A Conversation with Groke

Here's everything you need to know about all things Groke, the independent, owner-led coffee shop in Sheffield serving Extract Coffee. The legends that are owners, Abby & Tom, very kindly gave us an insight into their business. Grab a brew and enjoy!

TELL US ABOUT GROKE COFFEE

No coffee shop is truly unique. We’re proud to have learned speciality coffee in Australia and taken inspiration from our favourite coffee shops and restaurants around the world and right here in Sheffield. But what really sets us apart is the people — we’ve spent years managing other businesses and building a community of hospitality workers that allowed us to put together an awesome team who are in it for the right reasons.

We’ve worked minimum wage hospitality jobs for over a decade, we understand what it takes. Too many cafes are opened by people with no idea what that’s like, and it shows in how they treat their staff and suppliers. We’re still in it every day ourselves, washing pots, cooking food, pulling shots. We try to make sure everyone gets a sense of ownership in the work they’re doing. We’re local, run by locals, and we’re not interested in being some fake “neighbourhood” brand rolled out across the country.

IF YOU WEREN’T RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS, WHAT JOB WOULD YOU BE DOING?

A few years ago we didn’t know if this dream would pan out. I’d just had major back surgery that hadn’t gone great, Abby got a job in the care industry and was incredible at it. She was getting promoted fast until we got this opportunity and she came back to coffee - so that’s where she would be. But more likely if running our own business was completely off the cards, we’d still be dirty travelling kids living in a van and exploring the world, probably collecting stray dogs and starting a sanctuary somewhere.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO ENJOY COFFEE?

We’re not aficionados - I’ll be a latte, and I’ll always have too many. Abby will have an oat flat white and be sensible with only one or two for the day. It might not be “cool”, and I love exploring new coffee flavours and brew methods, but if 90% of the people I want to serve are going to drink a latte, I’ll be joining them.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH EXTRACT?

When I arrived back from travelling the world and wanted to get into the coffee industry, I’d been working on organic farms for a few years (narrowly avoiding being dragged into a few cults) and I knew I wanted to be involved in an industry striving towards ethical production. Extract was the first UK roastery that I became aware of that had a proper focus on making sure they knew every part of their supply chain, that farmers were being paid fairly and protected from bad harvests. I got a job slinging lattes at music festivals with The Flying Machine Cafe (shout out Owain and his new pub The Crown Inn, Pilton!), and he had Cast Iron in his grinders, this was maybe 2013 or 14, and it was the best all-round coffee I’d ever had, and still is.

That’s why we originally approached Extract when we knew we were going to be opening Groke, but since then, we met Ellen and Thurston at their Manchester site, and they have quickly become the real reason we love working with Extract, just awesome and incredibly knowledgeable people.

SWEET OR SAVOURY?

Abby is a sugar fiend, personified by her amazing gluten-free Rocky Road, one of our best sellers since we opened. I’m more of a cheese guy, but I rarely turn down a chocolate bar….

WE BRITS HAVE THIS ODD OBSESSION WITH THE MEAL DEAL. WHAT’S YOUR DREAM COMBO?

I have a terrible affliction where I can’t eat gluten, and I haven’t eaten meat or fish since I was a kid, so the meal deal has always been a big ball of resentment and jealousy for me, which might be colouring my opinion here, but: Support Local Coffee Shops! Abandon the supermarket overlords!

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR?

We celebrated being together for ten years at the start of August! We had a really nice weekend away, but if the business allows, we’d love to go to SE Asia for a couple of weeks and just ride motorbikes around the mountains - please buy more coffee so we can do this!

SINCE STARTING YOUR BUSINESS, WHAT’S BEEN YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT?

Honestly, I’m still kind of shocked every month when I can pay ten people's wages - we built something where people like coming to work, get treated with respect, and get paid fairly while providing a service to their community in a way that totally resonates with them. This coupled with none-stop 5 star reviews, makes us incredibly proud.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS?

Do it because you love it, and you love the people you’re going to do it with. The world we live in isn’t kind to small businesses, and it’s always going to be a fight, but if you love it and you’re willing, not having a boss is awesome. And don’t take your people for granted, they’re the most important part of your business, not you.

ASIDE FROM YOUR OWN BUSINESS, WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPOT TO GRAB A BITE TO EAT OR A COFFEE?

We don’t get nearly enough time to go out to eat at the moment, but huge shout-outs to Porter Pizza for serving up awesome gluten-free pizzas! Mows, Cloud Coffee, South Street Kitchen, Kilnfolk and Forge Bakehouse for awesome coffee! And the Broadfield on Abbeydale Road for their awesome gluten-free and Vegetarian Sunday roasts!

If you'd like to find out more about Groke, we suggest checking out their Instagram here.