This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

a specialty coffee shop founded by Joshua Bella, with a Northland location inside the Mid-Continent Public Library’s Green Hills branch (opened ~January 2023). Known for pour-over coffee using KC-local Marcell Coffee beans; a sibling of Bella’s West Bottoms flagship. Tier 1 (independent, owner-operated).

Description

Novella Cafe is a specialty coffee shop founded by Joshua Bella; its Northland location sits inside the Mid-Continent Public Library’s Green Hills branch at 8581 N Green Hills Rd and opened around January 2023 (Bella’s first Novella, in the West Bottoms at 1331 Union Ave, opened December 14, 2022).123 The café is known for a pour-over–forward program built on KC-local Marcell Coffee beans (including a single-origin Colombian espresso roasted in collaboration with Marcell); Bella also partners with Jason Provo of Blackhole Bakery on the concept.12

Ownership and history

Ownership

PeriodOwner / OperatorNotes
2022 → presentJoshua BellaWest Bottoms flagship opened Dec 2022; Green Hills (Northland) library location ~Jan 2023; sources Marcell Coffee.12

Last verified: 2026-06-20 · Source: Novella Cafe official site (menu/about), joe coffee ordering listing, The Pitch KC, Yelp/Restaurantji · URL(s): https://www.novellacafes.com/menu-1 · https://joe.coffee/locations/mo/kansas-city/novella-cafe-kansas-city/ · https://www.thepitchkc.com/dish-drink-kc-a-hidden-gem-in-green-hills-library-and-game-day-vibes-at-sidos-cuisine/ · Confidence: Medium — concept and named drinks/food are well sourced; per-item drink prices are NOT publicly posted (official menu is an image; aggregators show no prices), so prices are omitted rather than fabricated.

Specialty-grade coffee bar inside the Green Hills library: an espresso-and-pour-over program on KC-local Marcell Coffee beans, house-made syrups, plus seasonal lattes, matcha, cold brew, and library-friendly pastries.145

Signature & seasonal drinks

  • Iced Maple Cinnamon Latte — espresso, house-made cinnamon syrup, and oat milk.5
  • Iced oat-milk latte — a customer-favorite house pour.6
  • Floral flat white — espresso-forward milk drink noted in coverage.7
  • Watermelon mint lemonade — seasonal non-coffee refresher.4

Espresso & coffee

  • Pour over — single-cup pour-over program on Marcell Coffee beans (rotating/specialty roasters).14
  • Espresso drinks — latte, flat white, and standard espresso bar, with house-made syrups.17
  • Cold brew.7

Tea & matcha

  • Matcha (incl. iced/oat-milk preparations).7

Food & pastries

  • Cinnamon roll, chocolate croissant, blueberry muffin, cookies, bacon burrito — rotating pastry/breakfast case.8

Retail

  • Whole-bean coffee — 16 oz bags sold in-shop; one review cited ~$18 for a 16 oz bag with a refillable tin (refill program).69

Per-drink prices are not publicly posted; confirm in-shop or via the joe coffee app.

Sources

  • Status verified active 2026-06-23 via Yelp — Novella (Kansas City) (accessed 2026-06-23). Listing updated April 2026; MCPL Green Hills branch café current (Mon–Sat 8a–4p); address 8581 N Green Hills Rd cross-checked.

Disputes

(None active.)

Footnotes

  1. Novella Cafe — official “About.” https://www.novellacafes.com/about-1 — asserts: founder Joshua Bella; specialty/pour-over program; Marcell Coffee sourcing; Green Hills + West Bottoms locations. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. Kansas City Magazine — Novella / Blackhole Bakery partnership. https://kansascitymag.com/new-west-bottoms-coffeeshop-will-partner-with-blackhole-bakery/ — asserts: Joshua Bella; West Bottoms flagship Dec 2022; Green Hills/Northland location opened mid-Jan 2023; Marcell Coffee collaboration; partner Jason Provo (Blackhole Bakery). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  3. Mid-Continent Public Library — In-Branch Coffee Shops. https://www.mymcpl.org/services/branch-coffee-shops — asserts: Novella at the Green Hills branch (8581 N Green Hills Rd); current hours. ↩

  4. Novella Cafe — official menu page. https://www.novellacafes.com/menu-1 — asserts: pour-over menu, seasonal drinks (watermelon mint lemonade), house-made syrups; full menu posted as image (no machine-readable prices). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. The Pitch KC — “Dish & Drink KC: A hidden gem in Green Hills Library.” https://www.thepitchkc.com/dish-drink-kc-a-hidden-gem-in-green-hills-library-and-game-day-vibes-at-sidos-cuisine/ — asserts: Iced Maple Cinnamon Latte (cinnamon syrup, espresso, oat milk); atmosphere inside library. ↩ ↩2

  6. Yelp — Novella (Kansas City). https://www.yelp.com/biz/novella-kansas-city-2 — asserts: open/active, updated April 2026; iced oat-milk latte favorite; ~$18 16oz beans + refillable tin. ↩ ↩2

  7. joe coffee — Novella Cafe (Kansas City) ordering listing. https://joe.coffee/locations/mo/kansas-city/novella-cafe-kansas-city/ — asserts: espresso drinks, matcha, cold brew, flat white available for mobile order. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  8. Restaurantji — Novella (Northland). https://www.restaurantji.com/mo/kansas-city/novella-northland-/ — asserts: customer-favorite pastries — cinnamon roll, chocolate croissant, blueberry muffin, cookies, bacon burrito. ↩

  9. Novella Cafe — Refill Program. https://www.novellacafes.com/refill-program — asserts: refillable-tin / refill program for whole-bean coffee. ↩

More from the Registry

In Northland See all →

See also

Categories

On the record — ks.city/registry/novella-cafe · record updated 2026-06-23