Coffee with Flo is a hidden jewel located at the Wymondham Leisure Centre since just before the first lockdown in 2020. It is tucked away to the right of the reception area with two walls of windows. There is also an outside seating area.
As a long-standing member of the Leisure Centre, I’ve often enjoyed this café for its coffee, protein shakes, healthy wraps, yoghurt and cereal. I always assumed that Flo was a woman but have since discovered that Flo is an abbreviation for Florin: the gentleman chef who created the café. Florin was a teacher of hospitality at Norwich City College from 2012 to 2021. Before teaching, he was a chef in several five-star hotels across four countries, and at a high-end club along the shores of New York City.
The coffee is Arabica Guatemalan roasted beans. Their produce and milk are sourced from local Norfolk suppliers. Because their kitchen is small, they are unable to produce a full gluten-free range in-house, but they have cleverly collaborated with a local pastry chef so they can provide gluten-free offerings. All other baking, cooking and food preparation are done in-house.
I especially enjoy their Smoothie of the day, prepared with real fruit, and their milkshakes made with quality ice cream. They serve a variety of hot drinks and cold drinks and offer milk alternatives like coconut milk, soya milk, and Oat milk.
A delicious lunch that I enjoyed was a tuna salad wrap with a side salad and crisps. My husband has savoured the sausage rolls. They also serve a yummy, crusty bacon bap. If you really deserve a splurge, you could order a special cream tea for a truly luxurious experience. Another winner is the triple-decker sandwiches that they make.
The choices are so numerous, you may struggle to decide.
Flo said that the café serves 80-150 customers daily, and uses 100 litres of cows’ milk and several kilograms of coffee weekly! I asked Flo if he had a philosophy or a mission for the business. He answered, “Over the years, I’ve learned that small shortcuts may go unnoticed, but honesty and attitude are just as important as technical skill. This philosophy inspired our motto: Great skills, right attitude.” This is also how he manages his successful catering business. Rashene and Victoria manage the day-to-day operation of the coffee shop, and both are very friendly and helpful, as well as excellent bakers! The day I was there, the cheese scones were almost 4 inches high.
You can walk there from the Town Centre in ten minutes. There are lots of parking spaces around the Leisure Centre. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. And although this is highly convenient for Leisure Centre customers like myself, the café welcomes everyone.
