BOSTON - Specialty coffeehouses are blossoming in Boston, the Boston Globe reports. Even with stiff competition from Starbucks and Dunkin?? Donuts, independent coffee cafes have found a niche among coffee drinkers.

For example, the recently opened Voltage Coffee & Art brews each cup individually from locally roasted beans. "I??m focused on the beauty of the process, it??s artisanal. Hundreds of people have put their hands on it. I think of all the farmers involved and try to honor that,???? said owner Lucy Valena.

Independent coffee shops advertise their attention to slow-brewing and a slower atmosphere. "This is not the place to grab coffee to get your fix. Our customers are buying into the concept,???? said Hugh Geiger, co-owner of Thinking Cup.

These boutique establishments focus on the coffee farmer, the coffee roaster and the barista. Independent cafes have contributed significantly to the estimated $27 billion U.S. coffee shop industry this year.

Specialty coffeehouses "have figured out how to compete with companies like Starbucks by differentiating themselves,???? said Eric Giandelone, director of food service research for Mintel International Group.

Many of these shops sell premium coffees with pedigrees, such as rare coffee from single-estate farms in Ethiopia and Guatemala, as Taste Coffee House does. These locations "have become more neighborhood focused and are building in the ethos of the community,???? said Giandelone.