Nothing starts the day quite like a good barista-made cup of coffee, and in Joburg you are spoiled for choice. To keep you up to speed on where to find the finest brews, our monthly coffee columnist Rachel Leigh Dzenga (aka @jozicoffeespots on Instagram), shares her latest picks, focusing on local roasteries.
Father Coffee, Kramerville
Father Coffee is a renowned Joburg roastery, with a store at The Zone in Rosebank. Born in Braamfontein (the original store has since closed) Father Coffee has been held in high regard by coffee aficionados from the start. In August 2021 a new branch opened in the Kramerville design district, taking Father Coffee from a small sidewalk stop to a mega coffee emporium. Father Coffee in Kramerville boasts an in-house bakery and the coffee roastery that was previously at the Rosebank branch has moved here (the old roastery space in Rosebank now house a ping pong table). They truly make some of the best coffee this city has tasted. In addition to a full range of premium beans and ground coffee blends, you can also buy coffee brewing equipment such as the hipster Chemex jar and the coffee nerds' Aeropress kit. The Kramerville branch is affectionately known as Father HQ and is ideally situated for soaking in some late afternoon sunshine, perhaps with a slice of the famous Burnt Basque cheesecake, a decadent Swedish bun or a mug of Lindt hot chocolate if you’re overly caffeinated.
Recommend blends: Giving a recommendation for the actual blends to buy here seems fruitless. We recommend everything and suggest you try it all!
Where: 19 Dartfield Rd, Kramerville
Seam Coffee, Fourways
Seam Coffee is a locally renowned coffee roastery in the heart of Fourways, that is focused on creating sustainable farming in the coffee industry, from harvesting to roasting. Their Fair Trade goal is to connect coffee farmers and consumers, so that those who enjoy Seam's coffees also know they are directly uplifting the communities from where it is sourced. Good ethics aside, Seam is also known in the northern suburbs for having one of the most popular co-working spaces, Thirdspace. For take-home coffee there's a variety of single-origin coffees and blends and a great selection of brewing equipment. Their innovative coffee storage containers are also a good purchase. These jars have one-way valves to keep your coffee from going rancid and are very cost-effective, costing about the same as a coffee.
Recommended blend: The signature house blend is the Campbell Road, a delicious mix with notes of milk chocolate and treacle sugar.
Where: 2 Valley View Centre, Campbell Rd, Craigavon, Fourways
Bean There, 44 Stanley
Bean There Coffee Company is situated in the heart of Milpark's quirky independent shopping destination 44 Stanley. This is a thriving roastery, providing wholesale coffee to many a Joburg coffee shop including Morning Glory in Parkwood and Echo Coffee in Bryanston. Fair Trade coffee is their focus, and their single-origin beans are sourced from all over Africa. Each country's beans have their own unique flavour. Their 44 Stanley coffee shop offers a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, with an intimate courtyard, and plenty of seating for a work catchup or coffee date with friends. Here you can grab ground coffee or beans for home use, as well as trendy and unusual equipment for home (we love their Kalita wave dripper cups).
Recommended blend: We recommend you grab a bag of Tanzania single origin for a smooth hazelnut flavour with a soft lift of lime.
Where: 44 Stanley, 44 Stanley Ave, Milpark
Doubleshot Coffee & Tea, Rosebank
Doubleshot coffee is a specialty roastery, focused on offering authentic high-quality tea and coffee in an upmarket and yet unpretentious way. Their intimate coffee shop at the flashy Oxford Parks precinct in Rosebank is easy on the eye, with modern finishes and plenty of bench space to enjoy the Joburg sunshine. In addition to coffee, Doubleshot is well known for their craft iced tea (the cling peach flavour is our firm favourite) and for their authentic pastéis de natas and creamy custard-filled cannolis.
Recommended blend: When it comes to coffee we recommend taking a bag of their seasonal City blend home. It is versatile enough for any brewing method and has a warm butterscotch taste when paired with milk, which we think is a pretty good way to start the day.
Where: Oxford Parks (cnr Oxford Rd and Jellicoe Ave), Rosebank
Beethoven Coffee, Mall of Africa
Beethoven Coffee is an upcoming Joburg coffee roastery that prides itself on offering single-origin coffee roasted by hand in small batches, sourced from farms based all over Africa and South America. Beethoven has a trendy coffee bar, tucked away in Mall of Africa, in CNA. Here you will find friendly service, great takeaway treats, and delicious specialty coffee. If Midrand is too far Beethoven Coffee is also available online. You can choose from one of their many single origins or a Beethoven box set delivered monthly through their subscription programme.
Recommended blend: We recommend trying the single-origin Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Kochere, which has a condensed milk taste and a subtle caramel flavour when served as a milk beverage.
Where: Mall of Africa, Midrand
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