In the multicultural region of South Yorkshire, Sheffield, two independent businesses are using coffee and cuisine to invite a diverse city to discover new flavours and explore what it might mean for a cafe or restaurant to represent culture.

As of 2022, Sheffield’s Slavic population is fewer than five thousand people, which is significantly smaller than other major cities across the UK, despite Sheffield being the fifth largest city.

Nomads Cup and DE Yummy both have ties to Slavic culture and are using food and drinks to introduce customers to new flavours, exploring how international influences can bring communities together. 

At Nomad’s Cup, located on Newbould lane, Mateusz Bielawski, 34, sees coffee as more than just a drink.

Mr Bielawski said: “Nomad’s cup is a space for everyone, we want a place where people can enjoy their coffee and want to come back for more.” 

The cafe, which opened its doors to customers last summer, was built on the idea that coffee can create connections and shared experiences. 

Despite offering numerous Slavic items on their menu, Mr Bielawski notes that only a handful of regular customers are Slavic. 

Instead, the cafe’s identity is rooted in variety, with a number of coffees sourced from different parts of the world, encouraging customers to experience global flavours.

After working in various cafe roles, Mr Bielawski decided to open his own space in Sheffield, aiming to create an inclusive environment: “Coffee is about community and experience,” he said. 

A similar ethos can be found at DE Yummy, a Ukrainian cafe in the Moor, where Angelina has been introducing Sheffield’s residents to Ukrainian and broader Slavic cuisine.

She said: “We want everyone to come and taste Ukrainian food and enjoy it, even if they have never tried Slavic food before.”

Angelina emphasised the importance of making customers feel comfortable and welcome, regardless of their background or familiarity with Slavic cuisine. 

Slavic and Eastern European restaurants and businesses remain relatively rare in Sheffield compared to other cities, leading Angelina to believe that more could succeed here in introducing residents to new cultural foods. 

Together, Nomad’s Cup and DE Yummy reflect a broader trend in Sheffield’s independent food scene by representing their distinctive cultures.

Whether they are through globally sourced coffee or traditional Ukrainian dishes, both venues aim to create spaces where cultural exchange happens over a cup of coffee or a shared tasty meal.