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From the smell of freshly baked rolls and donuts frying, wafting through the air three blocks away, I know the direction of the bakery even on this dark and foggy morning. I am 11 years old, and I am off to work at my parents’ bakery. I have, of course, been here thousands of times […]

worker checking bread

The Bell Curve of Baking

I am often asked about how best to troubleshoot the problems we face in the production of artisan bread. This in itself is a complex request because there are many steps that

Building Your Bakery the Right Way

A Step-by-Step Guide by Michael Eggebrecht

Every great bakery begins with a vision — a dream of warm bread, early mornings, and a space that smells of butter and yeast. But turning that dream into a working, profitable operation takes far more than recipes and passion. It requires design, discipline, and a deep understanding of how a bakery truly functions from the ground up.

Over the past three decades, I’ve designed and consulted on hundreds of bakeries across the United States — from small micro-bakeries to full-scale wholesale operations producing thousands of pounds of dough a day. Along the way, I’ve seen what works, what fails, and what separates bakeries that survive from those that thrive.

Building Your Bakery the Right Way is a complete, practical guide built from that experience. It takes you from the first spark of an idea to the moment you open your doors — and beyond. Whether you’re sketching your dream bakery on a napkin or finalizing your equipment list, this series will help you make confident, informed decisions every step of the way.

Each part focuses on a critical phase of the journey:

Before the blueprints or the recipes, you need to know if this life is truly for you. By Michael Eggebrecht — Artisan Baking Resources The Dream and the Reality For as long

By Michael Eggebrecht — Artisan Baking Resources A Life in Bakeries I’ve been in bakeries for as long as I can remember. I grew up in one — the ninth Eggebrecht in

Every bakery dream begins with a vision — but the moment you start looking for a space, that dream collides with power panels, ceiling heights, and square footage that may or may

Part 3-7 will be coming soon

Across these eight sections, you’ll learn not just how to build a bakery, but how to build it right — with foresight, balance, and a structure that supports your goals long after opening day.

Because a bakery should do more than make bread — it should make sense.