With a tasty blend of Sheffield-roasted coffee and a broad range of vegan and gluten-free cakes, Copa Caffè is here provide customers with a ‘copacetic’ coffee experience.
Taking over the once home of Café Nero, independent establishment Copa Caffè has been open on Ecclesall Road now for three weeks.
The cafe’s interior is decked out with plush leather sofas, bright lighting and a copper design. Charging ports are readily available across the venue for their working cliental too.
The name Copa derives from the 1950s word ‘copacetic’ meaning ‘everything’s great’, reflecting the brand’s push for quality products in an enjoyable environment.
Keen to support local business, Copa’s coffee is supplied by Sheffield Roasters ‘Cuppers Choice’.
Olivia Hunt, Copa’s Manager, told Exposed: “Cuppers Choice are really involved in the ethical side of the coffee production. They go to Rwanda and get involved with the charity based work to make sure the coffee is as ethical as it can be.”
“They brew the coffee for us fresh every single week. We’re using a light to medium roast, which takes a lot more time to get right. The coffee has a very fruity, chocolatey flavour but withholding the richness of it.”
Cuppers Choice supply to other venues across the city, but the blend of coffee available at Copa is unique. The coffee is available to buy wholesale from the shop too.
All cakes and treats found in Copa are vegan and gluten-free. Again, Copa uses independent Sheffield suppliers to source these. One local Cake supplier Copa supports is Nevertheless Cakes, based in Meersbrook.
Olivia tells Exposed that the Caffè’s cake selection has received great feedback so far:
“We’ve had people coming back in for the brownies – you cannot taste that they are vegan or gluten-free in the slightest. They’ve got a really nice moisture to them.”
“Sometimes with gluten free items, you lose that moisture. The recipes Nevertheless Cakes use maintain a great standard of sweet luxury taste – it’s fabulous. She’s a one woman organisation. We’re here to support her business and help her grow.”
The other bakery supplier Copa uses is The Suited Baker. Based in the S5 area, they too are an all vegan and gluten free kitchen. The Suited Baker also supplies to Pom Kitchen in Sharrow Vale but Olivia ensures us that the food found in Copa is unique to them:
“We’re getting different produce to Pom. Everything we sell is individual and unique to us. They are also helping us develop our sandwich menu. Sandwiches will be made in house – we’re trying to keep everything as local as we possibly can.”
Alongside a wide selection of cakes and upcoming sandwiches, Copa also sells milkshakes, smoothies and fresh juices.
At the moment, there are three milkshakes, or ‘Yum Shakes’ on the menu. With options of adding vegan ice cream instead of dairy, customers can choose to enjoy either Biscoff and Caramel, Chocolate and Oreo or an Eton Mess flavour.
From 17 May, Copa are looking forward to inviting customers to sit inside.
The Copa brand will be expanding in Autumn as well. A Copa Bar is set to open in September a few doors up from Copa Caffè.
Joe Morris, Project Manager of Copa, told Exposed some of the future plans for Copa Caffè, which include selling a selection of draught beers and wine with the lunch menu, for a casual European experience.
Joe continued: “We’d also love to hire out the place for local people to use. If someone wanted to do a poetry evening, for example, we’ve got the space.”
“The Suited Bakers are soon to have their launch here. It’s good for us because it gets people in the coffee shop; they get to see what our offering is and by a coffee whilst they’re here.”
