Apura Juicery and Coffeehouse Now Open in Boca Raton

A new health-focused restaurant in Boca Raton is looking to make its mark in South Florida with its own philosophy toward food and drink. Now open, Apura Juicery and Coffeehouse is serving a unique menu of cold-pressed juices, cold-brewed coffee, handmade nut "mylks," and whole, plant-based fare.

The mission, says owner Susan Mussaffi, is to encourage her philosophy to live with intention.

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"I want people to understand the link between what they eat and how they feel," says Mussaffi. "At Apura, our goal is to truly empower and educate diners by providing delicious, nutritious and beautifully prepared food and drink, easy to eat here or take to go, designed to nourish our bodies and minds with much-needed nutrition."

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Apura -- which means "unfired" in ancient Greek -- offers both dine-in and take-out options. Drinks and food are prepared daily in-house with all natural ingredients, and little to no processing. The juicery and coffeehouse is free of dairy, GMOs, soy, and gluten. Organic fruits and vegetables will be used as often as possible, and Apura will adhere to the "dirty dozen" guidelines when buying organic.

Sold by the bottle, all Apura juices will be unique in formulation and recipes, cold-pressed, and unpasteurized, inviting customers to "juice with intention." Flavors will be complex, ranging from deep greens and root-based drinks, to fruits that are both sweet and sour. Expect to see more exotic ingredients like fennel, kefir lime, kumquats, dandelion, Anjou pear, and golden beets mixed with traditional fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices -- what will make Apura juices distinctive from other brands.

Apura's food offerings will range from chia pudding and raw oatmeal for breakfast, to faux sushi, various specialty salads, faux noodle dishes, and other entrees for lunch and dinner. While the cuisine will be plant-based, made true to the principles of raw veganism, Mussaffi hopes to appeal to all types of guests by translating popular, recognizable dishes into raw iterations that make the experience an enjoyable discovery for all.

"Apura isn't just for vegans or raw vegans," Mussaffi says. "I think of plant-based cuisine as one option in a spectrum of healthy eating. But I don't think anyone can deny the health benefits. So, even if customers dine here one day a week, they're taking an important step to improve their health."

A former financial executive in New York City, Mussaffi learned about plant-based cuisine in 2013 through a process of personal growth and discovery. She gave up meat and animal products almost overnight. From there, the mother of six jumped headfirst into learning all she could about plant-based cuisine, doing extensive research, and preparing new recipes at home.

While Mussaffi initially hoped to write a cookbook on the lifestyle, instead she decided to open a health-minded restaurant to serve her community and reach a local audience. A Boca Raton resident, she says she has a deep passion for healthy living, and is committed to sharing this passion with others.

"Apura" means "unfired" in Ancient Greek, and the philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, sometimes known as the "father of vegetarianism," encouraged followers to eat "apura" (raw) fruits and vegetables for sharp minds and healthy bodies. Apura the restaurant is so named because it continues this ancient tradition in a 21st century context.

Apura is located at 22191 Powerline Road, Boca Raton. Call 646-248-1234, or visit apurajuicery.com.

Nicole Danna is a food blogger covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on Clean Plate's Instagram.