Drink This Now: Carrot cake latte with cream cheese cold foam at Neighbors Coffee
Neighbors Coffee // Photo by Sarah Sipple
With a name like Neighbors Coffee, it only seemed right that the coffee shop had a quietly bustling energy, with couples catching up, families chasing around young children, duos on business meetings, and individuals working on a midweek afternoon.
Most cafes aim to be a welcoming haven in their neighborhood, but Neighbors Coffee has taken practical steps to be just that. With convenient parking, it could be easy to grab and go, but the kid-friendly setup and variety of seating options in the airy cafe encourage a slower approach.
Neighbors Coffee // Photo by Sarah Sipple
Strollers were being pushed across The Paseo towards the open playground in the backyard. There’s a playdough station on one table and a toy trove in a hallway. Simple and whimsical paper chains and lights are strung across the ceiling, and paper stars are suspended by ribbon from the windows.
And it gets deeper.
Neighbors is a non-profit coffee company (they roast and sell their own beans) that prioritizes employing individuals aging out of foster care. They offer a paid internship program, workshops, and help connect volunteers.
One of the most practical elements for anyone to easily participate in is their pay-it-forward page. A laminated sheet at the checkout station allows customers to prepay for an item and write it on a sticky note. Then, at any time, another customer can redeem one of the notes.
Neighbors Coffee // Photo by Sarah Sipple
The current seasonal menu leans on earthy flavors like spiced carrot cake, Earl Grey matcha, and a couple of banana concoctions.
The carrot cake latte was nice, as it met my expectations of a slightly sweet latte. There was little to no essence of carrot brought to the senses, but a subtle spiced element evoked the idea of baked goods. However, it was the cream cheese cold foam on top that sealed the deal. I had one of those rare reactions where I thought, “Why isn’t every coffee shop offering this?” Cold foam is gaining in popularity, sure, but a richer cream cheese cold foam that aids in cutting the sweetness of a drink… delectable.
Neighbors Coffee // Photo by Sarah Sipple
If carrot cake isn’t your thing, I’d try requesting that the cold foam be added to the caramelized banana latte or even a classic vanilla latte. Iced drinks are best for this, since it will keep the foam structure from breaking down as fast, but it is also available on hot drinks.
Whether you bring the kids to take advantage of the playground or pop in for a leisurely afternoon of reading on the front patio, you may find yourself licking up every last drop of the cream cheese cold foam and feeling like you’re part of the neighborhood.
Neighbors Coffee is at 8135 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131.
