Taylor Alums Open Barista & Baker

Upland just got a new spot for a pick-me-up! On September 11, alumni couple Justin and Bethany Ulrich ’01 opened their aptly named Barista & Baker, serving up coffee, pastries, and a hearty breakfast menu.

When you walk in the front door, antiques meet industrial lighting and wooden countertops in an aesthetic that feels bright and homey, complete with a pew in the dining room and couches on the patio. The menu bursts with fun drink names like Green Ghost, Caramel Booyah, and Bear Dog, alongside a pastry case of enticing offerings such as homemade cinnamon rolls, apple turnovers, savory cheddar bacon scones, and a gluten-free lemon loaf.

Whether you’re in the mood for a cold brew or the comfort of a home-cooked meal, Barista & Baker is ready to welcome you in.

Taylor Beginnings

Justin and Bethany met at Taylor when they were both freshmen living in Swallow Robin Hall. They were both drawn to community and food, and after a few late-night snack sessions in the Swallow Robin kitchen, they realized, “this is probably the person I want to be with,” dating all four years of their Taylor experience and marrying shortly after their graduation.

After Taylor, the Ulrichs followed the Lord wherever He led them. In 2003, the Ulrichs moved to Florida, where Justin began a 15-year career in Starbucks management. Justin confessed that it felt like a bit of a leap at the time. “I had no business degree, but I went in with a baseline understanding of “take care of the people you’re working with, take care of the people that come through the door, and allow God to take care of the business side of it— and I really feel like He blessed that.”

Throughout his time working for Starbucks, doing everything from opening stores, to training district managers, to stepping behind the counter as a barista, Justin was open about God’s provision and blessing over his work. When a Starbucks CEO asked Justin how he had created such flourishing in these different roles, Justin said, “Well, it’s Jesus. Jesus is attractive. It’s an aroma that people want to be around.”

A Faith-Led Family

In different seasons of their lives and careers, Justin and Bethany have sought God’s will and guidance, which sometimes included a season of waiting. Several times, they entertained the idea of opening their own coffee shop and shaping it into a warm, homey, and welcoming place. They even went so far as to look at some potential properties. But it was never God’s timing. “We just didn’t have peace about it,” Bethany said. So, the idea was shelved.

However, in 2025, it seemed God was finally opening the door for the dream of Barista & Baker to become a reality.

While their sons were at Taylor Academic Summer Camps, Justin and Bethany saw the empty Upland property that had formerly housed The Bridge coffee shop and decided to give it a look. They were excited about the space and praying for God to show them if this was where He was leading.

Would a move at this time be right for their family? Justin and Bethany worried about how their son, who was approaching his senior year in high school, would respond. They shouldn’t have been. He said, “Let’s go. Let’s do it. If you believe this is what God’s calling you to do, we have to obey.”

Justin described the opportunity to bring Barista & Baker to Upland as “one of those times where something you’ve prayed for a really long time and something God is asking you to do sort of merge.” Making the leap, the Ulrichs bought the building and packed up their lives for a move from Florida to Upland.

Welcome Home

Indiana has always felt like home to the Ulrichs, and in their own homecoming, they’re on a mission to create home for both Upland residents and Taylor students. Justin described Bethany’s heart and talent for hosting as a spiritual gift, and in many ways, Barista & Baker is just another expression of the hospitality the Ulrichs strive to cultivate at home. And that hospitality is blessing more than just customers.

Several of the Barista & Baker employees are spouses of Taylor Physician Assistant graduate who have recently uprooted their lives to come to Upland. One of their employees said that this opportunity to be part of the Barista & Baker family has been an answer to prayer in a time when she has needed community the most.

When asked to describe her vision for Barista & Baker, Bethany recalled her own feelings of homesickness during her freshman year and said, “I hope that if you wake up one morning and you just feel like you need to go home, you can come here and eat breakfast, and it’ll feel like home.”

So, come with your homework, your kids, or your homesickness. Take the Ulrichs up on their invitation to “Come in, eat good food, connect well, and be together.”