What 85 Degree Bakery Actually Is
85°C (pronounced "eighty-five degrees") Bakery Café is a Taiwanese chain that started in 1997 and expanded across Asia, then into North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Their main selling point has always been a bakery-café hybrid: you pick up pastries and cakes from the display case, or sit down for coffee and a slice. It sits in the same informal category as chains like The Bread Basket or local bakery-café spots, but with a particular emphasis on layer cakes, mille-feuille, and Swiss rolls that are more common in Asian dessert culture than in traditional European pastry shops. The menu at any given location follows a fairly standard template, though individual stores may vary slightly depending on whether they're in a mall, an airport, or a standalone building. Here is the basic structure most places use: Bread section: This is usually the first thing you see. They offer sandwich bread, dinner rolls, brioche, croissants, and a few specialty loaves. Their most consistent seller across locations is the croissant, which runs between $2.50 and $3.50 depending on size and filling. The sourdough and whole wheat options rotate in and out.
Cake section: This is where 85°C differentiates itself. They sell whole cakes and individual slices. Whole cakes range from about $20 to $45, and slices go from $4 to $8. Their chocolate mousse cake, red velvet, and tiramisu are the ones people actually buy repeatedly. The mango and passion fruit layers are seasonal and hit or miss. Pastries: Éclairs, cream puffs, fruit tarts, and danishes. Prices run roughly $2 to $4 each. The custard-filled pastries are reliably good. The fruit tarts depend heavily on the season and whether the store gets fresh produce regularly. Coffee and drinks: Standard espresso, cappuccino, latte, Americano, and iced versions. Coffee runs about $2.50 to $4. They also serve teas and sometimes smoothies. The coffee is not specialty-grade but it is consistent and drinkable.
Savory items: Sandwiches, quiches, salads, and light meals. These are priced from $5 to $10. The tuna sandwich and the ham and cheese croissant are the reasonable lunch options. Cake decoration and custom orders: Many locations offer birthday cakes with candle and basic decoration services. You order ahead, usually 24 to 48 hours. Pricing starts around $25 for a small round cake and goes up from there based on size and tier.
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What I Have Learned Dealing With This Menu
I ordered custom cakes for three separate family events last year and ran into a few issues that the website does not warn you about. The biggest one is the variation between locations. An 85°C in a California suburb will have a completely different selection than one in a New Jersey mall. The core items stay the same, but the pastries, the seasonal cakes, and even the bread quality differ enough that you should check your local store's specific offerings rather than assuming what you saw online applies. Another thing nobody mentions: the custom cake ordering process is not automated. You call the store, speak to someone, describe what you want, and they give you a price and pickup time. There is no online ordering system for custom cakes at most locations. If you try to order one online, you will usually get redirected to a phone number or told to visit in person. Budget at least two days for a custom cake, because the store needs to schedule the decorator's time around other orders. I also found that the dessert pricing listed on third-party sites and apps is often outdated. The chocolate mousse cake was listed at $6.50 on a delivery app, but the actual price at the counter was $7.25. This happened at two different locations I checked. If you are on a tight budget, check the in-store signage before you order through an app.
How to Order a Custom Cake Without Problems
Call the specific store directly. Ask for the cake department. Tell them the date, the occasion, the size you need, the flavor, and any decoration preferences. They will confirm availability and give you a price. Pay a deposit by credit card or cash, and pick up the day before if possible. They prefer that you pick up early so any last-minute issues can be resolved without you waiting in line. The flavors available for custom cakes are more limited than the slice menu. Stick with chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, or carrot cake if you want reliability. Fruit-based custom cakes are riskier because the filling depends on fresh fruit quality at that location on that day.
Is It Worth It
For everyday pastries and coffee, yes. It is comparable to any mid-range bakery-café in the US. The croissants and éclairs are solid. The coffee is fine. For special occasions, custom cakes are a reasonable option if you plan ahead and call the store instead of relying on an app. The main downside is inconsistency between locations. One store might have excellent mille-feuille while the one ten miles away serves stale ones. Check reviews for your local store, not just the brand overall.
