Pastries galore, matcha and more, popular bakery chain now open in Modesto
The 85°C Bakery Cafe opened in Modesto on Friday, becoming the sixth location in California and the third in the Central Valley, joining locations in Stockton and Bakersfield.
“There were hundreds of people in line this morning; some started lining up at 4:30 a.m.,” regional manager David Frost said.
The McHenry Avenue cafe had a soft opening at the end of May and has been busy every day since, a good indicator of local excitement for the new business.
“It’s probably one of the busiest soft openings we have had. I had my CEO calling me on that first day, asking, ‘What the heck is going on during that time?’ It’s just been so busy; everybody was ready for us to officially open,” Frost said.
With over 165 menu items from matcha to coffee, sweet and savory pastries, cakes, sandwiches, cookies and even candy, 85°C Bakery has something for everyone.
Started in 2004 in Taipei City, Taiwan, the cafe now has over 1,000 locations worldwide. It gets its name from the optimal brew temperature for espresso, 85 degrees Celsius.
“It’s a Taiwanese bakery, so a little bit less on the sugar, and it’s not as sweet,” Frost said. “Our cakes are not that traditional kind of heavy cake; it’s more of a spongelike cake.”
All pastries are individually wrapped to grab and add to a tray. Pastry runners are at the ready near the pastry cases, ready to refill and recommend favorites to those unsure what to order. Frost said customer favorites include the marble taro, a sweet bread with taro filling, and the salted butter bread, a golden-baked bread sprinkled with sea salt.
Modesto resident Bambi Nowlin was there on opening day, stacking her tray with favorites she discovered since the soft opening. “I love the coconut milk bun with the powdered sugar, and the Hawaiian chicken with pineapple. Everything is really good. The first time I tried it, I just sat in my car and just ate my lunch there,” she said.
There are over 50 drinks on the menu, and Frost said there are endless combinations and customizations for coffee, matcha, milk tea and smoothies. Most hot drinks can be made cold, and iced drinks are sealed by a machine to ensure no spills. Frost said popular favorites are the matcha drinks and those made with oat milk.
Customers can order drinks and sandwiches at digital kiosks near the door or at the register. They have whole cakes available in the cold case and cake slices to go.
On opening day, the first people in line were given a tote bag with T-shirts and gift cards, and there were more giveaways throughout the day and into the weekend. With a purchase, customers were invited to spin a prize wheel to win exclusive opening day merchandise.
“It’s been wonderful; we had a very warm greeting from all the guests, and we’re very excited to be here,” said Frost.
The 85°C Bakery is open in the North Point Landing Shopping Center at 3848 McHenry Ave, Suite 180. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.85cbakerycafe.com.
This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Pastries galore, matcha and more, popular bakery chain now open in Modesto."
