Exposed Awards

On Thursday evening Ben and I ventured off to Sheffield’s annual Exposed Awards hosted by Exposed Magazine to support our favourite cafes in the competition.

Held at the O2 Academy, the event was festival themed, decorated with bunting, hay barrels and wellies as flower vases on the tables. There was also street food vendors outside to fit with the festival theme. We got ourselves a hot dog from Fat Annies which was really good!

In the Best Cafe Deli category, a number of the cafes we had blogged about featured including our personal favourite Marmadukes, Steam Yard, The Grind and Bragazzi’s. However Tamper won the award for the second year in a row.

I’ve been along to Tamper quite a few times but not actually blogged the visit so will have to properly do that one soon as it’s continued to maintain it’s popular status.

As my place of work The Great Escape were also nominated for Best Independent Retailer it was nice to go along and support the company. We didn’t win but it was great to be nominated and celebrate the hard work we’ve done.

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to Exposed Magazine for putting on a great show!

  

Alyssum

I was recommended by someone at work who lives in the area to try out Alyssum for the blog so was very excited to give it a go! Tucked away at the top of Barber Road, you’ll find Alyssum; a tiny, Greek themed café. To get there you have to endure a bit of a trek up a hill but it is worth the effort when you come across this adorable little chintzy café.

The café looked pretty full as we arrived as it’s only a tiny shop with a capacity of about 20 people. We were worried the journey would be a waste of time but luckily there was a table free. There were students, ladies lunching and even a guy in a suit on his lunch break from work so it looks to be a popular place to stop.

The café’s décor is very feminine with bunting, fairy lights and florals being very prominent when you walk in. The theme is very well thought out with even little touches such as delicate, decorated cutlery holders on the tables. With our coffee cups matching the theme aswell served in floral crockery, you really feel like you’ve walked into Alice’s tea party but without the madness.

There is a full Greek theme throughout the café with the menu featuring a multitude of Greek dishes and a specials board. Ben had a flatbread and I went for a falafel wrap. Both were very delicious and made a nice change from the traditional lunch menus found in most cafes.
 To fit with the Greek theme, products from the local Amalthea Deli can be bought in the café to try with your own cooking at home. I met the couple that run the business at a Christmas Fair at the university so was pleasantly surprised to see their products on display as they really suit the theme.

Alyssum also hold Bistro nights every once in a while where they open the café of an evening with a specialist menu. The café is small so places must be very limited – I would definitely book up if you’re interested! I’m tempted to try it myself.

If you’re heading up in the Crookes direction or you’re a lover of Greek food like I am, then definitely give Alyssum a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Amici and Bici

Translated as Friends and Bikes, Amici and Bici is a adorable cyclist themed cafe on Abbeydale Road. Found a couple of doors down from Bragazzis, this little place is in prime spot on the corner with large windows to show off the relaxed atmosphere and let the sun shine in.

  
Ben and I decided to wander down as the weather has been so kind to us lately. With the sun shining, a walk and a brunch is always a good idea.

  
The cafe is quite large with tables and sofas filled with people having meetings, reading the paper or catching up with some emails on their laptops. We noticed rather a lot of Apple Macbooks so it must be a trendy place to get some work done.

  
Ben got himself a flat white and I had a mocha. The cups were decorated with an adorable bicycle pattern to fit in with the cycling theme. I thought this was fantastic attention to detail that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

  
The food is very traditional with good old fashioned full english on offer as well as a selection of sandwiches, paninis and all sorts! Ben was feeling rather hungry so went for the Full English breakfast whilst I was advised on having the garlic mushrooms on toast. We decided it probably wasn’t my best idea when I was off to a leadership course that evening where I’d probably be chatting to a lot of people. Oops! It was really lovely so it was definitely worth the risk and a packet of extra strong mints.

  
I was pleased to see that the cake selection had sold out as I was able to stick to my sacrifice of cake for lent. There was one lonely slice of carrot cake left but I chose to resist.

A great thing about this place is with an Independent Sheffield card you get 20% off, so Ben got a great deal on his order.

  
The cafe is decorated with bicycle themed art, bunting and signed t-shirts which really express the theme of the cafe. We assumed that the manager must be a cyclist as it expressed a real passion for the sport! I’m sure this place is a real attraction for enthusiastic cyclists.

There was a wide range of customers in Amici and Bici from ladies with their children, people having meetings and friends brunching like us. It’s a really relaxed environment that feels welcoming from the offset. In a lot of these ‘trendy’ coffee shops, service is definitely disregarded as the focus is on the style. This is not the case at Amici and Bici as the staff were really lovely. It was a pleasant surprise!

