An all-new speciality coffee shop, offering a unique and personalised coffee experience, recently opened its doors in Sheffield’s Norfolk Row, and we popped along to speak to owners Joe Anderton and Lauren Briggs, to find out more about their simple yet innovative concept.
Unlike many coffee shops that rely on a single house blend, 2323 operates as a multi-roaster establishment. This means that the shop features a rotating selection of beans from various roasters around the world. At any given time, customers can choose from three to four different roasts, which are switched out every two to three weeks.
This rotation not only keeps the menu fresh but also allows customers to explore a wide variety of flavours and profiles. For instance, if you order a flat white, you’ll have the option to select from two different espresso bases, each offering a distinct taste.
Photo credit @joshboot
“We wanted to create more than just a coffee shop; we wanted to create an experience, more like a wine bar or a microbrewery,” explains co-founder, Joe Anderton. “By offering a range of rotating roasters, we’re giving our customers the opportunity to engage with their coffee in a new way.
“They can discover what they like, and each visit can be a little different from the last. By keeping it simple, and making it about the flavours, it starts conversations with customers.
“Sheffield is a place where people like things to be made really well, and the response from customers so far has been great. People are really responding to having that choice.”
Photo credit @joshboot
This approach to coffee is somewhat unusual, especially in Sheffield, where many speciality coffee shops tend to stick to a single house blend with occasional guest roasts, but with help from contacts in the industry, built up over years working in the coffee scene, the pair have managed to remain independent from any one roaster.
Joe and his partner Lauren, who run the shop together, started their coffee journey in Cornwall, where they fell in love with the art and science of coffee making while working at a speciality coffee shop during their university years.
Since moving up to Sheffield after university (Lauren is originally from Barnsley), they have been looking for a space to call their own, and you may recognise Joe from some of Sheff’s best known coffee shops, where he has been working as a barista while waiting for the perfect venue to present itself.
Photo credit @joshboot
When the Norfolk Row site appeared, they felt it was the right space and the right time to put their ideas to the test and create their perfect coffee shop.
Lauren studied art and photography at university so as you might expect, the shop also features a vibey design featuring iconic furniture pieces like their ‘chubby chairs’ from Amsterdam. “We wanted the space to be as much a part of the experience as the coffee itself,” says Lauren, “We wanted to create a sleek and cool place, but where people still feel relaxed and comfortable.”
But 2323 isn’t just about aesthetics and coffee. The shop plans to collaborate with local artists and creatives, offering their space as a platform for exhibitions and events. This initiative is inspired by the founders’ past experiences in university towns, where local coffee shops often doubled as community hubs for artists. Joe said: “We want to do something similar here in Sheffield, especially since it’s such a big student city. It’s a great way to support local talent while also adding another layer to the coffee experience.”
In addition to its creative collaborations, 2323 is also looking to incorporate elements of Filipino baking into its offerings. Joe is half Filipino, and the pair are keen to introduce Sheffield to traditional Filipino baked goods, which have their own distinct flavours and ingredients such as ube and pandan. Joe explained: “There’s a big Filipino community in Sheffield so we’ve been in touch and got some contacts, so hopefully we’ll be able to introduce elements of that to the shop, which would be a great thing.”
They also have plans, as the winter approaches, to open late one night a week to pick up customers who don’t necessarily want to go to a pub or restaurant in the evening. Currently they are open 8am – 5pm on Norfolk Row and you can find out more by heading to their insta.
