Week 20, The Blue Crane and the Butterfly, Stellenbosch

The Blue Crane & The Butterfly is a new coffee shop & roaster on Dorp Street, Stellenbosch. Michael is using one of the Coffee-Tech roasters (same they use at Snob’s Coffee). Well, the roaster does not make the coffee, but seeing that it is a decent roaster, the stakes are high for a decent coffee.

Dorp Street is most probably one of the busiest and well known streets in Stellenbosch. Popular landmarks like “Oom Samie se Winkel” and “Blue Orange” can be found at the bottom of Dorp Street, with restaurants and art galleries in the upper parts of Dorp Street and the surrounding streets. The coffee shop is in one of the old antique shops that used to be in Dorp Street, just one block up from the intersection with Bird Street.

The Blue Crane & The Butterfly roasts their own coffee. The cappuccino is superb, and the atmosphere is exactly what you would expect from this part of town. Whether you sit inside at one of the tables, at the windows facing the street on a high chair or on the street at a small table, you feel part of Stellenbosch.

Unfortunately I did not had time for a quick breakfast when I visited them, but from what I saw on the displays and on others’ tables, it is definitely on my list to visit again, next time with my wife.

Parking is, as always, an issue in Stellenbosch, so if you try to visit them, be prepared to park somewhere in one of the streets around Dorp Street and walk the last couple of meters, or blocks. Stellenbosch is always a great place to be, so the extra few steps would not kill you.   ;-)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheBlueCraneandTheButterfly
Contact: +27 21 883 2915
Area: Dorp Street, Stellenbosch
Special note: One of the best "street cafe's" you can experience in Stellenbosch

2001  2002

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20 The Blue Crane and the Butterfly (Stellenbosch)

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20 The Blue Crane and the Butterfly (Stellenbosch) -33.938910, 18.858920 The Blue Crane and the Butterfly (Stellenbosch), www.facebook.com/TheBlueCraneandTheButterfly, +27 21 883 2915

Week 19, Terbodore Coffee Roasters, Franschhoek

love. learn. coffee.

Terbodore Coffee Roasters was established in 2004 and started off (for years) with an operation in the Natal Midlands. In October 2011 they opened their doors in the Western Cape, and selected Franschhoek to be their base for the Southern operations.

I came across the roaster on a casual autumn day celebrating our 9th anniversary. We decided to spend the day in the country. My wife wanted to visit one of the nurseries in Franschhoek, and I immediately googled to see if there are any roasters in Franschhoek.

Mike served us a lovely cappuccino from their house blend. The coffee is excellent, the atmosphere in the old building are authentic (they are not allowed to change too much of the architecture of the buildings), and the workings in the small roaster seems to be all one well oiled engine.

The roaster is a bit far for just a cup of coffee, so go on the internet and see what else you can do in the area. If you have time and just want to sit down and relax, help yourself to one of the many books they have in the shop.

Apart from the normal coffees, they do sell flavoured coffees as well, so if you are in for that type of taste, this is the place to get it.

Website: www.terbodorecoffee.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Terbodore-Coffee-Roasters/387650994523
Contact: +27 21 876 4716
Area: Goederust Farm, La Motte, Franschhoek
Special note: Lovely place to sit down and relax in the sun

1901  1902

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19 Terbodore Coffee Roasters (Franschhoek)

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19 Terbodore Coffee Roasters (Franschhoek) -33.885309, 19.073124 Terbodore Coffee Roasters (Franschhoek), www.terbodorecoffee.co.za, +27 21 876 4716

Week 18, Coffee shops, Kuala Lumpur

This week's post is a bit different from the normal format. It is firstly not
on a specific coffee shop, and secondly it is a bit longer than normal.
Hopefully worth reading.

I had the privilege to be in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) for the last two weeks, flying back to my family and South Africa tomorrow. Not being part of a group this time, in fact being completely on my own, I had some time on hand to explore the local coffee culture in Malaysia. I was assured that there is none, nothing, nada. The market is mostly saturated by franchised coffee shops, such as the like of Starbucks, Old Town White Coffee, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and Dr Cafe Coffee. Nothing wrong with them, they serve good coffee to the customers (and tourists). Coming from Cape Town with a strong coffee culture, I just knew there must be more to it than the eye can see.

Facebook to the rescue, and after searching for a group of coffee lovers, I came across one such group, BCM (Barista Club of Malaysia). Posting a simple question that I would like to find some coffee shops that are not part of a franchise resulted in over thirty responses. I am only here over one weekend … what to do, what to do!

One of the respondents gave me a Google map (pretty cool I must say) of a list of coffee shops in the area (and some a bit further in other cities). This is something that can be worth exploring per country, building a map of local roasters and coffee shops. Check it out at http://goo.gl/ogT5l (thanks to Joachim Leong)

I managed to fit my first cup of cappuccino in on Thursday afternoon after getting back at the hotel. RAW (Real and Wholesome) Coffee is close to the Petronas Twin Towers, and the towers are close to my hotel. Something they might give some thought is better advertising, was it not for the smell of freshly roasted beans I caught when walking pass them (in the street, not in a mall), I surely had to return to the hotel disappointed, hot and bothered (it is a constant 31 degrees here). Now I also know the feeling of being led by your nose. Had a great cappuccino here and all of a sudden I knew I had to plan my Saturday, there is only so many hours!

