Mr K winner sipped deeply with community; now it’s savoring Small Business of the Year accolades 

Built at the crossroads of coffee and cultural placemaking, the KC Chamber’s just-announced Small Business of the Year has brewed more than a thriving family business — it’s a story steeped in creating space for the region’s Latin and Indigenous communities alongside incoming FIFA World Cup visitors.

The “Mr. K Award”, also known as the Small Business of the Year, sits on stage alongside speciality awards moments before the KC Chamber’s Small Business Celebration luncheon; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

Café Corazón was revealed Wednesday as winner of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s coveted “Mr. K Award” — an honor signifying the top small business in the local ecosystem after a rigorous, competitive award season this spring.

“Café Corazón was built to create space for people to feel seen, connected, and celebrated,” said Dulcinea Herrera, co-owner of the popular brand alongside her parents, Miel Castagna-Herrera and Curtis Herrera. “This award reflects the passion of our team, the support of Kansas City, and our belief that businesses can succeed while also investing deeply in people and community.”

Dulcinea Herrera and her mother, Miel Castagna-Herrera, co-owners of Café Corazón, react to being named a Top 10 small business by the KC Chamber; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

The announcement closes 12 weeks of considerations by judges, who narrowed dozens of nominees to 10 finalists for the Small Business of the Year. It was the second consecutive year for Café Corazón to earn a spot among the top 10. (The business was recognized by the KC Chamber in 2025 with the Spirit of Inclusion Award.)

Click here for a look at the 2026 finalists for the Mr. K Award.

Named for the iconic Kansas City entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Kauffman, the Mr. K honor — also called Small Business of the Year — targets companies that demonstrate business growth and sustainability, strong employee relations, community involvement, and commitment to creating welcoming cultures of belonging for all, the KC Chamber said.

Click here to read about the 2025 Small Business of the Year.

Café Corazón’s storefront sits beneath looming construction in the emergent Crossroads Arts District; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

Founded in 2019 on Westport Road, Café Corazón has grown from a single storefront to additional hotspots in the Crossroads Arts District and Brookside. It’s since launched wholesale operations, acquired a new roasting and distribution facility, and introduced an expanding line of ethically sourced products, including coffee, yerba mate, canned beverages, and specialty offerings.

“Café Corazón maintains direct ethical sourcing relationships with coffee farms across Latin America and is actively positioning Kansas City as a hub for globally sourced specialty coffee and beverage exports,” the KC Chamber said in a press release, noting the brand also invests deeply in Kansas City through nonprofit partnerships, free community events, local artist collaborations, and mentorship opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs and creatives.

ICYMI: ‘Night Without Borders’ opens coffee house doors to honor heritage through harmony

The Herrera family accepted the award Wednesday during the KC Chamber’s Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon at the Loews Kansas City Hotel.

Café Corazón’s business model is intentionally centered on inclusion, entrepreneurship, and cultural connection, the chamber emphasized.

Dulcinea Herrera, co-founder and CEO of Café Corazón, center, speaks during a panel conversation on World Cup readiness; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Over the past 18 months, Dulcinea Herrera has positioned the brand at the forefront of Kansas City small business readiness as the FIFA World Cup approaches. Drawing upon her own business experience and the family’s Argentinian heritage, she’s been a staple of community panel conversations and other public appearances to offer insights on planning for the influx of cultures.

RELATED: Her family helped bring Argentine comfort food to KC’s masses; World Cup base camp kicks open new doors 

Baristas finish beverages at Café Corazón’s Crossroads coffee shop; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

The company’s multilingual staff speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and American Sign Language, helping create a welcoming environment for customers and employees alike — all part of a rolling plan for the business that started long before Kansas City began preparations for this summer’s World Cup, Herrera told Startland News previously.

Dulcinea Herrera, Café Corazón; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“At the end of the day, you want people to walk into your store and you want that transaction to be very seamless and fast and easy, so they keep coming back,” she said.

RELATED: KC favorites eye World Cup: How to become ‘the spot’ for visitors without losing KC flavor

In addition to specialty merch and an inviting space, Café Corazón is spotlighting yerba mate tea — a highly caffeinated, natural alternative to coffee that delivers sustained energy without the crash — for locals and World Cup visitors alike, Herrera said.

“We ethically source our yerba mate directly from Argentina, honoring its Indigenous roots while bringing it into a modern, elevated experience,” she told Startland, drawing a connection to the 1,000-year-old beverage’s status as Argentinian football star Lionel Messi’s favorite drink. “With the World Cup approaching and global attention rising, especially with Messi’s connection to yerba mate, this is a timely and culturally rich offering that blends wellness, tradition, and energy.”

Along with the Small Business of the Year designation, the KC Chamber presented five specialty awards at the luncheon. Those winners include:

Emerging Small Business of the Year: Fifth & Emery Frozen Yogurt & Chocolate

A community space for more than delicious sweets — building a home for creation, freedom, and making memories.

Spirit of Inclusion Small Business Award: MADE MOBB

A Crossroads-based streetwear brand rooted in collaboration and community.

Legacy of Kansas City Award: encompas

Specializing in contract furniture and architectural products for corporate, government, education, hospitality, and healthcare environments.

Weida Award for International Small Business of the Year: Gray Ram Tactical, LLC

A professional training and consulting firm specializing in law enforcement, military, and workplace safety instruction. Founded in 2007 and based in Missouri, Gray Ram Tactical provides high-impact, scenario-driven training.

Luminary Arts & Creative Small Business Award: IT-RA ICONS

A collaboration of Kansas City muralist Isaac Tapia and Rodrigo Alvarez. The duo began working together in summer 2017.