Drinking Coffee in Kansas City: Rochester Brewing & Roasting Co. (Parkville)
We’ve revived the series that helped launch Explore–
we take our coffee seriously, over here!
Photos by Meredith Schneider
Parkville, Missouri is the quaint home to autumn-friendly trees, a beautiful riverfront park, and multiple sets of rugged train tracks. A staple in the downtown Parkville area for decades, now, is a building sandwiched between and built into a red caboose and sleeper car. In the past, this unique building has been a barbecue restaurant, a Mexican spot, and – more recently – a coffee shop.
In the last few years, local brand Rochester Brewing & Roasting Company took over the space and has quietly become a highly-frequented spot in the area.
Concepted in 2017 at a July 4th party, three friends focus their former hobbyist passions of brewing beer and roasting coffee beans in the Rochester storefronts, now conveniently located in Parkville and just of Southwest Boulevard in The Crossroads Arts District.
When you walk up to the front of the Parkville location, you have to choose between staircases and a ramp to access the front door. Everything is built well, but it is a bit steep, so keep that in mind for your adventure there.
The tall entryway is beautifully lit, and displays some fun art, merchandise, and vining plants. The staff is super welcoming, always up for helping me choose what delicious latte, tea, or kombucha I might want before I can actually communicate it myself.
I most recently tried the French Toast Latte, which was almost like a liquid churro. It was warm and inviting like so many wonderful autumnal flavors, but the flavor balance made it the best french toast latte I’ve had in quite some time. I had a berry toaster pastry as well, which was incredible as usual.
In case you were questioning if they served ways to cut the sugar, caffeine, and alcohol intake, the answer is absolutely. Rochester serves incredible food options that you can dine on in the old sleeper car or caboose, or take with you to go. Stacked sandwiches like the honey wheat club, grilled cheese, prosciutto mozzarella, tuna salad, and jackfruit are served with crunchy kettle chips. Their breakfast burritos are some of the best I’ve ordered, the chorizo is a fan favorite.
Their pastries include a slew of options made in house and sourced from local bakeries. Their gooey, buttery cinnamon rolls are baked fresh in their kitchen and are a particularly tasty treat – in the event you get there and they still have some in stock!
As a brewery, you can order an array of beers on tap. Rochester also serves white, red, and sparking wines, and a fun menu of cocktails like the delightful Blackcurrant Mezcal Margarita and an intense Rochester Original Espresso Martini.
If you are looking for a place to enjoy an alcoholic beverage and you’re not sure which beer to drink, you don’t have to commit. Order a flight of four partial pours to sample some of the best local brew options before diving into a pint.
The staff at Rochester works hard to craft unique offerings on a rotating menu. Current seasonal flavors include the decadent S’mores Latte, hot apple Chaider, boozy Cinnamon Spiked Hot Cocoa, creamy French Toast Latte, incredible Miso Caramel Latte, Pumpkin Pie Latte, delicious Fig Latte, and layered Harvest Moon Latte.
Stop in for family-friendly community and good eats anytime between 6:30am and 9pm Monday through Thursday, 6:30am and 10pm Friday and Saturday, and between 9am and 6:30pm on Sunday.
