Baked and Wired: Adventures in Georgetown

THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED in 2014 AND WAS UPDATED IN JULY 2020.

It’s been named one of the top ten bakeries in the United States by Fodor’s Travel, and it’s easily one of the most talked about coffee shop locations in the area.  Do not miss Baked & Wired, just next to Georgetown’s historic C&O canal.

Baked & Wired came backed with a lot of hype and praise; people have been telling us to go there for years. Somehow, we never got around to it. There’s something about actively avoiding that which is so coveted. Just because everyone loves it, does not mean that you would or should. Enter Saturday morning. Sunshine streaming through the windows, summer air beckoning nature into the light.  Everyone was outside enjoying the weather and it was time to finally visit Baked & Wired. (When this article was first published, we wrote: “I got on a crowded bus and happily listened to my iPod to get down to M Street.” Oh, nostalgia during COVID-19! Oh nostalgia for iPods!)

From M Street, it’s under ten minutes walking to Baked & Wired. As we approached, a line of people dotted the sidewalk and a few cafe tables outside. Baked & Wired opened its doors onto the street, given the gorgeous weather. We accidentally entered into the left doorway of the shop first, not really knowing where to go… It wasn’t a fatal error, but the coffee chop/bakery is actually split into two: the left side is the bakery, and the right side is for coffee. The bakery side (left) showcased fresh cookies in clear, large cookie jars, and an entire glass case filled with cupcakes! The cupcakes sat on little pedestals with hand-drawn signs and descriptions. We had to get one…

Slipping into the coffee line was easy; it was shorter. Noticing the high ceilings, given the high location of the menu on the wall, we decided on an iced mocha. It didn’t take long for the barista to make it. The coffee folk behind the bar all appeared artsy/slightly hipster. The iced mocha came to me without a top on. A lack of top is perfect for taking birds-eye pictures to document latte art, but given that this was an iced drink, there was no need. We put a lid on and returned to the bakery side to get in line. Time for a cupcake!

It was difficult to decide on a cupcake, or what Baked & Wired has termed “cakecups.” The frosting alone on all of them had to be the most beautiful thing we’ve seen on any baked-good, maybe ever.  So many colors and so many different flavors!  Flap-Jack? Vanilla? Coconut? Razmanian Devil? Texas Sheetcake? Unicorn & Rainbows? The list goes on. And the descriptions describing them were brilliant.

We decided on Unicorn & Rainbows because of the little unicorn picture, teal frosting and sprinkles. It just looked so happy – we could not resist. After an exchange of $4 for it, we quickly walked into the back room to sit down. The back room is two small spaces, both with couches, a tiny shelf/bar area, and little tables and chairs. The lighting was abundant, and again, due to the high ceilings, Baked & Wired feels friendly and clean. The overall feel of the architecture, like many shops in Georgetown, is “tall and skinny,” but Baked & Wired isn’t too skinny or uncomfortable.  Despite the crowds, hark, a seat!

Allow us to begin with the iced mocha. This iced mocha goes down as one of the best mochas we’ve ever had, and time cupsoul has had a fair share. Was it the milk?, or the chocolate! Wow, it was delicious. Absolutely smooth with the perfect ratio of milk to coffee to chocolate. Delicious.

Just the cakecup’s aesthetics and name were enough for us to feel happiness. The funfetti cake and the teal frosting looked like a game-piece from CandyLand. Finally, after staring at how cute it looked for a few minutes, we politely took a little piece with a fork and gave it a first taste. Perfection. The cake was not dry, and the icing was everything you could hope for. I’m sure that all of the other flavors would be equally as delicious and unique. The street artist strumming “Here Comes the Sun” on his guitar right outside the doorway was that extra touch that completed the whole experience.

Was this a cupsoul?

Not sure we would call it a cupsoul per-se, because we didn’t get lost in our own thoughts, but the mocha and Unicorns & Rainbows cakecup put us into a sugared daze of pure happiness. Hence, we recommend you visit.

Would I put Baked & Wired’s business card in the time cupsoul?

Yes. Not only was the iced mocha heavenly, but the cakecups and other baked treats would satisfy the grumpiest of cats.