Brewing Bonds in Vero Beach

Modern cinema showcases superheroes with a vast array of powers. They often loom larger than life, buoyed by mythology encompassing entire galaxies. Yet, on a much smaller scale, there are two equally powerful superheroes who work tirelessly for the human race every day: coffee and tea.

Shouldering a whole host of human needs—from warming to cooling, relaxing to energizing, and always comforting—these two beverages don’t break with pressure, they simply adjust. Naturally flavored by the terroir of their respective regions, coffees and teas can also partner with a number of creams, sugars, and flavorings. Their sidekicks include pastries and plated menu items, and they can shape-shift amongst various temperatures and forms.

Not only can coffee and tea fulfill basic needs, these champions also excel at building community. Whether they exist in a café, coffee/tea shop, or mobile pop-up, their homes become delicious havens for people to get together. A multitude of these gathering spots exist in Vero Beach, creating a diverse network of beverages to please any palate. Each location boasts its own personality; but there is a common goal to build community.

Night Owl Coffee Bar

When Anthony Souders discovered a love of espresso, it quickly spiraled into running a mobile pop-up coffee bar that he built with his own two hands. One night, he was at a Downtown Friday event with his wife, Vero native and wedding planner Marie Nicole, and realized there was no place to get coffee. He says, “I wanted to just put up a tent and sell coffee, but my wife made me do it the right way.”

The right way for them? Open up Night Owl Coffee Bar. The mobility of their coffee bar allows them to cater a variety of special events and also stage a pop-up at their home base near the courthouse.

Extremely community-forward, they like to survey their clients to determine need. As Souders says, “I ask myself how best I can serve.” For example, if people ask for evening hours, they accommodate as much as they can. When they notice an interest in themed drinks, they create quirky options for the holidays. Bringing joy as well as premium espresso beverages to Vero Beach is what drives their entrepreneurial spirit. Marie Nicole says, “Some clients tell us they come just to watch how much fun we have together.”

Tea and Chi

The menus of Giving Tree and Coffee House 1420 feature teas from Tea and Chi, a tea shop nestled in a historic downtown Vero Beach building for over 20 years. It is run by owner Maria Sparsis, who keeps the shelves stocked with teas and assorted accoutrements for both beginners and advanced tea drinkers.

Black, green, decaffeinated, functional, and seasonal teas are showcased in the shop, and each type is sold by the pot, ounce, or pound. Sparsis says, “Over 80 percent of my clientele drink functional teas for the health benefits,” such as teas that help alleviate inflammation or insomnia. No matter the selection or need, Sparsis and her employees can offer a wealth of knowledge to guide their guests.

Tea and Chi also provides a wide assortment of pots, kettles, and other necessities. Some pots are handmade by the owner, and all are selected to enhance the tea-drinking experience. According to Sparsis, when relaxing with tea, “the ritual is just as important.”

Rio Coco

Community has always mattered to the Bagby family, even more so than coffee. As the owners and operators of Rio Coco Beans Coffee Roaster & Cafés, their whole mission is to support the communities of Vero Beach and beyond.

Their three cafés are named after the Coco River on the border of Honduras and Nicaragua. They were opened to support Project Ezra, a school system serving refugee villages along the lower Coco River. Utila, Honduras is home to the first Rio Coco location, with the other two residing in Vero Beach. Moselle Bagby points to the irony of situation: “I cannot stress how little selling coffee was the original plan. We just knew we were supposed to do it, so we did. It’s all about the mission.”

Thirty years later, the Bagbys’ mission continues to grow. Their efforts support Project Ezra as well as other communities in need, including the victims of the Maui wildfires. Every addition, whether it be cold brews, espresso drinks, baked goods, or café items, began from a desire to support their communities. As Moselle puts it, “The heart of what we do is to build community, never mind the numbers. It’s about how many people come together to celebrate with each other.” 

Riverview Coffee, Tea & Books

Whether you’re taking in the river from the patio or sinking into a chair inside the bookstore, Riverview Coffee, Tea & Books in Sebastian offers relaxation as a side dish with your warm beverage of choice. Unless, of course, you want a baked item or sandwich, in which case you are also in luck.

Managed by Terri Boerner and owned by her daughter Niki Singley, this bookstore has all the comforts of home. Full of books, puzzles, comfortable chairs, and inviting nooks, the interior practically begs patrons to curl up with a book and a cup of coffee or tea. “We aimed for a comfortable, cozy, homespun feel—nothing commercial,” says Boerner.

The bookstore aspect of the shop predates the coffee, tea, and snack section, which was added a few years ago. The baked goods are handmade, and specialty drinks are offered to enhance the set menu.

While many may come for a quick visit, avid readers enjoy the pricing and perks offered by the bookstore. The community-minded Riverview also offers special deals for educators and acts as a meeting spot for book clubs, open-mic poetry nights, and other groups that gather. 

Giving Tree

The vibrant mint-green exterior of Giving Tree Coffee Company may catch a patron’s eye, but the inside immediately invites one to stay all day. And this implied invitation is fine by owner Rich Nelson.

Inspired by his time living in South America, Nelson says, “I wanted the design and interior to give a Latin vibe and for that to make us unique.” Hoping to transport his guests to a Brazilian paradise, he selected a live-edge wood bar to match the natural wood of the tables. He also chose palm frond ceiling fans and a soundtrack of music to complete the mood. The outdoor tables and chairs also offer an open-air alternative.

The invitation is for guests of all ages, as they can enjoy a diverse menu of coffees and teas, juices, smoothies, and milkshakes. “Kids can have smoothies while parents grab coffee,” Nelson says. Breakfast items are currently on the menu, and there are plans to offer lunch and dinner options as the coffee shop evolves.

Tribe

When it comes to the perfect cup of coffee, Tribe Coffee owner Sean Wisedale believes in the science behind roasting the beans. “If everyone followed the science (of roasting coffee), all coffee would be great,” he says. Always excited to discuss the process, he extols the virtues of air roasting coffee beans. With air roasting, beans won’t burn and can therefore achieve an even roast and unmatched flavor. For him, this is non-negotiable.

Wisedale’s passion for roasting beans and sharing science led him not only to open Tribe Roastery and Espresso Bar, but also to build a collaborative network with other coffee shops in Vero Beach, such as Giving Tree. Any partner or patron of Tribe can select from 10 different origins in four different profiles: light, medium, medium dark, and dark. Wisedale’s personal travels have allowed him firsthand knowledge of the beans’ origins, and he takes pride in using only fair-trade suppliers.

Completely coffee-centric, Tribe specializes in being a premier roastery with a sample bar of coffees. 

Coffee House 1420

Chef Michael Glatz never dreamed the green-tiled building on the corner of 14th Avenue and 20th Street would be his, and due to a global pandemic, it almost wasn’t.

In 2020, he secured funding that was withdrawn when COVID struck. Undaunted, he relied on faith and the support of a generous community to help open the doors. “On opening day, the line was around the corner, and I never looked back,” he says.

From that day forward, Coffee House 1420 has been Glatz’s love letter to the Vero Beach community. He provides specialty-grade coffees from various regions and challenges his guests to try their coffee black to appreciate the flavor. He awakes at 3 a.m. to bake the pastries that anchor a menu designed around local favorites, such as the breakfast Cubano.

Glatz says he enjoys “reawakening the art of hospitality.” For him, good customer service is not necessarily hospitality. Hospitality is more; it occurs when you support local charities, hang local art, provide reading material with comfortable chairs, and welcome your patrons like family.