe—plus you’ll be supporting some pretty awesome local businesses.

Anchor Island Coffee

4101 Troost Ave, KC, MO
LGBTQ+ and Latino-owned | Gender neutral bathroom

Anchor Island Coffee is a local LGBTQ+ and Latino-owned business located on Troost Ave. in the Manheim Park neighborhood. When you walk into Anchor Island, you’ll immediately notice the tropical decor—inspired by the climates that owners and couple Mike and Armando grew up in, the California coast and Guatemala, respectively. If you’re looking for a great breakfast with your coffee, this is the place to go. While everything on the Latino-influenced menu is delicious, The Chori Papa burrito and Horchata Caffe are two of my faves, and I highly recommend giving them a shot. The Chori Papa burrito is full of chorizo, potatoes, eggs, spinach, and cheese, making it savory and hearty, which pairs perfectly with the sweet cinnamon and vanilla flavor of the Horchata Caffe. Anchor Island also often hosts local artists and small-business pop-ups on the weekends, so try to check them out then and head upstairs for extra seating.

Café Corazón

Brookside 5911 Main St, KC, MO
Crossroads 110 Southwest Blvd. KC, MO
Westport 1721 Westport Rd. KC, MO
Latin and Indigenous owned | Gender neutral bathroom

Founded by the familia Miel Castagna-Herrera, Curtis Herrera, and Dulcinea Herrera, Café Corazón is Kansas City’s first Latin and Indigenous coffee house and roastery.
They’ve got delicious empanadas, great coffee, and are also one of the only cafes that serve authentic traditional yerba mate. Also be sure to try their Dulce de Leche Latte which combines creamy dulce de leche, espresso, and milk. Not only does their coffee look and taste amazing, but each location has a beautiful mural honoring Latin American and Indigenous culture, along with other art highlighting influential Latine figures.

If you love art or you’re an artist yourself, Café Corazón’s La Galeria backroom acts as a canvas for local artists and has free exhibition opportunities. Their Crossroads location is also worth checking out during First Fridays when they host unique artists and vendors.

Cafe Cà Phê

916 E 5th St, KC, MO
First-generation Vietnamese-American and woman-owned | Gender neutral bathroom

Cafe Cà Phê is Kansas City’s first Vietnamese coffee shop, and a quick look at their website tells you what they’re all about. Owner Jackie Nguyen, a first-generation Vietnamese-American, set out to create a space not just for Asian Americans, but for anyone who feels othered—and it shows. From their sign on the door to the pride flag in the window, this is a place where you can be your authentic self. The quote on their website says it all: “You belong here.” Cafe Cà Phê is a coffee shop with a mission, and it also has a sister nonprofit called Hella Good Deeds, which focuses on connecting Kansas City to Asian culture through celebration and inclusivity. (Check out Catcall’s story from right before the brick and mortar opened in 2022, The Cafe Cà Phê team is serving up hella good coffee, culture, and AAPI inclusion.)

As for the drinks, you’ll find coffee and tea options with a menu inspired by Vietnamese and other Asian cultures. My top two faves are the Mango Sticky Rice, named after the iconic dessert, and the Saigon, which is a more traditional Vietnamese coffee. Also, be sure to check out their bathroom decor, which is inspired by owner Jackie Nguyen’s favorite artists and movies. One of them is a whole homage to Home Alone.  Seriously, they’re pretty awesome and unique to Cafe Cà Phê.

Origin Coi Nguon Coffeehouse

7711 N Oak Trafficway Suite A, KC, MO
First-generation Vietnamese immigrant and woman-owned | Gender neutral bathroom

Origin Coi Nguon Coffeehouse, the newest shop on this list, opened on June 1 of this year. Owner Nhung Hoang, a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant, wanted to create a space where immigrants could come and feel included. Origin Coi Nguon specializes in traditional Vietnamese phin filter coffee and uses Robusta beans shipped directly from Vietnam. The inside of the coffeehouse also brings in other elements of Vietnamese culture, including colorful Hoi An lanterns with other decor and art sourced from Vietnam. When I visited, I tried The Timmy, which was strong and savory with a bit of salt foam and brown sugar. Check them out if you’re looking for strong, delicious coffee with Vietnamese flair.

