Des Moines, Iowa · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Scenic Route Bakery

IndependentNamed roasting partner: Intelligentsia CoffeeSourcing: Limited public info

TagsScenic Route Bakery Iowa coffee roasters Independent

Scenic Route Bakery is a popular independent bakery and cafe located in the historic East Village of Des Moines, Iowa. The shop focuses on creating a community-centered environment while serving a variety of scratch-made pastries, light lunch fare, and specialty coffee. It is widely recognized as a local staple for its commitment to quality service and artisanal baked goods.

Ownership

Scenic Route Bakery is an independent, family-owned business founded by the father-daughter team of Mark and Katy Nelson.

Founded

2015

Roasting

Named roasting partner: Intelligentsia Coffee. Other roasting arrangements are unverified.

What it's known for

The bakery is highly regarded for its fresh, high-quality pastries, including cinnamon rolls and blueberry pinwheels, and its welcoming atmosphere in the East Village.

Farm-level sourcing

The bakery does not publicly disclose specific farm or producer information for its coffee offerings. They serve coffee sourced from their partner roaster, Intelligentsia Coffee.

Sources used in this deep dive

Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-23. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the brand serves Intelligentsia coffee, specific details regarding their current sourcing practices or specific coffee origins are not published on their website.

Scenic Route Bakery

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