By B.C. Manion
It doesn’t take long to realize that A Cup of Organic, a coffee shop in Lutz, isn’t your typical place to get a cup of Joe or a fancy coffee drink.
There’s live music there three nights of the week, free wi-fi and the menu offers a selection of organic coffees, teas, smoothies, milkshakes, sandwiches, muffins, cupcakes, cookies and other pastry items.
It has a clean, contemporary feel – and a relaxed vibe.
It also wants to be more than a place where people rush through to get their morning java.
“We want to be the community coffee shop,” said J.D. Lane, one of the company’s five partners. “We don’t want to be a place where we’re simply in someone’s traffic pattern – they’re heading to work, they’re grabbing their morning coffee because they have to have it.”
They appreciate that kind of business, Lane said. However, he added: “We want to be the place where people want to come and actually hang out.”
The coffee shop, at 1900 Oak Grove Blvd., opened last month. It already seems to be gaining a following, and some of its house blends are emerging as its top sellers, Lane said.
Pete Davidson, another one of the partners, created some new coffee drinks.
One is called a Caramel Macchiato Dream – which features a layer of caramel, espresso sweetened with caramel, steamed milk and froth. It is finished with thin streams of caramel, which slide down the interior of the glass.
“That’s why he named it dream: It looks like something ethereal.” Lane said, of the drink, which sells for $3.15 for a small, $3.70 for a medium and $4 for a large.
Another popular Davidson creation is the House Special Vanilla Latte. That is served hot or cold and consists of organic espresso blended with organic milk, sugar and vanilla. It goes for $2.90, $3.40 and $3.90.
Serving organic food and drinks is not the only thing that makes this place different from its coffee shop counterparts.
This one has clear Christian overtones: Bible verses are proclaimed in bold letters and in tasteful frames on the coffee shop’s walls.
As part of its corporate culture, the company gives a portion of its proceeds from its online sales to select ministries and missions. It also has a collection box at the coffee shop, where patrons can make donations to a ministry or mission of the month.
Lane said he realizes not everyone shares the company partners’ beliefs, but they see the business as an answer to prayer and they feel compelled to offer expressions of praise.
“We felt like God brought us all together,” Lane said, referring to himself, Davidson and their other three partners, Juan Torres, Doug Torres and Glenn Deller.
While expressing their faith, they’re not trying to push it on others, Lane said.
“We don’t attempt to preach doctrine when people come in here. We’re not a church. We welcome everyone here,” he said.
The company got its start just a few months ago as an online business to sell coffee grown in Honduras to customers in the United States. The coffee is grown by the family of Juan Torres’ wife.
“We were going to be content doing that for awhile, then all of a sudden a local pastor approached us about this (coffee shop) location,” Lane said.
Lane, who is a business consultant, said he initially was reluctant to open a coffee shop. He understood the excitement of doing it, but knew that it would be tough.
So, he and his partners prayed about it.
They knew what the lease structure needed to be, in order for them to proceed with the coffee shop. They figured if they could get what they needed, they’d go for it. Otherwise, they’d stick to the online shop.
So far, just a few weeks after opening the shop, they’re already beginning to build a following, Lane said.
Last week, a band called Mizan, entertained a small, but appreciative crowd.
Peggy Sample-Summerhill, of Land O’ Lakes, was munching on a sweet while listening to the music. She said the strawberry shortcake cupcake was scrumptious.
Regena Everes, of Tampa Palms, was also listening to the band. She said the shop’s coffee is good. “It’s strong and dark.”
The live music is a big draw, especially on Fridays, Lane said. “We jam this place out. It’s wall to wall.”
It is mostly high school and young college kids, Lane said. “They seem to like this place as a safe, comfortable, hangout.”
There have been so many people there on a couple of recent Friday nights that the shop has stayed open until midnight — an hour beyond normal closing — to accommodate the crowd.
Eventually, the partners would like to replicate the concept elsewhere.
“I think it has shown itself to be very well-received,” Lane said. “It is unique.”
For more information, go to www.acupoforganic.com.
