Nick Pears and Matt Cottrill opened Steam Yard in January 2014 inside Aberdeen Court, a former silverworks building tucked off Division Street. The narrow room keeps its exposed beams and low ceiling, with a red La Marzocco FB70 machine behind the counter pulling shots from Square Mile Coffee Roasters' beans. Doughnuts and bagels come from local bakers, alongside grilled cheese and brioche toast for anyone after something more than a pastry. There is no wifi, a deliberate choice that keeps the handful of tables turning over and conversation flowing rather than laptops open. The shop draws a steady mix of office workers, students and passers-by from one of the city centre's livelier stretches. Cottrill has described the venture as a happy accident rather than a grand plan, which suits its unpretentious, well-worn feel.
Surveyed