The Photo Latte Salt Lake City Revolution: How Lavanya Mahate Brought Utah's First Edible Coffee Printing to Sugar House

There's a special kind of magic that happens when you scan a QR code at Bix Bakery & Café in Sugar House, upload your cat's face, and watch a machine print that exact image onto your latte foam in edible ink within ten seconds. It's the kind of moment that makes you stop scrolling, look up from your phone, and genuinely smile—which is precisely what Lavanya Mahate wanted when she brought Utah's first photo latte printing machine to Salt Lake City.

"It's just a moment of joy for people," Mahate explains simply. And in a world where coffee shops are a dime a dozen, that moment of joy—seeing your own face, your best friend's grin, or your pet's goofy expression staring back at you from a perfectly foamed cappuccino—is what sets this bakery cafe Sugar House SLC spot apart from every other artisan coffee shop in the valley.

One customer captured it perfectly in a recent review: "The coffee was very cute as well and able to add a custom design in the foam! We will definitely come back."

From Chennai to Sugar House: The Woman Who Built a Culinary Empire on Connection 

How a Former Chamber Director Became Utah's Most Unlikely Restaurant Powerhouse

Lavanya Mahate's journey to becoming one of Utah's most successful restaurateurs didn't start in a kitchen—it started in the Women's Business Center at the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, where she spent years helping other entrepreneurs launch their dreams while her own simmered quietly in the background.

Born in Southern India in a multigenerational home with a rich culinary tradition, Mahate learned to cook from her mother and the family's kitchen help, Kanthama, starting around age six. She moved to Utah in 2001 after finishing a master's degree in mass communication, but found herself on a dependent visa that prevented her from working. So she went back to school at the University of Utah, earned another master's in integrated-marketing communications, and then spent two years as an unpaid intern before landing at the Salt Lake Chamber.

"I was eager to come get started in the workforce here," Mahate recalls. "But I was on a dependent visa, so I couldn't go to work."

While working at the Chamber, she cooked constantly for family and friends. In Indian culture, she explains, cooking and sharing food is a love language—it shows people you care. By 2010, she'd had enough of helping others start businesses. She quit her job, launched a line of spice blends at the Downtown Farmers Market, and a year later opened the first Saffron Valley restaurant in South Jordan.

Fast forward to 2023, and Mahate had built an empire: five Saffron Valley locations across the valley, a nonprofit culinary training institute for refugees called RISE, and the vision for something entirely different—a European-style bakery cafe in Sugar House that would serve as both a neighborhood gathering spot and a showcase for the kind of joyful, unexpected experiences she'd seen in Japan.

The name "Bix" itself comes from Australian slang for bites or cookies. It's playful, unpretentious, and perfectly captures the vibe Mahate wanted: a place where you can grab a quick pastry and coffee on the way to work, or settle in for hours on the back patio with friends over Belgian waffles and custom cakes.

The Latte That Prints Your Face (And Why That Actually Matters)

Utah's First Coffee Printing Experience: More Than Just Instagram Bait

Let's talk about the photo latte Salt Lake City experience that's turning Bix into a destination. The technology itself isn't new—coffee printing machines have been popular in Japan and parts of Asia for years—but Bix is the first spot in Utah to offer it, and the execution is surprisingly delightful.

Here's how it works: You scan a QR code at the register with your phone. You either upload a photo from your camera roll or take a selfie right there. Hit send. Within 10 to 20 seconds, a barista uses a specialized machine to print your image in edible ink—made from coffee grounds or carrots—directly onto any foamed coffee drink or hot chocolate. The resolution is photo-realistic, the ink is completely food-safe, and the whole thing costs just $2 extra.

One DoorDash reviewer nailed the appeal: "Loved the festive holiday pictures in our latte foam! The breakfast burrito was big and delicious."

The latte printing isn't a gimmick—it's a gateway. It gets people in the door, sure. But what keeps them coming back is everything else: the housemade chai brewed with black tea, ginger, and cardamom; the Chicken Tikka Puff that one customer called a "life changing pastry"; the coconut blueberry pancakes that earned an "ohhh so yummy" from a Tripadvisor reviewer who also praised the mango and red velvet custom cakes.

The cafe uses coffee from King's Peak Coffee Roasters, a local specialty coffee roaster, and kombucha from Han's Kombucha, another Utah producer. The pastry case is stocked with European-inspired treats: Nutella éclairs filled with hazelnut praline and glazed with chocolate buttercream, ganache-dipped chocolate almond Swiss rolls with almond buttercream between bouncy chocolate sponge, French macarons, and lemon pound cake loaves.

And if you're not a coffee person? There are fruit-forward smoothies, sparkling refreshers, and an afternoon tea service every Thursday from 3-7 PM that includes a scone, a sweet confection, two cookies, a finger sandwich, and your choice of beverage for just $16.

The Brunch Scene and the Neighborhood Vibe

Why Sugar House Locals Are Making Bix Their Weekend Ritual

Bix sits at 479 E 2100 South, right next door to Saffron Valley in the heart of the Sugar House and Liberty Wells neighborhood. It's the kind of corner location with ample parking that makes it easy to pop in for a quick morning bite or coffee to go—which matters more than you'd think in a city where good coffee shops are often buried in neighborhoods with no parking.

The space itself has that French bistro warmth that makes you want to linger. There's a sunny front patio for people-watching, a secluded shaded back patio for more private conversations, and an air-conditioned interior with comfortable seating and free wifi. The walls outside are painted with murals that add to the neighborhood charm.

But it's the weekend brunch that's really building Bix's local following. One family who visited left this review: "The food was absolutely delicious and the selection was spectacular—Belgian waffles, made to order omelettes, sausage, mac & cheese, stuffed tomatoes, soup, fresh fruit, GORGEOUS pastries and my favorite was the grilled chicken with pesto sauce!!!"

