craft bakery and coffee shop.
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.
RYAN & NICOLETTE ZAHNISER
ZEST PASTRY AND COFFEE CO., OWNERS
Zest Coffee Company is founded by Ryan and Nicolette, a husband and wife team. They are passionate about serving their community, and ensuring that all of their product is of the highest quality.
Ryan studied Chemical Engineering, and has worked as a Systems Engineer for multiple years. During his time in university, he studied the chemical process of cold brew production, and developed a passion for coffee. During his younger years, he worked on the side as a bartender, and grew a passion for serving his community, and creating connections with his customers. He decided to combine his love of coffee and desire to serve others and create bonds along the way by founding Zest Coffee Company in Strongsville, Ohio, where he grew up. Nicolette and Ryan have always found joy in trying the most unique coffee shops in every city they would visit. Nicolette is an interior designer and lover of coffee, so she combined her passions by influencing the flavors, menu items, and designing the interior of the space.
Growing up and currently residing in Strongsville, the pair saw a void in the market, and felt that the city could greatly benefit from the addition of a craft coffee shop, which is why they decided to open up their first shop in their hometown. Ryan and Nicolette share their passion for coffee and high quality service, and aim to share that passion with their customers. Every Zest employee embodies the standards and vision of the company, and strive to provide the highest level of quality and customer service.
