The next time you’re going out for coffee please ditch the Starbucks fad and try out this local gem of a Coffee Shop!

Newly opened in the fall of 2013, Zeal Coffee Roasters is an artisan roasting company that specializes in a diverse mix of blends and offers so much more than the corporate chains we’re accustomed to.

Walking into the artist-bungalow like store, you’ll be enveloped by the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and friendly staff that goes beyond the basic duties you’d expect of a barista; they are welcoming and add a special artistic touch to all the beverages they create with micro foam art. All the staff agree that coffee isn’t just a push button brewing process but more of a craft than anything else—one that they all care about and take pride in.

Owner, Peter Davidson, started this company after his first business venture with Organic Life Coffeehouse—a well-known spot of Lutz, now located in Palm Harbor. It’s no surprise that this shop is already up and coming and it’s inevitable that it will become a very popular coffee shop in Tampa.

Zeal offers organic coffee, specialty blends, espresso, frappes, over 15 types of loose leaf tea, even tea cappuccinos (a specialty served nowhere else), and much more! They also have open mics every other Friday, provide information about brewing techniques on their website, and rent out private areas in the shop for meetings, studies, etc.

Zeal Coffee Roasters will also be hosting their first event on January 17th: a concert to benefit the children of I Matter Too, a foundation that helps mentor and tutor the orphaned, abused, and neglected children of America. There are many branches in cities nationwide, so this event will be supporting those in our community. Touring artists such as John Gold, Reckless Mercy, and Josh Gilbert will be performing at the Reveal Church that night. Tickets are only $10 per person.

Check out a video of their space here and learn more about the company and upcoming events on their Facebook page.