Saturday morning I headed for Publika, a shopping centre much to the likes of a Willow Bridge, more a Lifestyle Centre. My first stop is The Red Beanbag. I am introduced to the barista, Jason, who makes me one mean cappuccino from their house blend (Guatemala, Brazil and Indonesian coffee). The coffee is soft, acidity just right, hot enough to enjoy immediately, and even some latte art on. They get their coffee from Australia, so they don’t roast themselves. A bit disappointed that it is not a local roaster, but it is still good coffee, specifically blended for them.

My next stop at Publika is Coffee Stain by Joseph. Here I find something completely different than The Red Beanbag. It has the feeling of a relaxed lab, the place is set for demonstrations, experiments, sharing and teaching. They have Latte Art workshops, make coffee using all different equipment, the works. I am enjoying a siphon coffee here, made from Ethiopian sun dried coffee. A bit too much acidity for my personal taste, but still a good coffee. The siphon gives a clean coffee that tends to have a bit more acidity.

I end the day at Publika with a coffee at Dr Cafe Coffee, headed over to Plaza Low Yat (an IT shopping centre!) and end the trip with a Starbucks. Yes, they all have good coffee, but it is the local roasters and coffee shops we need to support as well.

There is a vibe between young people in Malaysia to appreciate good coffee, to support local talent, to cultivate their own coffee culture and share it with who-ever wants to join in. I read in one article someone saying that it is young people coming back from Europe and wants to start something similar in Malaysia. I see nothing wrong with that, they are not doing it (only) for the money, they believe in what they do, they make it part of their culture, part of their life.

Doing a search on “coffee history Malaysia” pointed me to academia.edu, with a thesis by Sitinurbaya Abdul Rahman (2010) on the subject. Another document that I have to read (should be excellent material for my trip home), but scanning through it, I found a reference to an article on coffee in The Malay Mail, 1932. The article references cultivation of coffee some fifty-odd years before that (1893). Bottom line is that there is more to the coffee culture in Malaysia than the eye can (or want to) see.

I end the post with a bit of disappointment, realising that I should have done my homework a bit better, planned a bit better. There are still so many that I could have visited. One of them (Plan b. Roasters) I literally walked pass twice on Saturday, knew that I saw the name somewhere but was not sure. Then there is myespressoLAB Coffee Roasters, CoffeeSociété and Coffee in Love. I am most probably missing a lot more places, but one can only hope that the opportunity will arise one day to return and visit these fine places. For now I have to let it rest and experience the coffee culture in my own city, Cape Town.

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Week 17, TRUTH coffee, HQ, Cape Town

What an experience! I was not expecting this at all!

That was the thoughts that went through my mind as I entered HQ. It actually started when I saw the place from a distance. How is it possible that a gem like this isn’t packed with no place to sit?
I am talking about TRUTH coffee’s HQ in Buitenkant Street, Cape Town. It is fairly new (less than 6 months old I think) and they must have taken everything that is Cape Town, modern and coffee, and built the most amazing coffee shop.

You have four areas to choose from if sitting down. There are the big sofas at the back of the shop, the less casual but still laid back chairs just in front of the counter, the work bench (a long(!!) workbench with power cables hanging from the roof, ready for you to plug in your laptop) and then the modern stainless steel tables in the shape of humongous gears.

The coffee is the normal TRUTH coffee cult coffee you can get at one of the other two outlets as well. If you came here for coffee, you will not be disappointed. You can however have exactly the same coffee at The Depot in the Waterfront and the Roastery (The Roasterspace) at Prestwich Memorial.

Visit the HQ for an experience. Come alone with your laptop, book, smartphone, Kindle. Experience HQ with a friend, loved one, colleague, client. Just make sure you visit the HQ. My first visit was with a good friend I would like to call a close brother!

Website: www.truthcoffee.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Coffeecult
Contact: +27 21 200 0440
Area: Buitenkant street in Cape Town (note, NOT Buitengracht street)
Special note: A great place just to meet up or even to do some work

1701  1702

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17 TRUTH coffee, HQ (Cape Town)

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17 TRUTH coffee, HQ (Cape Town) -33.928190, 18.422560 TRUTH coffee, HQ (Cape Town), www.truthcoffee.com, +27 21 200 0440

Week 16, KAUAI, Virgin Active, Bellville

Not exactly the place you would expect to find a coffee shop. In a gym, right next to all the healthy food offered in Kauai. Seems there must be something more to the “rumour” that coffee is healthy for you. We just know it, we feel better after we had a cup of coffee, so it must be good for you!