I’d really recommend going along to Amici and Bici if you’re after something really traditional and welcoming. If a hipster coffee shop isn’t your thing, this is your kind of place. They’ve even got the sport on TV to sit and watch to soak  up the relaxed feel so even my boyfriend would love it!

Mrs Atha’s

I’ve been desperate to go to Leeds since I moved to Sheffield back in 2012. Everyone always says what a nice city it is and with it being less than an hour journey on the train I thought it’d be worth the trip. Plus, they have a selection of coffee shops so we just had to go.

I did a bit of research into the best coffee shops in Leeds and decided on Time Out’s Critic’s Choice Mrs Atha’s. On a small street behind House of Fraser, we found customers enjoying the coffee and beautiful day in the seating outside.

Upon entrance you see the large selection of coffees, teas, breakfasts, lunches and cakes on offer. Upstairs was pretty busy so we headed downstairs to bench table to get comfortable before making our decisions.

  
Ben ordered himself a flat white and on impulse, I ordered a hot chocolate. I know it’s not coffee but I couldn’t resist when it was advertised to be rather special. It came on a little wooden board with a dark chocolate button which was a nice touch. We both opted for a pretty traditional all day breakfast option of a bacon and a sausage sandwich. They were delicious!

Where we sat downstairs was right next to the kitchen so we were able to see our food being prepared and brought over straight away which was nice to see. Nothing worse than a meal that’s been sat waiting for a while!

I decided to give up cake for Lent after indulging immensely recently in our coffee visits so I resisted the large selection of cakes on offer. Ben was nice and didn’t get one either to make me feel better.

The seating downstairs was cosy but rather unusual with some really tiny chairs and stools to sit on at a tiny table. We opted for a bench instead but thought it’d be rather funny to sit on one. 

 I was really pleased to see a copy of Caffeine magazine as I love to have a flick through over my coffee (or should I say hot chocolate) and get up to date with the coffee news and events to add to my diary.

Small touches such as the old fashioned crockery and traditional photos  makes the place feel quite at homely. I even recognised a lamp in there that my Nan has! So Mrs Atha’s obviously got good taste.

Although this was the first coffee shop I’d been to in Leeds and have little to compare it to, I really enjoyed it and would recommend to visitors to the city. If I was to come to Leeds again I’d definitely return as it’s got everything for every different taste!

 

Made by Jonty

This little cafe is just adorable. On a wander down Sharrow Vale Road you’ll find it with the red exterior opposite Urban Quarter.

Upon arrival we had to wait a few minutes for a table, this always means good things – if it’s popular the food must be good.

We got our drinks, a flat white and a mocha and got to work looking at the menu. Their brunch menu includes a large selection of eggs, waffles and a variety of breakfasts. They have a blackboard specials menu with some fancier options for the more adventurous tastes.

 

After must deliberation Ben went for the Eggs Fiorentine and I had the Belgian Waffles. I felt a tad jealous of Ben’s choice at first as it came with smoked salmon which is a delicacy in my eyes but was blown away by the waffles I was served.

They were served with berry compote, a big dollop of greek yoghurt, pecans, maple syrup and chocolate sauce. They were divine. I don’t think I’ve had waffles anywhere else as good and consequently have been telling everyone for the past week how gorgeous they were. I would probably feel guilty getting anything other than the waffles next time we visit just in case it’s not as good.

However from trying Ben’s Eggs Fiorentine, I’m pretty sure every option in Made by Jonty is just as great!

We’d had a nose at the extensive cake selection whilst we were waiting for our table so decided to treat ourselves. Ben had a slice of carrot cake whilst I stuck with a cookie as thought I might end up with a sugar overload if I went too crazy. However the Sticky Toffee Cake did look very appealing.

  

This really is a really top quality cafe. It ticks all the boxes! The coffee is lovely, the food’s great and the staff are really friendly. If I lived on Ecclesall Road, I think I’d be there all the time.

I really can’t fault anything about it so it’s definitely eased it’s way into our top three favourites in Sheffield. Will have to do a blog before I leave Sheffield of our Top 10 as there’s so many fantastic choices.

I will recommend visiting Made by  Jonty all the time now (especially the waffles!)

 

Forge Bakehouse

Another Abbeydale Road establishment on our list was the Forge Bakehouse. The pictures of their food on their instagram is so mouthwatering that we had to make a trip. So with Sheffield blessing us with another sunny winter day off we went.

The bakery/cafe combo can be found on a corner along Abbeydale road with picnic tables and chairs outside. There are two entrances, one to the bakery and one to the cafe.

