The Savvy Baker: I tried the new viral brownie bakery with a trendy matcha bar
One Yorkshire woman who started baking brownies at home in lockdown now has her own purpose-built brownie empire - complete with a matcha bar.
Savannah Roqaa from Leeds had never baked prior to lockdown.
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In the past five years, she has gone from baking her first batch of brownies to selling thousands of bakes each week through her business The Savvy Baker.
Savannah recently opened her biggest store to date - a purpose built bakery, cafe and matcha bar in Trinity Leeds.
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Sophie Mei Lan went to try it out.
There’s not much more of a prime position in Leeds city centre than being on the corner of Albion Street on the edge of Trinity Leeds - an entrance for those wandering to the shops and Trinity Kitchen food court upstairs.
As you wander in from the busy thoroughfare the cafe is striking with its glass frontage, baking affirmations decorating the wall and a stylish counter showcasing The Savvy Baker’s latest bakes.
There’s a range of gooey Kinder Bueno cookies, blondies and of course a range of brownies. I couldn’t get over the number of customers in front of me all buying a brownie box (four brownies for £15 or one for £4).
I bought an Americano with a cookie and was pleased to see they use local roastery North Star Coffee which is one of my favourite coffees.
Their matcha menu looks extensive as they use two types of matcha - Blendsmiths which offer a range of matcha blends which are great for rookies and a more pure ceremonial matcha blend.
These are mixed with syrups to create a range of matcha lattes from blueberry to banana bread matcha.
Staff hand blend the matcha, which is a bright green tea powder, by hand, using a traditional wooden whisk before adding milk and other ingredients.
The Savvy Baker recently said on social media that their matcha is becoming one of their most popular items across their stores in Leeds and York.
We sat in the cafe area adjacent to the counter but there is also a high counter with bar stools up the stairs. It’s through this exit you can head to the toilets inside Trinity Kitchen which is just up the escalator.
The Savvy Baker really is a treat for all your senses with the aromas of freshly baked blondies and brownies filling the space, the sound of coffee being brewed, and the bright lights of Leeds city centre shining through the floor to ceiling windows.