Tartine has the dough, and Blue Bottle has the coffee, and with their powers combined—well, let's just say this means more bread and morning buns for all of us. Like the artisan version of La Boulange and Starbucks, this merger will likely prove massive.

We profiled Chad Robertson back in February, when he told us about his forthcoming restaurant in the Heath Ceramics building, The Manufactory, as well as other plans for expansion, but it seems he had to keep mum over the Blue Bottle news. But that's not to say there weren't signs—both Blue Bottle and Tartine were planning independent outposts in Tokyo, and we wondered about the timing of it all. 

Blue Bottle photo via SFxplorer

It appears they did, too—both Robertson and Blue Bottle founder James Freeman, who had known each other for years, reached out and began discussions about a partnership. 

What does this mean for patrons? Tartine Bakery will start serving Blue Bottle coffee at its Mission location, while Blue Bottle locations across the country will start stocking Tartine's famed goods on its shelves: bread, pastries (croissants, those morning buns, and more), as well as savory items. “In my mind, the best things in the world are suddenly on our shelves,” Freeman told Inside Scoop. We agree.

Don't miss our profile on Tartine impresario Chad Robertson here.