Eighteen months ago, Jamey Maloof took over the Fresh Cup Cafe in Westerly, bringing her culinary experience and expertise for baking to her new position as Fresh Cup’s executive chef and owner.

Prior to opening her own place, she had served as the executive sous chef at Sift Bake Shop in Mystic, owned by the legendary baker and entrepreneur Adam Young.

Maloof earned her food service management and baking and pastry arts degree from Johnson & Wales in Providence, and before her stint at Sift, she was the head baker at Carlo’s Bakery at Mohegan Sun, owned by celebrity baker Buddy Valastro of “The Cake Boss” fame.

When she approached Young to express her desire to open a bakery of her own, he enthusiastically supported her and even helped her to develop a business plan.

“We’d be lying if we said we won’t miss her dearly, but we are excited to see her thrive,” said Young in a social media post promoting Maloof’s new endeavor when she first opened her place in Westerly.

And indeed, she is thriving. Since she took over from the prior owners, Maloof has put her own thumbprint on Fresh Cup Cafe. She kept the old name, but she’s put her experience, techniques and spin on the baked goods, sandwiches and beverages.

Like the blueberry muffin that is loaded with berries, made with both brown and white sugar, and finished with an oat streusel topping. It’s $4.25 and worth every penny.

A customer favorite is the mammoth citrus scone, $5. It is incredibly delicious and filling. Dense, but not heavy, with just the right citrus zing. The icing on top, well, it gives literal meaning to the phrase “the icing on the cake” – it makes a delicious baked good even better.

Maloof bakes daily, and visitors will find delectables such as spiced ginger crinkle, cranberry white chocolate oatmeal, and miso-sesame chocolate chip cookies; raspberry oat, lemon thyme, or key lime bars; and chocolate or butter croissants, biscotti, and zucchini bread. She even makes gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. Most everything in the showcase is sold by the slice or single serving, and prices are about $4 to $5.

There is fresh-made quiche, too. One day that we visited, there were two varieties -- spinach, artichoke, and parmesan, or bacon, ham, cheddar, and onion – both at $5.50 for a generous slice.

There are also bagels and sandwiches, although while Maloof makes everything else, she explained to a customer that she buys the bagels from a place in New York. Breakfast sandwiches are in the $5 to $7 range, and will be made on an English muffin or a bagel. It is Westerly, so of course there is a soupy, egg and cheese variety, for $7.25. Or you can go basic, for an egg and cheese at $5.25.

We tried a breakfast sandwich special on one visit, an egg, provolone, prosciutto, caramelized onion, and greens, for $10.50.

There is a big variety of sandwiches, including a roast beef special, with house-roasted beef, caramelized onions, provolone, and balsamic dressed greens on toasted multi-grain, for $11.95.

One of our favorites was The North End panini, with capicola, prosciutto, roasted red peppers, tomato, greens, and balsamic, $11.95. It was flavorful, and the greens and tomato complemented the meat and cheese. The whole thing was perfectly pressed.

The chicken salad on multi-grain toast was a personal favorite. The chunk white chicken was dressed with mayonnaise and just a bit of celery and red onion, and loaded on the toast with arugula greens. The sandwiches come with chips and pickles, and the price on the chicken salad was $12.95.

When we arrived late morning on an overcast Saturday, there were just a few other customers in the shop. But as we lingered and ate, a steady stream of people came in, creating a line at the counter and filling up many of the seats.

Oftentimes, you don’t see a business owner out and about, but Maloof was a steady presence both waiting on customers when the other staff was busy, and moving in and out of the kitchen, to make sandwiches or whatever else. She was super friendly when we asked questions, even with the crush of customers all around.

The place is called Fresh Cup Cafe, and there are myriad options for coffee and tea, including kombucha, Nitro brew, macchiato, chai and matcha, at a variety of price points. Smoothies, all $8.75, also seemed to be a draw, with choices such as Summer Strawberry, with pear, apple and pineapple, and Harvest Green, with lemongrass, spinach, kiwi, cucumber, kale, banana, and apple. Maybe next visit I will try one.

Fresh Cup Cafe

9 East Ave., Westerly

(401) 596-2400

freshcupcafe.com

You can search their name to find them on Instagram and Facebook.

Atmosphere: Clean and bright, with various options for seating, including tables, high tops, a large community table and cozy chairs arranged for coffee chit-chat.

Cuisine: House-made, fresh-baked pastries such as scones, muffins, croissants, fruit bars and cookies, as well as over-stuffed sandwiches, paninis and bagels. Multiple drink options including a variety of hot and cold coffees, teas and smoothies. Custom cakes by special order.

Hours: Open daily 6 a.m.-2 p.m.

Service: Friendly and efficient

Prices: Reasonable

Credit cards: Yes

Handicapped accessibility: Yes