Messenger Coffee at Gate B47 has quickly become one of my favorite airport rituals before boarding. Kansas City travelers already know Messenger as one of the standout local roasters -- born from a group of passionate coffee folks who wanted to elevate Midwestern coffee culture with direct-trade beans and an emphasis on craft roasting. It's a treat to find them holding down a spot inside MCI's new terminal, offering something far better than the standard airport chain brew. My go-to order here is a cortado alongside a drip. A cortado, for those who haven't fallen into the espresso rabbit hole, is a Spanish-born drink that literally means "cut" -- espresso cut with an equal measure of warm milk. It's the middle ground between a macchiato and a cappuccino, giving you the punch of espresso with just enough silkiness to soften the edges. Messenger nails it: the espresso pulls smoky and caramel-tinged, and when paired with the milk it smooths into this balanced, nutty sweetness that lingers without being heavy. On drip, I had the Silhouette "75th Street Blend." It leaned darker -- rich undertones with a backbone of roast -- but I also caught hints of cherry brightness and a toffee finish. It's a cup that wakes you up without being one-note, and it paired perfectly with the cortado for a little pre-flight ritual of depth and balance. The service is great. Fast to complete orders, friendly and knowledgeable about the coffee without being snobby about it all. In a terminal filled with BBQ and quick-grabs, Messenger is my reset button -- a little oasis of well-crafted coffee that tastes like Kansas City's best, not just airport adequate. Highly recommend stopping here, especially if you're a traveler who values coffee with character. Next time I just need to remember to bring my own mug to use rather than the disposable Dixie's. Coffee doesn't taste the same in them and coffee of this quality deserves a good container. read more

Messenger Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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I got a small matcha here with oat milk and a flavor... $11 WHAT. That is robbery, mind you if you look behind the counter they don't make their own syrups. Matcha itself was okay not the best I've had and with that price I'd expect something unbelievable and bright green!! The toasted marshmallow syrup is good however. I'm assuming this is expensive because it is at the airport. read more

The line took forever to get through, because the guy manning the register was quite slow. I ordered a chai latte with oat milk and two shots of espresso, and it was $14 before tip. I tried to redeem a $12 voucher that American Airlines sent me as compensation for a diverted flight, and the cashier was so confused about how to cash it. He cracked jokes but was incredibly slow. The dirty chai itself was awful. It barely tasted like it had espresso in it, and it had a weird aftertaste. The coffee stand is cute, but they don't offer many food options. Wouldn't come back when in this airport again. read more

Messenger Coffee - Coffee stand in B gates - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Based on the last review posted about 12 hours ago, which lines up with the time I visited, it's clear I'm not alone in my experience. I encountered the same barista and unfortunately, had a similar interaction. When I asked about a drink, she sighed *audibly* and rolled her eyes, which immediately made me feel unwelcome. Unlike the other reviewer, I decided not to move forward with an order and chose to support another nearby business instead. Customer service really matters, especially in a space like coffee where there are so many great options. Hopefully, this was just an off day, but it was enough for me to take my money elsewhere. read more

Messenger Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

A bummer because I typically enjoy Messenger Coffee in other locations... Look, I understand I was not going to receive the highest quality latte or coffee experience at the airport location. But, needing to caffeinate my work-from-anywhere slog at my gate in KC, I thought an iced latte would give me the much needed energy boost I needed. The whole experience started badly when I had to quite literally lean over the counter to get the attention of the barista who was sitting/crouching on the floor (?) after waiting for several minutes and seeing no one. Maybe it was an off day, but she seemed less than enthusiastic about taking my order - and I even paid the extra $1 for a FLAVOR in my latte (I get an up charge for alternative milk but... to get a pump of syrup?) Ultimately, my coffee was decent - good not great - but the initial awkwardness/weirdness of ordering and the service experience was off putting, made me feel like my business was not important, and will deter me from visiting again. There are other coffee options in the airport to choose from! read more

Really quality coffee for an airport coffee shop. Also had their breakfast burrito- it was vegetarian and really good, also decently sized. Only down side is it's a little expensive, but that's expected for anywhere in an airport. They have a little bar on the other side where you can sit and do work/kill time before a flight. The staff was mostly friendly and patient with the long line of people just trying to get their morning caffeine. All in all, for an airport coffee spot, it's one of the better ones I've been too! read more

Messenger Coffee - Iced caramel latte with almond milk (16oz) and breakfast burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Purchased a iced tea and a muffin, cost was $16 expensive but also expected at an airport. Iced tea was freshly brewed meaning the ice quickly melted. They did give me a small side cup of ice, but that did not cool my drink down enough. I asked for another cup of ice, and was told by Nico that he was going to charge me $1.68 for ice. This is absolutely crazy. I then reached out to the regional manager, Nate who said that is our policy, I have left two phone calls for the owner of this company. Andrew Miller with no reply. Now I totally understand why this company is such a disaster when it comes to customer service. When the owner can't reach back out it speaks volumes! Two calls to Andrew Miller CEO with no reply..... read more

The coffee is exceptional, boasting rich flavors and a perfect aroma that delights the senses, while the service is truly outstanding, with attentive and friendly staff who go above and beyond to ensure a wonderful experience. read more

