More Power To Ya: Protein Coffee Shop Gem in East Kansas City

Made in KC Explore Food & Drink editor Grace Pritchett makes like any good culinary reporter, and takes a dive into the bulletproof coffee trend…

Bulletproof coffee has been popping up on coffee shop menus for over a decade now, but Dream Muscle Coffee decided to take it a step further when they built their entire brand around the idea of protein-rich coffee. And you’re going to love it.

If you’re out of the bulletproof coffee loop, I can definitely explain. Bulletproof coffee (as simplified for me by Google) is a coffee drink that combines freshly brewed coffee with grass-fed butter or ghee and coconut oil. The coffee wakes you up and the fats in the oil and butter keep you full, leading many people to use bulletproof coffee as a breakfast replacement and even a dieting technique. This “energizing, high-performance drink” has become more popular recently with the rise of keto, but the recipe has been trending positive for at least a decade. You can find it on menus all over town– but Dream Muscle Coffee has the advantage of building a whole drink menu around it.

Dream Muscle Coffee starts with a bulletproof coffee base before building on it with collagen protein and customizable add-ins like avocado oil, turmeric, honey, and cinnamon. Espresso shots and CBD oil also pop up on the menu, giving you plenty of options to choose from when you visit this comfy spot. On my first visit, I instantly fell in love with the Wake Me Up latte, which features avocado oil, hemp oil, cinnamon, and vanilla for a graham cracker-esque drink.

While bulletproof coffee is commonly used to replace breakfast, Dream Muscle Coffee also offers a limited breakfast and lunch menu. Their breakfast menu includes sandwiches and burritos with cozy, warming options. I had my eye on the cheesy bagel sandwich, but you can bet I’m going back for their pancake breakfast sandwich– which uses pancakes to sandwich together bacon, egg, and cheese. Genius.

As if this glowing review couldn’t get any better, the coffee shop staff (owner, Timothy Shockley Jr, and his parents) are always happy to welcome you in and make you feel at home. They are seriously half the reason I keep going back, and I can’t wait for you to meet them!

Visit Dream Muscle Coffee for all your coffee (and cheesy bagel) needs Monday - Friday 7am to 3pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm at 4101 Troost Ave.

All photos by Grace Pritchett