The cafe is in a bright conservatory room with exposed fittings and unshaded lightbulbs on the walls. The colour scheme makes it feel very clean with the bright block colours and white contrasting tiles.

 We got ourselves a flat white each and decided on our lunch choices. They have quite a large menu with specials options aswell. Ben had a Curried Apple and Parsnip Soup and I chose (feeling healthy) the big plate of salad. It compromised of two different salads one with butternut squash and pomegranate and the other with caramelised onion and goats cheese. The food really was gorgeous! Presented really beautifully with slices of bread. It was not surprising that coming from a bakery, the bread was divine!

From somewhere with such high quality food you would expect high prices, however it is very reasonably priced. I’ve found that some of the independent cafes tend to bump up their prices but this is just right and very affordable on a student budget.

As we had been so healthy (or not), upon leaving we also got ourselves a little treat each. Cinnamon Swirl for Ben and I tried a filled doughnut. However it’s a mystery what the flavour was of the doughnut. Maybe vanilla? Was very nice either way!

We also noticed that they offer courses in bread making for aspiring bakers. If you learn to bake to this standard, it’s definitely worth the money!

Pizza nights are also on the agenda at Forge Bakehouse. If their bread is anything to go by then I’m sure their pizza dough would be great too! Very tempted to give this one a try.

I also saw on their Instagram that they are hosting Champagne Brunch on Valentines Day! I would expect that you would have to book but I’m sure the menu would be divine! Hoping I can drag someone along with me to try that one.

Overall, Ben and I were really impressed with Forge Bakehouse. We even ranked it in our top three so far! I’ve been recommending it constantly since our visit, so make the trip down Abbeydale Road to this cute little bakehouse. I can assure you it’ll get your tastebuds tingling.

 

Bragazzi’s

When I heard that Bragazzi’s was the first independent coffee shop in Sheffield, I knew it had to be on our list. As we had a week off uni we decided to take a trip to Abbeydale Road to visit Bragazzi’s.

From the outside, you may walk past the cafe without a second thought, however when you venture inside you appreciate the real charm of the place.

The establishment is a cute little Italian cafe/delicatessen combination. As you enter, the coffee shop is on the right and the deli on your left. It feels really authentic with traditional Italian food on sale.

Ben, Alicia and I arrived late afternoon so had a couple of lattes and a cappuccino. The coffee was really lovely. We didn’t notice any cakes available but with it being busy and late in the day we assumed others had beat us to it.

However on going round to the deli side after our coffees we noticed some delicious looking panini’s which we wished we had noticed before!

The atmosphere in this place is really relaxed with people laughing, reading or catching up with friends over their coffees. The staff are really friendly and obviously have a good relationship with their customers.

To add to the authenticity, the walls are decorated with Italian posters, signs and postcards.

Once we’d finished our coffees we had a browse round the deli. As an Italian food lover, I was of course tempted to buy absolutely everything. It’s a shame I have a student wage as I think I would have spent my weekly shop on pasta and olives.

The shop really is lovely. If you’re a looking for an Italian escape, then this is the perfect place for you. Bragazzi’s embraces Italian charm that is definitely worth the walk.

Upshot Espresso

Throughout first and second year I used to walk past Upshot Espresso regularly after staying at my boyfriend’s. I always thought it stood out on the small parade of shop from the wooden exterior and  trendy customers.

Now in my final year, I am privileged to live literally round the corner from this fantastic little coffee shop. So when I’m in need of a caffeine kick on a rainy day I can always pop in here.

The coffee shop is very modernly decorated with white walls, wooden furniture and straight lines. It’d be a comfortable place to sit with your coffee and crack on with some work.

We sat in funky barrel shaped chairs (Although placed away from the window so bad my photos suffered bad lighting – apologies!) and enjoyed our lattes and the breakfast we came especially for!

I spotted the week’s breakfast menu on Upshot’s Instagram and just had to go. I had Bananabread granola which I decided was the healthy option to fit with the standard post Christmas diet. It really was delicious! Ben chose avocado toast which he also said was very nice. The breakfast was so good I was tempted to go again on the weekend for their specials option of Lemon Blueberry Pancakes. If only I didn’t work weekends.

 

We had a latte each in little glasses. Although it seems the normal choice to serve a latte in, I always find it strange not to have a hot drink in a cup and saucer.

 

When we visited on a previous occasion we tried their selection of brownies. I am a sucker for anything peanut butter flavoured so a peanut butter brownie is automatically sold to me. It was incredible (as expected). So if you’re visiting outside of brunch then this is definitely worth the indulgence.

While we were in there, I spotted Caffeine magazine which I’ve been dying to have a look through. Was lovely to have something to flick through in an appropriate location. I’m sure I’ll be popping up to Upshot to browse the magazine regularly.

