Single origin flat whites, pour overs and nitro brews are everywhere and not a single Starbucks in sight: these days Cape Town coffee culture is as much a part of city life as going to the beach or climbing Table Mountain. Whether it’s found in hole-in-the-wall alleyways, flamboyant city center cafes, no-nonsense roasters or friendly neighborhood coffee shops, coffee is an important part of Cape Town life. Here are ten of the best places to grab a cuppa.
1. True: A warehouse-like steampunk cafe
Any list of Cape Town coffee haunts would be incomplete without a mention of Truth. The warehouse-like Steampunk Cafe in a regenerated corner of the city has been voted the best coffee shop in the world on more than one occasion. The focal point is Colossus, an animal from a 1940s Rooster, sitting at the center of a scene that looks like it was designed by Tim Burton, with top hats, flying Complete with spectacles and Victorian bustle-clad wait staff. But as uber-hip and Instagrammable as the truth is, it’s not just style over substance. The coffee here is also really good.
2. Origin: Birthplace of Cape Town’s micro roastery culture
This aptly named cafe is generally regarded as the birthplace of Cape Town’s micro-roastery culture. The casual cafe is filled with laptop-toting freelancers, coffee-loving travelers and breakfast-eating families. The menu can be a bit overwhelming for coffee novices, with options like Aeropress, Hario V60 Pour Over and Yama Siphon, but the staff are knowledgeable, unpretentious and ready to guide you through the various concoctions. Pop over to check out the roastery or book ahead for a cupping session with the roaster.
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3. Rosetta Roastery, roasting to a fine art.
If you quiz some of Cape Town’s caffeine connoisseurs on their favorite cup of joe, Rosetta’s name keeps coming up. Based on the unashamedly hip Woodstock Exchange, Rosetta roasts down to a fine art. Beans are sourced from Africa, Latin America and Asia and roasted on site, with staff talking customers through intricate tasting notes for each available bean and blend. There are some simple pastries on the menu, but it’s all about the beans.
4. Byblos: A quiet place for a sip
If you’re looking for a quiet place to sip, look no further than Turkey-inspired Byblos on your list. Based in the architecturally arresting but curiously visited Palms Center in Woodstock, Byblos is a place to lie back and play games of backgammon while sipping on apple tea or a classic flat white. On the menu you’ll find simple breakfasts, Middle Eastern-inspired light meals, great coffee and Turkish sweets. For something different, try the Turkish coffee for two, served with slices of syrupy baklava.
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5. Haas: Home of the ‘World’s Strongest Coffee’
Those who enjoy a good dare will be drawn to this cafe in the eastern city – it serves Black Insomnia, a local blend that has been dubbed the world’s strongest coffee. For the more modest variety, there’s a great selection of single origin beans to choose from, or carefully crafted house blends. Managing to be both homey and stylish, Haas is one of those friendly places where you can happily spend an entire afternoon.
6. Siki’s Coffee Cafe: A garage cafe like no other.
It was the local coffee chain Vida e Cafe that gave Sekila ‘Siki’ Debella his start in the coffee industry. After helping to open a branch of Vida in the UK, Siki moved back to his home suburb of Khayelitsha and opened a neighborhood cafe in the garage of his family home. The menu is small, the coffee is good, the muffins are baked in-house and the welcome is as friendly as you’ll find in a Cape Town coffee shop.
7. Cocoa Zero: For rooibos in cappuccino form
If beautiful things make you smile, Cocoa Trip in Sea Point is sure to make you laugh. Picture-perfect patisseries are served in glamorous surroundings and whatever coffee you order is beautifully served. There’s also a strong focus on South Africa’s homegrown tea, rooibos: try it in cappuccino form, in a lemon tart or chilled on tap from SA’s first botanical microbrewery.
8. Four and Twenty: A Step Out of the City
You don’t have to be in the city to find good coffee. This neighborhood hangout in the southern suburbs is popular with breakfast locals and is an easy detour if you’re heading to the wineries of Constantinople from the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. The breakfast menu is extensive, but it’s the wonderful pastries and cakes that draw people in – along with the excellent coffee, of course.
9. Espresso Lab Microroasters: Where coffee is an exact science.
Decorated in bright white tiles and with coffees poured from Science Lab bakers, Espresso Lab has a distinct identity in Cape Town’s coffee scene. Beneath the clinical decor lies a deep passion and a team of highly knowledgeable baristas. No food is served, but the roastery sits within the Old Biscuit Mill complex, so there are plenty of places to eat – you can also order from the neighboring deli and eat on the terrace of the Espresso Lab.
10. Tribe: A leafy nook in an urban suburb
One of Cape Town’s most established roasters, Tribe’s coffee is poured into restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels around the city. For the full experience, head to their headquarters at Woodstock Foundry – a shopping center filled with art studios and one-of-a-kind shops. Friendly staff serve light lunches as well as great coffee of course. Enjoy it in the yard – a rare leafy corner of a very urban suburb.