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

Parisi Artisan Coffee is a Kansas City family-owned specialty coffee roaster, founded by the Paris family and built on their Sicilian grandmother’s espresso tradition. The roasting operation launched in 2006 under Paris Bros., Inc. (the family’s KC specialty-foods distributor, established 1983), and grew into what local coverage describes as the largest specialty coffee roaster in the central United States. Its flagship café anchors the Grand Hall level of Union Station; a second café operates in downtown Overland Park, alongside a wholesale and contract-roasting program.

Description

Parisi Artisan Coffee is the coffee brand of Paris Bros., Inc., a Kansas City family business. All Parisi coffees are small-batch, drum-roasted at the company’s production facility off Southwest Boulevard near the Crossroads Arts District.1 The brand operates in an Italian café idiom — espresso-forward, single-origin and blended specialty coffees — reflecting the family’s Sicilian heritage.2

The Union Station café is the consumer flagship, occupying roughly 1,200 square feet on the main level adjacent to the Grand Hall. Its design incorporates history from the old Harvey Coffeehouse that once stood in the same spot.3 Beyond retail, Parisi runs a wholesale program serving offices, restaurants, and multi-location cafés, plus contract roasting.4

Ownership and history

PeriodOperator / milestone
1983Paris Bros., Inc. founded in Kansas City by Joseph Paris with brothers Salvatore and Anthony — specialty-foods distribution.1
2006Parisi Coffee roasterie launched by the Paris family, inspired by their Sicilian grandmother’s moka-pot/espresso tradition.12
~2011Parisi Café opens at Union Station (flagship), in the former Harvey Coffeehouse space.3
RecentJoe Paris assumes the presidency, taking over the 40+ year family business from his father and uncle; company relocates HQ to the Power & Light District (lease near 13th & Baltimore), targeting a mid-March 2026 move.5

Parisi remains family-owned and locally operated. Recent KC business coverage characterizes it as the largest local and family-owned coffee company in Kansas City, with roughly 200 employees across Paris Bros.’ broader operations (which also include warehousing and grocery distribution from SubTropolis).5

The flagship’s “founded” date warrants nuance: the seed record listed 1996, but verified sources place the coffee roasterie launch at 2006 (1996 corresponds to Union Station’s reopening, not Parisi). The parent distribution company dates to 1983.

Last verified: 2026-06-17 · Source: Parisi Coffee official site (café + retail collection) · URL(s): https://parisicoffee.com/blogs/news/parisi-union-station · https://parisicoffee.com/collections/coffee · Confidence: High (café format + retail roasts) / Medium (individual signature drink names — official site describes categories, not a per-drink café menu)

Parisi runs an Italian café format: espresso-forward, barista-prepared, hand-crafted to order. The café makes its own sauces, syrups, and marshmallows in house, and offers a chef-prepared grab-and-go breakfast/lunch program from locally sourced seasonal ingredients.6

Espresso & coffee drinks

  • Coffee flight — sampler highlighting several Parisi blends, letting guests compare and build their own flavor profile; a signature of the café format.6
  • Latte — barista-prepared espresso + steamed milk, freshly pulled per order; made with in-house syrups.6
  • Cappuccino — traditional Italian-style espresso with foamed milk.6
  • Iced coffee — hand-crafted to order.6
  • Brew-by-cup — single-cup pour of rotating Parisi roasts.6
  • Hand-brewed teas, traditional Italian sodas, and gelato round out the beverage menu.6

Retail roasts / food

Bagged Parisi roasts sold in-café and online (12 oz unless noted; prices per official store, subject to change7):

  • Espresso Roma — espresso blend; milk chocolate, almond & honeysuckle. ~$207
  • Espresso Parisi — espresso blend; hazelnut, almond & vanilla. ~$207
  • Soccer Capital of America — KC-themed blend; chocolate, candied citrus & cherry cola. ~$247
  • Sporting KC Calcio Blend — KC-themed blend; chamomile, honey graham & maple syrup. ~$227
  • Salute! Kansas City — KC-themed blend; black tea, tart citrus & brown sugar. ~$227
  • Single-origins (rotating) — e.g. Peru Finca la Casita ($29), Peru Geisha honey-processed ($28), Ethiopia Sidama Santawene ($29), Papua New Guinea Waghi Valley ($23), Organic Colombia Excelso Huila (~$23).7
  • Food: chef-prepared grab-and-go breakfast & lunch items, made daily from locally sourced seasonal ingredients (specific items rotate seasonally).6

See also

Sources

Footnotes

  1. Startland News, “Destination espresso: Parisi Coffee spot pours from family, Union Station inspiration at new KCI,” Feb 2023 — https://startlandnews.com/2023/02/parisi-coffee-kci/ (founding 2006; Paris Bros. 1983; Crossroads/SW Blvd roasting). 2 3

  2. HerLife Magazine (Kansas City), “Parisi Café: Single-Origin Specialty Coffees Anchor the Complete Italian Café Experience” — https://www.herlifemagazine.com/kansascity/cravings/parisi-cafe-single-origin-specialty-coffees-anchor-the-complete-italian-cafe-experience/ (Sicilian heritage, Italian café format). 2

  3. Parisi Coffee, “Parisi @ Union Station” — https://parisicoffee.com/blogs/news/parisi-union-station (flagship; ~1,200 sq ft; Grand Hall; former Harvey Coffeehouse). Union Station opening year ~2011 per Startland coverage. 2

  4. Parisi Coffee, Locations + wholesale pages — https://parisicoffee.com/pages/locations (Union Station, Overland Park, wholesale/contract roasting).

  5. Axios Kansas City, “Parisi company launches new era with downtown KCMO HQ,” Feb 20, 2026 — https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/02/20/parisi-coffee-company-launches-new-era-downtown-kcmo-hq (Joe Paris president; family/local ownership; ~200 employees; Power & Light HQ; mid-March 2026 move). 2

  6. Parisi Coffee, “Parisi @ Union Station” — https://parisicoffee.com/blogs/news/parisi-union-station (café format: barista-prepared lattes/cappuccinos/iced coffee, brew-by-cup, coffee flights, hand-brewed teas, Italian sodas, gelato; in-house syrups/sauces/marshmallows; chef-prepared grab-and-go breakfast/lunch from local seasonal ingredients). Verified 2026-06-17. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

  7. Parisi Coffee, retail coffee collection — https://parisicoffee.com/collections/coffee (espresso blends Espresso Roma & Espresso Parisi with tasting notes; KC-themed blends Soccer Capital of America, Sporting KC Calcio, Salute! Kansas City; rotating single-origins; listed prices ~$20–$29, subject to change). Verified 2026-06-17. 2 3 4 5 6 7

More from the Registry

See also

On the record — ks.city/registry/parisi-artisan-coffee · record updated 2026-07-26