Schuler’s Bakery now sells its own signature line of coffee as it prepares for competition from a growing fast food chain.

Schuler’s store at 1911 S. Limestone St. recently began selling coffee by the cup and allowing customers to buy 8- and 12-ounce bags of coffee under the popular bakery’s brand.

Schuler’s four other locations will offer the service within the next two weeks, President Mike Peters said. Coffee is served between 6 and 11 a.m. at the Limestone Street location, and the business has been offering samples to customers to encourage them to try the new product.

“This is a signature series blend of coffee that we’re introducing and we’re pretty proud of it,” Peters said.

The coffee is also another way to cater to customers as the business prepares for competition from Dunkin’ Donuts, Peters said. Dunkin’ Donuts announced plans last year to open a new store at 1931-1935 S. Limestone St., next to Schuler’s.

Plans for that store could be submitted within the next few weeks, and Dunkin’ Donuts will likely be open by the end of the year, said Pat Gilligan, president and CEO of the Gilligan Oil Co. Gilligan is also the owner of Dunkin’ Donuts franchise rights in the Dayton area.

Peters has been working closely with a bakery and coffee roaster in Indiana and spent several months learning about and testing different blends of coffee. That company, which Peters declined to name, orders coffee beans from three countries and roasts and grinds the beans specifically for Schuler’s.

“We’re getting coffee about as fresh as it can be,” Peters said. “It’s brewed under our label and it’s our own signature blend.”

The coffee will be available in 12 different flavors initially, including chocolate truffle, hazelnut and Main Street Dunking Blend. Other flavors, like pumpkin spice, could be offered during the holidays.

Schuler’s has grown steadily in recent years and now has five locations, including stores in London, Ohio and Urbana. The coffee will offer something new for customers who are already familiar with its cakes, cupcakes and doughnuts, Peters said.

“We’re just trying to diversify our product line,” he said.

Dunkin’ Donuts has long had a significant presence on the east coast, Gilligan said, but has recently been growing in Ohio as well.

The Springfield location would be the third in the region. One store has been built at 9010 Dayton-Lebanon Pike in Centerville and another is under construction near Wilmington Pike and East Stroop Road in Kettering.

Dunkin’ Donuts currently has 32 locations in Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati and Dayton.

“It’s entering every market and growing slowly and building its brand,” Gilligan said of the franchise.