Kaitlin Anderson, owner and baker behind Crust & Crumb Baking Co., pictured with her three kiddos.

Crust & Crumb Baking Co. got its start just a few years back, when Kaitlin first began baking custom orders for friends' special events.

What happens when you gather 40 friends and family members for a blind coffee taste test? Besides the surefire caffeine buzz, it turns out you can get some pretty solid business direction. 

For Crust & Crumb Baking Co. (1225 Jefferson Ave., Chippewa Falls), subjecting loved ones to coffee comparison after coffee comparison was just one step in opening its new brick-and-mortar in the Chippewa Valley.

“The people who I’m serving, I want them to have a say in what they want,” Kaitlin Anderson, owner-operator and baker of Crust & Crumb, said. “My favorite thing is when people come in and we just start talking.

“This is why I do what I do, I want to drink coffee with people all day,” she laughed. 

Beyond those blind coffee tastings (don’t worry, we’ll get to what those results led to soon), Kaitlin’s true passion lies in her baked goods. What began as a personalized venture in 2025 – with custom orders for gatherings and events – expanded on Oct. 1 into her very own storefront.

“I really think in this area, the Midwest, we just hold onto those chocolatey notes that are very well known ... Those very classic coffee flavors (are) what people gravitate toward because it’s cozy to them.” –Kaitlin Anderson, owner and operator of Crust & Crumb Baking Co.

Her scratch-made bakery items span handheld oatmeal cream pies, mixed berry scones, toffee chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin cinnamon rolls, apple crumble bars and more. Crust & Crumb’s current menu clearly leans into cozy autumn flavors and will be available through Oct. 30.

Where does Kaitlin’s love for crafting rich doughs and adding just the perfect dash of sweetness to pastries come from? Her answer is simple (and relatable): Sharing good food creates genuine connections between strangers and loved ones alike.

“Cooking for others is just an extension of how we feel about people, that’s how you share love,” Kaitlin said. “I am going to make you something special, just because. That’s my love language, I guess you could say.”

On The Mark Coffee Roasters features a washed Kenyan coffee (pictured) with burnt sugar, cocoa, toffee and sugar cane flavor notes.

Between her full-time job outside the bakery and caring for her trio of young kiddos — twin girls and a son — and juggling their weekly adventures, Kaitlin keeps the Crust & Crumb storefront open three days a week.

Her kids, also, were present at her blind coffee taste-testing community event, helping the new space come alive, she said.

Back to those taste testing results – Crust & Crumb keeps its menu streamlined for patrons with a curated beverage lineup. While drink menu choices will continue to shift throughout the year, Kaitlin said, today’s lineup features a pair of standout roasts: Minnesota-based Driven Coffee Roasters alongside local favorite On The Mark Coffee Roasters from neighboring Fall Creek.

Driven Coffee won Crust & Crumb’s community blind taste test by just one vote, Kaitlin said. She uses the company for her shop’s drip coffee – typically a medium roast with mild acidity and tasting notes that nod to peanut butter cups.

Even without seeing On The Mark’s charming vintage packaging – adorned with a floral pattern reminiscent of your grandma’s 1970s kitchen – taste testers could already sense this local roaster would make a good fit for the Chippewa Falls bakery. The roastery came in second during the blind coffee tasting.

On The Mark owners craft small-batch, single-origin beans right in Fall Creek and supplies Crust & Crumb with its espresso selection. Kaitlin has already featured their Kenyan roast made with sweet sugar cane, cocoa and warm toffee flavor notes.

If those toffee notes sound familiar to you, that’s completely intentional. Kaitlin purposefully pairs drink flavors with the ingredients also woven into her bakery creations.

“I really think in this area, the Midwest, we just hold onto those chocolatey notes that are very well known, or the butterscotch or the cinnamon,” Kaitlin said of her current rotation. “Those very classic coffee flavors (are) what people gravitate toward because it’s cozy to them.”

“I love the idea of someone being able to stop in, grab a really good cup of coffee and something fresh from the bakery.” –Kaitlin Anderson

Family was at the core of selecting Crust & Crumb’s coffee offerings and those roots naturally spill into its specialty drink offerings, too. Kaitlin recommends visitors sip on “The Heather”: a honey, cinnamon and vanilla latte named in honor of her best friend and one of the bakery’s dedicated supporters.

She pairs the drink with a cream cheese cold foam and honey drizzle on top, when served iced. Syrups continue to be made in-house, along with the whipped toppings.

Less than a month into operations, Kaitlin is eager to embrace what lies ahead and build a lasting community – one coffee and treat at a time.

“I love the idea of someone being able to stop in, grab a really good cup of coffee and something fresh from the bakery,” Kaitlin said. “That always puts a pep in my step … I want to recreate that (feeling) for people.”

Crust & Crumb Baking Co. (1225 Jefferson Ave., Chippewa Falls) current hours of operation are 6am-1pm, Wednesday through Friday. Call (715) 210-6055 to inquire about its rotating bakery and drink selections, pricing and custom orders. Follow the bakery and coffee spot online via Facebook for new announcements (@CrustCrumbBakingCo).