Marisa Zapata

Meet Marisa Zapata, the Head Roaster and Coffee Director behind Novel Coffee Roasters and Cherry Coffee. With 8 years immersed in the coffee world, Marisa transitioned to roasting in Feb 2023 and hasn't looked back since. Now, she's leading two dynamic brands, infusing each batch with expertise and passion.

As she grew into her role, she noticed that other female roasters, like herself, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area were craving connection and peer refinement. She took it upon herself to close the gap by creating a group chat for these roasters called “The Roaster Gals.” The forum serves as a space for the femme-led roasteries in DFW to share tips, ask questions, and get to know each other better. Her hope is to encourage and inspire others to join her in a mission to create an industry culture of collaboration and connection over competition.

Beyond coffee, Marisa spends her free time going to kickboxing classes, leading in a youth ministry and spending time with friends. Her goal for the year? Engage in more conversations surrounding women working in coffee, travel to new cities, read more and grow.

For those curious about her top picks, Marisa recommends Sierra Azul, a women's produced lot from Chiapas Mexico at Novel and Daybreak from Hulia, Colombia at Cherry—both guaranteed to impress. And if you have a pet frog, she'd love to see a pic!