Spring Break
Where to find the best coffee around campus
The U-News does the work for you!
Laura Katzer
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Culture
Coffee Break has an expansive back room filled with a hodge-podge of chairs, tables and comfortable couches. There's lots of space to spread out and relax.
Free Wi-Fi is expected and available, as are newspapers and reading materials.
A full menu and many baked items tempt the eye at the front counter.
Coffee Break puts on occasional fashion shows and community events in its large space.
Coffee Break's location is very convenient. It's not far to walk or bike to and parking spots are ample.
The espresso at Coffee Break was overwhelmingly bland with a bitter aftertaste. It wasn't totally horrible, but it had no distinct flavor or character. I couldn't quite finish it.
The latte was not much better. The milk was steamed nicely and the top possessed a charming little latte art fern, but the flavor was insipid. Espresso extraction is a fickle, difficult art that requires constant attention to detail, so it's possible that my bland espresso was a fluke. Regardless, the espresso must be tasty; it's the star of the drink.
Grade: B-
On the menu:
Double espresso $1.75
Latte, 12oz. $3.00
Muddy's
318 E 51st St.
Muddy's is already a popular UMKC institution for coffee. Students and faculty make up a large part of the customers. Some discussion-based classes informally meet there. A large part of its popularity is its proximity and convenience to UMKC. Walking there is fast from all parts of campus. It's also inviting to joggers, bikers and dog walkers because of its convenient location along the trolley track trail.
The interior of Muddy's is very small and cluttered.
There's not much space for decoration, but there are plants at the front of the café and art is always on the walls.
The free Wi-Fi is constantly in use by students and other patrons armed with laptops.
The double espresso at Muddy's was by far the most expensive at $2.25. Its flavor definitely did not merit the high price. It tasted thin and had salty, almost blood-like character. It had a decent smell but was fairly bitter and salty although not totally undrinkable.
Conversely, the latte at Muddy's was the least expensive. The latte had good steamed milk and was topped with a latte art fern. It was a nice, drinkable temperature. The latte had the same salty character as the espresso only diluted in the milk. The sweetness of the milk balanced out saltiness, but the flavor was a little cheese-like.
Grade: B
On the menu:
Double espresso $2.25
Latte, 12oz. $2.65
lkatzer@unews.com
Free Wi-Fi is expected and available, as are newspapers and reading materials.
A full menu and many baked items tempt the eye at the front counter.
Coffee Break puts on occasional fashion shows and community events in its large space.
Coffee Break's location is very convenient. It's not far to walk or bike to and parking spots are ample.
The espresso at Coffee Break was overwhelmingly bland with a bitter aftertaste. It wasn't totally horrible, but it had no distinct flavor or character. I couldn't quite finish it.
The latte was not much better. The milk was steamed nicely and the top possessed a charming little latte art fern, but the flavor was insipid. Espresso extraction is a fickle, difficult art that requires constant attention to detail, so it's possible that my bland espresso was a fluke. Regardless, the espresso must be tasty; it's the star of the drink.
Grade: B-
On the menu:
Double espresso $1.75
Latte, 12oz. $3.00
Muddy's
318 E 51st St.
Muddy's is already a popular UMKC institution for coffee. Students and faculty make up a large part of the customers. Some discussion-based classes informally meet there. A large part of its popularity is its proximity and convenience to UMKC. Walking there is fast from all parts of campus. It's also inviting to joggers, bikers and dog walkers because of its convenient location along the trolley track trail.
The interior of Muddy's is very small and cluttered.
There's not much space for decoration, but there are plants at the front of the café and art is always on the walls.
The free Wi-Fi is constantly in use by students and other patrons armed with laptops.
The double espresso at Muddy's was by far the most expensive at $2.25. Its flavor definitely did not merit the high price. It tasted thin and had salty, almost blood-like character. It had a decent smell but was fairly bitter and salty although not totally undrinkable.
Conversely, the latte at Muddy's was the least expensive. The latte had good steamed milk and was topped with a latte art fern. It was a nice, drinkable temperature. The latte had the same salty character as the espresso only diluted in the milk. The sweetness of the milk balanced out saltiness, but the flavor was a little cheese-like.
Grade: B
On the menu:
Double espresso $2.25
Latte, 12oz. $2.65
lkatzer@unews.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Jennifer
posted 4/22/08 @ 11:07 AM CST
Nice article. :)
I love reading about local coffee shops. Although I could have sworn there was an article just like this a year or two ago...I only remember because I made a comment on that one too. (Continued…)
Kaye Johnston
Kaye
posted 4/26/08 @ 5:59 PM CST
I really like the article and don't have a problem with a new article update on local coffee shops once a year. I agree with most of the reviews except for one. (Continued…)
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