Back to Basics: How Current State Coffee Is Redefining the Roastery Cafe Experience
Introduction
There is no time like the present to enjoy a quality cup of coffee in Shawnee, Kansas. That is the philosophy behind Current State Coffee Roasting, whose first roastery cafe has just opened its doors. This is not your typical third-wave coffee shop. Instead, it is a deliberate step back towards the fundamentals of coffee, both in design and in the cup. The company, founded by industry veterans Nick Robertson, Josh Greenlee, and David Weber, aims to build a space where tradition meets transparency. And it is a big deal for the local scene.
The cafe occupies a nearly century-old red-brick building in downtown Shawnee. The building itself dictated the design. Heated concrete floors and high arched ceilings supported by industrial rafters set the tone. As Robertson told Daily Coffee News, We wanted the building to steer the design, because it is a historic building, pushing 100 years old now. Instead of design heavy, we wanted it to just be heavy. That weight is palpable the moment you step inside.
Design Philosophy: Letting the Building Talk
The interior is anything but flimsy. A rammed-earth bar anchors the space, its layered colours providing a natural, earthy focal point. Solid walnut cabinetry and oak chairs, the latter made from old church pews, add to the sturdy, grounded feel. A windowed garage-bay door opens up to a front patio with green metal chairs and tables, lawn, and potted plants. The result is a space that feels like a factory you are invited into. (Fair enough, that is exactly what Robertson intended.)
The roaster is front and centre. An 18-kilogram-capacity US Roaster Corp machine sits in full view of every customer. Kiersten Rex, founding partner and former head roaster for Messenger Coffee, operates it using green coffees selected and sample-roasted by Robertson. This transparency is deliberate: customers can see exactly how their coffee is made. It is a far cry from the hidden back rooms of many roasteries.
Coffee Philosophy: Back to the Basics
Current State's approach to coffee is refreshingly simple. Robertson leans toward clean, traditionally processed coffees from a focused group of producing countries. The current lineup includes coffees from Colombia, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Peru, plus a decaf from Mexico. These are purchased through importers including Shared Source, Swift Coffee Sourcing and Cafe Imports. The goal is not to cover the entire coffee belt or chase breakthroughs in post-harvest flavour science. Instead, Current State takes a back-to-basics approach, showcasing terroir and processing methods traditionally associated with each origin.
The concept of the brand is leaning into an early-2000s style cafe. You probably won't see a lot of funky coffees on the menu, Robertson said. In the same spirit of a high-quality Pilsner brewery, discerning quality in coffee or in a beer is about the fundamentals of processing, and not the imposing of other flavours to make it palatable. This is not exactly groundbreaking in theory, but in practice it is rare. Many roasters today chase novelty with experimental anaerobic fermentations or heavily processed naturals. Current State bucks that trend. And it is a welcome return to clarity.
Menu and Equipment: Old School Meets New School
The philosophy extends to the equipment. The house espresso program leans into an old-school, Italian-spirited approach. Rich, low-acid triple-basket shots form the base for classic drinks. These are prepared on a three-group La Marzocco Linea Classic paired with a La Marzocco Swan grinder. At the other end of the bar, a single-group La Marzocco GS3 and Bee House drippers handle single-origin espresso and manual pourover brews.
This dual setup is clever. One side delivers the consistent, traditional espresso that forms the backbone of any great cafe. The other side showcases the company's more progressive American coffee perspective, allowing customers to explore single-origin coffees through pourover methods. It is a nod to both heritage and innovation. (Not a bad way to please purists and explorers at the same time.)
Team and History: A Cohesive Force
Current State did not appear out of thin air. Robertson was previously the green coffee buyer and co-founder of Messenger Coffee in Kansas City, Missouri. Rex was Messenger's head roaster. Greenlee is the owner of Seleno Coffee and Weber is Seleno's co-founder. Together, they bring decades of experience. The company's first roasted coffees hit the wholesale market late last year, and the brand publicly launched in January 2026.
This is a team that knows the specialty coffee industry inside out. They have seen the trends come and go. Now they are betting on a return to fundamentals. It is a brave move, but one that could resonate with discerning customers tired of overly processed coffee.
What's Next
So what does the future hold for Current State? Robertson is characteristically measured. Though the vision is simple, we've got a long way to go before we're perfect, so the next step is just trying to achieve perfection, he said. We definitely want to just fill in the space that we have and figure out what Shawnee wants the most. This humility is refreshing. It suggests that the company will grow organically, listening to the community rather than imposing a rigid business model.
But the potential is clear. The combination of a historic building, a focus on quality fundamentals, and a team with deep roots in the region positions Current State well. It could become a template for other roastery cafes that want to avoid gimmicks. Expect to see more emphasis on education: Robertson mentioned cultivating a culture of appreciation as an ongoing project. That means cupping events, roasting workshops, and perhaps even collaborations with local breweries or bakeries. The brand is about being present, as Robertson put it: paying attention to coffee.
In a market flooded with novelty, that attention to detail could be the most radical offering of all. Keep an eye on Shawnee. It might just become a new pilgrimage site for coffee lovers seeking clarity over hype.
Current State Coffee Roasting is located at 11217 Johnson Drive in Shawnee, Kansas.
