Upland has not had a coffee shop since The Bridge closed its doors more than two years ago. Now, the building it once occupied has been given new life with the opening of Barista and Baker, a cafe owned and operated by local couple Justin and Bethany Ulrich.
Located approximately a mile and a half from Taylor, Barista and Baker serves coffee, pastries and breakfast sandwiches to students and locals alike.
The building is small but full of life. Upon entry, you can see the entire shop’s layout. Tables and bartops are neatly arranged to fill the space, with the register located in the back.
The atmosphere inside is pleasant, providing a perfect space for friendly conversations or focused study sessions.
The staff is intentional and friendly. The cashier explained what each drink and sandwich contained so we could select the options that best suited our tastes.
I ordered the chai latte, biscuit and gravy, and oatmeal cream pie. My girlfriend ordered a latte with brown sugar, a bacon and egg biscuit, and a peanut butter bar.
When we finished ordering, we made our way to the outdoor seating located on a patio off the side of the building. It did not take long for a server to bring our food and drinks out to us.
The portions of the food impressed me: The biscuit was massive, with a large helping of gravy, and there was ample sausage in the gravy, which I appreciated.
My girlfriend and I agreed that the biscuits themselves were some of the best we had tasted in recent memory. They were warm, fluffy and buttery. We highly recommend trying any of their breakfast sandwiches, which come served on a biscuit.
The drinks were also delicious. My chai latte was on par with ones I have enjoyed elsewhere. My girlfriend enjoyed her latte, saying it reminded her of coffee from the Abbey, another student favorite cafe in Marion.
Because the sandwiches and drinks were surprisingly filling, we took our pastries to go. My girlfriend praised the peanut butter bar but would have liked a stronger peanut butter flavor.
My oatmeal cream pie was the highlight of my experience at Barista and Baker. A significant step above store-bought counterparts, the dessert consisted of homemade vanilla icing sandwiched between two sizable oatmeal cookies.
The generous portions of the pastries impressed me again. The kitchen clearly put great care and attention into every food and drink item we sampled.
The pricing of all of our items, especially considering their high quality and large portions, was reasonable. Drinks hovered between five and six dollars, pastries between three and four dollars, and sandwiches between seven and nine dollars.
These prices are comparable to other small coffee shops, but the standout quality of the food especially sets Barista and Baker apart from the rest.
Overall, I would highly recommend Barista and Baker for anyone looking for a delicious off-campus cafe experience. Located at 138 N. Main St., Upland, Indiana, 46989, its proximity to campus makes the coffee shop an ideal place for Taylor students to study and chat while enjoying great food and drink.
