Blackdog Coffeehouse Review

 

Black Dog Coffeehouse

        In between school and work seemed like the perfect time to try another coffee house to tell you about! I took a look online and browsed a few different shops in the Overland Park area. Many of the shops looked nice, but Black Dog Coffeehouse piqued my interest immediately. The pictures online seemed to capture exactly what I was looking for, a small shop with a dimly lit calming atmosphere. It seemed like it would be a perfect place to relax, work on homework, and sip coffee.

Upon arrival, I found the shop to be next to a bakery and a couple other businesses in a strip. The parking lot was pretty small for the amount of shops in the strip, so I struggled to find a close spot. Luckily, I drive a small car and I was able to fit in one of the more narrow spots. It was a short trek to the doors, but once inside the atmosphere is unmatched to any other shop I have visited. The interior is rustic with brick accents and old-school chalkboards that display the menu. 

Another thing I noticed when I entered the shop was the vibrant mix of scents. Not only did I take in the notes of freshly brewed coffee, but also the inviting smell of fresh baked goods. That's when I noticed the coffee shop was not just next to a bakery but connected to it. I arrived around 2:00 PM and expected the shop to be fairly empty, as that was the normal for most of the shops I have visited in the early afternoon. When I walked in I was surprised to see that there were people lined up to the door. I thought maybe this was because it was a newer shop, but a quick Google search revealed that the shop had actually opened in 2003. That can only mean one thing to me, this place must be really good!

Once I made my way through the line, I was met with a pleasant smile from the barista. I ordered a simple cold brew with vanilla. After taking my payment she kindly suggested I try out the Ibis bakery. Honestly, even if she hadn't suggested it, the smell was too tempting not to try. I made my way to the bakery side and was pleasantly surprised by the massive spread of baked goods behind the counter. After waiting in another line, I decided on a chocolate croissant. I took my treat and coffee to a nearby table to relax and enjoy.

The coffee was very good. It was strong, but not bitter; so if you want coffee that tastes like coffee, this may be the place for you. The flavour of the vanilla was super sweet and complimented the strong coffee nicely. Truthfully, the coffee was delicious, but the real star of the show was the croissant. Between the flakiness of the bread and the sweet cream of the chocolate, this pastry was heavenly.  

I enjoyed the ambience of the people flooding the shops for a few moments, but I decided this wasn't the right atmosphere for homework or light reading. I prefer to study and read in quieter, calmer environments. Though this shop seemed that way online, I didn't take into account the amount of people that would be there. I’m sure it would be a lovely place to relax at a different time, perhaps later in the evening when there are less people. 

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this shop, mainly for the products. The atmosphere had great potential, there were just too many people to really enjoy it at the time I visited. I will definitely try again another time, maybe for an evening coffee and treat.