PH Coffee

2200 Lexington Ave, KC, MO
Gender neutral bathroom

PH Coffee is located in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood and acts as a regular gathering place for the surrounding community. They host a ton of events, including a few for the kiddos, so if you’re looking to make some new friends in the area, this might be your spot. Stop by every second and fourth Friday for their neighbor night, or check them out during their seasonal pop-up bars, creative writing sessions, or other community events. PH Coffee also has a large food menu, including burritos, smoothies, grilled cheese sandwiches, and pastries, so you’re sure to find something to love. When I stopped by, I tried their vanilla cold brew and the Breakfast Sammie—which is a delicious breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs, bacon, Gouda, aioli, and Tajin.  PH Coffee also has plenty of seating, a few comfy couches, and a kids’ zone where they host story time every Monday morning.

Café Ollama

523 Southwest Blvd, KC, MO
Hispanic and woman-owned | Gender neutral bathroom

Café Ollama is a small Latina and woman-owned coffee shop located in the Crossroads. The building used to be a terminal for a bus line between Kansas City and Mexico, so now thanks to owners Lesley Reyes and Francisco Murguia, a little bit of Mexican culture is transported directly to Kansas City.

Café Ollama is a love letter to Latin American culture. Everything from the house specialty Café de Olla to the art, decor, and merchandise sold inside speaks to that heritage. Café Ollama’s cold brew might just be the best I’ve ever had—and I’ve had a lot of cold brew. A lot. There’s no need to add milk to this stuff. They also serve coffee flights if you’d like to try a bit of everything, as well as 32-oz coffee buckets for when you have a long day ahead of you. I highly recommend checking out Café Ollama for the cold brew alone.

Good Karma Coffee

3134 Gillham Rd, KC, MO
Black-owned | Gender neutral bathroom

A Black-owned coffee shop in Midtown, Good Karma Coffee is co-located with the Black Pantry, which showcases a curated selection of Black-owned brands and goods, including snacks, wine, art, music, and more. Both Good Karma and the Black Pantry are owned by Brian Roberts, who set out to create a great coffee experience while giving Black culture the visibility it deserves. The vibes here are great, and the baristas have been down to chat with me every time I’ve visited. One of my faves is the Cornbread Caramel Latte, which has a rich, creamy taste with a hint of sweetness. They’re also known to host events, so keep your eye out and pay them a visit when you’re in need of a little Good Karma.

Two Sugars 

1412 Westport Rd, KC, MO
2501 Troost Ave, KC, MO
Woman-owned | Gender neutral bathroom

Two Sugars Coffee is a woman-owned coffee shop that’s big on sweet. The Westport location has a bright and artsy indoor vibe and an outdoor patio, while the Troost location is run out of a cute Airstream trailer. I’d recommend trying either their Canadian Cold Brew or Brown Sugar Bliss Latte The Canadian Cold Brew balances the bitterness of cold brew with a sweet, cold foam on top, and the Brown Sugar Bliss Latte is a simple latte made with brown sugar and condensed milk, which is perfect if you have a sweet tooth like me. And the staff is just as sweet as the drinks—they always made me feel welcome at every visit.

Two Sugars Coffee also hosts three local woman-owned businesses between their two locations, so you can browse a bit while you get your caffeine fix or after enjoying a cookie, croissant, cinnamon roll or other sweet treat they serve. Check out their Westport location to shop thrifted and vintage finds from Live Forever Fashion, crocheted coffee sleeves from Bruck Destiny, and propagated plants and vases from Maureen.  

Sister Anne’s Records and Coffee

901 E 31st St, KC, MO
Gender neutral bathroom

Sister Anne’s Records and Coffee is part coffee shop, part record store. They carry a large selection of records in many different genres, so you’re bound to find some classics as well as a few hidden gems. You’ll also find a small selection of VHS tapes and other vintage media tucked away in the shop, so there’s plenty of stuff to browse as you sip on your coffee. When I visited, I tried the vanilla cold brew and also got a large cinnamon coffee cake that tasted like candied heaven. There’s also a “Super gay bathroom” for any of my trans folks wondering if it’s safe to pee here. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they also host the occasional concert, so if music is your thing, Sister Anne’s is probably your spot.

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Have another inclusive spot you want us to highlight? Shoot us an email at contact@catcallmag.com.

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