Popular Taiwanese chain 85°C Bakery Café said it will open its third U.S. store in West Covina.
The Taiwan-based chain, known for its sea salt coffee and marble taro bread, has drawn crowds of shoppers across Southern California to its stores in Irvine and Hacienda Heights.
85°C first opened its first U.S. store in Irvine four years ago.Demand was so great, a second location opened in Hacienda Heights last year.
The West Covina store will open next month at 2626 East Garvey Ave. South, inside McIntyre Square. The store will be 5,100 square feet, its largest U.S. location.
Stephanie Peng, the bakery’s project manager, said 85°C hopes to attract customers from San Bernardino and other areas of Los Angeles County.
Peng said the bakery plans to add five more stores next year, bringing a total of eight U.S. locations. 85°C has 600 stores worldwide in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, U.S. and Australia.
“We are hoping to expand as much as we can,” Peng said.
85°C was created to provide coffee and pastries that are high quality, but at affordable prices, Peng said.
The chain is known among some fans as the “Starbucks of Taiwan.” Pastries generally sell for $2 or less at the store. The bakery is named 85°C, because that’s apparently the perfect temperature to serve coffee, even though 85°C Bakery Café doesn’t actually serve coffee at that temperature. It’s too hot, Peng said.