The Fort Osage School District recently purchased a new building for the Career and Technology Center. The former business Rockin’ B’s Mercantile and Coffee Shop has now turned into the district’s Campus Grounds coffee shop. The shop opened on Nov. 1 2021 and is just about four miles away from Fort Osage High School. Now, I am a coffee-fanatic, so when I heard that our district was opening a coffee shop, I just had to try it out.

Walking into the building, I was immediately greeted with the sweet smell of espresso brewing and delicious bakery treats being warmed. It was like walking into heaven. I was greeted by one of the members on staff with a warm welcoming smile. 

So far coffee wise, I have tasted the white chocolate peppermint mocha, white chocolate mocha, vanilla latte, hazelnut latte, and the candied pumpkin spice latte. Food-wise I have tasted the grilled cheese, turkey wrap, and a cinnamon roll.

Now most of these drinks I tried iced, and they were just wonderful. They were creamy, tasteful, and rich. The white chocolate peppermint mocha was the hot drink I tried, and it was lovely. It was the perfect blend of peppermint and white chocolate and very smooth to go down.

Although, in the five minute trip back to the high school, it went from hot to lukewarm, which did not give it the full potential that the drink has. 

The food is delicious. The grilled cheese has 3 separate cheeses: cheddar, gouda, and Swiss. The gouda really allows this sandwich to get that stringy-pull apart cheese everyone craves. It was delicious. 

The cinnamon roll is probably my favorite item on the menu right now. It’s warm, gooey, and delicious. It just sort of melts in your mouth and gives you that Sunday morning breakfast feeling. 

The turkey wrap was a standard wrap: lettuce, tomato, cheese, and turkey. Absolutely delicious though, and they came with an almost chipotle-ranch style sauce.

The food, coffee, and service can be compared to the local coffee shops we know and love such as Starbucks, Scooters, and Dunkin’. Everything I have tasted has been high quality.

Overall, I was very much impressed with everything that Campus Grounds had to offer. And this is all provided by students from the CTC’s E Studies Program.I would one hundred percent recommend them to anyone that I know. Being able to have good coffee close to school and being able to support the district that I have grown up in is a pleasant feeling. 

Campus Grounds is open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. giving faculty, staff and students time to pick up a fresh and delicious cup of coffee or bite to eat.