A Sign Of The Times: Vegan Cafe And Eco Store In One

With the challenging economic climate on the high street at the moment and so many high street shops closing down, it is great to be able to write a positive story about a business which is bucking that trend, whilst at the same time bringing something new and innovative to the town.

The Steep&Filter Coffee House and Eco Store is owned by Michael and Dally Jennings, a young couple with vision and entrepreneurial spirit, who are keen to make an environmental and ethical difference.

Situated on Otley Street in Skipton and now in its second year, the business has gone from strength to strength: it is listed in the Independent Coffee Guide and, in the opinion of the Lonely Planet Guide, serves Skipton's best coffee. I am inclined to agree!

Michael Jennings worked in the coffee & tea industry for a number of years, where he found harsh chemicals were used and the traceability of coffee was poor and exploitative of workers in the countries of origins. He wanted to set up a coffee shop with a strong stance on ethics and sustainability, and he and Dally decided to do this in her home town of Skipton.

Michael and Dally found suppliers - North Star Coffee Roasters in Leeds - who work at origin to support sustainable farming initiatives and ensure that workers are paid fairly for their produce.

Following David Attenborough's Blue Planet 2 and the increased awareness of single use plastic, Michael began selling refills of chemical free cleaners alongside shampoo and body wash at the back of the coffee shop and customers were encouraged to bring their own containers and refill them, thus saving plastic.

This section of the shop gradually expanded to include eco-friendly, plastic-free alternatives to household products such as cotton buds, straws, and toothbrushes. Customers were very supportive of the initiative, which led to Michael and Dally expanding the Eco store further to sell dried goods such as pasta, rice, pulses, nuts and more.

“The idea is that people can bring any container that they already have at home,” says Dally, “and fill it up with pantry staples, rather than buying pre-packaged foods that are often in single use plastic. This is an old idea re-imagined. It’s how people used to shop years ago before plastic was about. We hope that our little shop will go some way towards reducing waste in Skipton, and it’s also a really fun way to shop, with scoops and levers and buttons to press!”

The newly expanded store opened in September and has been well received, with Dally joining the team full-time to run the shop.

Michael and Dally are also keen for their space to be used as a community hub by supporting local community groups such as Plastic Free Skipton, Great Place: Lakes and Dales, Extinction Rebellion and a local Men’s Shed.

As a vegetarian living nearby, it's rapidly become my go-to place to eat and I can recommend several dishes on the menu. My current favourite is the very addictive Hash and Scrambles made from the Ackee, a Caribbean fruit with a nut-like flavour and the texture of scrambled eggs.

A close second is the tasty Green Kale and Cashew Nut Pesto topped with Mushrooms, followed by the Squash and Chickpea Tagine. But my all time favourite is the wonderful veggie breakfast, to which has recently been added vegan black pudding.

The origin of its coffee beans is chalked up on a board, along with tasting notes for its extensive menu of white and black teas. It also offers alternatives such as oat, lentil, pea mylk and gluten-free bread.

Steep&Filter is a gem of a coffee shop; a business with a distinctly 21st century ethos and great food. What's not to like!