This cute little cafe, perfectly situated amongst the indies of The Saints, is a must visit for anybody looking to escape Ipswich’s bustling high street and relax with a freshly made slice of cake and tasty coffee

With a Pinterest-worthy courtyard and super-friendly staff, this little oasis of serenity really is something quite special.

The cosy decor is a combination of pastel shades, vintage furniture and a gorgeous reclaimed fireplace. The walls are adorned with the works of local artists, giving the cafe a wonderfully warm and homely feel.

There is a small but interesting menu, which changes regularly, so there’s no chance of getting bored by the food options on offer – my suggestion would be the Med Board with an iced coffee, perfect on a sunny afternoon sitting in their quaint courtyard.

Hours could pass as you take in your surroundings and chat to the lovely staff before you’ve realised that you’ve taken an accidental two-hour lunch break or your car-park ticket has run out. It’s just that kind of place!

Baker & Barista will soon be changing its name to Applaud Coffee, but don’t fear folks, everything else will be staying just as fabulous.

I had a chat with Beth Cook; one half of the sister duo behind Baker & Barista, to get to the bottom of why their cafe has struck such a chord with the people of Ipswich… 

You guys recently celebrated your second birthday so congratulations on that! What is the story behind Baker & Barista?
Thank you! We are two sisters, passionate about serving home-baked treats along with great-tasting coffee and whole leaf teas, in a nice space.

We have always wanted to work together and loved the idea of joining the community down St Peters Street – a street full of indies.

As joint owners of the business, and sisters too, what is the work dynamic like between you? Does one of you take on the more business role of the cafe and the other the practical side, or is it 50/50?
We really enjoy working together and love being in a busy environment. We have the same taste and think alike which makes decisions very easy. Although Hannah is naturally more of the baker and myself the barista, we both work 50/50 in terms of practical and business.

What does a typical day look like when running Baker & Barista?
Anyone who runs a coffee shop or cafe will say the same – ’Everyday is different’. Some days are quiet and some days are crazy busy! We have two main working areas – front of house and kitchen.

We keep it simple with a small lunch menu that changes regularly. All our cakes and scones our baked here on site and to keep up with the demand we are baking all day, every day!

Where do you get inspiration from for your wonderful menu?
Before we opened we did an indie coffee shop crawl around East London, which offers a huge amount of inspiration! We get ideas from recipe books, customer suggestions, and all of our staff have a passion for food and baking so they often come up with new ideas too.

Are your ingredients and coffee locally sourced?
We try our best to source as local as possible wherever we can. For example, we had a Suffolk Cheese Board on our menu last autumn. Our coffee is roasted locally at Butterworth & Son in Bury St Edmunds. We serve homemade lemonade from Stoke Farm Orchards and juices from James White, both Suffolk based.

Aside from making blooming great coffee and tasty treats, what are some of your other hobbies outside of work?
Hannah and I are both big foodies so we like eating out and trying new places. Before opening the shop, Hannah worked as an illustrator so will often be designing new ranges of greeting cards which can usually be found next door in Loveone.

As for myself, my little boy has just turned two. So as you can imagine, I have my hands full!

You guys seem very passionate about getting involved with local artists and events at Baker & Barista. Are there any upcoming events that you are particularly excited about?
We showcase local illustrators, designers and artists for two months at a time. This is a good way of supporting local artists and also keeps the shop looking nice with different styles or work. We also have upcoming workshops: