Re-imagining the World One Mouthful at a Time . . . . .

Exploring Where I Live – Cups of Joy

28 January 2014

page-186-coffee-inspires-youmissie-cindz-coffee-londonWake Up And Smell The Coffee….
Cindy365Notes {page 186 of 365}: Grab someone who inspires you for a coffee date, chat & see new projects form! (#TeamDoIt) – a note I like to do on a daily basis.

I am definitely one of those ‘a cup-a-day coffee’ drinker, I love the smell of a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Lately I’ve been thinking about how much I would enjoy having a morning happy hour with good friends, good coffee and creating good conversation. I’ve always said I’d choose coffee over alcohol. The last decade has seen an explosion of coffee culture (especially in artisan and independent ones) – good artisan independents, thriving, creating a high following of loyal customers for their high quality coffee and laid back atmosphere. The coffee shops that stick in my mind aren’t just the ones that serve the best coffee but the ones that took me by surprise in terms of aesthetics and had me admiring the decor. Tamper Coffee – Sellers Wheel does this well – with original features like exposed brickwork, vaulted ceilings. Here, I’m also blown away by their passion, determination and the way they take a grass roots approach to growing their brand/business and getting the word out about their coffee and what makes it special.

missie-cindz-cups-of-joy-coffeeemissie-cindz-tamper-sheffield missie-cindz-steamyard-coffeee-sheffield-1missie-cindz-steamyard-coffeee-sheffieldmissie-cindz-sunflower-cafe-londonmissie-cindz-sacred-cafe-londonI’ve been following Steam Yard, a new coffee company that opened their doors in Sheffield this month (located in Aberdeen Court on Division St, opposite The Frog & Parrot). Their branding and originally tasteful hand drawn signage, from one of my newly favourite Sheffield illustrators, Steven Millington (aka Dry British) was so spot on that I took notice on Instagram, and immediately began liking them (this was before I’d even tried their coffee!). I’m glad to say, I have tried their coffee and was happy with my cuppa joy! The inside was very cosy (it was raining heavily the Sunday morning I popped in, so it was steamy in fact! :), walls were covered with local artists work on display and Steam Yard merchandise for sale – very interesting items in their gift shop.

London Coffee Recipe for Success…
1 cup of joy, 1/2 cup of passion for what you do, 1/3 cup of laughter, and 1/4 cup of (bloody) hard work! – sugar? optional.

The other day, I had coffee with a friend in Sacred, I have been coming here for the last couple of years and always have a lovely warming flat white. There are plenty of coffee selections on the menu, with a range of freshly made hot and cold food & snadwiches and the place always has a good buzz! So if you happen to be wandering around town near Carnaby Street, give them a shot.

Last but not least, if you didn’t know already, UK Coffee Week starts 7-13 April 2014, a week that brings the UK’s coffee enthusiasts together to have fun and raise vital funds for Project Waterfall, a charity helping to improve access to safe water to people in coffee growing countries. I missed this last year but, the London Coffee Festival arrives 3rd-6th April at the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane – celebrating London’s bustling and vibrant coffee scene.

However busy life gets, always make time for that cuppa….. What is it that you love about your favourite coffee shop? Let me know in the comments below.

Picture 3: my week in coffee (from top to bottom)

Have a great week everyone, here’s hoping you all get a chance to stop, relax and have a nice coffee drink in honour of the ‘cup of joy’ that helps most of us wake up every morning – Cindz :)

Missie Cindz