They also sell a selection of merchandise including an aeropress (need one) and cute upshot style cups and saucers. Staple gifts for a coffee lovers. I’m always so tempted by these little treats in coffee shops.

Upshot is a great little coffee shop that I’m so pleased we discovered. I’m sure that the usual customer base are more University of Sheffield students as they go past on their way to lectures, however we’ll try and sway the demographic by being fans from Sheffield Hallam.

If you’re around the area or are a University of Sheffield student that is mad enough not to have tried Upshot Espresso, please do! It’s definitely worth a stop.

Kaffeine London

City: London
Address: 15 Eastcastle Street

If you’re a Sheffield reader you may not know that I’m originally from Hertfordshire in the South East of England. The best thing about where I live is how close and easy it is to get into London. So with an abundance of coffee shops to choose from, we ventured into town to try Kaffeine. From searching various websites it kept appearing as one to visit so off we went.

  
My friends Joe and Ellie accompanied me on the coffee and cake date so we could have a little nosey around the area while we were there.

There are two Kaffeine shops, one on Titchfield Street and one on Eastcastle Street. As we were visiting on a Christmas bank holiday only the Eastcastle shop was open.

  
The shop can be found on a quiet side street running parallel to Oxford Street which was convenient for the tube and a lovely retreat from the mayhem of Oxford Street. We’d only just arrived and were relieved to get away!

The shop is very small but is perfect for the city worker. I can imagine it filled with creatives with macbooks during the week escaping the office for their caffeine fix.

  
There was a large selection of coffee and cakes on offer. El and I went for the a latte and a cappuccino whereas Joe decided on an iced coffee. I never think of having an iced coffee but it looked delicious.

  
We also had a sweet treat each. Joe with a brownie, El got a muffin and I had a slice of banana bread. I had it toasted which I thought it was unusual but was very nice warmed with a bit of butter.

  
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much room inside as it was very busy so we sat outside on some benches. With our unusually mild December this was still rather enjoyable.

There is a selection of coffee products on offer to buy including an aeropress, V60 and a London Coffee Shop Guide (definitely need this!).

If you’re in London and fancy an escape from Oxford Street, go along to Kaffeine. Although maybe go before you have too many shopping bags as you may not fit in! 

Thanks to El for taking the photos at Kaffeine this week! Can find more of el’s photos at Elliehummerston on Instagram. 

   
 

Ink and Water

You may visit West One for Vodka Revs or Las Iguanas, however one of the best places is hidden near the back. It’s the adorable little coffee shop, design studio combination, Ink and Water.

I was curious of how this unique concept came about so Ben and I met up with Ink and Water owner Simon for a chat about how he combined his design business with a coffee shop.

After being a freelancer designer for a while, Simon decided in 2011 to set up his own design business.

After making lots of cups of coffee, they decided to open a coffee shop in 2014 to feed their love for caffeine.

The name ink and water was established before the coffee shop come along to follow the saying of ink and water doesn’t mix. However it conveniently fits in with the design (ink) and coffee (water) combination – they definitely mix well in this place!

The aim of the shop is to be friendly and down to earth so there’s an offering for everyone that comes through the door at a reasonable price. Nothing’s worse than being put off by complicated, pricey coffee. Sometimes you just want your usual ‘latte and a brownie please!’

The tucked away location in West One means most the traffic comes from students, university staff and local businesses. It is probable that you wouldn’t know it was there unless you had heard of them. Their design clients also come from the local area including The University of Sheffield, Taylor Taylor and The Natural Bed Company.

The coffee shop may be small but it’s obvious that it’s the work of a designer. The interior is immaculately designed. It’s probably my favourite thing about the shop. The lamp shades and fairy lights in particular.

Ink and Water have been offering a fantastic advent calendar marketing promotion with a new deal every day up to Christmas. I visited the shop on the day coffee and cake was on offer for £3. (Very appropriate for the blog!) I had a sticky toffee cake and changed my usual latte choice with a cappuccino. Yum!

Produce comes from local businesses including Our Cow Molly, Depot Bakery and local roastery Pollards. It’s always good to know the locality of your food which makes Sheffield coffee shops so special.

You can find the business’ latest news dotted around the shop on clipboards. It’s really nice to read about the company and embrace the community feel. It’s definitely worth a read. I even learnt that Donny Osmond was one of their clients! Bit of a Celebrity endorsement there!

If you haven’t visited Ink and Water before, it’s definitely worth a visit. If you’re over that side of town or just want a cute little place for a coffee. Stop by! The interior is enough to make your visit worthwhile!