Messenger Coffee - people waiting in line at the counter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Good service, friendly hard working staff Fast service Good coffee Tasty veggie burrito with salsa (I got mild and hot salsa - hot wasn't very hot and had a good flavor Seating around the counter read more

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Open for my early morning flight and decent coffee! I ordered a Hippie (cold brew, honey, and soy milk) and subbed the soy for oat milk. No additional charge to change my alt. milk! Service was speedy and decent ambiance (given with what is expected from an airport coffee shop)! read more

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Super fast and friendly airport service. Clear pastry display with ample options. Great self service area available to add cream to beverages or grab silverware and napkins. read more

Messenger Coffee - Chocolate Chocolate chip muffin - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Great little coffee place in the Kansas City airport! I ordered a iced latte which was delicious and they had many different options for snacks. The coffee was good quality and the service was nice and accommodating. All is All a great place to stop for a cup of joe! read more

Had another opportunity to patronize Messenger and it was great, per usual. I ordered drip coffee and veggie breakfast burrito. I think I've said this before, but the veggie burrito here is awesome. I enjoy it every time. Deliciously warm with egg, potato, black bean, and cheese. Highly recommend getting their sauce/salsa to go with for a tangy flavor to accompany savoriness of it all. The single opportunity for improvement that has always existed, even if I've never mentioned it before is their cream/sugar station at the end of the coffee bar. 1) While I'm glad they offer half and half, I don't love when it's offered in those little containers where no refrigeration is required. Providing half and half in an insulated carafe would be ideal. 2) Also, the "trash can" they offer is on the table with everything else and is one of those smaller stainless steel buffet line containers. It is not difficult for that container to get full enough that the trash overflows or is simply missed and you end up with trash on the table, which is not great. I don't know the airport's rules, but putting an actual trash can on the floor at the end of the bar next to the sugar & cream would be a huge improvement. Note to the team if they take up this suggestion - it'd be nice if it didn't have a cover that people have to touch. read more

Messenger Coffee - customers waiting in line at the counter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Finding good airport coffee can be a rarity, but thankfully this friendly Messenger Coffee is here because it's great! In my years comes wisdom, and I've found that cold brew or iced coffee is the way to go when juggling suitcases/kids/backpacks/stress at the airport. Their cold brew is fantastic, and tastes comparable to a good coffee shop you'd find somewhere dotted throughout Kansas City. I also felt like the staff was friendly and that helps at a place that has the potential to be a bit overwhelming. One thing I'd like to see, if they could swing it, would be a simple cold brew or black coffee line to speed things up a bit. Granted, I had a delay and was in no hurry, but this idea is something I've seen at other airports and it is genius. (Also really glad not to see a generic green and white coffee shop here slinging burnt coffee, if you catch my drift.) Cheers to this Messenger, and if your flight is down in this back area of the airport, you'll want to swing by it. read more

I was a little early to when they opened but the guy who was opening was super friendly and we chatted while he got ready on his own because his coworker was late. Mocha was delicious! read more

Espresso is exceptional. Service has always been friendly. But it's hard to justify the price. adding a $2 surcharge for syrup is criminal. Monin 750 ml syrups are $10. You get around 20 servings per bottle. My 12 oz latte is almost $10. Insane. Knocking off 1 star per dollar charge on syrup. read more

First of all, the airport is a gem in and of itself and I'm not just staying that because it's new and shiny. It's beautiful representation of the best of Kansas City and Messenger Coffee definitely makes that list. The familiar white subway tile with that beautiful brass French Horn let's you know you're at a staple of the KC coffee scene. They have a limited menu, compared to their other locations. But I think that's to be expected given the small space they're occupying. It's a free floating stand in the B Concourse near gates B46 & 47, just past the bathrooms. The staff are incredibly friendly and were excited to let me know that they WILL be getting the Messenger app reader in the future, but they don't have it yet. It's just too new. But the staff is fast and kind, so I'm sure they'll work hard to get this up and running soon. My only complaint is the cost of alternative milks ($1.25!?) But I'm sure there's a reason... it can't be cheap to have a location in this brand new airport. Either way, I'm willing to pay it to avoid lactose complications during my trip. I look forward to visiting again soon! read more

Messenger Coffee - It didn't last long once I got to my gate! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Quick & accurate service, casual atmosphere, friendly staff. Stopped for the required Java before flying home & glad I did.

Used to be good but it's gone downhill. Mediocre coffee, and it no longer feels welcoming. Will not go again. Not sure what happened.

B*tchy barista and a 11$ oatmilk latte the size of my big toe. Hopefully I'm never in kansas again, but if I am I won't be coming here.

Bought a margarita for $16 did not taste like any alcohol at all. Had a good flavor but that not what I went to go buy.

Best coffee I've ever had. Mean staff. They can be that way and still get business, coffee is incredible

Outstanding and highly recommend. The atmosphere of coffee atmospheres. The pinnacle of an ideal public ambiance. Service is attentive but not militant. read more

Fantastic service and great coffee. Best airport service at a restaurant. Best place to go.

I highly recommend stopping at this joint. I ordered a cortado and without me even asking they made me another (literally brought it out to me) because they didn't steam the milk right the first time. I have never experienced customer service like this In an airport ever. read more