As a web designer and developer, I frequent coffee shops quite a bit in my hometown of Wichita, Kansas to set up shop with my laptop and extra monitor and dig into my work, hopefully with the perfect, relaxing, and intriguing ambience.
In this blog, I want to introduce you to the top coffee shops in Wichita, Kansas (from my point of view) and give you an insider's look too - how each one makes me FEEL – and where I go depending on the mood I'm in.
You see, I'm kind of a touchy guy, but it's fun when different places you go have the power to really enrich your mood and emotions in a good way.
Of course, any decent coffee shop will probably have a generally good vibe to it – and hopefully good drinks and food as well. Nevertheless, each one is a little different and sometimes you want something different. The part of town the coffee shop is in also kind of affects this for me - there are parts of Wichita which I consider more relaxed and laid back than, for example, downtown, although there are niches downtown that are like refuges as well.
So, without further ado, let's jump in!!
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I will review my top 10 favorite coffee shops in Wichita, in no specific order.
Mokas, Mokas! First let me say, the "mocha" was one of my first favorite coffee drinks - combining coffee with chocolate of course - a classic I will circle around to every once in a while if in the mood. Because of Moka's location and bold, modern vibe, I tend to meet up with clients here a lot, and it is kind of a default go-to if I need to meet with clients close to my home office.
So you see, Mokas has two Wichita locations - one right smack in the middle of the downtown area, at the pivotal point of 2nd and McLean Blvd intersecting – note, where 2nd turns into 1st as you keep taking it east into the downtown area.
This location is just a great "perch" in the downtown area - but not buried amongst tall skyscrapers. Nicely situated close to Exploration Place (science type hands-on museum) for kids to explore (along the river), and by the Keeper of the Plains iconic bridge and riverside walk paths - for some fresh air and nice views. So the ambience, I feel, is one of centrality and importance - a logical meeting place if downtown is the desired area. Thus, if I wanna take on the world, maybe I go here and set up shop with a coffee in hand to get stuff done.
Inside, the bold grays and reds and interior design is modern and crisp, giving a fresh feel - let's get down to business! Both locations have their own buildings, not shared - so there is ample space as well. The food selection is quite varied and good – from breakfast classics to soups and sandwiches to salads and wraps, they've got you covered! Tasty as well. As far as drinks, they carry all the different coffee drinks you'd expect - basic brewed coffee, Americano for a step up, Cold Brew, a selection of signature lattes, the MOCHA of course, and shaken espresso. Also, there's great smoothies and hot tea, or apple cider or hot chocolate. Again, a very full selection of food and drinks.
Pennant Coffee recently took over the late Leslie Coffee Company on Douglas Ave in the delightful Delano district of Wichita on March 16th, 2024. It is a smaller space and shared with Good Company Taps & Spirits, so more of a to-go option usually for me, but it definitely is in a cool spot.
The main draw with Pennant for me is the quality of the coffee and lattes specifically. Very rich, robust flavor. My FAVORITE is the honey almond iced latte, with such a delectable rich flavor - nothing generic. The sweetness of honey with the signature zest of almond to really spice up the coffee base to wake you up!
I also really enjoyed their avocado toast, rich with salt, pepper, and seeds.
Lastly, there's some outdoor seating for nice days.
In summary, a cool place with some great, unique flavors - just a bit limited space inside, for you claustrofobiacs…
Next up, AROMA COFFEEHOUSE. This is a great place to stop in for coffee or to get something done if you're in the northwest part of Wichita - 21st and Ridge area. Aroma Coffeehouse is run by Ridgepoint Church and I really love the idea behind the name – that as the Bible says, we are the aroma of Christ to God – God smells the sweetness of His son Jesus when He sees us - because Jesus lives in us!
Anyway, Aroma's got all the standard coffee drinks as well as a few unique latte flavors, plus cookie and pastry type stuff and then some food food like avocado toast, sandwiches, and a breakfast burrito.
As far as the "vibe" of this place, it's a clean, sharp-looking place - really nothing against it - I just don't always frequent its part of town a whole bunch - but if I am around - its a great place to go. Even played some live music here once as well!
Nameless Coffee Co is located at the spacious, "free", restaurant area of Maple and Ridge out in west Wichita, just north of the freeway (Kellogg), which is just north of the airport! Whenever I drive to this part of town, number one, since it's west, it's like driving into the sunset so-to-speak - a relaxing experience. Also, for some reason, just in general going out to west Wichita always seems relaxing and freeing to me - nicer, greener, and more spacious areas.
So. When I'm looking to just get away and chill (and get something done on my laptop - which I do much better when I'm chilled out 😆), I head out to Nameless Coffee Co, somewhat close to my already slightly west residence.
As far as food and drinks, Nameless is not lacking, with all the standard coffee options as well as tea - I LOVED their iced peach tea. Some great food selections as well - from the avocado toast to the smoked salmon bagel which I LOVED as well.
Nameless is Christian-run as well - nice to take in the uplifting background music in the cafe.
