Ronni Kurtz and Josh Brown had always loved visiting coffee shops together. Starting their own always felt like a pipe dream–a fun mental exercise for an uncle and nephew who, only four years apart in age, were more like brothers. At each new cafe, they would discuss the things they loved and the things they’d do differently: more comfortable chairs, great coffee, more outlets, better hospitality.
That exercise came in handy last year when they decided it was time to make their dream a reality and open their own roastery and cafe, Provis Coffee.
“Coffee has always provided a space where stories can flourish,” says Ronni. “We’ve always pursued our own stories in coffee shops, and we wanted to celebrate that. People who are pursuing their own stories can have a safe place to be.”
Wanting stories woven into the brand itself, they turned to Charles Dickens. The name Provis comes from the alias of Abel Magwitch in his novel Great Expectations, and the hound dog in their crest is inspired by and named for Dickens’s own canine companion, Turk.
Before anything could begin, they needed to find the coffee they would serve. In March, they hired Randall Buchanan, a long-time coffee industry professional, to get the ball rolling.
“In the roasting world, it can be easy to rely on major importers. Over the years I’ve developed great partnerships with the growers themselves. It’s been great to partner with specific producers that are championing experimental processing. Working with those farms directly makes a big difference. You can taste the results of those experiments in the cup,” says Randall.
They focus, largely, on both taste and approachability. Coffees need to be delicious and interesting enough for connoisseurs, but approachable enough for folks looking for something enjoyable with cream and sugar.
Working with smaller growers means they’re able to produce interesting, harder-to-find coffees, like their Gesha Thermoshock and Watermelon Lemonade Co-Ferment, both produced by Colombian producer Edwin Noreña. These reserve coffees are special, scarce, and delicious. It was a gamble to bring them in.
“We were going to wait further down the line to get into the higher-end experimental coffees,” says Josh. “We wanted to get more established first. But we went to a cupping, and I tried the Gesha, and it knocked my socks off. It tasted like straight flowers. We just immediately made the executive decision to get into competition-grade. The coffee was just straight emotion.”
Provis delivered their first bags of coffee in mid-April, months before the cafe would open, to an immediate response.
We weren’t sure what the appetite for these more experimental coffees would be,” Ronni says. “So we only bought twenty-two pounds green. It sold out in 50 hours.”
All of the coffees have sold well. Single origins, blends, and yes, the more experimental coffees already have a cult following. Their monthly subscription was nearing fifty subscribers before the cafe opened its doors.
The other important piece to nail was the location. As Northlanders themselves, having a cafe in Northtown feels especially meaningful. Ronni and Josh explored spaces across the metro, but none of them were perfect. The space wasn’t what they were looking for, the neighborhood wasn’t a good fit, or the market was too saturated. North Kansas City provided a unique opportunity: a neighborhood with fewer coffee options and real room to make an impression.
Their specific space, located just off Burlington in the Blume Development, was exactly what they were looking for. Not only was the location great, but it also gave them the opportunity to open a massive, two-story, 6,000-square-foot cafe — one of the largest in the entire metro.
“We want things to be done well,” says Ronni. “We care about craft down to what cups we’re using. We hired someone to throw some clay for handmade cups. We want craftsmanship in the space.”
When you walk into the cafe, you can immediately feel the care that was put into every detail. You’re greeted immediately by the brand’s “hound and crown” crest over the wide coffee bar, while rich, dark wood bookcases line the walls. Comfortable furniture anchors the space, inviting you to sit and stay a while. All of this is intentional. Beyond serving an incredible product, Ronni and Josh hope to see their burgeoning cafe as a true “third place” that people can feel at home in.
“I’m looking forward to the day when I walk into the shop and I see someone over there reading a novel, and someone over there editing photos, and someone over there working on a drawing,” says Ronni. “We want to cultivate a space where people can do their normal rhythms, but you know, with good coffee and a little bit of beauty.”
Upstairs, you’ll find more seating, a second coffee bar for those busy Saturday mornings, small private spaces that can be rented for meetings, and a comfortable lounge area.
The people, though, are what make Provis shine.
“In coffee these days, you often have to choose between really good coffee or great hospitality. We want to be a place where that dichotomy goes to die,” says Ronni.
Provis has meticulously crafted a business around their four pillars of craftsmanship, hospitality, beauty, and stories. You can see it in the space, taste it in the coffee, and feel it in everyone involved. Their story is just beginning, and it’s going to be a great one.
Provis Coffee
2914 Buchanan St, North Kansas City
Open as of late September 2026
“Coffee has always provided a space where stories can flourish."
“In coffee these days, you often have to choose between really good coffee or great hospitality. We want to be a place where that dichotomy goes to die."