Local Hero: Beverage Artisan, Nonalcoholic
An Interview with Pilar Westell, Owner
Photos by Stephanie Cameron
Pilar Westell, owner of Zendo Coffee.
“When I began daydreaming of a coffee shop, I was longing for a place where we could meet up with friends, neighbors, coworkers throughout the day—a place that wasn’t work or home, where I could gain a greater sense of community,” says Pilar Westell, owner of Zendo Coffee in downtown Albuquerque. Established in 2013, Zendo provides expertly crafted coffee and showcases the finest food venues from across the city in its burritos and sweet treat offerings. Zendo also provides a platform for local talent in its rotating monthly art shows. Now, as from the start, “Our passion is providing a space for people to get to know one another and to enjoy the many nuances of coffee in a warm and welcoming place,” Westell says.
Describe the process of creating a perfect coffee drink, from bean to glass.
In creating the perfect coffee drink, there are quite a few essential elements. Perfectly roasted beans are a must-have. High-quality filtered water, dialed-in espresso, and steamed milk all combine to make a perfect coffee drink.
Your menu also includes quite a few tea drinks and other elixirs. What’s your favorite warm non-coffee beverage?
We have many teas, both caffeinated and caffeine free, on our menu. One of our favorites is our Golden Milk, a turmeric-and-ginger-based drink that is blended with honey and any milk or non-milk option and topped with local bee pollen. It’s great for inflammation and keeping your immune system strong.
What went into building community and creating the gathering space that is Zendo?
My vision for Zendo has always been based on getting everyone together to really get to know one another. Because we live in such a digitalized world, I felt like something was missing. The concept of the third space—one that is different from home or work—was very important to me. And I felt like we needed more of that in downtown Albuquerque. A place where you could go and always run into an old friend, or meet someone new and be able to feel like a part of something bigger. A community. And that is exactly what has happened at Zendo. People meet each other, work together, and support one another, all while getting to drink the most delicious coffee in town.
What does it take to be an incredible barista? In times like these, how do you maintain a loyal, capable staff?
I have the most incredible staff. They are why Zendo is such a success. They care deeply about providing quality drinks, while at the same time holding space for each and every person who walks in the door. We try to provide the kind of experience where each and every person who comes for coffee gets an experience that carries them throughout the rest of their day. We are dedicated as a crew to providing the utmost hospitality while fostering a never-ending sense of community. And everyone on our small team brings something special to the table. Collectively, we are always trying to elevate what we are doing with coffee. But most importantly, I think each one of the folks working at Zendo is dedicated to making our customers feel welcome, seen, and important to the community at large. Everyone works well together, is invested in each other’s success, and is incredibly supportive of one another. That’s the most important part of being here. I’m constantly humbled by all the people I work with. We show up and work hard but also take care of one another. Zendo is such a success because I have the best staff around.
How do you decide which artist(s) to feature?
We feature a new local artist every single month. Our space lends itself to showing art really well because of our white brick walls and all the natural light. The best part is we have such a diverse clientele that people from all walks of life get to enjoy the art, and the art gets to be shown to many different people from all over. Currently, we accept digital submissions for shows and then work on hanging things that we feel align well with our space and vision.
Anything else you’d like to share with edible readers?
We are incredibly humbled by the support everyone has given us over the years and just want everyone to know how proud we are of how we have grown. We couldn’t be where we are today without such amazing community support.
413 Second Street SW, Albuquerque, 505-926-1636,
zendocoffee.com
