Photo by Nicole Lopez-Alvar
Audio By Carbonatix
A British coffeehouse chain with locations across the United Kingdom has made its way across the pond and into a much warmer climate – sunny Miami. Black Sheep Coffee, founded in London in 2013, has opened its first Florida location in Coconut Grove at a brand new mixed-use building that’s already drawing buzz for its other tenants.
The new coffee shop has opened on Wednesday, August 20, inside Grove Central, which is home to Total Wine & More on the second floor, and Sprouts, Target, Panera, and Chipotle on the first floor. Therefore, nearby Grove residents and residents of Grove Central Residences are incredibly excited about the area’s first coffeehouse.
While it is the brand’s first location in Florida, it is actually the fourth Black Sheep Coffee in the U.S. The shop first opened in Dallas and Grapevine, Texas.
Black Sheep Coffee has officially opened in Cococnut Grove at Grove Central
Photo by Nicole Lopez-Alvar
Started by Roommates (Flatmates) in the UK
The brand’s founders, Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth, met as roommates at the University of St Andrews before starting the company over a decade ago. They started Black Sheep after quitting their jobs and running pop-up coffee stands around London with the goal of making delicious coffee. They couldn’t afford an espresso machine at first, so they rented one and poured drinks from a folding table at markets like Brick Lane and Camden High Street. Eventually, they scraped together enough cash to build their first shop from salvaged materials. The rest grew from there.
The food menu includes Norwegian waffles with toppings such as Nutella and berries, plus fresh pastries, smoothies, and organic aça
Black Sheep Coffee photo
Today, Black Sheep has more than 116 locations worldwide, including a growing presence in the U.S. It’s known for championing specialty-grade robusta beans, a rarity in the coffee world, where arabica usually takes the lead. The company sources its beans from farms in India and Uganda, where they’re shade-grown, hand-picked, and dried naturally.
The result is a cup of coffee that’s apparently stronger, lower in acidity, and higher in caffeine. Robusta plants also require less water and fewer pesticides, which the company points to as part of its focus on sustainable sourcing.
Beyond Espresso: Waffles, Matcha, and Açaí Bowls
At the new Miami shop, customers can expect a full lineup of espresso-based drinks, cold brews, and flavored lattes. Popular options include iced vanilla oat lattes and ceremonial-grade matcha in flavors like “Peaches & Cream,” “Strawberries & Cream,” and blueberry.
An organic aça
Photo by Nicole Lopez-Alvar
The food menu includes Norwegian waffles with toppings such as Nutella and berries, plus fresh pastries, smoothies, and organic açaí bowls.
The Coconut Grove launch will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, attended by Mayor Francis Suarez. Its founders, Shohet and Holth, are also expected to attend the opening, and the shop will offer free samples of drinks and food during the event.
Black Sheep Coffee. 2750 SW 27th Ter., Ste. 108, Coconut Grove; blacksheepcoffee.us. Opening Wednesday, August 20.
