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Add it to Claude Code
claude mcp add -e "KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS=${KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS}" kafka-mcp -- "<uv PATH>" --directory "<kafka-mcp PATH>" run kafka-mcpRequired:
KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS+ 1 optionalEnvironment Variables
Set these before running Kafka MCP.
VariableDescriptionRequired
KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERSComma-separated list of broker urlsYesKAFKA_CLIENT_IDClient ID for connectionNoAvailable Tools (16)
Once configured, Kafka MCP gives your AI agent access to:
describe_clusterGet cluster metadata including controller and brokers.describe_brokersList all brokers.list_topicsList all available topics.describe_topicGet detailed info for a topic including partitions and replicas.create_topicCreate a new topic with partitions and replication factor.delete_topicDelete a topic.create_partitionsIncrease partitions for a topic.describe_configsView dynamic configs for topic, broker, or group.alter_configsUpdate dynamic configs.list_consumer_groupsList all active consumer groups.describe_consumer_groupGet members and state of a group.get_consumer_group_offsetsGet committed offset, watermarks, and calculate total lag for a topic.reset_consumer_group_offsetSafely change consumer group offsets to earliest, latest, or a specific offset.rewind_consumer_group_offset_by_timestampRewind or advance consumer group offsets securely based on a timestamp.consume_messagesConsume messages from a topic.produce_messageSend a message to a topic.Try It Out
After setup, try these prompts with your AI agent:
→List all topics currently available in the Kafka cluster.
→Check the consumer group lag for the 'orders' topic and identify if any groups are falling behind.
→Reset the consumer group offset for 'payment-service' to the earliest position.
→Produce a test message to the 'notifications' topic with the content 'Hello Kafka'.
→Describe the configuration for the 'user-events' topic to check its retention settings.
Prerequisites & system requirements
- An MCP-compatible client (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Desktop, or Codex)
- Docker installed and running
KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS— Comma-separated list of broker urls
Alternative installation methods
Docker
docker run -i --rm -e KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS=host.docker.internal:9092 kafka-mcpConare · memory for coding agents
Keep this setup from going cold
Save the docs, env vars, and workflow around Kafka MCP in Conare so Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor remember it next time.
Remember this setup$npx conare@latest