Oh MilkFloat, MilkFloat - my go-to if I need a late night place to go to get something done - open every day from 8 am til 10 pm, except closed on Sundays. Milkfloat is also located in the famed Delano District of Wichita, among other tasteful shops and restaurants on Douglas right before the river and downtown to the east. It certainly has character, and though small, has ample seating with some big tables for bigger groups as well.
Though featuring standard coffee drinks and tea, Milkfloat is also a great dessert place, with lots of pastry/cookie/cake options and some really great Tillamook etc ice cream selections - QUALITY ice cream – I recently had a dark cherry cone that was just superb.
Coffee-wise, I LOVE their almond flavor for a hot latte – or iced, if it's hot out.
MilkFloat is a snug little place - kind of darker inside, but with some yellowish lighting making it cozy. I remember coding a website project here for hours at a small table along the wall (it's a "sliver" downtown-type cafe - narrow rectangle instead of square-shaped.
Sometimes can be a bit crowded, but not too often. Usually can find seating. A few outdoor seating places as well.
Adelitas Coffee Co – a VERY good option if I'm in or going to downtown area. First off, it's very centrally-located - smack dab in the middle of downtown basically - at 1st and Market. Although parking is a bit limited - some might have parking memberships nearby, as the location is very accessible and central in downtown Wichita. I used to have a membership at The Commerce Club right next door, and they offered me free parking at 1st and Water just right close by. Other than that, the northwest part of Market St offers some nice free parking - pretty spacious as well.
Now let's get to the coffeeshop itself.
It is hispanic-run by a very nice family from Zacatecas, Mexico where various family members help out. Second, the quality of the coffee itself seems very good - rich, good quality, made into various luxuriant drinks such as the Coco Lily iced latte - probably my favorite. Creamy and coconuty with perfect amount of sweetness, the flavor is very rich. Sometimes I go for just an espresso shot for the energy and nice raw coffee flavor - which they serve in authentic hispanic clay-type mugs, along with a shot of sparkling mineral water for some reason! Haven't figured that out yet, but it makes for a nice experience.
They are very creative coming up with new flavors, generally influenced by hispanic culture and tradition.
This one has quite a history, going back to 1922, known for quality products and personalized service. I imagine back then they offered various staple food products like flour, salt, oil, etc, but am not sure on that. They did close down in 1988, just recently reopening in 2024 according to their website – on Douglas Ave in the nice College Hill area – with Dempsey's Burgers and Papas Ice Cream shop right across the street - a delightful location and ambience inside, with an elegant-feeling upstairs as well. It's kinda like the feel of a mix of gift shop, coffeeshop, and nice restaurant. It also opens up to the outside (in fair weather) with a bar you can sit at on the outside.
I come here when I'm looking to stow away upstairs in the calm, elegant, carpeted atmosphere, and get some work done on my computer.
As far as food and drink, they have an ample selection of typical coffee drinks and beyond, as well as some food food selections - very tasty.
Greater Grounds Coffee also just opened up in 2024! It is on Douglas as well, closer to the downtown area at Douglas and Washington. It was a pleasure to meet the owner Byron McSwain and have him allow me to come provide music entertainment at the coffeeshop.
The coffee and food are second-to-none, and the acoustic baby grand piano has a great tone to listen to!
The Christian underpinnings of the place and ownership are dear to me, and the wooden broad tables available provide an almost Colorado-ey feel.
All-in-all - a great place to go!
Want Bierock (formerly Want Coffee), is one of my top spots specifically because of their heart for ministry - to help people. They host various bible studies and related events, and the positive music and atmosphere is very refreshing in this many times jaded and immoral world.
Again, their coffee selection is excellent as well, and the smoothies are great too. Their specialty, of course, is the bierocks (German meat-stuffed rolls) - quite tasty. Their brisket as well is MMM-MMM!!!
Want Bierock I think also kind of has a "light" ambience - a refuge so-to-speak - to just come and rest, hang out, work on computer, or pray and study God's word.
Oh, and last but not least. AMAZING CINNAMON ROLLS!!!
Fairmount Coffee Company, located just south of Wichita State University off of 17th Street, is sentimental to me too.
The coffeeshop is an extension of their Christian Ministry - tied to the Missouri Synod - and for me it holds that "Missouri" ambience. My wife and I got back from Branson recently, where we had discovered this awesome coffeeshop overlooking the hills of Branson (Vintage Paris) – and when I go to Fairmount in Wichita, it just reminds me a bit of Missouri.
Food and drinks great again - all the typicals, with some special latte flavors. Avocado toast is a nice touch.
But, a cool place to work on laptop or chat, as well as use their outdoor patio on a nice day.
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Greg is an experienced front-end web developer who is also a music graduate of Oklahoma Wesleyan University as of 2014. He loves designing order and beauty, whether it be in music or web design. He resides in Wichita, KS with his wife, two daughters, and beloved husky dog Luna. Reach out to him at greg@selahcreate.com or on LinkedIn — www.linkedin.com/company/selah-create-wichita-ks.
