Double delight for coffee shop's tasty afternoon tea treats

Flavia Popa clearly has the recipe for success at Our Coffee Shop on Spital Road as just a few weeks after scooping this year’s Best for Dessert award in Wirral she’s topped the list of the area’s tasty treats enjoyed between lunch and dinner – afternoon tea.

Each week, we will be searching for the best Wirral has to offer in different categories and we’ve given out 18 awards for 2023.

The winners so far:

Best for Hair – The Hair, Beauty and Nail Lounge

Best for Pies – Pies4U

Best for Nails – Ebony J Nails & Beauty

Best for Roast Dinner – Fox and Hounds

Best for Cocktails – Shaker Shaker

Best for Breakfast – Twenty Sixteen

Best for Fitness – Matt Colligan

Best for Fish and Chips - SelFish

Best for Tattoos – Nomad Ink

Best for Pizza – Pizza Mamma

Best for Pets – Sanderson Vets

Best Independent Shop or Business – Bromborough Flowers

Best for Dessert – Our Coffee Shop

Best for Beauty – Glow Aesthetics

Best for Kids – Spanish Tots and Bebes

Best Gym – Dream Body

Best Beer Garden – The Red Fox

Voting for Wirral’s Best for Burgers is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best Café or Coffee Shop.

Next on the menu was the search for Wirral’s Best for Afternoon Tea and Our Coffee Shop took the latest Best of 2023 crown – making them double award winners.

Our Coffee Shop opened on Spital Road in 2018

It was the middle of July when Flavia and the team at Our Coffee Shop were named Wirral’s Best for Dessert and they’ve now added Wirral’s Best for Afternoon Tea to their list of accolades.

Born in Romania, Flavia has lived in England for 13 years with the past seven years spent in Wirral.

She lives with her two daughters Natasha, who is ten, and eight-year-old Inga.

Our Coffee Shop Owner Flavia Popa and her daughters Natasha and Inga

Flavia, who is 39 and has a degree in business management, said: “We live in the heart of such a welcoming community and customers call us a hidden gem.

“My decision to open the coffee shop was born out of a desire to create a better life for my two precious daughters.

“I’ve always had a passion for baking and cooking so when life threw me lemons, I made lemon meringue cake!

“Becoming a single mother, I longed for the flexibility to be there for my girls while also providing for their future, so I had to whip up a plan to turn my passion into a business.”

Flavia opened Our Coffee Shop on Spital Road in Autumn 2018 with the community embracing the family business and “weaving a tight-knit bond”.

The culinary creations are a blend of Flavia’s heritage and her love of experimenting with new flavours, while ensuring that customers are treated to a culinary experience like no other.

Luxury sweet afternoon tea for two

Flavia said: “Romanian cuisine, renowned for its rich flavours and heartwarming dishes, finds its way onto the menu sometimes, showcasing my heritage through the twists I add to traditional dishes, the specials we create weekly and the fact every dish needs to be presented beautifully.

“Everything is made with the highest quality ingredients and we source locally as much as we can – local butchers for our meat and farms for our vegetables, eggs and milk.

“We have a small kitchen and our customers are often surprised by the varied menu as besides our homemade cakes, we also offer cooked breakfasts served all day, brunch and lunch as well as afternoon tea.

“I offer coeliac-friendly and vegan-friendly options so every slice of cake and delectable dish can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of dietary restrictions.”

She added: “We put a huge amount of effort in and give the best to our community.

“We make everything from scratch and it’s all cooked and baked on the premises.”

Luxury savoury afternoon tea for two

When it comes to afternoon tea, customers are spoilt for choice with luxury sweet and luxury savoury options, gluten-free versions, treats for children and even a before noon tea that’s filled with breakfast items.

Flavia said: “We started five years ago with one afternoon tea, which is now called our luxury sweet tea, and that has always been the most popular choice.

“Customers can have a plain or fruity scone with clotted cream and a choice of preserve and everyone gets five different homemade desserts - our very popular Victoria sponge, double chocolate cake, fruity macaron, lemon and Bakewell cake and pavlova wafer boat.

“Then each person gets their choice of three fillings for the sandwiches, served on different breads and unlimited fresh teas or specialty coffee americano.”

Flavia offers a doggy bag at the end of each service as she’s only had three people finish the afternoon tea in the past five years!

What do customers think of the afternoon treats on offer at Our Coffee Shop? Why did they think they should win our latest Best of 2023 title?

One nomination said: “Our Coffee Shop is making by far the best afternoon tea in Wirral.

“It’s all homemade and they offer a few options too, either sweet or savoury, even a before-noon tea one.

“They cater for gluten-free and vegan and with it comes unlimited drinks. Fabulous.”

Another happy customer said: “Our Coffee Shop in Spital for best homemade, best quality/price offer, best quantity too, and the best selection of savoury sweets offered on afternoon tea.

“Top service too! What more could you want?”

Our Coffee Shop Our Coffee Shop

A third added: “Everything is baked fresh on the shop’s premises - they literally make you the sandwiches just before they serve it and the bakes are so delicious and fresh.

“The tablecloth is white crochet and quality China crockery.

“It’s a dreamy experience! You just can’t compare with anywhere else.”

The desserts that secured Our Coffee Shop their first Best of 2023 title are the much-loved classics like Victoria Sponge, lemon cake and Manchester Tart, which hold a special place in the hearts of customers as well as the speciality scones, but it’s the surprise additions to the menu usually impress regulars.

The best seller with a twist is their Bakewell Cake and customers also like the special millionaire’s shortbread, cheesecakes and monster cakes.

Romanian plum and walnut cake and Italian wedding cake are also big hitters.

Before noon tea for two

Flavia said: “I bake the cakes freshly every day and night.

“The effort is real and sleepless nights are many but the results are worth it.

“I wanted to create a home away from home, a cherished meeting place for locals, forming bonds over steaming cups of coffee and scrumptious treats.

“We pride ourselves on our warm and welcoming atmosphere - stepping inside feels like entering a friend’s living room, where laughter and good conversation flow freely.”

So, what did Flavia and the team think when they heard they’d been nominated for our latest award? And how did they feel when they won for second time?

Flavia said: “To be honest, I was in shock and not because I don’t know how much our customers love our afternoon teas.

“We truly have the best customers - their support is just amazing on every single occasion and I personally feel truly blessed to win another award.

“I wish I could thank each and every one of our supportive customers - we wouldn’t be here without them and we are so grateful!”

For more details go to facebook.com/ourcoffeeshopSpital