Zest Bakery and Coffeehouse

I used to live in the area and come up for visits, lately often. To find this place and take notice that more cool businesses are in Stevens Point (a college town), makes my heart happy.
I was here for my little sister’s birthday and wanted to get her a cake or something yummy. Since I was too lazy to bake and make a mess at a relatives house, I did some research and found Zest Bakery on Facebook. They don’t have a direct website, yet. Her birthday was only a day or so away and was running out on options. I messaged them about a possible cake or cupcake order, expecting for them to tell me that the order date was too soon and would not be able to be fulfilled.
Totally wrong. They were so cool and provided me with a list of different flavors of cupcakes and frosting combinations that they could do and said that they would have them ready for the day of my sister’s birthday.
I ended up doing something a little different and ordered a dozen of earl grey cupcakes with lavender frosting. I wasn’t too sure on how the combination was going to work, but it sounded amazing and went for the gamble.
Let me say that that was the most amazing thing I have ever tasted! If Earth make a cupcake, this would have been it. The flavors did not overpower each other, they worked in perfect harmony. I think the bakery used natural flavorings (if not, they fooled me), because it didn’t taste fake or synthetic. I managed to take a couple home with me to endure the ride back to Texas. Let me say that they didn’t make it past Iowa. So good!
Would order again or just stop in for a pastry or sandwich that are available in the store front.

What a great addition to the Stevens Point area. The food is good and presented well. A quaint place to eat, close to Campus. Their bakery items are oh so good. The owners are friendly and generous to the community.

This is a cute little place and I totally love the unique decoration. Clean and organized. Good quality coffee and great food. Staff is very nice and friendly. Reasonable price.

Atmosphere:
They have a neat, «indie» feel to the inside. A cool chalkboard that changes on a regular basis — sometimes a neat drawing or inspirational quote. Not a whole lot of dining space so can feel a little tight if it’s really busy. Also has free wifi!
Food:
Awesome baked goods that are made on site! They have quick and easy breakfast options if you’re on the go and nicer lunch choices like soups, salads, and sandwiches. Zest is great about changing up the menu to include seasonal items that are readily available from local producers. Drinks are also good, though I will admit I typically get Americanos at coffee shops. They standard drip coffee is quite good as well as their tea options.
Service:
I’ve never had bad service. They are a smaller operation so when it’s busy and customers are ordering non-​quick drinks (i.e. smoothies) it can take a bit of time. The staff have always been great though and I’ve never had a negative encounter with any of the employees.
In summary:
I have sat in here for hours reading, working on my computer, or just hanging out with friends. I am local and a frequent flyer to Zest. Definitely a recommendation for anyone passing through. They’ve also recently updated their outdoor sitting area to be a full blown patio (I have yet to go but I’m excited to check it out soon!)

Zest is the place to be for relaxation and good eats. Serving Colectivo coffee, home-​baked sweet treats, and delectable soups and sandwiches. The staff and management are welcoming and accommodating.

Love love love this place
Delicious treats, amazing coffee, fabulous entrees and super friendly peeps workin’ there! I am a huge fan of their smoothies, peanut butter bars and the Santa Fe falafel… Zest is a weekly ritual for me! :)

What a hidden gem in a sleepy college town like this one! I absolutely love the atmosphere here. This establishment is across the street from campus and situated next to a vapor shop. There were seating with tables and comfy sofas. Don’t be fooled by the outside. Inside is where paradise is.
We were greeted with smiles and a very laid back cashier. Attached to the service counter, yummy pastries sat behind the glass just begging to be eaten. Top left you’ll find a Harry Potter Latte Menu. And that was it, I was sold. I basically said, «Just give me any hot beverage and anything behind the glass, I’ll hand you however much you want.»
Service was friendly and fast. My husband bought a tea and it was heaven for him; piping hot and perfect for our stroll around campus in this polar vortex. There was also counter that had raw sugar, sugar cube, and other flavorings that you can toss in your drink but we didn’t need any. Need a place to relax? Go, you won’t be disappointed.

Fantastic coffee drinks and baked goods. Wish I lived closer so I could make it there regularly.

Great place to relax work, read and enjoy coffee and food!

I like this place and I love to have it near campus. Good food and the coffee is solid too.

Love this place. Their pastries are delicious but you should go early when everything is fresh out of the oven to get the best experience.
Their coffee (The Blue Heeler) and tea are great. Seating is nice. Lunch menu is healthy and flavorful. Service has gotten much better than when they first opened. Overall, the staff, (especially the owners) is pretty cool.

Loved the sandwich and kettle chips for just $ 5.50! Will be coming back. The tea we had was really good too. The ambiance is on the modern side including regular tables, but also has two comfy sofas and a sitting chair around a coffee table with games on it.

This is a nicely located little coffee/​sandwich shop next to campus (diagonal from the CCC). They offer panini style sandwiches (try the apple, maplewood bacon one) and a large variety of coffees, smoothies and other little treats (yogurt, granola, deserts, etc). It’s a nice little spot to grab a bite or drink close to school (and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg) and recharge.

This is a great little coffee house next to campus just off of Division. They make all of their food from scratch and serve some great coffee and smoothies! They even offer coffee that is roasted locally.
It is a must stop!