Much-anticipated heavy metal-inspired coffee shop opens in Waldo
Kansas City’s much- anticipated heavy metal-inspired coffee shop is having its grand opening this week.
Apparition Coffee, owned by Brian Denman, 39, is inside what was formerly Second Best Coffee at 328 W. 85th St. It has been in a soft opening stage since Friday, announcing subtly on Instagram. They have still found themselves incredibly busy.
“We were like let’s not promote it too much and see what happens, and it was crazy,” Denman said.
The heavy metal-inspired coffee shop features wood wall accents, concrete flooring, paintings, large tables and music softly playing overhead (it’s not blasting heavy metal; you can work from here). It serves coffee, tea, matcha. Several of the Second Best employees have been rehired and will be bringing back the beloved burritos.
“I know (burritos) were a huge thing here when it was Second Best. I’ve already gotten Instagram messages about that already asking me if I was gonna serve burritos,” Denman said in April.
Apparition Coffee offers two burritos. One has eggs, bacon, potato and cheese and the other is vegan (soyrizo, black bean, kale, sweet potato, vegan mozzarella). Both are $9.50.
The Star tried a standard latte with honey ($6) and later upon the insistence of a nearby customer, the Beetdown (beets, mandarin, fresh mint, lemon peels, espresso and milk; $8). Apparition also features The Apparition (dark chocolate, black cocoa, black tahini, smoked sea salt, espresso, milk; $9) and starting Friday the Tarragon Lie (coconut, tarragon, lemon, cold brew, coconut cream; $8).
Originally from Topeka, Denman lived in Lawrence for 10 years before moving to Kansas City in 2016. He had grown up loving coffee, and moving here gave him the chance to learn.
“I grew up playing in metal bands and stuff, so I feel like that name kind of matches that vibe pretty well. That’s kind of the vibe I’m going for with the artwork that I’d like to put up in here as well and then as far as the product itself,” he previously said.
Apparition Coffee will be open Monday through Wednesday this week from 7 a.m. to noon and closed Thursday for the Friday grand opening which will be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. After that, normal hours will be 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
