Discovering Cape Town’s Coffee Shops and Artisan Roasteries

They do it by hand; meet the roasters making our local 'black gold'!

Last update: 2nd May 2018

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Drink award-winning coffee and get an early start to the day at mischu in Sea Point. 

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Cape Town has developed a real coffee culture within the past few years. Luckily for us, others do the work and roast the beans, while all we have to do is lean back and decide whether we want it with or without milk and enjoy our cuppa. We got in touch with some great artisan coffee roasters in and around Cape Town and asked a few questions; read with a cup of coffee, of course.

DRINK AWARD-WINNING COFFEE  

This down-to-earth coffee shop in Sea Point has won Best Coffee in Cape Town three years in a row, thanks to the Isabella blend. With a mild pleasant acidity and a dark chocolate and roasted hazelnut aftertaste, it’s the kind of coffee you can easily drink everyday. Not only is it award-winning, but it’s sentimental to founder Mikhael “Mischu” Bou Rjeily - it’s named after his first-born daughter. 

85A Regent Road | Sea Point | 072 563 8090

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Origin Coffee Roasting
They call themselves 'the artisan roasters of Africa' because they emphasise a hands-on mastery of all the aspects of the coffee craft - from the careful selection of green beans, to the precise roasting, blending, grinding and pouring of the coffee. By giving credence to the artisans of this world, Origin harks back to a pre-industrial, pre-mass-produced era when artisans took immense pride in their vocations, and superb quality was the expected standard. "Artisan roasting differs from commercial roasting in that it is never done to a set formula,” says Kane Kossew, marketing director of Origin. “All of our green beans have been grown, harvested and processed by growers who have been selected for their immense passion and dedication to quality. We roast, taste, analyse, and roast again to arrive at the ultimate result”.

28 Hudson Street | De Waterkant | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 421 1000

Truth Coffee Roastery
'We roast coffee. Properly.' and 'Coffee as a religion' – these are Truth’s mission statements. Truth Roastery specialises in producing artisanal-style coffees for the coffee geeks out there. They roast on a vintage Probat at their Steampunk-themed HQ with modern electronics since the vintage roaster drum is cast iron and this seems to make coffee taste better. “Why the electronics? So we can see what the hell we are doing!" says owner David Donde. With his love of making artisanal coffee, and he’s been quietly training up the best baristas in the country.

36 Buitenkant Street | City Bowl | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 200 2440

Deluxe Coffeeworks
Judd Francis Nicolay and Carl Wessel roast each batch to its optimum level, deduced through rigorous tasting and after-hours rum sessions. The beans are sourced from all over the world, "If it’s good, we’ll buy it!". All roasting is done on the premises at the shop, Deluxe Coffeeworks in Church Street next to Mandela Rhodes Hotel in the heart of Cape Town’s city bowl. There you can taste, buy beans and enjoy the great music and general caffeine craziness.

Paarden Eiland, Cape Town | +27 (0)72 569 9579   

Rosetta Roastery
The team of roasters, cuppers and baristas is passionate about coffees that are as unique and character-filled as the people who drink them. Based in Woodstock, they import single origin and estate coffees from South and Central America, Africa and Asia, micro-roasting each one to best present its unique personality. Rosetta Roastery sells roasted beans, ground or unground, offers home deliveries, and provide bespoke mobile espresso bars for executive functions (both indoor and outdoor).

Woodstock Exchange | 66 Albert Road | Woodstock | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 447 4099

Espressolab Microroasters

It’s the coffee hot-spot in Woodstock’s Old Biscuit Mill. Third-wave roastery Espressolab uses Nordic roasting principles for a softer palate weight, serving their cuppas in glass beakers and experimenting with ingredients to create totally unique drinks- their espressos are out of this world and win a prize for their individuality. "We roast coffee from single farms, estates and cooperatives and look to establish relationships with growers and exporters, always looking at sustainable, fair and equal trade”.

375 Albert Road | Woodstock | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 447 0845 

Roasteries just out of Cape Town

Bean in love (also known as Main Street Coffee Roasters)

Bean in Love is Paarl’s sole roastery. One of the reasons to make a visit here is the old and rustic designed building that oozes with character. Bean in love (established in 2008) carefully roasts beans imported from Asia, Africa, Central and South America. A variety of medium bodied, full bodied and acidic coffees roasted in-house to perfection – providing coffee lovers with a taste that lingers with freshness. Furthermore, their Diedrich IR-3 roaster gives them “the ability to control and monitor each and every single roast”.

289 Main Street | Paarl | +27 (0)21 872 0987

Coffee Roasting Co

The roastery, beautifully located on the Lourensford Wine Estate, deals exclusively in handpicked, speciality, single origin coffees (100% Arabica) sourced from all over the world (Africa, Colombia, India, Peru, Indonesia, Guatemala etc.). You can choose from 17 single estate coffees and 6 blends, including the much sought-after CO2 Decaf. Customers are invited to a free tasting in the bustling on-site roaster.

Lourensford Wine Estate | Somerset West | +27(0)74 126 9758

Snobs Coffee, The House of Solar Roasting

Coenrie & Liezel Stapelberg's house of solar roasting is situated in Somerset West and they are the first solar coffee roastery and lounge in South Africa, relying entirely on the power of the sun. This process allows the coffee to develop during the roasting process, to create a wonderful taste sensation.

1A | Melcksloot Village | Cnr Jigger Ave & De Beers Ave | Somerset Mall | Somerset West | +27 (0)21 852 8694

Strictly Coffee

Strictly Coffee is a boutique coffee roaster, situated in the beautiful valley of Robertson. They roast a variety of coffees from around the world. The policy is to roast-to-order to ensure the freshest possible coffee is delivered to the coffee connoisseur as well as the hospitality industry.

5 Voortrekker Ave | Robertson | +27 (0)23 626 6691

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Addicted to coffee? Make sure to read our top places to have a cup of coffee.

Do you prefer drinking tea? We discovered Cape Town's tea spots for you!

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