Black Dog Coffeehouse 12815 W 87th St Parkway Lenexa

Although the location of Black Dog Coffeehouse is not ideal, a strip mall near 87th Street Parkway and I-35, the atmosphere and their great drinks more than make up for it. If you are attending a weekend indoor soccer game at All American Indoor Sports, or just in the area on the way to the mall, Black Dog is the ideal place to stop for a great coffeeshop experience.

Because of its location in a small strip mall, the relaxed vibe and stylish space comes as a bit of a shock when you walk in the door. Besides the hiss of the espresso machine, the din of the background music and a few whispering voices, the space is surprisingly calm, making it a great place to get work done or just to relax. The menu is very creative with unheard of options for coffee and various teas. Their version of the white chocolate mocha, dubbed the dirty blonde, rivaled, if not beat out, the drink offered at Starbucks. The food selection included several types of homemade pies and other pastries. With prices about the same as Starbucks, it’s a fairly good deal for how great the choices are.The menu and cool space create a feat that no coffee shop nearby could live up to. After all, they have won Best Coffee Shop in Lenexa four years in a row from the U.S. Local Business Association.

Aunt Jean’s 11210 Johnson Drive, Shawnee

Tucked into a tiny shop on Johnson Drive near the site for Old Shawnee Days, Aunt Jean’s does not see a lot of action. Primarily an Italian gelato store, Aunt Jean’s gets most of its customers during the warm summer months. Although its forte is foreign ice cream, it also dishes out a mean cup of joe for under $4, not a very common occurrence, but its flavors are fairly generic.

Aunt Jean’s is a cute little store, modeled after a european cafe. It has a good selection of drinks and ice cream, and is no doubt a great place to hang out, I wouldn’t recommend it if you are not nearby, especially during the winter.

Scooter’s Coffeehouse 10610 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee

With several locations around Kansas City, including one in Shawnee and one at the Legends, Scooter’s is slightly more accessible than Black Dog Coffeehouse. However, sometimes convenience does not come before quality. Scooter’s simply lacks the true coffehouse feel; its coffee was decent at best and it was only slightly cheaper than Starbucks.

Scooter’s is cleaner and more organized than most coffee shops, but what it excels in overall tidiness, it lacks in its menu and atmosphere. Scooter’s is great if it is your only option, but don’t make the trip just for a drink.