The brunch setup is thoughtful—there are plenty of grab-and-go options like premade pecan strawberry salads, breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and granola Greek yogurt with fruit for people in a hurry. But there are also sit-down options like those coconut blueberry pancakes, Belgian waffles, avocado toast on sourdough, and the Morning Melt Sandwich with sausage, egg, and cheese.

And yes, you can absolutely get your face printed on your brunch latte. It's become a thing—customers uploading selfies with their dining companions, printing group photos on their cappuccinos, even proposing via coffee foam. One couple used the latte printer to add their engagement photo to their drinks at a celebration brunch.

The vibe is genuinely welcoming. Multiple reviewers use the word "friendly" when describing the staff. One called them "highly skilled culinary experts with a passion to make, bake and serve the best quality food." Another noted that "Everyone made us feel welcomed and appreciated."

The RISE Connection and What It Means for Utah's Food Scene

How Bix Fits Into Lavanya Mahate's Bigger Mission

You can't talk about Bix without talking about RISE Culinary Institute, the nonprofit Mahate founded in 2018 to provide free culinary training to refugees and underserved youth in Utah. The training kitchen is located right behind Saffron Valley and Bix in Sugar House, creating a practical model where students can learn skills in the kitchen and then gain real experience working in the adjacent restaurants.

The program addresses a genuine need—Utah's restaurant industry has faced consistent labor shortages, while the state's growing refugee and immigrant population includes people who are willing and eager to work but need resources and training to break into the culinary field. RISE offers a three-month hands-on training program followed by a six-month paid internship with partnering restaurants.

For Mahate, it's a way of giving back to the community that welcomed her when she arrived from India more than two decades ago. "Food to me is a symbol of my homeland," she's said. "It keeps me tied to my roots. It also allows me to share narratives and experiences about food in the form of new anecdotes, memories and valuable life lessons."

That philosophy—food as connection, food as joy, food as a bridge between cultures—infuses everything at Bix. The menu reflects Mahate's global influences: you'll find Indian-inspired items like the Chicken Tikka Puff and housemade chai alongside European pastries and American brunch classics. The afternoon tea service brings a bit of British tradition to Sugar House. Even the photo latte, inspired by a trend Mahate saw in Japan, speaks to her willingness to pull the best ideas from around the world and make them accessible to Utahns.

What to Order and When to Go

Planning Your Visit to Bix Bakery & Café

Bix is currently operating at its year-round location inside Kiln at The Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City (26 S Rio Grande St), while the Sugar House flagship location takes a seasonal winter break. The Sugar House spot typically reopens in spring and operates Tuesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 5 PM (closed Mondays).

Here's what customers consistently recommend:

For Coffee Lovers: Get the photo latte with your face on it—obviously—but also try the housemade chai made from scratch with black tea, ginger, and cardamom. The dirty chai and caramel chai variations are also popular. Coffee is from King's Peak Coffee Roasters, and they serve flat whites, cappuccinos, and a full espresso menu.

For Pastry Hunters: The Chicken Tikka Puff is the sleeper hit that gets rave reviews. The Nutella éclair and chocolate almond Swiss roll are both decadent. French macarons and coconut macaroons appear frequently in customer praise. For custom cakes, reviewers love the mango and red velvet options.

For Brunch: Coconut blueberry pancakes and Belgian waffles top the list. The grilled chicken with pesto sauce has a devoted following. The Earth Burger (black-bean patty on brioche) and avocado toast on sourdough are solid vegetarian options. The breakfast burrito is noted as being "big and delicious."

For the Full Experience: Hit the Thursday afternoon tea service (3-7 PM) for $16. You get to try multiple items—scone, cookies, a sweet, a finger sandwich, and a beverage—which is a great way to sample the menu without committing to one thing.

Insider Tips: Use the code "BixPix" for a free photo printed on your foamed coffee drink (though this promotion may vary). Arrive during off-peak hours to avoid waits. The back patio is shaded and more secluded if you want a quieter spot. Parking is ample, which is rare for Sugar House cafes.

Follow @bixcafeutah on Instagram for updates on seasonal offerings, grand opening celebrations, and special events.

Why Bix Matters to Utah's Evolving Food Landscape

Bix Bakery & Café isn't trying to be the fanciest pastry shop in Salt Lake City or the most artisanal coffee roaster in Sugar House. It's doing something arguably more valuable: it's creating moments of genuine joy in an industry that can sometimes take itself too seriously.

The photo latte Salt Lake City experience is fun, sure—but it's also democratizing. It makes specialty coffee approachable for people who might be intimidated by a traditional third-wave coffee shop. The European pastries sit alongside Indian-inspired puffs and American brunch classics, reflecting the increasingly multicultural palate of Utah's food scene. And the whole operation is run by a woman who started selling spice blends at a farmers market and built it into a restaurant empire while also training refugees to become the next generation of Utah chefs.

One reviewer summed up the Bix experience perfectly: "Our mission is to provide a friendly space for neighbors and patrons like yourself, where you can take a moment to savor the little joys in life."

In a city where new coffee shops and bakeries open and close with alarming frequency, that mission—joy, community, connection—might just be the secret to longevity. Plus, where else in Utah can you get your dog's face printed on your cappuccino while eating a life-changing Chicken Tikka Puff?

Bix Bakery & Café
Sugar House Location: 479 E 2100 South, Ste B, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Gateway Location: Kiln at The Gateway, 26 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City
Phone: (385) 259-0359
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 8 AM - 5 PM (Closed Monday)
Instagram: @bixcafeutah
Website: bixbakeryandcafe.com