Sourdough Sophia is a cafe and bakery in London that sells freshly baked sourdough bread, cruffins (a croissant muffin hybrid), croissants, brownies, cheesecakes and much more. It was originally launched by Sophia Handschuh during the pandemic when she started baking bread for the community from her tiny flat kitchen. The response was phenomenal, attracting queues down the street from Sophia and her partner’s flat. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, the couple opened their first bricks-and-mortar bakery in Crouch End eight months later. A whirlwind ride!
The bakery has been so successful that it's since launched a second site in Islington - on Essex Road. You might recognise it from its iconic pastel pink frontage, but step inside and you’ll find a plethora of sweet and savoury baked goods to buy and enjoy. As the name suggests, this bakery is passionate about bread, and the team go to great lengths to produce the best possible quality loaves, from the ingredients they use to how each loaf is made. All its sourdough is made using organic locally grown milled grains, for example, and fermented for 24 hours.
The bakery is also famed for its cruffins – a croissant muffin hybrid – with flavours like black forest, cinnamon and cheese and marmite. Punters can also purchase croissants, cakes, sandwiches and other goodies.
The site itself is a decent size, with an outdoor terrace at the front filled with tables and chairs, if you fancy a quick perch while the sun is shining. Its classic pink exterior continues inside, too, with soft pink walls and lush foliage creating a relaxed feel.
If you want to make a bulk order to go, the bakery also offers a click and collect service, so you can purchase some of their most popular goodies to take home with you.