If you’re craving a maple latte with Vermont-tapped syrup or a fresh-baked pastry made in-house, Black Cap Coffee & Bakery is the spot. Owner Laura Vilalta has grown Black Cap’s single location in Stowe to four coffee shops around the state, all with a commitment to sourcing local ingredients, from the coffee to the cream to the flavor. (Paid Post) It’s not hard to find a coffee and a quick bite to eat around Vermont, but if you’re craving a maple latte with rich, Vermont-tapped syrup or a fresh-baked pastry made in-house, Black Cap Coffee & Bakery is the spot. Owner Laura Vilalta has grown Black Cap’s single location in Stowe to four coffee shops around the state, all with a commitment to sourcing ingredients from as many local businesses as possible, from the coffee to the cream to the flavors. Black Cap has gained a reputation for the quality of its products over the years. When Vilalta originally bought the Stowe business in 2012, it was focused solely on the quality of the coffee, but over the years, as she opened more locations, she noticed a demand for baked goods, too. So, she adapted, hiring New England Culinary Institute-trained head baker Ashia Messier to lead a six-person team of bakers. They supply all four locations with pastries made fresh that day. But don’t just take our word for it — the reviews online speak for themselves. “Okay. This is the first review I’ve ever posted, but this was hands down the best pastry I’ve ever had in my life,” enthused a customer visiting from Philadelphia. “Jealous of everyone who lives here and has access to this regularly!” Lauren Morris, director of HR for Black Cap, eats the pastries regularly. “This is the first place I’ve ever worked where I enjoyed the food,” she said. “I actually have to keep myself from taking things here because it’s all so delicious.” Morris noted that Messier is always searching for new ways to source local products for her recipes — for example, by using King Arthur Baking flour out of Norwich for all of the pastries. It’s not just the ingredients — items from local businesses are all over the shelves for purchase at any Black Cap location, from Queen City Kombucha drinks to soaps and lotions from Elmore Mountain Farm. Morris’ favorite drink is the maple latte, which is Black Cap’s specialty. Every single ingredient in it has a local connection. The syrup is from Lamb Family Maple out of Waterville, the coffee is roasted by Brave Coffee & Tea in Waterbury, and the milk is from Monument Farms Dairy and Mansfield Dairy. “We really try to give back to the Vermont community by supporting other small businesses…