craft bakery and coffee shop.
COMING SOON
- JUNE 6, 2026-
COMING SOON - JUNE 6, 2026-
COMING SOON.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6 2026
Interested in joining our team? Please send an email to nicolette@zestcoffees.com with the following information. We will send you an application!
Full Name
Intended Position
Full- or Part-Time
Phone Number
PASTRY.
At ZEST Pastry & Coffee Co. we bake with passion. All of our pastries are baked fresh daily using high quality ingredients. We pride ourselves in operating a scratch kitchen, and take great care in hand crafting our pastries each and every day. We are proud to bring these homemade goods to the community, and excited to share our zeal for baking with you.
COFFEE.
At ZEST Pastry & Coffee Co., we’re passionate about the craft of coffee—from bean to brew. Every cup is brewed with precision and care, using a variety of methods including pour-over, espresso, and cold brew to suit every taste. Our baristas are trained to bring out the best in each roast, creating drinks that are both rich in flavor and beautifully presented. We strive to serve our customers the highest quality product, while offering a superior customer experience. We are committed to serving the unique flavor palates of our customers for a one of a kind experience.
Our Creations.
Discover the perfect pairing of artisan pastries and handcrafted coffee—browse our menu to indulge in something truly delightful.
UNIQUE RECIPES.
Our bakery is built on one-of-a-kind recipes you won’t find anywhere else—crafted with care, tradition, and a touch of creativity in every bite.
FRESH INGREDIENTS.
We believe great flavor starts with the finest ingredients—always fresh, never compromised. It's this dedication to quality that gives our pastries their rich taste and homemade warmth.
THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED.
We don’t just bake—we craft with heart. Every ingredient and every step is carefully considered to create something special and memorable.
ABOUT US.
JULIA ESTEPHAN
ZEST PASTRY & COFFEE CO., OWNER
Julia is an inspired and impassioned individual whose goal is to bring decadent, fresh pastries to her local patrons. She hopes her joy and affection for baking resonate through her products.
Julia has had a love of food since a young age. Baking boxed Bundt cakes and writing recipes as a child morphed into something greater in adolescence. In seventh grade, Julia began baking cookies and cupcakes for her teachers and classmates, weekly. What started as a chocolate chip cookie recipe from the back of the morsel bag was tested and tweaked for years to become the staple and most-requested item in her repertoire. This type of precise and insistent work drove Julia to create pastries with her exact desired effect. She worked throughout high school to develop her basic recipes, most of which are the basis of her current ones.
Julia attended Kent State University to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. Working in accounting and bookkeeping since the age of sixteen, she has always had an affinity for business. Her entrepreneurial spirit and a unique opportunity presented Julia with the ability to sell her pastries as a second job. While obtaining a degree and still working part-time, Julia made particular efforts to focus on her business and began to market her product. Bridal and baby showers, graduation parties, and weddings dawned into somewhat consistent work, while holidays and family gatherings became occasions of testing and critiquing her newly created items. In her senior year of college, Julia began to develop the business ideas and bakery items that have formed Zest Pastry Company. Today, her goal is simple: to bring fresh, homemade pastries to the community.
NICOLETTE ZAHNISER
ZEST PASTRY AND COFFEE CO., OWNER
Zest Coffee Company was founded with a simple vision: to create a welcoming space where exceptional coffee, genuine hospitality, and community come together. Based in Strongsville, Ohio, Zest was built on a passion for quality, creativity, and meaningful connections with every customer who walks through the door.
As both a coffee enthusiast and interior designer, Nicolette brought together her love for thoughtfully crafted spaces and unique coffee experiences to shape the identity of Zest Coffee Company. Inspired by years of visiting independent coffee shops in cities across the country, she developed a deep appreciation for the atmosphere, creativity, and sense of community that great cafés can provide. Those experiences inspired her to bring something similar to her hometown — a craft coffee shop that feels elevated, welcoming, and rooted in the local community.
Growing up and continuing to reside in Strongsville, Nicolette recognized an opportunity to introduce a modern craft coffee experience to the area. She believed the community would embrace a locally owned coffee shop focused on exceptional beverages and pastries, as well as hospitality, consistency, and atmosphere. That belief ultimately led to the opening of Zest Coffee Company’s first location in the heart of her hometown.
Today, Zest Coffee Company continues to prioritize quality in every detail. From sourcing premium ingredients to creating a memorable customer experience, the company is committed to maintaining the highest standards in both its products and service. Every member of the Zest team shares in that mission, working to create an environment where customers feel welcomed, valued, and excited to return.
More than just a coffee shop, Zest Coffee Company was created to be a place that brings people together — a space built on passion, community, and a genuine love for great coffee.