I have been dying to get a cappuccino at Kauai for the last couple of months, and every time I sit down the natural thing to order after a gym session is a smoothie. Again, it must be healthy, it is Kauai and it is the gym, after all. So when we visited them exclusively to have a chat, I thought it is now the right time to skip that smoothie and get myself the long awaited cappuccino.

Their coffee is great, the cappuccino made excellent (given the fact that they don’t have a full time barista waiting for all the orders coming in) and the service is great as well! Then there is the added benefit of receiving stickers, and for every twelve you collect you can have one coffee on the house. Not sure if I will get to that point, first have to visit the gym more often.

Overall a great place to meet some friends (you must all be members of the gym to get to the coffee shop), have a quick break or even lunch, or just a plain good place to sit down and do some work.

Next week I am off to another icon in Cape Town…

Website: www.kauai.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KauaiSouthAfrica
Contact: +27 21 914 4405
Area: Tygervalley (inside the Virgin Active Gym)
Special note: Open early till late, inside a gym, will need membership to enter

1601 1602

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16 KAUAI (Virgin Active, Bellville)

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16 KAUAI (Virgin Active, Bellville) -33.877221, 18.632984 KAUAI (Virgin Active, Bellville), www.kauai.co.za, +27 21 914 4405

Week 15, Origin Coffee Roasting, Cape Town

There are three names you need to mention in any conversation on coffee shops in the centre of Cape Town. Origin, Truth and Haas (in no specific order). Today we will spend some time at Origin.

Origin was started years ago when coffee roasting was something that happened behind closed doors, and beans (only a few enlightened folks had the vision to own a grinder) were this mystic way of buying your coffee. Some of us started buying ground coffee, and percolators were dripping in every household that wanted to impress guests with fresh coffee. I might be wrong, but it is the impression I can remember from that time.

Origin had a vision. Situated in the centre of a City that was a problem (crime wise) at that stage, with fewer and fewer feet hitting the streets of Cape Town, they decided to offer good freshly brewed coffee to the general public. At that time there was only a handful of coffee shops in town, and I can’t remember any of them roasting their own coffee. If you do a search on Google for “coffee shops cape town” you can compile a list of coffee shops that will keep you busy until your money runs out. Or your time.

Did they succeed in their vision? Sure they did. Well done to owner Joel Singer and co-founder David Donde who had this vision and shared their dream with so many of us.

I stopped by Origin on my way home after visiting a client in Town. Sitting alone in a coffee shop is an acquire taste (I am still longing for someone to chat with, I have not mastered it yet). I’ve ordered an Americano, Rwanda Koakaka, a light coffee. It is quality time with myself and my thoughts.

For me there are three levels of coffee shops. The entry level is the coffee shop serving good everyday coffee, normally from a well known roaster, either local or not. Secondly there are those serving their own roast, at the most maybe three (of which one is a decaf). Then there are those offering the coffee lover a spread of roasts and blends to choose from. We need to support these guys a lot more, they are the ones educating us.

I need to rephrase my first paragraph of this post. There is a multitude of names you can mention in a conversation on coffee shops in the centre of Cape Town. Origin is one of those you have to mention and have to visit. Well done guys!

Website: www.originroasting.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/originroasting
Contact: +27 21 421 1000
Area: De Waterkant, Cape Town
Special note: If you are serious about tea, do not be put down by the name

1501 1502

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15 Origin Coffee Roasting (Cape Town)

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15 Origin Coffee Roasting (Cape Town) -33.916960, 18.417400 Origin Coffee Roasting (Cape Town), www.originroasting.co.za, +27 21 421 1000

I just love my Android phone (Galaxy S3)

geekyI just love my phone.  I really do.  It is so versatile.  I can (almost) do anything from it, except making coffee, or spending time with friends.

As a consultant I am normally on the move.  Whether it is at a client or at home, or even in our own offices, I am never sure of my seat.  I can’t even leave power cables at a client to spare me the 10 minutes a day do dive under the table searching for a plug to plug the cable in.  When I get to that desk at the client again, the cable is gone and a desktop PC is sitting on the desk I was using as a roaming desk a couple of days ago.

So, where does my phone fit into this post?  My desk is always too small.  There are at the best of times two laptops (with their power cables), two external USB hard drives, a battery pack for my phone, two mouses (or mice – a debate that I don’t want to get involved), laptop bags and then finally my phone.

The guys from Necta came up with a sweet solution for guys like me.  Why not put the mouse on your phone, and then you can have one article less on your desk?  Head over to their site and download 1) the Android app for you phone and 2) the server for you PC (Windows, Mac or Ubuntu).  As long as you are on the same WiFi you can connect your phone to your laptop and voila … a mouse on your phone.  And as if that is not enough, you can even use the keyboard on your phone.

This sentence was written by using the app on my phone. ;-) 

Well done Android, another reason why your apps are so well received in the market!

wifi mouse 01  wifi mouse 02  wifi mouse 03

 

 

 

 

 

 

Added benefit … I now don’t have to drag the mouse to the bedroom if I want to watch a movie on my laptop … just use the phone!   ;-)