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18 OUR YUCAIPA | FEBRUARY 2016 By Natalie Palmer If you haven't been to The Crumb donut shop, apparently you're the only one. The new business is taking Yucaipa by storm, selling out their inventory of hundreds of pastries, sometimes by 7:30 am. People are flocking to the store for mouth watering maple bacon, thin mint, smores and apple pie donuts, each one made with high quality ingredients. The fabulous taste comes from the time intensive process required to make them, said owner John Agee. "These are raised yeast donuts, a legitimate pastry," Agee said. "Cake donuts just don't do it here. Yeast donuts are a scientific process of temperatures and water percentages that take all night to make. That's what gives them a good, quality taste. Cheap donuts are churned out fast. We'd rather have a high quality product." The donuts are best sellers, but Agee also makes hot ham and cheese croissants and fresh cinnamon rolls. And don't forget the Cronuts. Made of croissant dough and cut into a donut topped with powdered sugar, these babies are selling faster than Agee can make them. "I was making 50 a day at first and now it's not unusual to have 70 pre-ordered," said Agee. And it's all flying off the shelves. Agee said the shop hours are 5 am to noon, but they rarely make it to noon with anything left. Apparently Yucaipa loves its donuts. "People ask me why we don't just make more, but it's a very time intensive process and we make all we can all night long," said Agee. Agee said the baker works from 9 pm to 2 am each day and then he gets the decorating done just in time for fresh donuts on the shelves when the restaurant opens at 5 am, most days to a line of hungry customers. And they always sell out. Right now The Crumb also offers packaged drinks including milk, soda, juice and cold brewed coffee. Agee has plans to add "third wave coffee" soon. The third wave of coffee is a movement to produce high-quality coffee, and considers coffee as an artisanal foodstuff, like wine, rather than a commodity. He also wants to add ice cream and Kolaches soon. "We're jumping ahead of the curve here in Yucaipa," said Agee. "Many people have had gourmet donuts and coffee on vacations and can only find them again in big cities. Now they have it right here in their hometown," he said. "I've had people thank me for saving them time and gas money from driving out of town to get them." Agee said the designer donut trend started in Portland, Oregon a few years ago. A place called Voodoo Donuts started selling unique donuts infused with strange flavors, like Nyquil donuts, which were not a hit. "But it got people paying attention to donuts again. And now that place is selling 20 thousand donuts a day," said Agee. "A donut is really a good medium for something other than putting chocolate frosting on, and I think every one of our customers has found that one special flavor here that really does it for them." If things ever slow down for Agee (good luck with that!) he plans to redecorate the shop to give it more of a coffee house feel. He wants to add library bookshelves and comfy couches to make it feel more homey. "Even if people are only in here for two minutes to grab their donuts I want it to feel cozy and inviting," Agee said. The Crumb is at 31364 Hampton Road, right next to the Starbucks drive-thru off Yucaipa Blvd. before the 10 freeway. Hours are 5 am to noon, or when it's all gone. Pre-orders can be made through Facebook messenger. Check them out at "The Crumb" on Facebook and at the_crumb_donuts on Instagram. A website is coming soon. The Early Bird Gets the Designer Donuts

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